Lou Creekmur, a Detroit Lions Hall of Famer, died today. He was a great offensive linemen that won championships (before there was a Super Bowl) with the Lions three times.
Sorry to see you go - hopefully, we will get to see another Hall of Fame lineman for the Lions in our lifetime.
What set of numbers are more significant, 38-14 or 0-9? The Detroit Lions lost to an average Jacksonville Jaguars team yesterday. Jacksonville looked like a Super Bowl squad yesterday, with a running back that had 3 first-half touchdowns, and a quarterback that was lifted for his backup in the fourth quarter. Not because of poor play, for the fact that his team was so far ahead that he was no longer needed.
The Lions played two quarterbacks as well, Duante Culpepper was one. he made his first start for the Lions yesterday after being with the team less than one week. In the first quarter, he was sacked and threw a pick. Drew Stanton also played, which was the first time he's taken the field for the Lions in the regular season. While he threw a touchdown to a backup TE, he was assaulted mercielessly all day. He was sacked brutally 5 times in the fourth quarter alone.
The offense managed one additional score yesterday, on a solid run by the rookie Kevin "Silent Bob" Smith. If he had an offensive line that could run block, Smith may develop into a solid running back. Calvin Johnson caught two deep balls, but missed on a few additional plays. The organization and even the media have hailed this cat for the past two years, as the next Randy Moss. While I hope that's the case, he needs consistency in the QB, line, opposite receiver and play calling to truly be great.
And the Defense? I can't say much about them withour throwing my laptop. Sounds like both defensive ends DeVries and White were dinged up against Jacksonville and will not play this weekend. Awesome.
The worst team in the NFL gets the first pick in the next college football draft. We're playing so poorly, I hope that they award the Lions the first 2 picks.
First off, sorry for the lack of posts lately. No excuse, just been an odd combination between busy and lazy.
Over the past weekend, I went to visit my friend Mike in Chicago. He and I went to watch our beleaguered Detroit Lions take on the Chicago Bears at historic Soldier Field. The stadium is a mix of old and new architecture - bold columns surround a new stadium that looks like a mirrored space ship.
We were treated to an exciting game. The Lions had a solid offensive game plan, and a 10 point lead at half. After going down by 4 points late in the fourth quarter, the Lions had a chance to win on the very last play. Dan Orlovsky threw a pass deep to the right corner of the end zone, only to see it knocked down.
Here are a few photos I took on Sunday:
Matt Millen is now the former General Manager of the Detroit Lions. I waited a few days to post this comment, just to make sure it was not a dream. As a season ticket holder, I have been sitting at the Silverdome and Ford Field watching some of the worst football this state has ever seen. He finished his record 53 games under .500. Since 2001, he was paid 5 million dollars a year.
While winning 4 Super Bowls with the Raiders, 49ers, and Redskins - he never got the Lions near the playoffs.
He tried every offensive philosophy - West Coast, Martzian, Ground Control. He tried several defensive moves - from Donnie Henderson's D, to Dick Jauron's D to the Tampa 2. Not one of these philosophies have been successful. He's fired over 50 coaches, and affected their families.
He's drafted poorly, yet let good talent escape over his tenure.
Well, like Richard Nixon said - We won't have Matt Millen to kick around.
Now what? Tom LeWand and Martin Mayhew have the opportunity to run the front office and work with Rod Marinelli to make sure that this season isn't a total failure. At 0-3, that is an uphill task. However, the Lions are in a weak division.
Next up - the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Let's see if they play like the same old Lions, or if they play like they are in an audition for their jobs for this season and next.
Bye, Matt. You won't be missed. I will say this - I respect that fact that you didn't quit. You made William Clay Ford fire you.
It's time. Aud had to be witness to it sooner or later. Today, Daddy took Baby Audrey to see the Detroit Lions practice at their training facility in Allen Park. She had an awesome time. She talked to Jason Hanson said "Hello" to Audrey, and she giggled.
Training Camp was a great way for fans to get to interact with the players. During practice, John Kitna signed autographs. The crowd went bonkers when Calvin Johnson caught a deep ball near the end zone over a defensive back. You heard the coaches swear at a defensive lineman who jumped off-sides.
She was certainly the youngest kid there, as I was the only person with a stroller, but everyone working the event was pleasant and accommodating. We'll certainly go back next year.
Three Wide Receivers. Three First Round Draft Picks. Two complete failures. Charles Rogers. Roy Williams. Mike Williams. The vision - three big targets, stretching the defense that would put on an aerial display on the fast carpet of Ford Field. The reality - only one remains and the other two are complete washouts.
Charles Rogers, the tally, skinny receiver from Saginaw High School & Michigan State - came into the league as the second draft pick, behind Carson Palmer in 2003. Two broken collarbones + one drug suspension = one unemployment line visit in 2006. After a few tryouts with other NFL teams, we found out that he's slower than a turtle crawling uphill. Today, he is trying to catch on with a Canadian Football Team squad.
Big Mike WIlliams (BMW) was a contrast to Rogers in that he was a mammoth wide receiver coming out of USC. In his sophomore season at USC, he caught 16 touchdown passes. He sat out what would have been his junior season, as he tried to petition the NFL to enter the draft early. So, he sat around and at King Dons for a year. That didn't deter the Detroit Lions from drafting him 10th in the 2005 draft. From the get-go, he was a bad fit. At 6'5" 250 pounds, people wondered if he would play Tight End. The lardass probably would have been suited for Defensive Tackle. He missed meetings and loafed in practice. After a few unproductive seasons, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders. BMW didn't last an entire season there, and is now on his third season - the Tennessee Titans. Good luck, fatty.
Roy Williams is one shining light in the otherwise dark years of the Matt Millen regime. Roy is tall, fast, and incredibly exciting to watch. He caught 8 touchdowns as a rookier in 2004, made the Pro Bowl in 2007 and has had to endure a cavalcade of new quarterbacks, coaches, coordinators and systems. He's caught almost 250 passes, 28 Touchdowns and over 3600 yards since coming out of the University of Texas and Perriman High School in the football-crazy town of Odessa, TX.
He was drafted 7th overall, when the Lions and Browns swapped draft picks which allowed the Browns to draft sixth (Kellen Winslow II). Roy makes acrobatic catches, one-handed catches, over-the-middle catches and diving catches. He has endured not being the best-known Roy Williams in the NFL (the terrible Safety of the Cowboys gets more notoriety than the Lions Williams) and caught minor flack for being cheap. Roy told the media that he doesn't tip the pizza delivery guys. This off-season, trade rumors persisted that stupid Matt Millen would trade Roy to Philly or even Dallas. Thank Jesu that this didn't happen. He's the only thing worth watching, and one of the few Millen draft picks still on the team.
Welcome to Detroit, Gosder Cherilus. Apparently, you can play offensive line. Matt Millen decided to buck the trend of drafting wide receiver in the first round. According to the Interwebs, you're 6' 7" and 320 pounds - almost as big as former draft pick Mike Williams.
ESPN said that Matt Millen reached for you. The crowd in New York at the Draft started chanting "Fire Millen" - the new State Song of Michigan. Remember those words, Gosder. You'll hear them often this fall. Detroit is a long way from Haiti. Good luck - I hope you don't suck.
