1. If Ernie Sims is ready to play in the next few weeks, where do you put him?
Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: Boy, this will be a situation that will tell us a lot about the internal politics of the Lions with Jim Schwartz as head coach and Martin Mayhew as the team’s primary personnel executive. Ernie Sims, a fan favorite, because of his play as a gutsy, undersized, ball of violence, has been dinged up all season and has not really come close to meeting expectations, aside from a very good game in the loss to the Rams.
With the emergence of DeAndre Levy, who was selected by Mayhew and Schwartz, makes the Millen draftee, Sims, somewhat expendable. There were rumors of Sims’ being dealt, or more specifically, he would have been available for opposing teams, had he not been injured at the NFL trade deadline. Most teams don’t “Wally Pipp” their starters due to injury, and in this case, I believe that the Lions will continues to start Sims when he is healthy, with the caveat that he has competition hot on his heels for playing time. There will be major pressure for him not to make any missteps in his play.
All that being said, in my opinion, what is becoming increasingly likely, and in a move that comprises the type of nasty decision that all ruthless NFL execs have to eventually make, I can just as easily see Mayhew throwing Sims onto the IR and putting himself in a position where that particular problem no longer exists.
Ty, The Lions in Winter: At this point, I think you need Peterson, Foote, Levy, and Sims all on the field as much as possible. I think the best move would be to make JP the primary rush end. Platoon JP with White and Avril, and then have the Foote “center” Sims and Levy. Of course, Gun can mix that up a little bit, call some zone blitzes where Sims rushes and Peterson drops back, etc.; ultimately I think Sims is better on the field than on the bench, especially over a Turk McBride or Jason Hunter.
Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: This question may be moot, as reports are Sims has a hamstring tear which could take up to 8 weeks to heal. But where do I put Sims when he is ready to contribute to what’s almost assured to be a 1-15 season?
At the the end of the year, I put Sims on the trading block.
Till that time, I continue to play him at OLB, but he’s sharing time with DeAndre Levy…who is looking more and more like the future for the Lions at the position. Levy has made more plays this season than Sims has in his entire Detroit career.
Sims will never live up to his high 1st round draft status. He is what he is at this point of his career, and what he isn’t is something the Lions desperately need…a big time playmaker. Sims has been nothing more than a middling linebacker with Detroit. Good enough to get playing time, but not good enough to be a star.
The upcoming draft is going to be a solid one, and if Martin Mayhew can get a decent pick for Sims (a 3rd round selection) you jump at it.
With two years left on Sims’ deal after the ‘09 season, it’s time to cut bait on another Matt Millen draft pick, and move on.
Jeff, Motown Madmen: Sims is a good player but I think he’s underperformed in his time this season. He has showed some flashes of a top player but not enough to warrant an automatic start. I don’t believe that you play a guy just because he’s supposed to be the starter. Play whomever is performing and contributing the most. That’s how you win games. I’d start Levy in his spot and rotate in Sims until he can be better evaluated in game situations and then, play whomever is doing the best. I think it’s a moot point because Sims is likely to be out for at least a month, which could mean gone for the rest of the season. Why risk further injury when there’s really nothing to gain by having him on the field this season. Let him heal and get ready for 2010.
Josh, Roar of the Lions: In this case, “ready to play” means totally healthy. With Levy playing at least as well (in many cases better) than Sims, so long as Levy keeps progressing Sims doesn’t see the field until every bruise is healed. If Levy plateaus, or regresses, then Sims will be back in rotation with him sooner rather than later as they battle for playing time. Nothing would be better for the Lions out of this situation than for Levy to take this opportunity in both hands and run it to the house.
Deacon Blades Boyd, CofS: Great question and here’s the perfect answer. Put Ernie in his usual WLB position. Move Levy to the strong side where he can use his speed and coverage abilities the best. Then move Peterson in as a rush end so we can get some pressure. Few better plans then this.
Reverend Spielman, CofS: I don’t think theres any way he goes back into the starting lineup for this season, unless it’s to showcase him for a trade in the offseason. Most analysts have said that Sims has been a very good player in a bad defense but I disagree wholeheartedly with this argument. He’s been part of the problem since he was drafted. He has incredible physical tools but he plays too fast and it costs the Lions defense every time a team runs a cut back play. Levy is a far more fundamentally sound player and I think he’ll be entrenched as our WLB for quite some time. Sims will be traded in the offseason for a draft pick.
