9/11/11. Lions @ Buccaneers. Fox 1:05pm. Week 1!

[Shinma]

The Lions look towards the 2011 season with a renewed enthusiasm.
GO LIONS!

Presents the following thread:

AT

(0-0) @ (0-0)

Your Detroit Lions
Vs.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC Conference
Week 1

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
Date: September 11th, 2010
Time: 1:05pm EST

This game is a presentation of:

Television Broadcast Provided by:

DirecTV HD channel 711

Radio Broadcast Provided by:

Also on Westwood One

Fan Made 2011 promo

2011 NY Times Detroit Lions Season Preview

Football America is ready for the Detroit Lions to grow up. It’s almost as if America is the stern father sitting the Lions down and telling them that in Year 3 under the Jim Schwartz, it’s time they assume more responsibility and at least start pulling their weight on Thanksgiving. They’re not the N.F.C. North’s cute little rebuilders anymore.

The Lions won their final four games to finish a bearable 6-10 last season. For the first time in 11 years they ranked in the top 20 in both offensive and defensive scoring (15th offensively, 19th defensively). General Manager Martin Mayhew has earned positive marks for the way he’s constructed this roster. Mayhew’s top four picks in 2009 – quarterback Matthew Stafford, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, safety Louis Delmas and linebacker DeAndre Levy – are all significant starters. So are his top two selections of 2010 – defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and running back Jahvid Best.

Stafford and Suh are behind whatever optimism there is in the Motor City. Stafford is telling everyone this is the year he finally plays all 16 games (shoulder and knee problems derailed him for six games as a rookie, and another shoulder injury sidelined him for 13 as a sophomore). Suh told NFL Network back in March that there’s no reason the Lions can’t go 16-0 in 2011. This may be hyperbole to a Bill Walton-like degree, but it was perceived by most as refreshing bravado from an organization that seemingly hasn’t boasted about anything since its Portsmouth days.

Any success Detroit has in 2011 figures to stem largely from the 24-year-old Suh. He’s the first superstar the defense has had since Lem Barney. But Suh’s words are only remotely sensible if Stafford backs up his words. And even then, success for this team is far from promised.

Before last season’s four-game winning streak, the Lions had won just 4 of their last 45 games. In the Motor City, figures like that usually lead to a government takeover of part of your company.

Can we be O.K. with tempering our expectations for this seemingly rising club? Can “pulling their weight on Thanksgiving” simply mean not being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention entering that game? What are fair expectations for Detroit?

Offense

If Matthew Stafford doesn’t stay healthy, you can forget all about this team in 2011. Shaun Hill is a fine backup, but he doesn’t have a lively enough arm to consistently move the chains behind a bad offensive line. And this is a bad offensive line – especially when it comes to generating power in the run game.

Center Dominic Raiola is an emotional tone setter, but as an undersized 32-year-old, he has become the weak link. Raiola has trouble holding ground in pass protection. His greatest attribute has always been mobility, but guards Rob Sims and Stephen Peterman are not dynamic enough to create consistent running lanes off movement. Sims tends to be sloppy, especially when forced to operate laterally. Peterman struggles to generate power from a standstill. Unfortunately, Detroit doesn’t have many options behind these three. Backup center Rudy Niswanger is simply Raiola without the veteran wisdom, and Dylan Gandy was unable to stick around in Indianapolis, where the qualifications for being an interior lineman don’t go too far beyond “having a pulse.”

The offensive tackles are almost equally precarious. Veteran mainstay Jeff Backus is coming off a torn pectoral muscle suffered during an off-season workout. He should be ready for the opener, but at 34 (on Sept. 21) and coming off a very average ’10 campaign, he might catch management glancing over at last year’s fourth-round pick, Jason Fox.

Management would ostensibly love to glance at someone other than the disappointing Gosder Cherilus on the right side. But alas, the ’08 first-round pick remains entrenched in a starting role despite having been benched on a fairly regular basis throughout his career. Cherilus actually has decent all-around ability, but poor footwork and initial technique off the snap lead to too many blown plays.

