~Keeping Open Mind~

[Chuck Cunningham]

What a nice wish Desert!

[KC Masterpiece]

Everybody hates you Chuck.

No seriously, go find a tree and a good hangin' rope

[Chuck Cunningham]

^ Unlike you who was voted most popular.

[MXT]

I really am trying to keep an open-mind this year. Then I read this:

"Thursday's practice ended with a bang when backup quarterback Drew Stanton threw a touchdown pass to tight end Will Heller during a two-minute drill. Players jumped around and gave each other slaps on the back.

This is the way Schwartz wants to see players react." -Terry Foster DetNews

Whoo Hooo!

[Panoptes]

DREW "Blueskies" STANTON

[MXT]

It is such a beautiful day- Have to make it short because I have some work to do outside. I have to break in the new hammock sometime this spring.

I read that the Lions are going to have the LB running down-hill on the snap of the ball, no reading of the play; just attacking. Teams will scheme against the Lions- and we all know that means giving up a "Big Play" at times when you are aggressive. This is all good, because with last year- what really do they have to lose?

"Cunningham will use the “quarters” formation – three down linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs – in third-down situations to either send Peterson or create that illusion." -Lions Website

This is GREAT! Maybe every once in awhile they will get in and cause problems for other offenses. Then......

...in the very next paragraph...

“We’ve started (working on) that,” said Peterson. “We can start moving around and get a feel for it and confuse our offensive line and make them think there are more people coming than there actually are.”- Lion's Website

...do we really want to confuse the offensive line more than what they already are?

[MXT]

"Making a Good Impression- Rookie S Louis Delmas is Playing with Confidence Amidst Lions' Veterans" - Lion's Website

I am thinking I really like his attitude- still have not seen any film on him yet. My son said he was a “Big Hitter”. Guess we will see (hope so).

I heard briefly somewhere that the Lion’s signed an OT yesterday or the day before- Does anyone have any information?

[Topweasel]

Originally Posted by MXT

"Making a Good Impression- Rookie S Louis Delmas is Playing with Confidence Amidst Lions' Veterans" - Lion's Website

I am thinking I really like his attitude- still have not seen any film on him yet. My son said he was a “Big Hitter”. Guess we will see (hope so).

I heard briefly somewhere that the Lion’s signed an OT yesterday or the day before- Does anyone have any information?

E. Salaam. He last played for Houston. He is a 12 year player, probably brought in to backup Cherilus. My guess is that Schwartz had more time to watch Foster this week and need someone that would challenge him for the backup spot.

[-Deborah-]

Originally Posted by MXT

I heard briefly somewhere that the Lion’s signed an OT yesterday or the day before- Does anyone have any information?

Yep. In the Lions News thread.

[Panoptes]

MXT,

Don't ask about the OTA's.

Just take what the team feeds you and be happy.

Alls good in AP they say.

Trust them.

[Chuck Cunningham]

My guess is that Schwartz had more time to watch Foster this week and need someone that would challenge him for the backup spot.

Did he have to watch him this week, wasn't the game film from the last 2 years enough?

[MXT]

Thanks Topweasel- I heard something quick on the radio about it and did not have the time to look into it at the moment. I believe that the O-line is the area where the Lions needed to do something- (Foster. Backus) I even would like to see a change at center.

Deb: Hello, it has been awhile, hope all has been well-

Gonzo: OTA’s? AP? Sorry (see above) it has been awhile-

Chuck: Schwartz (has not/did not) see any film of the Lions or he would have drafted O-line 1st pick of the draft-

[Panoptes]

OTA = Organized Team Activity

Teams are permitted to conduct up to 14 Organized Team Activity (OTA) sessions as part of their offseason workout programs. In addition, clubs may conduct one mandatory veteran minicamp. Teams that hired a new head coach may hold two additional voluntary minicamps. NFL...

AP = Allen Park (Lions headquarters)

[Desert Lion]

Good as place as any to post this. Has anyone seen this yet?

Scott gets fresh start in Buffalo

Jonathan Scott (Getty Images)
By Tyler Dunne
BFR Publisher
Posted May 24, 2009



After three miserable years in Detroit, Jonathan Scott is thrilled to be in Buffalo. The difference between the two organizations is night and day, the offensive tackle told BuffaloFootballReport.com this past week. The story below...

Jonathan Scott was hours away from hitching a plane to Buffalo, N.Y. last August. His bags were packed. His career, rejuvenated. His attitude, refreshed. That’s what happens when you’re released by the Detroit Lions — newfound joy. After three miserable years in Motown, Scott was amped for a new start in Buffalo.
And at the last second, the Bills called. Jason Peters had finally decided to end his holdout. Scott’s roster spot in-waiting was snatched away. He flew to Green Bay soon after, visiting with 10 more teams in all. Nothing stuck.
Thanks, Jason.
“It was a sticky situation with Jason Peters,” Scott said by phone to BuffaloFootballReport.com this week. “I was going to sign with the Bills, but Peters came back.”
But presto, here he is today, fighting with a batch of holdovers at offensive tackle to replace Peters. The Bills eventually signed Scott in December when Aaron Schobel was placed on injured reserve. Now, Peters is gone for good. After dodging 0-16 futility by getting cut by the Lions, he feels liberated in Buffalo.
The atmosphere, the attitude. It’s all completely different. Scott laughs that he gets paid to play in 15-below weather. But really, he’ll take 70-below. Sure, Scott started here and there in Detroit. But over his three years in Detroit, football became less fun. The emotional high of blocking for Texas along Vince Young’s Rose Bowl joy ride through USC’s defense wore off after Scott was picked in the fifth round by the Lions.