2. Jeff Backus hasn’t been horrific the last week or two. Is there any way he’s back with the Lions next season?
Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: Jeff Backus, according to “Killer” Kowalski, has made the coaches really happy with his play this season. When he has made mistakes, with our acute hypersensitivity towards his being error prone, we have all noticed them, because they have been particularly costly.
Consider this (Oh, the horror!), the “backbone” of the current Lions offensive line, Backus and Dom Raiola, have both been starters for 10 years, and are not likely to be able to continue to maintain the level of play which they are currently playing it, obviously a point of contention among fans, for much longer. In a lot of ways, the Lions offensive line, as bad as it is, could easily be a lot worse in the next couple of years, especially given the lack of development by Gosder Cherilus, who has had a less than stellar season.
So, yes, I believe that Backus will be back for the next few seasons, but with this in mind, if Martin Mayhew is proactive at all, he had better begin the process of considering life without Backus and Raiola, which as we all know as Lions fans/fatalists, will ultimately make us feel that we had better be careful what we had wished for.
Ty, The Lions in Winter: Backus has never been “horrific”. Right now, I think if they can get a younger guy who’s at least no worse–and free themselves from Backus’s enormous contract–they should. OTOH, “younger and at least as good as Backus” is going to be very, very, very hard to come by. If the Lions draft in the Top 5, I don’t see any of the 2010 OTs being worth that pick. A mid-round pick would have to surprise. As much it’ll pain some to read, I think Backus is here through to the end of 2010, at least.
Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: Yes, it’s quite possible. Even likely.
In order, the Lions’ 3 biggest priorities in the draft and free agency will be as follows: Defense, defense and then, even more defense. Meaning the Lions can be competitive with the offense currently in place, including the much derided Backus.
Would I be happy with overpaid and utterly average Backus returning for another season? Not really, but there are much bigger issues the Lions must tackle, including their tackling. The defensive line and backfield are a joke. Even with the sometimes cringe inducing Backus holding down LT, the Lions’ offensive line may not be great, but it isn’t guffaw inducing.
The Lions will go with Backus for one more season, then we can all have a happy new year when one of Millen’s worst long-term contracts finally goes bye-bye at the end of 2010.
Jeff, Motown Madmen: No. The Lions need someone who can protect Stafford. Backus just can’t do it. He’s the worst left tackle in the league. Here’s a great article by Seattle Lion Fan on Bleacher Report. He did a great study of all the tackles in the NFL who start and have at least 100 games in. Backus ranked dead last. Time to pick up a tackle or, better yet, snag one in the 2010 draft (Trent Williams or Russell Okung).
Josh, Roar of the Lions: Yes. While I think they would love to bring in someone to compete with at least — even if it is a fellow verteran on the downside of his career — there are just too many other, more glaring, needs to fill. Like, oh say a defensive line and a secondary perhaps?? I’m certain the Lions were disappointed the Dolphins paoched their project LT before he really had time to develop, and maybe push Backus next ifseason.
There doesn’t seem to be a lot of strength at LT in this draft — it is more tilted to the defensive side (which is good because that is where the Lions need help!). As he showed last draft, Mayhew won’t reach for “need” above talent — that is how you get a mediocre to awful team. There are so many holes on the Lions, how can they not take the most talented guy at one of the many positions of need? If that is a LT in the high rounds come draft day, I don’t think they will hesitate to replace Backus. But if things don’t fall right, I think the Lions are okay (not happy) to live with him another year — and bring in some possibles and hope for a miracle. It didn’t work in the secondary this year (outside of choosing talent in Delmas). What choice did Mayhew really have? The house was empty, the credit cards were all maxed out, and the mortgage was in foreclosure.
Only time will allow the Lions enough shots at quality FA and enough draft picks to fix this mess. It is that time, and the lack of talent around him, that will give Backus yet another year.