The offensive line’s limitations will continue to hinder the ground game. The Lions are fortunate that running backs Jahvid Best, Maurice Morris and Jerome Harrison possess enough speed to turn the corner (where run-blocking becomes a little less relevant), but ultimately, a sustainable offense requires at least a serviceable inside rushing attack.

Best needs to be more patient when it comes to setting up blocks and trusting the play design. He has impressive open-field skills and superb receiving ability (48 catches as a rookie) but he’s a de facto third-down back if his 3.2 yards per carry average doesn’t increase. Third-down duties may have been the plan for Best in 2011, actually. The Lions spent a second-round pick on Mikel Leshoure, but the Rashard Mendenhall-like runner blew out an Achilles’ in training camp.

You can see why this offense needs a potential gunslinger like Stafford rather than a caretaker like Hill. Coordinator Scott Linehan will have to rely heavily on his aerial weapons in 2011. Fortunately, those weapons are potent. Stafford, in limited samples, has shown to be a pocket passer with the toughness and arm strength to stare down the gun barrel while defenders close in. Sinewy superstar Calvin Johnson is the most gifted wide receiver in the N.F.L. With more consistent route running, he’d be borderline unguardable (double-team or not).

No. 2 receiver Nate Burleson is a perfect fit for Linehan’s downfield-oriented scheme. Next to him is second-round rookie Titus Young, who has the quickness and route running acumen to make an instant impact out of the slot. That’s assuming he can overcome early hamstring issues and beat out long-underrated ex-Bear Rashied Davis (a player of similar style) and ’09 third-round pick Derrick Williams (a non-achiever to this point).

Brandon Pettigrew is the best tight end that casual fans have never heard of. Last season, coming off a torn ACL, the stout blocker showed improved quickness and fluidity. The soft-handed Pettigrew looks like a lumbering runner but actually has the deceptive fluidity to beat ordinary man coverage. With athletic pass-catcher (and only pass-catcher) Tony Scheffler also around, the Lions can expect at least 100 receptions out of the tight end position this season.

Defense

Ndamukong Suh invigorated this defense the way Steve Jobs invigorated Apple. His mere presence brings instant credibility. And, unlike Jobs, Suh doesn’t even have an extensive track record. He’s managed to set a tone by being the most nimble 300-plus-pound defensive lineman in the N.F.L. and having an unmatched motor and mean streak. He’s physically strong, but his greatest attribute is his agility, which allows him to operate out of a variety of movement-based methods (both pre-and post-snap). This movement makes him extremely difficult to crisply double-team and allows defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek to employ creative stunts and amoeba alignments with the down four.

Because of this, the Lions get about 125 percent of the production they should from their front line. That’s saying something when you consider it’s not an untalented group. Sheer effort and near-perfect technique allow motivational veteran Kyle Vanden Bosch to command the full attention of opposing offenses. This is part of the reason supple fourth-year pro Cliff Avril racked up 8.5 sacks in 2010. Both of these defensive ends can also play the run effectively. So can Lawrence Jackson, a big former first-round pick of Seattle who doesn’t have the speed to be a premier edge-rusher but has mobility that’s ideal for a backup in this scheme.

Detroit’s firepower inside could be downright terrifying if first-round pick Nick Fairley pans out. He’s a question mark (many questioned his motor in college, and he’s missed virtually all of training camp recovering from foot surgery). Fairley’s presence could be huge, but the Lions don’t really need him. Corey Williams is an aggressive attacker who, because he can play more of a two-gap style, might be an even sounder run defender than Suh. (Suh has uncanny playmaking prowess, but there’s a bit of a hit-or-miss element to his game.) What’s more, Sammie Hill has discovered his identity as an energetic clogger spelling Williams.

The stunts and presnap looks with defensive linemen represent the only aggressively creative tactic that Gunther Cunningham uses on a regular basis. Behind the line is a traditional zone-playing back seven. Detroit’s commitment to Cover 2 methods makes life in pass defense a little easier on young safeties Louis Delmas and Amari Spievey. That’s fine, though Delmas, now in his third season and one of the meanest hitters in the league, could be ready to assume more responsibility. He has the speed to cover large chunks of ground – it’s just a matter of whether he can read routes and make good decisions away from the box. Spievey is a work in progress entering Year 2. Don’t be surprised if free-agent pickup Erik Coleman, a versatile veteran who played in a somewhat similar scheme as a Falcon, pushes him for playing time.

