After a few weeks off, the Lions Congregation is back to preach the gospel of Schwartz!
1. Who starts at LG and RG this season?
Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: With this week’s addition of Ephraim Salaam, I am inclined to think that if Salaam should improbably beat out Backus for the starting LT job, Backus would slide inside to LG.
Otherwise, a scenario that I feel is much more likely to play out is that Daniel Loper will beat out Damien Cook and Manny Ramirez for the starting LG role, robbing the Lions of some much-needed versatility in the process. Stephen Peterman will hold off the competition on the right side.
My out-of-the-box, really improbable but somewhat desirable scenario is Salaam winning one of the two tackle jobs, Backus assuming the other, and the massive Gosder Cherilus assuming the LG job, with Loper remaining the crucial sixth lineman who capably fills in where necessary.
Ty, The Lions in Winter: I’m going to go with the boring answer and say Daniel Loper and Stephen Peterman. The “Backus to Guard” thing was only happening if the Lions went with an LT in the first round, and they didn’t, so forget about that. Loper is a natural tackle, but his size and versatility will give him the inside track at guard. Toniu Fonoti is an angry mountain masquerading as a man, but even if he’s gotten his weight under control and he’s back in love with football and he’s totally committed, he’s also not an All-Pro. He’s a tremendous prospect who never approached his potential; meanwhile Loper is a credentialed young veteran whose career is still on the rise. I’d love to see Manny Ramirez put it together–I’d argue he’s the most talented guard on the roster–but I can’t realistically hope for that at this point. Peterman has the contract and the prior experience with OL Coach George Yarno, and Loper’s got the best resume up until this point. The signing of veteran OT Ephraim Salaam means they won’t need Loper as a swing tackle, so I expect him to have the inside track at LG.
Dave, Birk’s Eye View: Stephen Peterman will get the nod at right guard, Daniel Loper at left guard.
Phil, MLive: There are a lot of variables involved in making this call. Guard is a position that’s up in the air, even more so than most of the Lions’ other positions. That said, I think Steven Peterman is someone you can count on to be starting the first game. He’s big and experienced, and plays with a mean streak. Furthermore, he’s got a history with offensive line coach George Yarno. Though he played on the right side, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Lions attempt to move him over to the left side, and start Manny Ramirez on the right side. While Ramirez hasn’t done anything to stand out, if the Lions are going to give him a chance, it will be this year. It’s tough to say who’s going to wind up on the other side, though. Toniu Fonoti may turn out to be a big signing if he can show some of the ability he did while with the Chargers. My money’s on Ramirez, though, to show he’s earned a chance.
Another possibility that’s been thrown out there with the Ephraim Salaam signing is that the Lions are going to move Jeff Backus over to left guard and start Salaam at left tackle. I doubt that’s something they’re really considering, though.
Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: I originally thought all the talk of Jeff Backus moving to guard was just that, talk. But the recent signing of Ephraim Salaam changes my thinking. I believe the Lions brought in Salaam to be more than just a depth guy. Backus isn’t exactly a world beater at left tackle (even if he’s paid like one), signing Salaam gives the Lions the option of moving Backus over if (and that’s a BIG if) he proves capable of taking over the position.
So I’ll go out on a limb, and say the Lions’ starting guards will be the utterly average Stephen Peterman at RG, and the utterly average, and playing out of position, Jeff Backus, at LG.
Think of it this way; do the Lions have a better o-line with Salaam on the bench, Backus at LT, and God knows who at LG, or with Salaam at LT, Backus at LG, and God knows who on the bench? You already know the correct answer…
Jeff, Motown Madmen: Damion Cook and Steven Peterman, respectively. There could be an outside chance that Toniu Fonoti, if he plays well, could get a shot at the starting LG gig ahead of Ramirez. I’m not too thrilled with this group, or the entire o-line. I’m hoping that with the new coaching regime in place, they’ll be able to get the team more organized and playing as a cohesive unit instead of running around doing not much and letting the quarterback get killed. They need to be able to help the run game so that they’ll be able to air it out to CJ at will. I’m beginning to have faith in the new coaches and am looking forward to how the line plays as a unit.
Josh, Detroit Lions Fan 1979: This is a pretty easy one for me to answer: LG: Daniel Loper, RG: Stephen Peterman
Loper was signed to be a starter, and will be given every opportunity to win the starting LG position this ifseason. If his performances in Tennessee were any indication, he should easily win the job over Cook and Ramirez.
