Stafford is playing a better then he's ever played, he's finally taking his strength and conditioning seriously and he's in good shape, this was always a problem for him and something I've commented on since his rookie year, he's moving quicker in the pocket..they won't be able to run on us, and Jenkins will be matched up on Bush..I trust Brent grimes on that turf, he will not be slipping. This is the game where we really have to move the pocket consistently early.
Can we all just call total Horse **** on that? "suspend" the guy for 2 weeks but one of them will be the bye. What did he actually miss then? What was he "suspended" from?
He missed the Atlanta game in London. That's about it. My guess is that the suspension was cut short when Fairley got hurt. I thought it was odd that from the get go they called it a two "week" suspension and not two "game" suspension.
I get it, and obviously I would prefer him to not play, but it certainly doesnt send a strong message. "get out of line, you're suspended...unless we're playing a good team and then you're *** back on the team asap"
He may be in better shape, but it certainly hasn't equated to better play. He's been awful this year. Google Matt Stafford and 2 of the 3 news articles that immediately come up talk about how Matt Stafford hasn't been good enough...blogs/articles from Detroit beat writers today. He's been poor. Getting Calvin Johnson back will help him though.
he's played better then the last couple years.. Lazor needs to make this dine run all over the place with our qb, needs to keep them thinking, do not, i repeat do not do what you did in jacksonville.
Was about to bump that thread you made about Walter giving us the kiss of death He's been pretty good picking fins games so far this year, 6-1 ATS, and he's picking us to win in Detroit...
http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/11/5/7151479/lions-injury-report-calvin-johnson Johnson, Bush and Waddle will be playing. As I expected, Fauria should be back, Ebron is possible.
I'm looking SO forward to this game!!!! I FINALLY get to change out this damn Aaron Rodgers SIGPIC!!!! But a bet's a bet... I dig ya Arodgers12 (and still like the Pack), but this has been painful
I dunno...I don't think Megatron will be a major impact...I'm more concerned with being able to contain Golden Tate...he's what I see Landry becoming...shifty, smart, athletic, no-quit. The backs catching passes could hurt us too if we're not fully clicking in the LB area, but not totally concerned there. They look to be depleted at TE...though I really don't know a lot about them, it seems they're pretty dinged up. They'll probably see a lot of Cam Wake action, remember how Buffalo basically kept Wake at bay with a rookie RT (who was considered VERY green) and a chipper? Then again, EJ was mobile, whereas Stafford really isn't a run threat. I dunno...just gonna be a tough game, as should be expected between the #1 and #2 defenses I guess.
I disagree on Stafford. He's pretty much doing the exact same thing he's done the past two years. He really has been awful as someone who has had to watch all the games here in Chicago...unfortunately. I agree about the offense. I really think this may be the game we get some nice opportunities down the field in the passing game. Hope we can hit them.
is the current Detroit offensive line Brown-LaWaddle-Raiola-Warford-Reiff? How has Warford been? I know PFF liked him very much last year.
Reiff, Sims, Raiola, Warford, Waddle. They've all been alright aside from Raiola. He seems to have lost a step from last year. The weakest link metaphor is pretty spot on when talking about offensive lines. Warford and Sims are picking up too much of Raiola's slack to focus on their own jobs 100%, so their effectiveness is not what it could be.
The past few years stafford has had decent protection. He would stay in the pocket waiting until something downfield showed a crack. He repeatedly refused to check it down or throw the ball away, instead forced it deep way too often. This year his protection has been nonexistent, but he has improved in decision making. He is taking what the defense is giving him for the most part and living to fight another drive. The big thing that Stafford has struggled with, that detroit beat writers talk about, is consistently hitting guys in stride.
That's the one advantage Kellen Moore has over Stafford. I'm pretty sure that given the chance, Moore could have been (and still could be honestly) a great NFL quarterback. What he lacks in arm strength, he more than makes up for in decision making and accuracy. I wish some of that would rub off on Stafford.
Quite well actually. He was NFC defensive player of the week for week 6. He seems to be even better than last year.
Tannehill Passing: 178/281, 1,907 yards, 63.3 comp%, 14 TDs, 6 INTs, 90.9 QBR Rushing: 8/31, 245 yards, 0 TDs Stafford Passing: 183/299, 2,216 yards, 61.2 comp%, 11 TDs, 7 INTs, 86.5 QBR Rushing: 8/26, 45 yards, 2 TDS Surprised that Tannehill has thrown more TDs and have more total TDs even with Stafford rushing for 2 this season. Stafford's best season ever was 2011. His decision making has always been suspect and he's too prone to just throw it up.
