Are the lions really as bad as they seem?

[SmootSmack]

I watched the Lions several times last year, and what always stood out is how bad they are in the trenches. They can get those big passes in the open field (of course Roy E. isn't there anymore) but they had no idea how to operate in the red zone and in short yardage situations. I thought they might rectify that this year with Martz gone, but they're even worse in those situations this year. The Lions have no concept of running the ball, wearing out the opponent, controlling the clock, all the things the Redskins excel at.

[rypper11]

The Browns are a mid-level team. The Rams are playing inspired since dumping Linehan (and they have 3 of the better skill players in the league). Why do people think either of these teams are horrible but somehow the Eagles are great?
The Lions on the other hand are historically bad. Like, '76 Bucs bad. They are definitely looking at the #1 overall pick (hopefully another in the top 10 if the Pokes implode). If they score a TD Blache might pummel someone on the sidelines.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by rypper11

The Browns are a mid-level team. The Rams are playing inspired since dumping Linehan (and they have 3 of the better skill players in the league). Why do people think either of these teams are horrible but somehow the Eagles are great?
The Lions on the other hand are historically bad. Like, '76 Bucs bad. They are definitely looking at the #1 overall pick (hopefully another in the top 10 if the Pokes implode). If they score a TD Blache might pummel someone on the sidelines.

Because the Eagles beat the Rams by like 5 TDs? And the crappy Cowboys beat the Browns by 3 TDs.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Because the Eagles beat the Rams by like 5 TDs? And the crappy Cowboys beat the Browns by 3 TDs.

You can be damn sure today's Rams would give today's Eagles a much, much tighter game. They're obviously a much better team with Haslett calling the shots.

The Cowboy's were 100% healthy week 1, and more importantly they hadn't faced a lick of adversity. The week after week pounding the NFL doles out tests a man's resiliency and toughness. The Cowboys' players have neither. They are coddled and babied and poorly coached, and it shows plain as day.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by GMScud

You can be damn sure today's Rams would give today's Eagles a much, much tighter game. They're obviously a much better team with Haslett calling the shots.

The Cowboy's were 100% healthy week 1, and more importantly they hadn't faced a lick of adversity. The week after week pounding the NFL doles out tests a man's resiliency and toughness. The Cowboys' players have neither. They are coddled and babied and poorly coached, and it shows plain as day.

Fair points. The Rams pass defense has absoultely turned it around under Haslett, and with Donnie Avery finding a niche in the offense, maybe there is hope for a Bulger rebound as well.

And yeah, the Cowboys at top health are much stronger than the Cowboys are right now, but still, the Eagles all but beat them in Texas Stadium at full health. So if Philly>than 100% health Cowboys, and the Rams were way worse than Philly, but then got a lot better and now are (arguably) better than the Cowboys, I still think it's more Cowboys got worse than Rams got good.

But I agree with you that they met somewhere in the middle.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Fair points. The Rams pass defense has absoultely turned it around under Haslett, and with Donnie Avery finding a niche in the offense, maybe there is hope for a Bulger rebound as well.

And yeah, the Cowboys at top health are much stronger than the Cowboys are right now, but still, the Eagles all but beat them in Texas Stadium at full health. So if Philly>than 100% health Cowboys, and the Rams were way worse than Philly, but then got a lot better and now are (arguably) better than the Cowboys, I still think it's more Cowboys got worse than Rams got good.

But I agree with you that they met somewhere in the middle.

Yeah, I think that's definintely the case. The Cowboys have myraid of big problems: A meddlesome owner who is a bad personnel guy, injuries, a poor head coach, and a team full of players about as mentally tough as a psych ward.

St. Louis on the other hand has some nice talent on both sides of the ball, and finally has a coach they seem to believe in.

As far as your points about Philly- who knows what you're going to get with that team? One week they'll look like a top contender, the next they look confused and unfocused. They are wildly inconsistent IMO.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by rypper11

The Browns are a mid-level team. The Rams are playing inspired since dumping Linehan (and they have 3 of the better skill players in the league). Why do people think either of these teams are horrible but somehow the Eagles are great?
The Lions on the other hand are historically bad. Like, '76 Bucs bad. They are definitely looking at the #1 overall pick (hopefully another in the top 10 if the Pokes implode). If they score a TD Blache might pummel someone on the sidelines.

Yes, let's hope the Lions have two top-10 picks next year!

[Lotus]

Orlovsky lacks experience apart from experience running out of the end zone. Hammer him early and often and he will make mistakes. We need to find our pass rush.

[itvnetop]

Skins by 17... They are who we thought they were!

[johnerotten]

Originally Posted by itvnetop

Skins by 17... They are who we thought they were!

just a minute,does'nt dennis green have that patented?

[Gmanc711]

With the Redskins, the way they keep teams in games, there are very very few times where I feel confident in a blowout (ask anyone how nervous I was for the St. Louis game)....but with Detroit...I'm feeling a complete blowout. I really am not worried about this game at all..the Lions really are that bad.

St. Louis had some things going for them at the time they played us (not saying we still didtn lay an egg)...but I really look at Detroit and can't see a single positive...There really is no excuse to not win this game...really theres no excuse to not win this game by at minimum double digits.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Gmanc711

With the Redskins, the way they keep teams in games, there are very very few times where I feel confident in a blowout (ask anyone how nervous I was for the St. Louis game)....but with Detroit...I'm feeling a complete blowout. I really am not worried about this game at all..the Lions really are that bad.

St. Louis had some things going for them at the time they played us (not saying we still didtn lay an egg)...but I really look at Detroit and can't see a single positive...There really is no excuse to not win this game...really theres no excuse to not win this game by at minimum double digits.

I always preach the whole "never underestimate anyone" thing, but I tend to agree with you here. We thumped Detroit big time last year, and since then they've gotten much worse and we've improved significantly. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't win by two TDs.

[hail_2_da_skins]

Don't underestimate the Lions. They always play above their talent at home and have nothing to lose. The Lions have some talented players, just like the Rams, and on any Sunday, they can put it all together. The Redskins need to put them away early. It would be nice to see a blowout and not have to hold on at the end of the game.

[DarkKnight]

No! lets not be damn fools and start looking at that big Monday Nighter when we play Pitt! lets play them like they were a top team, bring the a game and we should advance to 6-2!

[hesscl34]

All I have to say is any given Sunday. I don't like thinking anything but WINNING. If you focus on how bad another team is, then you aren't focusing on how good we have to be to win every week.