joefan71
Pitbulls on Crack
Repost from CBSSports.com
When the Lions step out onto the field this year they will bear little resemblance to last years team.
I agree 5-7 wins; 4 for sure. They could possibly go better than 3-3 in their division. Last year they were blown out in their first games with the Bears and Packers. The second time around they lost by 4 points in both games. Their two losses to the Vikings were by 3 points each. All three of these teams have their own issues to deal with. Can Cutler make the Bears a contender? How will their receivers perform? The Vikings still aren't sure who their starting QB will be and don't know if the Williams' will be suspended for the start of the season? Can the Packers convert from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense in one year?
charlieinfl said,
and
Apparently you think that if a team drafts a quarterback high they should automatically start them irregardless of the situation. Personally, I don't have a problem with protecting such a huge investment.
This is why I believe Culpepper can make the Lions better this season. When the Lions signed Daunte Culpepper last year he was retired, not in game shape, and weighed 292 pounds. To come in and start with less than a week with the playbook behind the worse o-line in the NFL how could you expect any other outcome. He is now down to a trim 260 pounds and will have an offseason of conditioning and learning the playbook under his belt. Culpepper says he is at 100% for the first time since 2004. Arguably, with the supporting cast of Calvin Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, Brandon Pettigrew, and Kevin Smith, Culpepper would actually be in a better position with the 2009 Lions than he was with the 2004 Vikings, his last Pro Bowl year. Culpepper may be the next Kurt Warner, Drew Brees, or Rich Gannon.
To me the key to offensive success for the Lions this year is not their skill players but rather OL Daniel Loper who they signed as a free agent from the Titans where he was a quality backup. Loper is a versatile player who has experience at all guard and tackle positions. This flexibility gives the Lions the ability to plug him in where needed. My guess is he'll play on the left side at either position.
Obviously with all of the off-season moves we will have to wait to see how the o-line gels. The Lions will definitely be better on both sides of the ball than they were last year and if everything goes right they could be this year's Miami.
When the Lions step out onto the field this year they will bear little resemblance to last years team.
I agree 5-7 wins; 4 for sure. They could possibly go better than 3-3 in their division. Last year they were blown out in their first games with the Bears and Packers. The second time around they lost by 4 points in both games. Their two losses to the Vikings were by 3 points each. All three of these teams have their own issues to deal with. Can Cutler make the Bears a contender? How will their receivers perform? The Vikings still aren't sure who their starting QB will be and don't know if the Williams' will be suspended for the start of the season? Can the Packers convert from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense in one year?
charlieinfl said,
and
Apparently you think that if a team drafts a quarterback high they should automatically start them irregardless of the situation. Personally, I don't have a problem with protecting such a huge investment.
This is why I believe Culpepper can make the Lions better this season. When the Lions signed Daunte Culpepper last year he was retired, not in game shape, and weighed 292 pounds. To come in and start with less than a week with the playbook behind the worse o-line in the NFL how could you expect any other outcome. He is now down to a trim 260 pounds and will have an offseason of conditioning and learning the playbook under his belt. Culpepper says he is at 100% for the first time since 2004. Arguably, with the supporting cast of Calvin Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, Brandon Pettigrew, and Kevin Smith, Culpepper would actually be in a better position with the 2009 Lions than he was with the 2004 Vikings, his last Pro Bowl year. Culpepper may be the next Kurt Warner, Drew Brees, or Rich Gannon.
To me the key to offensive success for the Lions this year is not their skill players but rather OL Daniel Loper who they signed as a free agent from the Titans where he was a quality backup. Loper is a versatile player who has experience at all guard and tackle positions. This flexibility gives the Lions the ability to plug him in where needed. My guess is he'll play on the left side at either position.
Obviously with all of the off-season moves we will have to wait to see how the o-line gels. The Lions will definitely be better on both sides of the ball than they were last year and if everything goes right they could be this year's Miami.
