My way too early yardage prediction thread

[MalFunkShun]

"As a free safety, Byrd can shut quarterbacks down. According to PFF, when opposing QBs threw at Byrd, they completed just 11 of 22 passes for 83 yards and a passer rating of just 35.0, the second-lowest among safeties in the NFL behind Glover Quin of the Detroit Lions."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ggressively-pursue-jairus-byrd-in-free-agency

There we go.

 

[jdeb]

I feel better about the secondary now.

 

[dubbsco]

And the same site that references that stat lists him as their 30th overall safety. That stat is nice, but does not paint the whole picture. He's good no doubt about that, but he needs a lot more help to even have that secondary be functional.

"He may not be a superstar, but Quin is a valuable starter for the Detroit Lions."

He's a good starter. Important piece. But they'll have to do much better than that.

 

[LKP]

New scheme should work based on... what exactly?

You can sugar coat it all you want. The secondary is bad. It's not an opinion. It's a fact. The stats back that all up. And they didn't do anything to get better.

And they aren't talented. I will give you average at best. It's filled with a bunch of guys who are either over the hill, or haven't proven a thing.

First of all, the secondary wasn't even bad. It was average in most cateogories last year. So your starting point is very wrong. And the culprit for most big plays was a an injured Houston (hamstring starting Week 4 then toe) and a slowed down Delmas from knee issues. AJ Green TD, Underood TD, James Jones TD, both Antoinio Brown TDs.

Based on the personnel, the scheme is a great fit. Based on what Slay did in college, based on Ihedigbo being in the scheme before, based on Quin's great coverage skills now at free safety, based on blitzes hitting home, based on not being a predictable scheme like Gunther/Schwartz.

Mathis is old but played well. Quin is good. Ihedigbo fits the scheme and does well in run support and blitz. And Slay has proven some things as the season went on and you know experience from year 1 to year 2 is huge for DBs. But "hasn't proven a thing" like you said doesn't mean bad. He hasn't proven he is bad if you go by your logic of "hasn't proven a thing"

 

[tomdalton22]

First of all, the secondary wasn't even bad. It was average in most cateogories last year. So your starting point is very wrong. And the culprit for most big plays was a an injured Houston (hamstring starting Week 4 then toe) and a slowed down Delmas from knee issues. AJ Green TD, Underood TD, James Jones TD, both Antoinio Brown TDs.

Based on the personnel, the scheme is a great fit. Based on what Slay did in college, based on Ihedigbo being in the scheme before, based on Quin's great coverage skills now at free safety, based on blitzes hitting home, based on not being a predictable scheme like Gunther/Schwartz.

Mathis is old but played well. Quin is good. Ihedigbo fits the scheme and does well in run support and blitz. And Slay has proven some things as the season went on and you know experience from year 1 to year 2 is huge for DBs. But "hasn't proven a thing" like you said doesn't mean bad. He hasn't proven he is bad if you go by your logic of "hasn't proven a thing"

So, you are counting on the secondary staying injury free, the scheme being a perfect fit for the personnel and Slay becoming a pro bowl caliber player. That sounds about as reasonable as your normal posts.

 

[LKP]

So, you are counting on the secondary staying injury free, the scheme being a perfect fit for the personnel and Slay becoming a pro bowl caliber player. That sounds about as reasonable as your normal posts.

Slay doesn't have to be pro bowl caliber. But he can be a good player in year 2 fitting this scheme with his skillset. Quin and Ihedigbo are durable players unlike Delmas and Houston.

Slay and Mathis we'll see if they can stay healthy and Mathis pretty much did. Bentley too is injury prone but we have Lawson or can put Mathis in slot and play another outside CB. Greenwood and Green stepped up last year too with the starters missing time. It was not missing time that was the injury problem, it was playing while hurt for Houston. I think this staff is smarter to bench players who hurt you while they are hurt.

 

[LKP]

So, you are counting on the secondary staying injury free, the scheme being a perfect fit for the personnel and Slay becoming a pro bowl caliber player. That sounds about as reasonable as your normal posts.

