Week 1 - Rams at Lions (-9)

Scotty D · 08-31-2012, 05:23 PM

Discuss the game and make a prediction

Prowler · 08-31-2012, 05:34 PM

Is Jeff Fisher worth 12 points? We're going to beat them by 3 touchdowns. I don't know how they are going to stop our offense.

5 Keys to watch for:

Did we improve our run defense after having a full offseason?
Who steps up in our secondary?
Can we fake like we can run the ball?
How does Backus look? Can he still handle his duties?
Has overall team discipline improved?

Scotty D · 08-31-2012, 05:53 PM

Bradford has been playing really well in the preseason and has more a little worried. I don't think their secondary can stop Stafford though.

georgiafan · 09-04-2012, 02:39 PM

For anyone wandering WR Kris Durham who is on the practice squad is best friends/ former room mates with Stafford when they was in UGA. Also Shaun Chapas the FB was his former team mate

Maybe This Year Mayhew · 09-04-2012, 03:52 PM

Lions 34 Rams 17

Key matchup Steven Jackson vs the Lions run defense. Steven Jackson has a good day it stays competitvie. He had 114 in 2010 against the same Dline sans Fairley but very different back 7 but the Lions still destroyed the Rams with Shaun Hill. They added Dahl(who struggled last year in run blocking) and Center Scott Wells since then but their LG and RT still suck. Jackson still gets his yards but doesn't mean the Rams score alot.

Lions Tackles vs Rams DEs. Rams interior blows and 1st round DT Brockers is hurt. So it's Quinn/James Hall vs Backus and Long vs Gosder. Long had a tremendous year last year so Gosder needs to play like he did in the playoff run last year. Backus will be steady but will be tested by Quinn.

Lions passing offense should do very well as the Rams safeties and LB coverage still suck other than Laurinitus. Finnegan, Jenkins and Bradley Fletcher isnt' a bad trio of CBs but Calvin is Calvin and still works over Finnegan IMO. Young vs Jenkins is an interesting young matchup that hopefully Young wins but if not the Tight Ends will have a big day down the seam and underneath against the Rams shoddy other coverage.

Lions by 17 unless the Rams secondary or DEs have the game of their lives. If they do Lions still win close. If both Jackson run wild and secondary/DE step up then it's up to Bradford to be the difference maker with no weapons. If Bradford can make big throws under pressure Rams could upset. They beat the Saints last year so don't sleep on them but Lions by 17 is the best bet.

Scotty D · 09-06-2012, 08:05 PM

Houston and Delmas not playing could be a problem.

Maybe This Year Mayhew · 09-07-2012, 10:06 AM

Lions have won without Houston/Delmas before. Vikings game last year for instance. And it was 31-14 until Webb started running not passing. Plus the Raider game and Charger game Houston was playing but playing hurt especially the Raider game.

Lacey IMO is better than Wright, Bentley has just as almost much experience as Berry had coming in last year(.5 game to 0 games) and Bentley was actually drafted unlike Berry, Coleman is better than Spievey. Lions are 3-0 with Wendling receiving significant snaps (Tampa 2010, Bears 2011 MNF and Raiders 2011).

BRAVEHEART · 09-07-2012, 10:17 AM

Confident win. I don't see them keeping up with us.

Xiomera · 09-09-2012, 09:59 AM

Lions 31, Rams 20

2 TDs for Calvin, 1 each for KSmith and Keiland. Sack for Willie Young

WMD · 09-09-2012, 10:07 AM

Lions win 45-10 DOMINATION

Prowler · 09-09-2012, 10:08 AM

wow...that St Louis oline blows...