Jonathan Scott had a solid collegiate career blocking for Vince Young.
Getty Images
In Detroit, the life of a lineman was maddening. Scott said the communication breakdowns between the offensive coordinator and his offensive line coach ran rampant. One told him to step left on a play, the other said to step right.
“So which one do I do?” Scott said. “If I don’t it the offensive line way, I won’t be able to play. If I don’t do it the offensive coordinator’s way then I’ll never get on the field. There were always situations like that.”
Chaotic fragmentation. The shoddy separation of powers triggered on-field breakdowns. Scott said the linemen became “chickens with their heads cut off.” Who was supposed to block where was a play-to-play mystery.
“You can sense frustration throughout the entire team,” Scott said. “Cancer is a disease and negative energy can be transmitted easily from one player to the next and one coach to the next. I’ve witnessed situations where coaches aren’t on the same page. So when you try to change all that negative energy and do a 180 on game day, your chances aren’t that great.” Scott praises Buffalo’s coaches for being the antithesis of Detroit’s chaotic bureaucracy. Basic nuances of the offense are linked in a clear hierarchy. At one recent practice, Scott was unsure how to block a certain play. He asked position coach Sean Kugler for the answer. Kugler was unsure. Rather than haphazardly give Scott a knee-jerk answer (as Detroit coaches did), Kugler asked Turk Schonert for the answer.
It relayed back to Scott and the installations continued. Night and day compared to the Lions.
“The offensive line coach is on the exact same page as the coordinator, the coordinator is on the exact same page as the running back coach and the running back coach is on the exact same page as the head coach,” Scott said. “All of the coaches are saying the exact same things when it comes to assignments.”
Langston Walker and Brad Butler are penciled in as Buffalo’s two starting offensive tackles for now, but shuffling and reshuffling is often inevitable. Injuries and production fluctuate at an unpredictable pace along the Bills’ offensive line. So the towering, 6-foot-6, 318-pound Scott definitely has an open opportunity to crack the Bills’ rotation. To differentiate from the pack, Scott is studying beyond his personal duties.

Scott has been stuck on some bad Lions teams in his young career.
Getty Images
He’s learning where Trent Edwards tends to drift in the pocket so he can instinctively slide into the proper real estate. He’s learning which receivers run which routes and which backs bounce which direction.
In short, a broad understanding of the Bills’ offense. Because in Buffalo — unlike Detroit —the offense functions in unison, Scott said. It’s the Buffalo Philharmonic, instead of General Motors.
If a starter goes down at any position, Scott wants to be the one on speed dial.
“I want to be in a situation where they can say, ‘Let’s put Jon in. He can handle it,’” Scott said. “If guys get hurt, I hope they have faith in me to put me in at center, guard or tackle.”
The Bills had multiple opportunities to draft a top-rated tackle in April’s draft. Eben Britton in the first. William Beatty in the second. Jamon Meredith in the fourth. Talented, agile left tackles trickled to Russ Brandon throughout draft weekend.
No thank you. Instead, the front office loaded up at guard — wise overkill to prepare for the vicious 3-4 defenses in the AFC East. The flip side of this theory is that underdogs like Scott get an unexpected green light. More eyeballs will be focused on Scott. After a delayed arrival to Buffalo, he can finally breathe a sigh of relief. He’s out of Detroit, out of misery.
“(In Detroit), if you pleased one person, you’d piss off the next,” Scott said.
And seeing the Bills coast through the draft without a pinch of panic to take an offensive tackle is encouraging. Finally, Scott feels he has an opportunity to cash the check on his potential.
“(The draft) definitely gives a gleam of hope that they want us to compete for that

[Desert Lion]

OOps, Sorry Deb posted this in Lions News. Guess I should have looked harder before posting. I will now give myself a self imposed forum infraction penalty of;

4 lost future postings on any subject, at my discretion
No participating in the next forum poll pertaining to the Lions
Will not be authorized to ridicule the next newbie for starting 10 new threads in his/her first week on the forum.
Also on probabtion for 3 months for any future indicretions of posting news items already posted. Further punishment to be determined by a clandestine group of forum admintration officers.

[-Deborah-]

lol DL.

No self-imposed punishment required. Just give me that darling puppy!!!!

[Desert Lion]

That darling puppy is jy wife Valentines day present. We drove all the way up to Ludington to get him. Found him on puppyfind.com He is a long-haired Chihuahua. Goes by the name "Gary" why Gary? That is spongebobs pet snails name. I guess my wife pays attention when my daughter watches it religously 12 time s day.

BTW, 1st time I had been to Ludington in atleast 30 years. Stayed at the HI express. They have these cool kids suites to stay and a reasonable price(offseason) We may visit in the summer the beach there seem like a neat place. Probably alot of tourists there though.

[-Deborah-]

Yeah the tourists invaded here in Ludington this weekend, but it's not that bad. And the beach is big enough, anyways.

Gary is just precious.

[Malto Marko]

Originally Posted by Desert Lion

Stayed at the HI express.

Do you feel smarter now?

[Desert Lion]

I did the day after........