The Lions badly need a playmaker who can sprinkle some flavor on this cornerback group. Too often Detroit’s defensive backs play with an overly cautious focus on technique. That can make them vulnerable to giving up big plays (as athletic but jittery Alphonso Smith showed last season). Smith is back but in a reserve role. Chris Houston remains a starter, though he lacks quick-twitch and great recovery speed and sometimes seems allergic to physical contact. Newcomer Eric Wright is the opposite in terms of physicality. He also has good quickness, though if all these traits were sterling, he would never have lost his job in Cleveland. Wright is the best option at right cornerback, although ex-Bear Nathan Vasher has more Cover 2 experience than anyone on this roster, and it shows.

It will be interesting to see how Detroit’s linebacking unit performs. There’s a lot of talent here but no sure things. DeAndre Levy is the jewel. He runs like a deer and has good instincts. It’s a little surprising the Lions aren’t using him in the featured Mike ‘backer role. The likely thinking behind that is steady but mundane ex-Titan Stephen Tulloch doesn’t have the speed to cover the flats in this scheme. So, Tulloch will occupy the middle, with undependable Ashlee Palmer backing him up.

Rounding out the unit is Justin Durant, an intriguingly athletic fifth-year pro whom the Jaguars did not re-sign because he has too many on-and-off-the-field ups and downs. Martin Mayhew is betting Durant can mine the rest of his considerable talent, but he hedged the bet by giving him only a two-year deal. The telling factor might be whether coaches trust Durant enough to play him ahead of finesse nickel linebacker Bobby Carpenter on passing downs. He’ll have to show sharper diagnostic skills here than he did in Jacksonville.

Special Teams

Jason Hanson may die of old age before the Lions get rid of him. Knee problems in 2010 and 41 years of age didn’t scare off the front office from bringing him back under a contract that expires after 2012. Hanson still has good range. Nick Harris and the punt coverage unit allowed 11.7 yards per return in 2010, which is too much. In their own return game, the Lions have a lightning bug in Stefan Logan.

Bottom Line

If Stafford stays healthy, a realistic goal would be 9-7.

Predicted Finish: 2nd N.F.C. North
By ANDY BENOIT

Notes:
2010 record: 6-10

Offensive rank

Yards: 17th Points: 15th Passing yards: 12th Rushing yards: 23rd

Defensive rank

Yards: 21st Points: 19th Passing yards: 16th Rushing yards: 24th

2011 home games: Chiefs, Bears, 49ers, Falcons, Panthers, Packers, Vikings, Chargers

2011 away games: Buccaneers, Vikings, Cowboys, Broncos, Bears, Saints, Raiders, Packers

Division champions: 1935, 1983, 1991, 1993

Conference champions: 1952, 1953, 1954, 1947

NFL champions: 1935, 1952, 1953, 1957

Playoff record: 7-10

NFC North Standings:
Detroit (0-0) .000
Chicago (0-0) .000
Green Bay (0-0) .000
Minnesota (0-0) .000

Lions Injury News:
None yet announced

Buccaneers Injury News:
None yet announced

[TigersSlappy]

MUST WIN! lol

[Hart]

Lions have a chance to create some buzz early with this game. The Bucs, even more so than the Lions, are considered one of the up and coming teams in the NFL by the national media.

[Shinma]

MUST WIN! lol

Well, the Lions ARE on a 4 game winning streak... heh.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

I wonder if the Big Buck will be at the game? I heard he frequents Buccaneers games since he lives down there. I hope he is, because he'll finally get to see a coach that just might make him 2nd all time for most wins as a Lions coach.

[drownwithyou]

Can't wait!

Great thread as usual Shinma.

[Yoda]

Really can't wait for this! Wish I was still in Tampa.

[New_Age_X]

I def think we can take this game. The Bucs had a ton of money to spend and I don't see an improved team from last year. Almost the same team just with another year under there belts. Just don't think it will be able to be enough to beat a team that improved the ay we did.