Stephen Peterman was a great pickup when the Lions got him — he had played well before an injury, and ended up in Bill Parcells’ doghouse. While not quite as deep and dark as Mike Martz’s doghouse, it was pretty darned close. It was also a contract year for him. Let’s not forget that Damien Woody ended up at RT in 2007 because Peterman out-played him at OG and took his spot. He and Cherilus were playing well as a tandem, and Smith ran well right behind them — especially later in the season..
The Lions didn’t sign Peterman to the contract they did to have him ride the pine — they did so to keep two promising, performing young linemen together on the right side of the line. I’m looking forward to how both will do in Linehan’s offense, as I think the right side of the line will now continue to be a strength for the next few years at least.
Deacon Blades Boyd, CofS: Stephen Peterman and ???. I’ve always liked Peterman and I think he’ll really show he’s an everyday player in this league. He won’t be an all pro but I think he has the make up to be a top 15 player for his position. As for the other guard spot, who cares… Seriously, you have 4 players who are pretty much identical in every aspect.
Reverend Spielman, CofS: I’ve got to believe that Peterman is a lock to start on the right side next to Cherilus. I’m hoping Daniel Loper will steal the other spot in camp but I think it’s going to be Manny Ramirez in there in Week 1.
2. How many games will the Lions sell out this year?
Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: I believe that the Lions will “sell out” three games. There will be three reported “sell outs”, meanwhile there will be a veritable sea of empty club level seats at each of those games, as per usual. I think that the Lions will sell out the Steelers game, Thanksgiving against the Packers (obviously) and the home opener against Minnesota.
Should Matthew Stafford set the league afire, then budget-strapped, but inconsolably-excited asses will occupy once empty Ford Field seats with a previously unknown rapidity.
Ty, The Lions in Winter: Oh, great question. As the self-appointed flamekeeper of Lions optimism, I’m going to say 8–especially if either of the first two games is a win. This fan base has proven time and time and time again that they’ll turn out to support their team through thick and thin; it took a decade of scraping the bottom of the barrel (and finally, becoming the bottom of the barrel) before the sellout streak stopped. If the Lions go down to Nawlins and win, the first game will sell out, the Kool-Aid will flow through the Motown streets like rainwater, and from Week 2 on we’re talking sellouts.
Dave, Birk’s Eye View: Optimism reigns early, and it helps that Green Bay and Chicago come to town in the first two months. I’ll say four – the first three home games, plus Thanksgiving. Even Matthew Stafford’s first start won’t sell out.
Phil, MLive: I’m guessing six sellouts. If the home opener (vs. Minnesota) doesn’t sell out, the Lions will be in big trouble without pulling off some big wins over the course of the season. If, as I expect, the team does sell out that first one, you have to see how they fared in the first two games. If they’re 2-0, the Redskins game will be a sellout. If not, it’ll be hard to see them beating Washington for the first time since wooly mammoth roamed the land. I’m guessing it’s not a sellout. You can almost certainly toss out the Rams game. Cleveland is so close that there’ll be enough rabid Browns and Lions fans to sell it out. Green Bay generally views Ford Field as Lambeau East so they’ll c’mon down. Arizona will sell out if they’re good again this year. Then you close the season with the Bears game, which will be a sellout.
Of course, this all changes if the Lions show signs of competitiveness over the season. Detroit fans aren’t greedy. They’ve given a ton, having received nothing back. The thrill of a non-Matt Millen regime just might be enough to entice the fans to sell out each game. I’m not counting on it, but I still think there will be more sellouts than non.
Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: Lions fans have been burned far too many times, so not even a relatively fast start (in the Lions’ case, a “fast” start would be considered winning one game in the first half of the season) will entice the fans to sell out Ford Field. 0-16 seasons do tend to make a fanbase skittish.
It’ll be a struggle, and take some arm-twisting and a 24 hour extension, but tradition wins out. The Lions will sell out on Thanksgiving Day. Their showcase game will be the only sellout of the season. Sorry, Mr. Ford.
Jeff, Motown Madmen: Sell out? I think they’ll sellout the first game Stafford starts and the Thanksgiving day game (might be the same game). After the last 8 years, a lot of “fans” have grown sour on the Lions. I think more fans will stay home. It costs a small fortune to attend a professional sporting event and the economy in Detroit, unfortunately, sucks. With the collapse of Chrysler and GM, jobs will be even more scarce and money will be better spent elsewhere.
Josh, Detroit Lions Fan 1979: No Clue. My guess is we have many blackouts ahead unless they win early and often — which seems like a long shot. I will say they do better than expected, and that they will sell out 4 games. No logic, just guessing.
Deacon Blades Boyd, CofS: Two. Home opener and Thanksgiving. Since they will go 3-14, (if they are extremely lucky) there are no other games that will be even close to sold out.