Not having Calvin, fauria, bush, pettigrew, or ebron for the majority of the games skews theses numbers. That said, none of them block for him and he's been sacked 24 times this year. We WILL get to him.
The all time series with the Dolphins 7-3 Lions is prophetic, that is what our record will be in 2 weeks. It could also be the score of the game. lol
This is a team we can beat, it wont be easy but we can do it. What a statement this would make if we went into their house and walked out with a win. Detroit is playing great right now and we are rolling too. This should be a great game.
Stafford has 300 more yards but RT has 3 more TD's. Also Tate has more yards than Wallace but Wallace has more TD's. I think this goes to show that we are much more balanced and they are much more one-dimensional. We spread the ball out more and we actually have a running game. The more I think about this game the more I know we will win.
Levy is for real, one of the best LB`s in the game in 2014, plays the pass and run very good, he is a concern for sure
Some people knew of him in college too. Wisconsin IIRC off the top of my head. Could be wrong though.
Elliot Harrison's Take: ""Sneaky good game." -- @ChristensenDrew " He's not the best researcher for nothing, folks. The score might look a little high, considering both defenses have been balling. But the return of Calvin Johnson will present a matchup difficulty unlike anything the Dolphins have faced this season. With Megatron making trouble and Golden Tatelikely drawing more iso coverage, there should be an opportunity for this oft-sputtering Lionsoffense to get going in Detroit. Tate, by the way, is just the second player in team history to have 50 or more catches through eight games, joining ... hit me up with your answers @HarrisonNFL. Miami could try to slow the Lions down with the run game ... problem is, Lamar Miller, as effective as he's been, isn't 100 percent, and Detroit has yielded just 593 rushing yards in eight games, the fewest allowed by the franchise since 1940."
Actually, Fauria and especially Pettigrew chip block a LOT when they are on the field, and sometimes will even just stay home and block outright. Ebron is getting better at it, but he's not quite there yet. Their replacements over the past couple weeks, Jordan Thompson and Kellen Davis, were not very good at either of those things at all. They also get LaAdrian Waddle back for Sunday. He is the starting right tackle who has been banged up a good part of the season. I'm not saying Stafford won't get sacked, I'm just saying that certain personnel can help lower the number of times it happens.
I agree that Detroit has not been very balanced on offense this year. A lot of that has to do with injuries though. I don't think getting Johnson and the TEs back will magically make Detroit's offense a powerhouse, but it should help them be a little more effective than they have been on the ground.
Well, the Bills did it (thanks Alex Henery....), so it's not like it's impossible. Any given Sunday and all that... Like you though, I am expecting a close game between a very good team (Dolphins) and a team capable of being good when they don't shoot themselves in the foot (Lions).
Regardless og outcome hope to see you after the game for some chat anout it. Most other teams fans come on here and trash talk so its good to have guys like yourself who just want to see a good game.
I visit the forums of every team the Lions play. I enjoy the conversation. I always come back after the games to talk about what happened. As far as trash talk, I never saw the point. If the Lions win or lose, it has nothing to do with me personally. Same for other fans. If their team loses, it's not a character flaw on them or anything, so why treat it as such. We all like football, we just root for different teams. No reason not to be civil about it.
If Miller isn't 100% do you rest him mostly on Sunday to try and have him fresh for the more imporant game on Thursday?
I thought this was pretty cool. The Lions website has a weekly feature where their coordinators break down the opponent on film. Here is Joe Lombardi breaking down the Dolphins defense. http://www.detroitlions.com/media-c...-Offense/f302d82d-5115-41fa-a810-722535f3fc6a Here is Teryl Austin breaking down the Dolphins offence. http://www.detroitlions.com/media-c..._Defense/839423da-f4a2-456f-9a18-b4069612955b
Overall, for the lions, patchwork seems to be the key. in the first month of the regular season, the defensive secondary was riddled with multiple injuries, but yet found a way to hold together. Same way with the offense. Without megatron, this team has managed to go 3-0. Lions fans seem to be waiting for the other foot to drop, due to previous expectations.
it was said earlier that stafford isn't good at escaping the pocket..which just isn't true, he has good maneuverability in the pocket.