And this post by you is a prime example of the problems with this board. You can't comprehend what I say and then you exaggerate what I say in your own twisted mind. You just flat out put words in my mouth.

 

[dubbsco]

Basically saying Ihedigbo is durable says "at least he's a body out there." The guy has had one good year in his career.

 

[LKP]

Basically saying Ihedigbo is durable says "at least he's a body out there." The guy has had one good year in his career.

I think Slay, Mathis, Bentley and Ihedigbo can all be average. Quin and LB coverage good. And the Lions will still have a top 10 pass defense due to pass rush and the scheme. We were average last year with below average CB due to inexperience and injury.

But I do think Slay will be good but all we need is average.

 

[LKP]

Basically saying Ihedigbo is durable says "at least he's a body out there." The guy has had one good year in his career.

And durable is a comment on his availability. You can't mix durable and his grade of play. Again you people are putting words in my mouth based on your own warped minds.

Ihedigbo is good in run support and blitz and average in coverage. Austin knows how to use him.

 

[dubbsco]

I think even you are conceding that the secondary is not good. When you say they can all be average, that's admitting it's not a good defensive backfield. You should expect more than average. Lions fans deserve CBs that can make an impact. They haven't had a functional secondary EVER.

 

[tomdalton22]

I think even you are conceding that the secondary is not good. When you say they can all be average, that's admitting it's not a good defensive backfield. You should expect more than average. Lions fans deserve CBs that can make an impact. They haven't had a functional secondary EVER.

Remember Bennie Blades...he was good!

 

[LKP]

I think even you are conceding that the secondary is not good. When you say they can all be average, that's admitting it's not a good defensive backfield. You should expect more than average. Lions fans deserve CBs that can make an impact. They haven't had a functional secondary EVER.

I just said it would be top 10. I said Slay/Mathis/Bentley could all be average and we would still be top 10 because of Quin/LBs/pass rush/scheme.

But I think Slay will be good and that Quin is good. Mathis won't make big mistakes and actually he was good last year in coverage just not forcing turnovers.

 

[LKP]

And the entire pass defense is what matters. This includes, pass rush, scheme and LB coverage. They all play a big part.

 

[kdp80]

This secondary was average last year with Chris Houston shitting the bed the entire year. To think they could be top 10 with Slay more comfortable might be an accurate assumption.

 

[dubbsco]

One site I saw earlier today had their overall Pass Defense Rank at 20. That's below average. I can also assume that they won't make the jump because they haven't done anything to address it.

 

[LKP]

One site I saw earlier today had their overall Pass Defense Rank at 20. That's below average. I can also assume that they won't make the jump because they haven't done anything to address it.

Oh the unnamed site based on their gut feeling. The stats (more than just yards per game) said average in 2013 with below average CB play from rookies and injured players. Slay, Mathis, Ihedigbo just need to be average. I know the pass rush, LB coverage and Quin will be good. And I like the new scheme.

Mathis was above average in 2013, Slay was below. Slay can grow in year 2 and fits the scheme well.

 

[dubbsco]

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef

There ya go.

 

[jdeb]

I think even you are conceding that the secondary is not good. When you say they can all be average, that's admitting it's not a good defensive backfield. You should expect more than average. Lions fans deserve CBs that can make an impact. They haven't had a functional secondary EVER.

I read it that way as well. He is reaching big time. This secondary at best falls in at 15, and that's with no injuries, guys gravitating to the new scheme, and well prepared week in and week out. That is a lot to assume given their past performance and talent level. He is afraid to call it like it is so he spin doctors it like all his other posts. One thing is for sure, the new scheme fits them better but whether that translates on the field is another story.

 

[LKP]

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef

There ya go.

The stats don't back that up though. They were average in every category but YPG.

And in any case, this secondary is very different with Houston and Delmas gone and a scheme change.

And again injured Houston is gone and Ihedigbo can practice unlike Delmas. Scheme change. Slay develops in year 2. Mathis played well. Quin is good. Pass rush is good. LB coverage is good. Top 10 pass D in 2014.