Sunday, October 17, 2004

Lions thrown to the Packers

Well, we certainly had that wrong. The Packers completely dominated the Lions today, and took serious wind out of the Honolulu Blue and Silver's momentum. This was a game that a team truly on the rise should have won at home, and MUST compete in. Which they did not.

To be fair to Joey, this is essentially the same team they finished with last year. No big play receivers, and no big RBs, either. Pinner was woeful, and Joey was the leading rusher. Joey could find nothing open downfield, often resorting to scrambling fruitlessly for yardage. Finally, he threw a big play pick that is the kind of play they have successfully avoided this year.

Let's be serious. This is a team that made 5 first downs. In....the...game! 1-11 on third down (missing the last 11 of the game). Ran 40 offensive plays, roughly half what the Packers did. Held the ball for 20:19--only one third of the game.

Given that, its hard to be tough on the D. They were up against it. Not that they played very well, but they were up against it. Lots of missed tackles (how does that guy get around Lewis for their second TD?) And explain how Green could run those sweeps, have copious Lion pursuit and still squirt through for 8-9 yards.

The sole bright spot was Eddie Drummond, the Mel Gray of a new century. What a great lift you get when the other team scores, and you run it back into their territory. Going three and out is less of a lift after that.

Well, next is the Giants, a tough team coming off the bye week. We are likely to be .500 after that one--especially on the road. Mooch doesn't know what to make of it all. Simple...its the Lions.

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