Off Topic: Detroit Lions

The Oracle · August 15th, 2011, 12:36 PM

C'mon, we can have a Red Wings thread but not a Lions thread? In a Lions forum? 9-7, no playoffs.

lineygoblue · August 15th, 2011, 12:38 PM

Well, I figured if anyone wanted to talk about the LyDowns, they could just step over into Deb's place. But, .. if y'all want a thread here, its fine with me ...

The Oracle · August 15th, 2011, 12:53 PM

I figured this is a little sub divisoin in a community...

WM Wolverine · August 15th, 2011, 02:17 PM

Agree with Oracle, Lions discussion here would be good. They are bat shit crazy in our parent forum.

whodean · August 15th, 2011, 03:31 PM

It is humorous to hear the perpetual preseason optimists at work again.

lineygoblue · August 15th, 2011, 04:19 PM

I finally got to the point where I am absolutely numb to the Detroit Lions.

The way I feel is, if they actually put together a good season, I'll feel good for them.

If they put together a typically poor season, I won't care.

I don't invest any emotional capital in them anymore.

I used to, but I finally learned.

entropy · August 15th, 2011, 08:13 PM

Last Updated: August 15. 2011 1:00AM

Ndamukong Suh: I haven't crossed the line

Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Allen Park— In the aftermath of another roughing the passer penalty, Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has heard from coaches and teammates — and it must sound to him like a symphony of contradiction.
He's hearing, "Stay aggressive.
Don't stop attacking." And in the next breath they say, "But be careful."

"It's a fine line," coach Jim Schwartz said Sunday. "You don't want to take the aggressiveness away, but you have to be aware. We need to do a better job with that."

Suh was called for four personal foul penalties last season and was fined twice.

In Friday's exhibition opener, Suh slammed Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton to the turf as he was releasing the ball. Dalton's helmet flew off, although there was no blow to the head.

Suh was penalized, but so far, not fined.

"They are going to have it out for him now," veteran defensive tackle Corey Williams said.

Telling Suh not to be physical would be like telling the Hulk not to turn green; it's in his DNA.

"You can ask Kyle (Vanden Bosch), the tradition we have at Nebraska, the Black Shirt tradition, is one of aggressiveness and imposing your will on any player that's opposing you," Suh said. "With that, we play at a very high tempo. … That's our nature. That's how I grew up in the game of football."

Telling him to be careful might be futile, too.

Suh will tell you he plays with a controlled, not reckless, aggression. The reason he shoved Bears quarterback Jay Cutler last season instead of tackling him was he saw Cutler get rid of the ball. He held back. Suh was fined for the play.

"It's the reason people play football; aggression is the name of the sport," Suh said. "It means being violent and being very aggressive and getting after the quarterback. That's what you are known for. That's what you do. If you didn't do that then I don't think you'd be playing football in the NFL."

As for Williams' warning he might be becoming a marked man with officials, Suh doesn't seem to be sweating any of that.
"That's not my decision," he said. "For me, it's an opportunity to keep playing and continue to play hard. That's the way I've been taught and that's the way I will continue to play."

As for those who might judge him as a dirty player?

"There's always a fine line between dirtiness and aggressiveness," he said. "I know to this point, in my own heart, I haven't crossed that line by any means."

Schwartz's point to Suh was that officials put the onus on the defensive player to know when the ball is released. But, he also acknowledges the decision has to be made in a blink and it is better to err on the side of the sack.

"It is tough," Schwartz said. "There's at least two different times that I've seen defensive linemen let the quarterback go when they still had the ball and they wound up completing the pass."

Suh said that won't happen to him.

"I will never be in the position where it's 'should I or should I not,'" Suh said. "Either you do it or not."

That was the decision he made against Dalton.

"Oh, you are talking about the play where he was getting ready to throw the ball and I tackled him and fell back with him?" he said, sardonically. "To me, when I am hitting the quarterback and I see the ball still in his hand, I am taking the ball and trying to take him down."