[Nolan]

Is Fairley ready to go for this one?

[T&P_Fan]

Lions will win this going away, Stafford and Co. will score early and often.

34-13. I cannot wait for this weekend, UM at 8 on Saturday and then the Lions at 1 on Sunday, great football weekend.

[drownwithyou]

Is Fairley ready to go for this one?

Nope.

I bet he's out a few weeks.

[MC24]

Don't think the Bucs are going to be able to stop Stafford or Calvin.

The key for our defense is:

1. Stop the run.

2. Apply pressure but try to stay home (don't over pursue) because Freeman likes to scramble.


Think the Lions win 27-20

[Chaz]

I wonder if the Big Buck will be at the game? I heard he frequents Buccaneers games since he lives down there. I hope he is, because he'll finally get to see a coach that just might make him 2nd all time for most wins as a Lions coach.

He lives in Tarpon Springs where I work...I have not seen him for a while, but he is around...I will be at the game with some fans out of the Detroit area and hopefully there will be as many as last time!!! I can't wait to see the beat down the Lions will give..


Go Lions

[djhutch]

Lions 33
Bucs 20

[Stormin' Norman]

Nope.

I bet he's out a few weeks.

I would love for Fairly to just get in game shape and only play enough to pick up the speed of the game until about week 10 so he can be a fresh new monster for that end of the season stretch.

[JAYB]

31- 27 Lions.

Tampa with a late score to make it look close.

GO LIONS!

[DukeCityRadical]

I think this game is close -- real close. Tampa is in the same boat that we are -- to advance to the playoffs out of our respective divisions, we will both need every win we can get. I doubt they've forgotten that we basically knocked them out of the playoff hunt last year, either. Both teams are young, talented, and hopeful of making the playoffs. Tampa has also been investing recently in their D-line through the draft, and I think we're gonna score fewer points than average due to pressure on Stafford.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this one go to overtime, and I guess I'll make that my prediction: 23-20 Lions in OT.

[wingedwheel]

Lions 24
Buccaneers 17

[treyKemper]

1.5 point favorites on 5 different betting lines that I checked. That looked weird, I did a double take to make sure I was reading them correctly.

[EatEmUpTigers711]

1.5 point favorites on 5 different betting lines that I checked. That looked weird, I did a double take to make sure I was reading them correctly.

Huh? Everywhere I've seen has them as underdogs still.

[treyKemper]

You're right. Now the best I've found is even, up to getting 2.

I must've just picked the right time to check them. I know this game is starting to catch a lot of national media attention and no one knows how to call it. Exciting wither way!

[RedRamage]

I really worried about our run game. I have faith in the passing attack, but if we can't at least get something going on the ground I fear that we will become a little too one dimensional offensively... and more importantly that we won't be able to get those short yardage gains like 3rd and 1 or goal line situations.

Defense will be good... they'll give up the occasional big play where our average secondary lets a receiver too open or Freeman scrambles for a big gain, but over all I think they will put in a solid performance.

[RedRamage]

This guys does NOT have a smooth delivery, but he does have some decent things to say. I think he's right about Riola being a possible liability and he's right about our running game being suspect.

I do believe that he undervalues our receiving core. He seems to view it as CJ + some scrubs. Bureleson is a legit threat by himself and Pettigrew is a serious threat as well. I don't know enough about the Bucs to know if they are over/under valued by him, but I think he was right on with his other opinions of Detroit so I'm going to assume he's close. Should be a close, interesting game.

My biggest fear is Freeman's mobility... if he can elude the DL long enough he'll easily pick apart the secondary.

[MotownWebGuy]

The guy in the video above looks to be smoking something...

[John_Brian_K]

This guys does NOT have a smooth delivery, but he does have some decent things to say. I think he's right about Riola being a possible liability and he's right about our running game being suspect.

I do believe that he undervalues our receiving core. He seems to view it as CJ + some scrubs. Bureleson is a legit threat by himself and Pettigrew is a serious threat as well. I don't know enough about the Bucs to know if they are over/under valued by him, but I think he was right on with his other opinions of Detroit so I'm going to assume he's close. Should be a close, interesting game.

