Tagged: Matthew Stafford
I’m not going to lie, before yesterday’s game I had a conversation with not one or two, but three different people about how easily the game could turn into a blowout. I chuckled along in agreement, suppressing the knowledge that in the NFL any team on any Sunday (or Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and now Wednesday), can win against anyone. Looking at the match-up though, how could the Lions lose to the Rams? Our offensive firepower vs. their remade defense should turn out in our favor, and even with our less-than-spectacular (putting it mildly) secondary, they lack offensive weapons. (more…)
10Sep
With all this talent, you would think that the Lions would’ve walked all over the 2-14 St. Louis Rams today. Well…they actually did, but the final score of 27-24 simply doesn’t reflect that at all. The Lions came out on the first drive and drove right down the field at ease, until Matthew Stafford threw an interception on the 3 yard line. Stafford had an uncharacteristic first half, throwing 3 interceptions, 2 of which were in the red zone, and the other was returned for a St. Louis Touchdown. Stafford just looked out of sync. It seemed to be some sort of first game jitters, combined with the impressive defense that Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher always seems to put together. He’s the third winningest active Head Coach in the NFL. Nonetheless, the Lions were still only down by three points, 13-10, at halftime. (more…)
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In today’s NFL being the best at your position is a very tall task. No matter where you are drafted how much money you make what is most important is what display on the football field. Matthew Stafford was drafted first overall. Calvin Johnson was drafted second overall. It may seem obvious but the higher you are drafted the more is expected of you. Tom Brady a number 199th pick and Wes Welker, undrafted, have both played above and beyond there expectation. #Matthew2Megatron is the best combination the NFL has and they are playing to there expectations. (more…)
22Aug
If you’d have told me at this time last year Matthew Stafford would throw for over 5,000 yards and wouldn’t be mentioned as an elite quarterback I’d have laughed you off. Even if three quarterbacks exceeded 5,000 yards last year, only two had done it previous to that. Ever! Stafford is in a group with only Dan Marino, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady. Even if Calvin Johnson could end up as the best receiver of all time, how is Stafford not elite? I still have a chip on my shoulder about the Pro Bowl snub, and I’m sure Stafford does too. I’d imagine he’s not sweating the continued underdog status, but there’s still too many respected analysts not sharing the love, (I’m looking at you, Ron Jaworski). (more…)
Calvin’s Injury
Fans at Detroit Lions practice this morning were surprised to see All-Pro WR and Madden 13 Cover Athlete, Calvin Johnson, sitting out of practice with his left index finger taped up. A crowd of about 500 fans caught an up close and personal look at the 2012 Detroit Lions at their training facility in Allen Park this morning. Calvin’s finger has been bothering him since last week, but there wasn’t much concern after he played in the team’s first preseason game Friday night against the Cleveland Browns. To see him sit out today came as a shock to some fans, and also brought along some understandable concern and questions. Head Coach Jim Schwartz had this to say about “Megatron”:
“He wasn’t shut down because of his finger,” Schwartz said. “Just general camp kind of legs and soreness. He needed a day here, too. Calvin doesn’t have a regulator, either.” (more…)
Discipline
Off the field issues can prevent players from playing on Sunday. This falls on the players, coaches and front office. No one is exempt from this.
Penalties are drive killers and game changers. I’m not referring to boarder line calls. The flags before, durning and after plays have given the Lions a reputation. It has been said that football is 80% mental and this is where Jim Schwartz and the veteran players need to take a stand. Aaron Berry and Johnny Culbreath are two players that have had off the field issues and have been released.
Coach Of The Year – Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh took a 6-10 team to 13-3 and all the way to the NFC Championship game.
{Q1}So the LIONS draw New Orleans as their Wild Card match up. Convince DMR how they can POSSIBLY beat the odds and come out victorious…
The Lions have put a good body of work in the regular season. Now they parallel to 11 other teams in the NFL. The fact that the Lions are giving the Saint 11 points is ridiculous. I think it is the lack of fundamental shown in Green Bay last week. The Lions are who they are. Dropped balls, penalties, crazy to think all that will just evaporate for the playoffs. They have to play better, duh! Now is not the time to teach or try to “get better”. Its time to win.
On to the keys to the Lions winning.
Stafford must stay in tune. Let the game plan play out. Allow Scott Linehan to work the adjustments and execute, execute, execute.
Pressure to reroute the Brees. The St. Louis Ram sacked 6 times and the Rams won. The defensive line is healthy and legal to play. Nick Fairley was having his way with the Saint interior line before going to the sideline with an injury in he previous meeting. Ndamukong Suh was suspended and key reserve Lawrence Jackson was injured. The defensive gave up big plays for scores and who ever is rushing he passer (DB’s LB’s also) need to get there.
Gunther Cunningham vs. Sean Peyton. Cunningham said that he wanted another shot at the Saints with a healthy defense. Well the motto for this Lions season here at DMR has been no excuses no explanations. In addition to not having Fairley for he whole game missing Suh and Jackson, the Lions were without Louis Delams and Chris Houston. All the pieces are present. Play chess.
Lions once again have shocked the world by losing another game. But let me first say, technically Falcons are the better team; Lions didn’t lose to a scrub team. Most people forget that the Falcons were the top team in the NFC last year. Now don’t get me wrong that doesn’t excuse Lions from losing, nothing excuses a lost, but I’m just stating a fact. (more…)
No miracle comeback for the Lions this time, They fall to the 49ers 25 to 19. I must say I’m not surprised that they struggled, nor that they lost. I said in my previous articles that Lions could not continue to count on second half comebacks. I also stated that 49ers would be a challenge offensively and defensively.
First off, I must start with QB Matthew Stafford, I once said that he is the engine that runs the vehicle that we call the Lions and if he struggles, the whole team struggles. Matthew Stafford threw 28 of 50 for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns. Now for some that may seem like a decent or good game, but not in this case. Stafford was constantly throwing inconsistent passes; he threw passes late low and high. He was just too inconsistent in this game for the Lions to win. Now in Matthew Stafford’s defense, the offensive line once again did a horrible job of protecting him. Matthew Stafford also struggled in the redzone, which is unusual, now it leaves the question; can the lions only be successful in the redzone if they throw to WR Calvin Johnson? This leads me to another point, Stafford did not do a good job of getting the ball to Calvin Johnson in the redzone, and he had 0 touchdowns in this game, first time this season. Once again are running game was nonexistent, which I believe will continue to be a problem against better teams, because Lion’s opponents are focused on stopping the pass. (more…)