He said it's easy for people to see the replay in slow motion several times and make a judgment.

"But if I am out there at full speed hitting you, and you still have the ball," he said, showing how he saw Dalton with the ball in his right hand, not in any kind of throwing motion. "If you have it like this, you aren't throwing it. Most quarterbacks will tuck it or they will pull it back or throw it away. He still had the ball when I hit him."

The season has changed, but the bottom line for Suh hasn't. You can flag him, you can fine him, you can even malign his intentions — he's still coming, aggressively, violently and unrelentingly, after quarterbacks and running backs.

"They can make it however they want to," he said. "For me, I am just going to go out there and make plays and help my team win."

chris.mccosky@detnews.com

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110815/...#ixzz1V8u6WedE

Jamie H · August 16th, 2011, 08:49 PM

I predict 7-9, though they could go 8-8 if Stafford is healthy, or 6-10, 5-11 if he is not. I will be stunned if they make the playoffs.

Mike · August 16th, 2011, 08:52 PM

2-14

Tom W · August 16th, 2011, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

2-14

Ouch... I just don't see it, though. The Lions have pretty much lost games in every conceivable fashion during the Ford years. I think they may have actually run out of ways to do so.

But until Stafford can prove he can stay in one piece for a season and WCF is still in charge, there's no way I'm getting a full serving of the cornbread.

lineygoblue · August 16th, 2011, 11:14 PM

Me neither, Tom.

The LyDowns could go anywhere from Mike's 2-14, to 10-6. The closer to 10 wins they get, the more surprised I'll be.

They are one Stafford hard hit away from 2-14 suckdom .

WM Wolverine · August 17th, 2011, 01:46 PM

If Shaun Hill is still around he's a decent backup. I'm more worried about the OL protecting the QB's and opening running lanes for their mediocre running backs. Back seven on defense has been terrible forever, haven't followed this off-season but I doubt its been addressed.

hack · August 17th, 2011, 02:12 PM

As much emotional capital as I have invested in the notion that it starts at the top and therefore the Lions must have new ownership before enjoying success, I think the Fords have lucked into a GM/coach/front office team that will hide their buffoonery. Stafford's shoulder is proof that they're still just the Lions, but the rest of the team appears good already and getting better. I think they're in playoff contention this year and wouldn't be surprised if they make it, but I am not yet willing to believe this team blossoms into a contender. They'll be better than mediocre though.

Tom W · August 17th, 2011, 10:05 PM

I'm with you, hack. Although I tend to think that WCF Senior passing the reigns to Junior might be the trick that moves them to a higher level. Billy's not perfect- but he just seems to be better suited to run an NFL franchise. Most importantly, he knows when to delegate- his decision to step down and hire Mulally to run the car company was sheer brilliance.

-Deborah- · August 19th, 2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WM Wolverine

Agree with Oracle, Lions discussion here would be good. They are bat shit crazy in our parent forum.

lol!!

The Oracle · August 19th, 2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WM Wolverine

If Shaun Hill is still around he's a decent backup. I'm more worried about the OL protecting the QB's and opening running lanes for their mediocre running backs. Back seven on defense has been terrible forever, haven't followed this off-season but I doubt its been addressed.

It actually has. They signed Justin Durant from Jacksonville and Stephen Tulloch from Tennessee. They're now above average in the LB core. I actually like our safeties too, CB is what I'm worried most about. Hopefully our Dline can minimize that with pressure.

entropy · August 19th, 2011, 06:34 PM

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf..._lions_nd.html

*JD* · August 20th, 2011, 08:41 AM

9-7. I had them at an optimistic 10-6 before LeShoure went out for the season.

lineygoblue · August 20th, 2011, 12:01 PM

I had them at 8-8 until I remembered that they are the Detroit Lions ...

Rob F · August 20th, 2011, 04:51 PM

Liney---did you get my mail yesterday?

