Preseason Opener vs the Browns

There were a lot of positive things to take away from Fridays first preseason game vs the Browns. Lets get one thing straight it was the browns and Weeden isn't an elite qb.

QB
Matthew Stafford looked good. Him and Megatron are clearly in sync. The pick isn't too big of a deal. Shaun HIll looked like a great backup qb. I don't think he's a top 32 qb in this league, but I do feel like he's the next best. I loved picking up Kellen Moore. It's not often I want a guy to get drafted that didn't go to MSU. He just seems like a class act. My opinion is that he doesn't deserve a roster spot. He's really going to have to make some vast improvements. We've all heard it about it, it's just a lack of physical tools. If he comes in during the regular season we are in trouble.

RB
Oh my was I impressed with the running game. I really should combine the OL and the RB here. It was a lot of north running. A one cut and up field if you will by our running backs looked impressive. Good pass protection and caught the ball out of the backfield. Keiland Williams was the work horse of the day. Kevin Smith looked like the first round pick he was. We all know it's not an issue of talent at the position. It's flat and simply health issues. Leshoure was my top RB in his draft ahead of Ingram. What does that mean? Absolutely nothing other then I think he's talented and think there is something to be excited about. He like Fairley needs to get his act together. Let Berry's mistake be your lesson. I was glad to see the Lions realize a guy that doesn't touch the field do any good. It was also a financial move. Cutting Berry didn't really hurt against the cap. Back to the RBs I think we have a talented group. I'm completely off the sign another RB bandwagon. I think the lack of the success has mainly dealt with two main things, injuries and the OL. I hate to say it's the OL, but I will be the first to give them credit as well.

OL
Seems like a good transition. I'm overly excited about the OL, but one guy in particular. Riley Reiff improved the running game vastly. He is a smart football player. The one thing it is hard to explain the OT is let the DE run around. All you have to do is stay in between him and the qb. Let him waste his energy while you use barely anything. There was an inside move were lineman want to latch on and the DE tries to swipe the hands and so many tackles lose their balance and have no power in their arms anymore and can't move their feet because they aren't under them anymore. Reiff just let the DE come to him and just kept sliding his feet. I was highly impressed. I didn't think Reiff was top 15 talent. I think because a lack of tackles and him being the second best he would go earlier then he did. He proved me wrong. He absolutely should be on the field when the regular season starts. Here is my question, do you put the best OL on the field and if that means Reiff playing guard will he regress? Okay kind of a two part question. I'm not sure who is the best. I do think Reiff is better then Cherilus, but maybe we are better off having Cherilus in there and Peterman out. I really want Reiff to be better than Backus and have Backus move to guard. I don't think that is the case. Reiff is a better run blocker and Backus a better pass protector. I don't even question this thought. What about Cherilus moving to guard? I think he is too big. Does Reiff playing guard or RT hurt is potential at playing LT in the future? My opinion I don't think so. I think. I do think it would be tough to transition during the season.

TE
Extremely impressed with this group. Heller, Pettigrew, and Scheffler are all good pass catching TEs. I know Heller doesn't get credit in that category. He sure gets targeted in the red zone for that reason and he has no problem catching the ball. Heller is still a great blocking TE. What impressed me about this group is Scheffler made some tough blocks in the open field. Petttigrew is becoming a more rare breed that excels in both categories.

WR
There are a lot of potential WRs to talk about. I just don't see any surprises here that are going to transition into the regular season. Patrick Edwards looked good. I think we know who we have. Megatron looks like himself. Everybody is asking who the 2 guy is. I don't quite get that question from a scheme standpoint. Young is the vertical threat opposite of CJ and Burleson is the slot receiver. Broyles hopefully the current Wes Welker. I'd prefer not too wonder what if a certain curse gets another one. Honestly Burleson is smarter than Young and more disciplined I think it would be him. We could talk about the other guys. Once the regular season starts It's going ot be CJ, Burleson, Young, and Broyles. Also, have the three great TEs. I really don't see a fifth WR being much of a factor in the regular season. IF you want my opinion on who will be cut, make the roster, and who will make the practice squad let me know and I'll make another article.

