WOW where do I start? First off let me apologize for not posting sooner this week. I had to wait until emotions calmed down. There are days that are hard being a Lions fan and Sunday was one of the worst days ever. Not only were we robbed of a road win but our leader on offense Quarterback Matt Stafford is out 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury. This past week has been one of the toughest ones I have had to go through as a fan. This was truly heartbreaking. Since our beloved Lions were robbed of our first win of the season, we’ll have to look to the home opener against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday for our first win of the season. By the way since Matthew Stafford is out, Quarterback Shaun Hill is going to start.
In a way I’m kind of glad I didn’t host my Welcome Back Detroit Lions Kick-Off Party this year since it would have been a really sad affair. That and the money that would have been spent on this party was used to but Lions season tickets instead. I guess I dodged a bullet on that one huh my Lionettes? Not to worry providing there is football in 2011 I am planning a Draft Party in April but that is also contingent if I am still gainfully employed with the Michigan State Senate.
I am going to be throwing A LOT of links at all of you in this post. They are all worth reading providing you have the time. I know I try to have by own substance when it comes to these posts but there was so much information these past few days I wanted to share with all of you.
Tom Kowalski from MLive gives letter grades to offense, defense, special teams and coaching from the Lions vs. Bears game.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/grading_the_lions_lack_of_runn.htmlHere is a photo slide show of the game.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/photos_chicago_bears_19_detroi.htmlIronically it was the Lions defense that kept us in the game. Our revamped DLine was night and day difference than the previous ones. Our offense let us down except it was nice to see RB Jahvid Best get two touchdowns. Losing Matt Stafford at the end of the first half was devastating to say the least. He is the heart and soul of this team and I can only hope and pray that the team can rally behind Shaun Hill for the next few weeks until Matthew’s return presumably October 31st our first game after the bye-week which unfortunately I will most likely have to miss due to campaign duties.
By the way thank you to all of you who signed the Get Well card for Matthew. I mailed it this morning to the Allen Park training facility so hopefully they will get it to him.
Here is an article from Brian Van Ochten of the Grand Rapids Press with his take on the game.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/calvin_johnsons_overruled_touc.htmlHere is an excerpt from the above article from Brian on LT Jeff Backus getting beaten and failing to protect Matthew Stafford causing his injury which puts Stafford out the next 4-6 weeks.
“Let's get something straight once and for all: Backus is below-average NFL left tackle. Period. If Schwartz continues to push the agenda that Backus is a Pro Bowl-caliber performer, he's going to lose a lot of the respect he has built up with the fans since his arrival. There's no disputing the cause of Stafford's shoulder injury this time. The Lions' front office is rife with Backus apologists and there are lots of lemmings in the media who'll believe anything team management tells them. The sad truth is the Lions cannot continue to put Stafford and the future of this rebuilding franchise at risk of some sort of ridiculous loyalty to a substandard left tackle. It's a business. So treat it like a business. Make drafting a franchise left tackle in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.Speaking of draft picks, I must repeat the following: The Lions fumbled when they drafted tight end Brandon Pettigrew at No. 20 overall in the 2009 NFL draft and passed up offensive tackle Michael Oher. For all of the draft picks general manager Martin Mayhew and Schwartz have gotten right, they got that one dead wrong. Oher became a Pro Bowl-caliber tackle as a rookie and can play either the left or right side. The Lions can't afford to risk Stafford's health on the protection of people such as Backus and right tackle Gosder Cherilus.”
I wanted either a CB, LB or Safety with our First Round pick next April but now I am hoping beyond hope that our First Round pick next April is used to draft a franchise LT that can protect Matt Stafford’s blind side!
Here is an article about the NFL referee explaining the call. I do not agree with the call of the Calvin Johnson TD being ruled incomplete. In every other football organization it would have been ruled a touchdown including and I am not making this one up the Lingerie Football League!
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/referee_gene_steratore_explain.htmlHere is the rule from the above article mentioning their ill-conceived rationale for the ruling.
"The ruling is that in order for the catch to be completed he has got to maintain possession of the ball throughout the entire process of the catch.''He was on his behind before he rolled over. If he stayed on his behind would it have been a touchdown?"No. We don't play with the two feet or one knee or anything of that scenario. We're talking now about the process of the catch. He's catching the football, as he goes to the ground, he must maintain possession of the ball throughout the entire process. So as he continues to fall if he fell with two feet and his elbow hit the ground and came out, it would be incomplete.''It looked like he had the ball up in one hand while on his rear end, but there was continuation?"Well, the process was not finished until he finished that roll and the entire process of the catch.''
Here is a feel-good story on Matt Stafford which is worth the read.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/matthew_staffords_lions_teamma_1.htmlThere were a few positives such as DT Ndamukong Suh getting his first sack as well as CB Aaron Berry getting an interception and RB Jahvid Best scoring two touchdowns. Unfortunately all of that has been overshadowed by WR Calvin Johnson having his game-wining TD pass ruled incomplete.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/who_knew_the_detroit_lions_def.htmlHere is an article from Tom Kowalski about some of the rookie mistakes made in the game.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/lions_notes_rookies_contribute.htmlHere is a story recapping the game from Tom Kowalski of MLive.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/lions_lose_matthew_stafford_to.htmlThe link below is from a Monday morning chat where you can log in and post questions. I do not think that many questions were answered it was basically fans venting after our stolen victory.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/live_chat_monday_morning_quart.htmlA cool article about DE Kyle Vanden Bosch having a solid performance.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/kyle_vanden_bosch_among_bright.htmlHere is a video of the post-game breakdown with Brian Van Ochten and Bill ‘The Huge Show’ Simonson.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/video_brian_vanochten_and_bill.htmlThis article is about Quarterback Matt Stafford’s injury.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/matthew_staffords_injury_is_no.htmlHere is an article with Coach Schwartz dismissing the talk about Matt Stafford being injury prone and an article discussing how much time he could miss. He is not injury prone, he has just taken some hard hits because that poor excuse for an Offensive Line failed to protect him yet again.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/lions_jim_schwartz_dismisses_i.htmlhttp://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/lions_matthew_stafford_could_m.htmlHere is an audio clip with WR Calvin Johnson being on the Huge Show talking about his TD catch that was ruled incomplete.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/calvin_johnson_on_the_huge_sho.htmlHere is a Week Two Preview chat with Brian Van Ochten. He answers a lot of question on some of the injuries and the status of Matt Stafford so it is worth checking out.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/09/live_chat_lions-eagles_week_2.htmlI gave more links than I would of liked in this post but there is a lot of worthy information in them. I will post most likely either Friday or Saturday before this Sunday’s game against the Eagles.
I will end this post by calling someone out in particular. Although still saddened by our loss I am still angry. If I EVER see this freak show on the street I am taking out my frustration out on him and I will smash his head like a rotten tomato! So consider yourself warned! It case your wondering it is a boss enemy called the Executioner Majini from the Resident Evil 5 videogame who also made an appearance in the recent Resident Evil Afterlife movie.
http://residentevil.wikia.com/Executioner_Majini Just kidding my Lionettes. I thought you all could use a good laugh :-)
Well that’s it for now. Take care and stay strong. We have gotten through worse, we’ll get through this. Until next time my Lionettes, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LIONSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Did you ever know that you're my hero? and everything I would like to be?I can fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are NOT the wind beneath my wings!
