Gentle Lion’s fans,

Finally the hopes and dreams of another season of disappointment are relegated to the trash heap of expectations. Yes, there are still two games remaining for current players to demonstrate their worth for another year’s employment. Nothing else left but hype and bloviating about our upcoming 63rd year of rebuilding.

This game captured all of the inadequacies of the entire season. Lousy 3rd down conversions, no run game to speak of, ineffective QB protection, penalties, and defensive secondary failures. In addition, play calling was ‘stale’. Makes one pine for the old days with W. Fontes.

Maybe the Lions can ameliorate fan frustrations by executing ‘old time football’ against the Packers and Vikings.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

The blog was “dark” for two weeks.  Thanksgiving’s game caused so much gastric re flux that it could not be put into words.  No TV availability last week prohibited meaningful commentary.

 However, this weeks game against the Cardinals was just plain boring.  Just what you would expect from two out of contention teams.  Watching, if not on mute, or listening on the radio was like withstanding an assault of bad tasting leftovers on the third day.  Appeared obvious that Stafford was not 100%.  Rest assured the remaining games will be just as bland, win or lose.

Listening via radio it was interesting to hear Lomas criticise the offensive plan during the second half.  Refreshing but probably a “no,no”.   Zenner is a reasonable speciality asset but his final minutes drive was way above his pay grade.  Speaking of which, Blount should fade way into retirement at seasons’ end.

Get ready for the siren song and fuselage of ‘rebuilding BS’ for the rest of the season.  Maybe, Santa will contribute to our 62nd year of rebuilding.      

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Detroit had a running game until the injury of Johnson. Bleak omen for the rest of the season. Blount seems to second guess his self to much and gets stuffed. Third down conversion are still miserable. Touchdown opportunities need to be ‘cashed in’ instead of settling for field goals. Major weakness against good teams. A gigantic improvement of only one penalty for 5 yards.

I think Newton had an ‘off’ day even though he threw for 331 yards. His receivers dropped catch-able passes. The 2 point gamble at game’s end was a gamble by a team out of contention for the playoffs.

Keep your optimism in check until after the Packer’s game.

marvinudy

Gentle Lion’s fans,

If you had any doubts, this game punctuated all the flaws, shortcoming and fallacious enthrallment about this being the season of recovery. Stafford continued to function as a pinata. Hopefully, he survives to seasons’ end. Even though the Lions are weak in many areas, this game squarely falls on the entire coaching staff. Ugly does not do justice in describing the overall team performance in this game. I highly suggest some sort of self medication prior to the remaining games. Unfortunately, there are still 7 games on the schedule so gird your loins and make ready the brown paper bags.

The singular pertinent question remains as to why other NFL teams have descended into the depths of mediocrity and risen to respectability and the Lions languish after only 61 years of rebuilding.

marvinudy

Gentle Lion’s fans,

The Vikings put an end to this seasons’ pipe dream of a ‘work in progress’. Little did we know that Stafford was put on a ‘run for your life’ or ‘eat dirt’ diet. The harbinger of futility was evident on the very first play of the game. How do you have a significant time of possession and still not out score the opposing team? Play Detroit Lion’s style football and let the Vikings make the most of every scoring opportunity. And yes Lion’s penalties are back in vogue and making sure they are scheduled to do the most damage.

The entire coaching staff looked like they were attending a funeral. Partrica’s facial expression and body language looked more like coach Bobby Ross who ‘threw in the towel’ early. Time to break out the brown paper sacks for all the souls that attend or watch games on TV. We’re watching the destruction of a great quarterback by and inept organization.

Well, it’s time to face reality and resume the position of our 62nd year of rebuilding.

marvinudy

Gentle Lion’s fans,

It’s really hard to be a Detroit Lion’s fan without a masochist’s personality flaw. Sunday’s game against Seattle was made to order. Stafford did his magic for the games first score and then team ‘B’ showed up. Seahawk’s running backs must have been exhausted exploiting Detroit’s defense against their ‘run game’. No need to mention Detroit’s pathetic running game. All it produced was a lopsided time of possession. Ball control anyone? Wilson found the defensive backfield’s weak spot and ate them up.