My biggest fear is Freeman's mobility... if he can elude the DL long enough he'll easily pick apart the secondary.

Can the Lions please get some of the new helmets out to some of these networks. Last year I still saw them using the old helmet in match up talks a few times. This year there should be no excuse for the old helmets.

[Gozer]

can someone PM me a site for the game(or several sites) thanks.

[lesgoblu02]

directv.com

[sagnam]

directv.com

Technically he wants DIRECTV: Sports : NFL SUNDAY TICKET : Online & Mobile

[Shinma]

The Directv for PS3 plus the PS3 set to remote play will allow you to watch any nfl game on your PSP connected to an internet connection. Pretty awesome, actually.

[Johnny Mac]

If I got Sunday Ticket to go, would local games be blacked out? Im going to be in the state but not around a TV this sunday, would be able to get it on my phone though

[Shinma]

The Directv for PS3 goes by IP address. You would likely be blacked out/forced to use local tv if you have a Florida IP address.

[GuitarGod19]

Did anyone hear this Heath Evans comment about this matchup? This tool says the Lions will be exposed this week and backs it up with an erroneous fact saying that Schwartz and Stafford are 0-2 in their first two starts, and that Stafford had 0 TDs and 3 INTs in those games...wtf is he talking about? How did this guy get on NFL Network? This is the same piece of work that said Cam Newton brings more to the table than Stafford...Lombardi called him out and made him look like a fool. This just aggrivates and annoyes me to no end.

[Jwood]

Did anyone hear this Heath Evans comment about this matchup? This tool says the Lions will be exposed this week and backs it up with an erroneous fact saying that Schwartz and Stafford are 0-2 in their first two starts, and that Stafford had 0 TDs and 3 INTs in those games...wtf is he talking about? How did this guy get on NFL Network? This is the same piece of work that said Cam Newton brings more to the table than Stafford...Lombardi called him out and made him look like a fool. This just aggrivates and annoyes me to no end.

I love the NFL network, but Heath Evans has to go. He is one of these guys that says stupid things to get people excited. At least that is what I hope because if he believes the crap that he says than I just feel sorry for him.

[Big Frame]

Im calling it right now. When the Bucs kick off, Logan is taking it to the house.

[EatEmUpTigers711]

I really worried about our run game. I have faith in the passing attack, but if we can't at least get something going on the ground I fear that we will become a little too one dimensional offensively... and more importantly that we won't be able to get those short yardage gains like 3rd and 1 or goal line situations.

Defense will be good... they'll give up the occasional big play where our average secondary lets a receiver too open or Freeman scrambles for a big gain, but over all I think they will put in a solid performance.

While they have added some new pieces, many of their starters on defense were on the same team last year that ended up as the 5th worst rushing defense in the league. Now through the preseason, they improved to 13th overall, but obviously, we know that's not just the numbers for the starters. That being said, we finished 6th in the preseason for rushing yards per game. Obviously I would be much more comfortable with a guy like Leshoure healthy and on the team, but I think Best, Morris, Harrison & now Williams should at least give us a decent ground game.

We fought it out with them last year, and came away with the W, despite staring our third string QB, our backup RB, and having some injuries on defense. So I'm optimistic as to what happens this year when we've got most of our guys healthy and ready to go.

[Bambino Lino]

Well, the Lions ARE on a 4 game winning streak... heh.

4 game? We're on an 8 game winning streak, home boy. Get your facts straight! :P

I'm pretty stoked for this season to finally be upon us! I'd be more stoked if Notre Dame/Michigan wasn't this week and the Tigers weren't rolling in 1st place right now, but still. Let's start this season off right!

[Shinma]

Heh. I was only including last seasons 4 game season ending win-streak.

[Shinma]

This game opened at TB -3.5.

It's now a pick 'em.

Wow.

[TigerPride8301]

So excited for the Lions season to be starting!!!! Lions win....final score 31-21.

[PuNk42AE]

This should end up being a pretty good game, two up and coming teams with the Lions have more Nationally known players. Lions win by 4.