backer lion nfl
The Arcenaux drop and the Robertson fumble took as much as 12 points off the board, by my count (potentially two touchdowns, instead of one conceded safety.) Not only that, they seemed to take the wind out of the Lions sails offensively, as they didn't even come close to scoring after that.
I won't be blaming the play-calling this time, not with ridiculous mistakes like that. (However, I do find it puzzling that our QB is throwing a ten-yard out to the wide side of the field with under two minutes left and a three point lead.) I thought the play-calling showed some ingenuity tonight with the hand-off to Arcenaux, use of the screen pass, and swinging the ball out to Jamall Lee a couple times.
Special teams was a problem, particularly the penalties in the return game. Also, MacCallum's punting was up and down.
The d was stretched pretty thin by injuries. Had some trouble stopping the run, especially after Elimimian was injured. However, they still did alright, allowing just the 17 points.
WCJ, I agree that Elimimian got away with a late hit. However, I disagree with your assessment of Phillips. He was extremely effective blitzing from the blind side. That was a nice new wrinkle in the D. He had a couple of sacks, plus a forced fumble by my count.
Conclusion: too many mistakes to beat even an average team."I'm a guy who can help that defensive unit out tremendously," he said.
Suh joins a young Lions nucleus that includes quarterback Matthew Stafford (last year's first overall pick) and wide receiver Calvin Johnson (the second overall pick in 2007) and is attempting to turnaround a franchise that is 33-111 since 2001.
But history warns that expectations should be tempered with Suh, especially any talk of turning around a franchise. Defensive tackles drafted high have had a history of struggling to live up to expectations.
Still, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew didn't care.
"It's not my concern at all," he told reporters. "You have to believe what you see on film."
What the Lions saw convinced everyone that he was their guy.
"He's got outstanding character," Schwartz told reporters. "He's a guy that will help our run defense and our pass defense. He'll help our corners out because we won't have to blitz as much. He'll help our run defense out and help our corners out again because with him up there, it's hard to come off of double-teams and we may not have to spin our safety into the box as much. I couldn't be happier to get a guy like that."
Mayhew said he fielded trade offers but refused to budge.
"At the end of the day, to have the opportunity to get a player like Ndamukong Suh is something that you just can't pass up," he said.
While Suh was shaking hands with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell Jr. in New York, Grant coach Diallo Lewis was smiling in Portland.
"It was definitely exciting to see someone that you've worked with and watched mature and grow accomplish his goals and to be there on such a large stage," Lewis said. "I would expect for Ndamukong to go there and really make a huge splash."
Lewis, a guidance counselor at Grant, said he hopes Suh's example will influence and inspire others.
"It's something that we can use when working with our kids," Lewis said. "Just his commitment to things, his sense of humility, his work ethic and commitment to being the best he can be. There's so much we can gain from it."
A few thousand Detroit fans gathered at Ford Field to watch the proceedings cheered the selection. Suh was their pick, too.
"I plan," Suh said, "on not disappointing them at all."
- Aaron Fentress
