'Skins 'n Such

I'm not normally a politically correct person, but I still think it's absurd that the Washington Redskins still retain their name. I won't go into a rant, because what hasn't been said before? Anyway.

The Lions are coming off their bye week, and it's a shame that the game will be blacked out in metro Detroit. It's funny that the hubbub surrounding that fact kinda overshadows the main problem with NFL game attendance in general: fans, the average blue-collar NFL-loving fans, are priced out of the games. Baseball games can be attended for 10 bucks. NFL tickets, the lowest priced ones, can cost up to 4 times as much. And do you think the yuppie fans care about this team? no, no they don't. Holy balls, I just realized I'm going into another "JUSTICE!" rant two paragraphs in. Geez, it's been a long week. Blech.

OKAY. Sunday's game against the 'Skins. I believe it's more than winnable. Last week's game of Chicago and Washington was absolutely hideous. Turnovers were everywhere, and it was one of those games where neither team felt like winning, and Washington just seems to be one of those kinds of teams in general. Their roster isn't impressive (especially their offense), and their defense, although they have some incredible defensive players, remain inconsistent.

Detroit, on the other hand, has remained consistent. It's just unfortunate that they have consistently been defeating themselves. Now, their roster is nearly intact and healthy. The main two components of this game, I think, is 1) Matt Stafford firing darts around (especially 2-3 DEEP bombs) and 2) Will Bleu Cheese Levy suit up and play well? So far I've read that he's likely to play, but is still (naturally) not totally healthy.

I swear, if this is a repeat of his last game (attempting to play, injury, out indefinitely), I'm going to have kittens. I mean it, I'm gonna blast felines out my hooch. The Lions let Larry Foote walk for this guy, and he has yet to prove he can lead this D. Ranting again? What in the world is going on today?

SO. ANGRY CAPS IT IS TO FOCUS. I PICK THE LIONS TO WIN THIS GAME, AND I FEEL ESPECIALLY CONFIDENT IN THIS PICK BECAUSE NDAMUKONG SUH REFUSES TO LOSE HOME GAMES ANYMORE. THE REDSKINS RECEIVERS CAN'T STOP DROPPING PASSES. JAHVID BEST CAN RUN AROUND ALBERT HAYNESWORTH (who is terrifying again). GOD WILLING, THIS WILL BE ANOTHER BLOWOUT.

Also, this past week Tom Kowalski wrote a phenomenal piece in MLive about how the Lions, now with Stafford, can stretch the field to a ridiculous degree. Calvin Johnson is a physical freak, correct? Kowalski reasons that if they run several straight up Go routes for Johnson, who can pace him? Landry is a bullet, but how are his coverage skills? Hall seems to thrive in chaos, but can he keep up with Calvin? This strategy is brilliant, and if the Redskins are playing Johnson honest, Stafford should be able to connect multiple times with Pettigrew, Burleson, and Scheffler.

Calvin smiles when he remembers he's wearing Az Hakim's old jersey number.

An Unexpected Strength?

A couple days ago Tom Kowalski wrote a piece about the Lions' secondary that, well, it was like getting a song stuck in my head. He addressed the fact that over the last couple games Detroit's secondary, the same secondary that was supposedly their biggest weakness in the offseason, was inexplicably now one of their stronger, more emerging facets.

Now, from watching every game up until this point, that's actually...true. It's weird to even be writing that - before the season started it was just a mish-mash of castoffs and Louis Delmas. These guys were about as trustworthy and notable as FDR's shoes. Alphonso Smith was acquired for a fourth string tight end, Amari Spievey was looking completely lost at corner, Delmas seemed to be perpetually hobbled, and Chris Houston....well, I guess he was alright. There's also Jonathan Wade, but....blech. Later. Anyway.

ANYWAY, the first couple games, they were atrocious. Delmas wasn't himself, Houston did alright (not great, not good, not bad, not terrible just ferociously, unapologetically okay), and everyone else was just a warm body waiting to get benched. It was almost enough to wish that Phil Buchanan would stop working at the local Staples and don some pads, y'know?

And then...Delmas seemed to be healed. Houston graduated to good. Smith overtook the abortion of gameplay that was Jonathan Wade and started piling on interceptions. Nate Vasher was signed on to cover Nickel. And, wonder of wonders, Spievey's transition to safety seemed not only to be a good idea, it also seemed to be working...quickly. Suddenly, Detroit's secondary was playing well, and it seemed to compliment their amazing defensive line. Granted, this is a small sample size, but there is unexpected optimism now pertaining to the Lions' defense. And Daddy likey.

HAHAHAILOVETHIS MAN

p.s.

I'm not a Jonathan Wade fan. I was optimistic towards him when he was acquired. I thought this was his time to shine. And then? He was an automatic pass interference waiting to happen. It hasn't been this bad since Bryant Westbrook was opponents' deep threat. I'd rather have a vinegar enema than watch Jon Wade biff another pass coverage or bungle yet another arm tackle. Maybe that's why I love Smith all the more: he has rid my Sundays of gnashing teeth and impotent wailing. That, and the Carlton Banks dance. Mmmmm.