August 15th, 2011, 12:36 PM	#1
The Oracle Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 1,776	Detroit Lions C'mon, we can have a Red Wings thread but not a Lions thread? In a Lions forum? 9-7, no playoffs.

August 15th, 2011, 12:38 PM	#2
lineygoblue Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Owosso, MI Posts: 5,133	Well, I figured if anyone wanted to talk about the LyDowns, they could just step over into Deb's place. But, .. if y'all want a thread here, its fine with me ... __________________ "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden

August 15th, 2011, 02:17 PM	#4
WM Wolverine Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 4,138	Agree with Oracle, Lions discussion here would be good. They are bat shit crazy in our parent forum. __________________ B10 titles: 42 - #1 all-time wins (903) #1 all-time winning percentage (.734)

August 15th, 2011, 03:31 PM	#5
whodean Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: SEC Country (don't hold it against me) Posts: 3,472	It is humorous to hear the perpetual preseason optimists at work again. __________________ Atlanta, GA

August 15th, 2011, 04:19 PM	#6
lineygoblue Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Owosso, MI Posts: 5,133	I finally got to the point where I am absolutely numb to the Detroit Lions. The way I feel is, if they actually put together a good season, I'll feel good for them. If they put together a typically poor season, I won't care. I don't invest any emotional capital in them anymore. I used to, but I finally learned. __________________ "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden

August 15th, 2011, 12:53 PM	#3
The Oracle Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 1,776	I figured this is a little sub divisoin in a community...

August 15th, 2011, 08:13 PM	#7
entropy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Kansas City MO Posts: 4,060	Last Updated: August 15. 2011 1:00AM Ndamukong Suh: I haven't crossed the line Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News Allen Park— In the aftermath of another roughing the passer penalty, Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has heard from coaches and teammates — and it must sound to him like a symphony of contradiction. He's hearing, "Stay aggressive. Don't stop attacking." And in the next breath they say, "But be careful." "It's a fine line," coach Jim Schwartz said Sunday. "You don't want to take the aggressiveness away, but you have to be aware. We need to do a better job with that." Suh was called for four personal foul penalties last season and was fined twice. In Friday's exhibition opener, Suh slammed Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton to the turf as he was releasing the ball. Dalton's helmet flew off, although there was no blow to the head. Suh was penalized, but so far, not fined. "They are going to have it out for him now," veteran defensive tackle Corey Williams said. Telling Suh not to be physical would be like telling the Hulk not to turn green; it's in his DNA. "You can ask Kyle (Vanden Bosch), the tradition we have at Nebraska, the Black Shirt tradition, is one of aggressiveness and imposing your will on any player that's opposing you," Suh said. "With that, we play at a very high tempo. … That's our nature. That's how I grew up in the game of football." Telling him to be careful might be futile, too. Suh will tell you he plays with a controlled, not reckless, aggression. The reason he shoved Bears quarterback Jay Cutler last season instead of tackling him was he saw Cutler get rid of the ball. He held back. Suh was fined for the play. "It's the reason people play football; aggression is the name of the sport," Suh said. "It means being violent and being very aggressive and getting after the quarterback. That's what you are known for. That's what you do. If you didn't do that then I don't think you'd be playing football in the NFL." As for Williams' warning he might be becoming a marked man with officials, Suh doesn't seem to be sweating any of that. "That's not my decision," he said. "For me, it's an opportunity to keep playing and continue to play hard. That's the way I've been taught and that's the way I will continue to play." As for those who might judge him as a dirty player? "There's always a fine line between dirtiness and aggressiveness," he said. "I know to this point, in my own heart, I haven't crossed that line by any means." Schwartz's point to Suh was that officials put the onus on the defensive player to know when the ball is released. But, he also acknowledges the decision has to be made in a blink and it is better to err on the side of the sack. "It is tough," Schwartz said. "There's at least two different times that I've seen defensive linemen let the quarterback go when they still had the ball and they wound up completing the pass." Suh said that won't happen to him. "I will never be in the position where it's 'should I or should I not,'" Suh said. "Either you do it or not." That was the decision he made against Dalton. "Oh, you are talking about the play where he was getting ready to throw the ball and I tackled him and fell back with him?" he said, sardonically. "To me, when I am hitting the quarterback and I see the ball still in his hand, I am taking the ball and trying to take him down." He said it's easy for people to see the replay in slow motion several times and make a judgment. "But if I am out there at full speed hitting you, and you still have the ball," he said, showing how he saw Dalton with the ball in his right hand, not in any kind of throwing motion. "If you have it like this, you aren't throwing it. Most quarterbacks will tuck it or they will pull it back or throw it away. He still had the ball when I hit him." The season has changed, but the bottom line for Suh hasn't. You can flag him, you can fine him, you can even malign his intentions — he's still coming, aggressively, violently and unrelentingly, after quarterbacks and running backs. "They can make it however they want to," he said. "For me, I am just going to go out there and make plays and help my team win." chris.mccosky@detnews.com From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110815/...#ixzz1V8u6WedE __________________ Grammar... The difference between feeling your nuts and feeling you're nuts.