Reverend Spielman, CofS: I’m going to say they sell out 5, purely due to the Stafford effect. I think curiousity will drive fans into Ford Field after he takes over the starting gig from Daunte.
3. Kevin Smith believes this is a playoff team. Do you?
Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: Not yet, I appreciate Kevin’s enthusiasm and willingness to stick his neck out, but even Jon Kitna thinks that Smith’s pronouncements are extremely premature.
I hope that he proves all of us wrong, including the Lions, who seemingly don’t see the same promise in Smith’s abilities that Lions fans do. There are too many personnel question marks to believe otherwise.
Ty, The Lions in Winter: Well, there’s no doubt that this is a playoff team in 2004. Daunte Culpepper, Grady Jackson, Julian Peterson, Larry Foote, Anthony Henry, and Philip Buchanon were all amongst the elite at their positions back then. If you are willing to wipe the 0-16 slate completely clean and look at just talent and coaches, I’d say this is a 9-7 or better offense, and probably a 6-10 defense. I’d say that 9-7 is probably the absolute upper limit of what this team can achieve; that’s assuming that Gunther authors his life’s masterwork in the defensive playbook. 9-7 won’t earn a wildcard, given how stacked the NFC East and NFC South are . . . and I think the Vikes are strong, and the Pack and Bears are stronger than they were last year. I don’t think 9-7 gets you there; so NO, I don’t believe this is a playoff team–but I’d be a lot less surprised than most if it happened.
Dave, Birk’s Eye View: Not a chance. The Lions will be improved, there’s no doubt about that. But they still have too many holes on both lines (especially if Grady Jackson is suspended for a few games). I think you’re looking at a four- or five-win team that inches up in 2010 and competes for the playoffs in 2011.
Phil, MLive: It’s very easy to say no, simply because “that’s the way it’s always been.” I don’t go for that, though. Yes, it’s been a rough decade for Lions fans, but things have not always been so hopeless. Detroit was a consistently competitive team during the 90s. Even if you want to say that’s an anomaly, why isn’t it possible for that to happen again? That said, no, I don’t see this as being a playoff team. Not yet. They do seem to be heading in the right direction, though. I’ll hold off on making a prediction of their record. While I don’t see them as being bound for the post-season, that doesn’t mean they’re a shoo-in for 3-13.
Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: Playoffs? PLAYOFFS? Uh…no. Next question.
Jeff, Motown Madmen: No, I don’t. They aren’t the Falcons or Dolphins. I believe they have, at best, an outside chance in the North but them winning more than 5-6 games this year is probably a pipe dream. I would love nothing more than to be shown wrong. I think the team was better last year than it’s 0-16 record and a lot of the problems were due to extremely poor coaching and injuries but not enough so they make the playoffs.
Josh, Detroit Lions Fan 1979: If the Lions get very lucky, and all of their draft picks were solid home-runs, and the other teams in the division have a lot of bad luck, and the Lions get very lucky…
Nope. They are at best an 8 win team at this point (which is still pretty optimistic, all things considered). The Dline in particular is pretty raw and how well the young bucks like Cohen, Avril, Gill, Fluellen, and Hill step up will make or break it along with the health of DeWayne White. The Linebacker unit is solid, but the secondary is also a big question mark at this point and again, young guys like Delmas, Bullocks and Keith Smith will really need to step up.
Also, you have uncertainty at the QB position — is this the “toss it to Randy (CJ) and pray” Culpepper of 04, or the toss it in the air and pray it’s my guy who catches it post-moss Culpepper. Also, how quickly Stafford develops will be another key — and is something that is nothing but guesses at this point.
With the questions that are there, coupled with the potential that is there — the Lions COULD be a playoff team IF they pull through on all counts… that is one big IF too. Reality and prudent sense leads me to see more of the 4-8 win range at this point, depending on the bounce of the ball, and the development of the players. It may change as camp and the preseason take place, but right now Kevin is confident, and that is good.
After all, don’t we WANT the Lions’ starting RB to have a bit of swagger?
Deacon Blades Boyd, CofS: Yeah, the Lions are a playoff team. Just like North Korea is testing long range missiles so they can use them for satellites. Just like Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Just like the earth is the center of the universe. Just like the world is flat. Just like George Bush was a GREAT president. Just like Dane Cook is funny. (in case you don’t get it, the Lions have no shot at winning 4 games let alone a shot at the playoffs)
Reverend Spielman, CofS: No, for the first time in years, I’m not predicting a playoff run for the team. However, I do think they’ll be much improved and win 6 games this year. Who knows, with the state of the NFC North, that might be enough.
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