Secondary
I wish I could split them up for the simple fact that I wish CBs or S would have done decent. Secondary looked bad. They are going to get picked apart if they don't improve. Positive news. Houston looked like a true #1 that he really never has. Also, the talent is there, it just comes down to reps. Last good news is they tackled well. I should be stoked on that fact alone. Not all was their fault. The LBs in pass coverage weren't exactly the best. Bentley had a great pick. Great potential is there. Talent is clearly there. Just need to learn. Other than tackling well for the safeties. Delmas is hopefully a huge improvement to that group. If you didn't know, the Lions secondary was actually really good last year till the injury bug hit. Early indications if Bentley can cover better. They will be a good group. Double moves worry me with him. His instincts showed on that pick.Still plenty of time to improve for this group.I think this can be a strength area. The safety position worries me the most. Even with Delmas in there, who is opposite of him?

LBs
I was so excited to see the likes of Travis Lewis and Tahir Whitehead. Get the worry some part out of the way. The screen worries me. It was read a tad too late with our second group. I don't think it was run with our starters in there. One second is the difference between being able to make an easy tackle possible pass break up and possible pick, to giving an angle to the OL and having to get off a block. Maybe I had way too high expectations on Tahir and Travis, but all I've been hearing is how good they were. Passing game is where they have a ton to learn and they won't be there anytime soon. When it comes to being  a starter in the league. They will luckily get the Hogue treatment. film and practice are the best thing for them. On field learning would help, but seeing form the sideline if you know what you're looking for is learning you can't get on the field. It's easy to think film can do the same thing, but seeing it with the speed and thinking yourself through and then seeing what the starter did and how productive he did will do great help for them. Against second and third team Browns they did something our LBs haven't been able to do since well I can't even think of the last time. They were able to blitz and effectively get to the qb. Give the DTs some credit.

DE

Impressed me with a group that has high expectations and without Avril. I'm not saying they don't need Avril.  They were better than what I was expecting with Avril which is really saying something. Ronnell Lewis surprised me. There was a play he looked lost and that might be part of it. He has a big learning curve. After looking like he didn't know where he was, he then proceeded to look dominant and I mean unstoppable. Flat and simply exciting raw guy that isn't going to be playing on Sundays till he is consistent. I honestly have no idea if he can get there before the start of the season. I think that would be unbelievable if he could. If he can get a few plays a game, I think he will there by week 8. Next season I absolutely think he will be something to wreaking with. I'm excited about our DEs. I think you're going to see KVBs playing time go down. Should have a fresh Avril late in the game. Which yes he won't be out there every play, but he should be fresher then the OT and should lead to a big payday for him. All DEs really impressed me. Willie Young looked great. Great group here. This probably will be KVBs last season as a Lion, more cap room for Avril and others. As a fan I want him to do amazing as he has resurrected this team and completely changed the work ethic by himself. He deserves so much credit for this team.I compare him to Pudge for the Tigers. He came in when nobody else would and improved the team. I would say that Backus and Railoa would be Bobby Higginson. Under appreciated guy who stuck it out with the team. Thanks Higgy, KVB, Pudge, Backus, and Railoa. you have given us all two teams too be very excited about. Ilitch thanks for the Prince.

DTs

In my opinion they didn't meet the hype last year. They looked above and beyond the hype they received last year. I didn't think that was possible. Down the depth chart everyone looked good. Fairley showed with his speed he could play DE. I'm excited about this group after disappointing me last year. I still worry about over pursuing. Those wham and trap plays killed us last year. This group doesn't necessarily need any stats if other positions do their job. They put pressure up front and don't let the qb step up they are doing their job in the pass game. They can do that on every play. They need to be space eaters and take on double teams. This allows the LBs run free and do their job and it's on them to make the tackle. They can do this. When they get a free pass though they need to be able to squeeze down and take on the pulling guard. They dominated vs the Browns. With one flaw. Nobody read any of the screens. Which makes me worried about over pursuing. Our DTs have played the position long enough to feel out when they are being let through, I don't care what level they played at.

Special Teams

Not happy with this group. Stovall pulled a KVB and fell down and still made a tackle on a punt. Bad news is that it took that long to make a tackle after a long return. We all get excited about a thirty yard play, but giving it up on a punt or kick return is the same thing. Jason seemed to be kicking the ball very high make it difficult to return the ball. Moving the ball up really makes a difference. I've been one that thought we should consider having a kickoff specialist and possibly Jason's successor. I no longer think that this year. Maybe the kickoff team is just that fast. They extremely lacked lane responsibility. No long returns which is something to consider. I'm a little worried, but they can definitely make a tackle before the 20. I think when the season starts you'll see a lot of touchbacks. Returners need to make the team some how and they are going to return everything they can in the preseason. I think Donahue looked good and is going to be the punter. Punt coverage has got to do a better job. Return side nothing to really talk about.


The Detroit Roar over and out hopefully a starting to a Roaring Lions season