August 16th, 2011, 08:49 PM	#8
Jamie H Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,865	I predict 7-9, though they could go 8-8 if Stafford is healthy, or 6-10, 5-11 if he is not. I will be stunned if they make the playoffs.

August 16th, 2011, 08:52 PM	#9
Mike Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,615	2-14

August 16th, 2011, 11:14 PM	#11
lineygoblue Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Owosso, MI Posts: 5,133	Me neither, Tom. The LyDowns could go anywhere from Mike's 2-14, to 10-6. The closer to 10 wins they get, the more surprised I'll be. They are one Stafford hard hit away from 2-14 suckdom . __________________ "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden

August 17th, 2011, 01:46 PM	#12
WM Wolverine Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 4,138	If Shaun Hill is still around he's a decent backup. I'm more worried about the OL protecting the QB's and opening running lanes for their mediocre running backs. Back seven on defense has been terrible forever, haven't followed this off-season but I doubt its been addressed. __________________ B10 titles: 42 - #1 all-time wins (903) #1 all-time winning percentage (.734)

August 17th, 2011, 02:12 PM	#13
hack Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 4,325	As much emotional capital as I have invested in the notion that it starts at the top and therefore the Lions must have new ownership before enjoying success, I think the Fords have lucked into a GM/coach/front office team that will hide their buffoonery. Stafford's shoulder is proof that they're still just the Lions, but the rest of the team appears good already and getting better. I think they're in playoff contention this year and wouldn't be surprised if they make it, but I am not yet willing to believe this team blossoms into a contender. They'll be better than mediocre though.

August 17th, 2011, 10:05 PM	#14
Tom W Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Livonia, MI Posts: 321	I'm with you, hack. Although I tend to think that WCF Senior passing the reigns to Junior might be the trick that moves them to a higher level. Billy's not perfect- but he just seems to be better suited to run an NFL franchise. Most importantly, he knows when to delegate- his decision to step down and hire Mulally to run the car company was sheer brilliance.

August 19th, 2011, 06:34 PM	#17
entropy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Kansas City MO Posts: 4,060	http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf..._lions_nd.html __________________ Grammar... The difference between feeling your nuts and feeling you're nuts.

August 20th, 2011, 08:41 AM	#18
JD Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: My bags seem to always be packed, USA Posts: 7,791	9-7. I had them at an optimistic 10-6 before LeShoure went out for the season. __________________ The poster formerly known as tin mad dog.

August 20th, 2011, 12:01 PM	#19
lineygoblue Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Owosso, MI Posts: 5,133	I had them at 8-8 until I remembered that they are the Detroit Lions ... __________________ "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden

August 20th, 2011, 04:51 PM	#20
Rob F Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SW Michigan. My 2nd Home is The Big House! Posts: 2,344	Liney---did you get my mail yesterday?