Deacon Blades Boyd, CofS: Stupid question. Of course he is. There is absolutely no doubt we’re stuck with him for next season and probably the 2011 season. Like it or not, he’s ours.
Reverend Spielman, CofS: I’m quite sure the only reason Lions coaches are “happy” with Backus’s play is to give the impression to the rest of the league that he’s still a decent player. That’s not the case IMO. There are 2 years left on his deal and the Lions can not afford to waste 2 years with him when there will be several good FA options on the market this year. I don’t think they’ll address this position in the draft but rather make a run at one of the premier young LT’s available.(Marcus McNeill, Jared Gaither, Charlie Johnson)
3. Is there any way possible the Lions beat the Vikings this week?
Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: Uhm, ohhh, unh, well, no! The Lions are regressing at a rapid pace and even if they make this game interesting for a brief period of time, in NFL circles it is harvest season, and the Lions will get chopped down by the Vikings, because the wheat always get separated from the chaff, in the end. The Lions are amid a 2-30 stretch and have lost 16 straight road games. That’s not counting their ineptitude against the Vikings at the Metrodome.
Oh, and of course, the presence of Brett Favre, with an already very good Vikings team around him, makes the Vikings a lot less likely to surrender a home game against a weak team like the Lions. I don’t know how much more clearly that I can state it, the Lions are a bad team, this is likely to be the first game where we start to watch Lions pull up lame, exhibit signs of going through the motions, and in the end, will get dominated in all facets of the game, not just special teams.
Vikings 31 Lions 13
Ty, The Lions in Winter: It’s certainly possible. The Vikes’ top corner, Antoine Winfield, is out. Megatron and Stafford should both be healthier than they were last week. Moreover, both the Seahawks and the Vikings are Tampa 2 teams, so the lessons learned on film from last Sunday will be directly applicable to this Sunday. Here’s hoping Stafford learns to avoid the deep LBs–and that Megatron shakes the rust off.
Defensively, I think Favre is much more comfortable going downfield now than he was in Week 2; the Lions need to pressure him early and force a couple of turnovers. Favre’s also nursing a groin pull, so he may be less mobile. My advice to Gunther: blitz, blitz, blitz, and make sure he doesn’t beat you deep.
Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: No way possible. Hell, no. No chance whatsoever.Not going to happen.
Even in a league known for their “Any given Sunday” mantra, the Lions have no shot at winning in Minnesota. Detroit wins on the road as often as often as William Clay Ford makes a good General Manager hire.
Nothing ever changes for Detroit teams at the Baggiedome. Bad things always, and I mean ALWAYS, take place…save for one thing. The Lions won’t have a quarterback run out of the back of the end zone in this loss. Hey, it’s progress…
Vikings 34 – Lions 17
Jeff, Motown Madmen: Never say never but, no, never. The Vikings are one of the top teams in the NFL and will be vying for a spot in the big dance. Favre is (unfortunately) playing well and they will be very tough to stop. Vegas has the line at -17 in favor of the Vikes with the O/U at 47. I’d have to take the Vikes against the spread and the over. I believe that the Lions will be embarrassed this week against Minnesota. Vikings 42 – Lions 24.
Josh, Roar of the Lions: Possible? Yes. Probable? Well… I have this 10 sided dice in front of me. Say I were to roll it — and if it rolls a 10, roll it again and add the results together. I would keep rolling the dice only so long as I keep rolling 10’s. If I sit down right now and roll all 10’s in a row until I finally roll a 9, and end up with 129… that is about the probability the Lions win this week. Possible to roll 10 12 times in a row, and then a 9? Yes. Probable? {Laughs at the thought of coming up with any half-way printable way to follow that up. Decides there isn’t one and hits “submit” button.}
Deacon Blades Boyd, CofS: Another stupid question. No. Not a chance in hell. Everytime the Lions play the Vikes everyone calls it a “trap game” or a game the Lions could win. In fact, every time the Lions play the Vikes, over 50% of the “experts” select the Lions to win. Funny thing is, the Lions haven’t beaten the Vikes in I believe 5 or 6 years. That streak will continue this week.
Reverend Spielman, CofS: I could do some long drawn out analysis but there is only one conclusion: No. Not a chance in hell.
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