Special teams were not to be outdone. Beside a kickoff fumble, the “creme de la cremes” was allowing Seattle’s punter to run for a first down when his original intention was to accept a safety. Brown paper bag anyone?

An 8-8 season now looks optimistic. Get ready for the shrill siren claim of the “final fix” is eminent with the ” insert your favorite” addition or hiring to emerge from the shadows preceding our Sixty First year of rebuilding.

marvinudy

Gentle Lion’s fans,

A very special family event prevented me from watching or listening to the game. The reason: my father-in-law was celebrating his 101st birthday. On the previous Saturday evening he was honored at the 2018 U.S. Navy Ball & Awards Banquet at the Motor City Casio. Retired and active ‘brass’ were in attendance and respectively participated in honoring Dad. On Sunday, his birthday, he was honored at a gala hosted at his assisted living facility with full honors from VFW honor guard and the city mayor. Truly days to remember by all the ‘kids’, grand kids, and great grand kids who participated.

Now the Lion’s game. The salient statistic was that Stafford made only 22 passing attempts. And out of nowhere, a running game finally showed up. Only time will determine if this was a fluke. Remember we’ve been down this road before. Seattle will be a good validation test.

marvinudy

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Well you saw the unbelievable. A vaunted kicker missing four field goal attempts and an extra point. Just a ‘small’ donation of 13 points on the scoreboard favoring the Lions. Thank you Packers. On the performance side, the Lions ‘only’ gave up over 500 yards of Packer offence. Rodgers had more time than Prescott during the Dallas game. Green Bay pass receivers ran around like squirrels trying to get open. Meanwhile the Detroit defensive rush was playing patty-cake with the Packers offensive line. Credit to the Detroit pass coverage protection.

Lions allowed 30 first downs and but manged to generate 16 of there own. How’s that for defensive ‘stopping’ power? Even though Green Bay donated and extra 50 yards on penalties, they maintained a time of possession advantage. “Stats like this are a contender do not make”, with apologies to Yoda. Take the win with a ‘grain of salt’.

Hooray for the ‘bye’ week and time for peptic ulcer to heal.

marvinudy

Gentle Lion’s fans,

When Stafford led the team to a touchdown and left 1:50 left on the clock, in your gut you just knew what was coming. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is the Lion’s well earned albatross. Elliot is in deed a great running back but the Lions make him look spectacular. Somehow the secondary defense forgot that running backs are also eligible receivers. Dallas opened up running lanes for Elliot big enough to move 3 abreast 18 wheel semis through.

In addition, “stupid penalties” are back in vogue. Of particular note is the defense lining up off-side on a critical down assisting a Dallas drive. Eight penalties negated any effectiveness of a lethargic 96 yard running game. Dak Prescott could have installed a ‘porch swing’ for sun tan purposes since he had plenty of time to locate his pass receivers. If this performance was a harbinger of things to come, games against Green Bay and Chicago might require a semi paralytic anesthetic to prevent muscular spasms just to endure watching.

Please, no more ‘code’ worded speeches. We all saw the game and it was unacceptable. Fix it.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Wow. Did the Lion’s improve or have the Patriots lost their edge? Doesn’t matter. This satisfying win was a long time coming. Admittedly, apprehension was ever present for the Lion’s to do one of their spectacular “shoot yourself in the foot” moments and blow the game.

Now onto the good ‘stuff’. Time of possession was lopsided and mainly due to the resurrection of a running game. Johnson and Blount mitigated previous Lion’s single dimension offense. Kudos to open field tackling and the smother job done on the Gronk. New England graciously contributed with dropped passes and errant throws by Brady who may actually be mortal. And, really stupid penalties were notably for the most part absent in this game.

After watching how the Packers and Vikings played in their respective game, this season could be real interesting in spite of the 0-2 start. Let us not be overwhelmed with joy because based on the past 60 years, reality may be lurking in the shadows and can be a ‘bitch’ when offended by blind optimism. However, the after glow was earned by loyal Lion’s fans suffering for what seemed forever. May the ‘ghost’ of Bobby Lane be finally laid to rest.

marvinudy