LT: Roger Saffold- 10 penalties, 11 sacks allowed, 17 hurries in only 9 games
LG: Rokevious Watkins- 5th round rookie this year
C: Scott Wells-2 penalties, 2 sacks, 6 hurries in 16 games for Packers
RG: Harvey Dahl- 8 penalties, 1 sack, 15 hurries in 16 games
RT: Barry Richardson- 9 penalties, 8 sacks, 36 hurries in 16 games
Swing Tackle: Wayne Hunter- 11 pen, 11 sacks, 32 hurries in 16 games

Besides Wells and Dahl, those guys are garbage. For comparison's sake, here's Detroit's.

LT: Jeff Backus- 11 penalties, 7 sacks, 36 hurries in 16 games
LG: Rob Sims- 3 penalties, 1 sack, 11 hurries in 16 games
C: Dom Raiola- 6 penalties, 4 sacks, 10 hurries in 16 games
RG: Peterman- 5 penalties, 2 sacks, 13 hurries in 16 games
RT: Gosder- 4 penalties, 9 sacks, 26 hurries in 16 games

Its going to take 2 people to stop Suh, and their interior guys are a bit weaker anyway. I expect our defensive ends to have the games of their lives today.

WMD · 09-09-2012, 11:11 AM

No way, the STL OLine rules! Remember?? They picked Jason Smith, one of the guys we should've picked instead of Stafford. He's their Franchise LT for the next decade.

Xiomera · 09-09-2012, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WMD

No way, the STL OLine rules! Remember?? They picked Jason Smith, one of the guys we should've picked instead of Stafford. He's their Franchise LT for the next decade.

He got traded to the Jets ...

WMD · 09-09-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xiomera

He got traded to the Jets ...

BRAVEHEART · 09-09-2012, 12:30 PM

Didn't like that lazy pick thrown by Staff. Didn't even seem like he looked. Props to Janoris for making a play on the ball.

Xiomera · 09-09-2012, 01:30 PM

I ******* hate Titus "The Clown" Young, who apparently did the most pretentious thing ever and added "Sr." to the back of his jersey.

Why the **** is Broyles inactive?

WMD · 09-09-2012, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xiomera

I ******* hate Titus "The Clown" Young, who apparently did the most pretentious thing ever and added "Sr." to the back of his jersey.

Xiomera · 09-09-2012, 02:19 PM

It'd be fine if he wasn't a ******* clown who costs his team. Just like last year's antics

BRAVEHEART · 09-09-2012, 03:14 PM

Hopefully this is a wake up call.

Xiomera · 09-09-2012, 03:16 PM

Hopefully Schwartz kicks some ass this week in meetings and practices.

Brothgar · 09-09-2012, 08:06 PM

Scotty D · 09-09-2012, 11:36 PM

Janoris would have been the better short term pick, Reiff is the long term pick. Time will tell how it plays out. Reiff will probably slide in to LT next year. Is it harder to find a starting CB or OT? Good OTs never hit free agency and try trading for one. Still, kind of wish we had Jenkins on our team.

I don't know what was up with Stafford. Could have had 4 or 5 INTs. S

Suh had one the better plays I've seen from him. Was engaged with the lineman and reached one arm out to grab Stephen Jackson and stopped him in his tracks.

Couldn't lose this one because going in to SF next weekend is going to be a tough win to pull out.

1-0 at the end of the day. Really need Delmas and Houston back.

Iamcanadian · 09-10-2012, 04:07 PM

Even with all the mistakes, they showed they could turn it on when the game was on the line like all great teams can. Winning tough games like this just builds in confidence that they are never out of a game. I'm still expecting 12 wins minimum this season.

noondog · 09-10-2012, 05:18 PM

^^ I agree with this (12 wins might be a little much). It will take a couple of weeks to get into any sort of a groove. The fact that we came from behind to win shows a lot of character.

Our secondary is just getting worse by the minute though. Hopefully Bentley is not out for any length of time, but I hope Mayhew is looking hard at some trade options to get a bona fide CB on the roster. Scary...

Prowler · 09-10-2012, 08:14 PM

Moss, Crabtree, and Vernon Davis will destroy our secondary...