Re: LET'S BREAK 'EM DOWN: Lions at Falcons (Week 1 NFL)
With the Lions come plenty of questions
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/SPORTS01/809040406/1048
So, are these the same old Lions? Or maybe just a variation on the same old theme?
It's a question Lions fans have to ask every season, isn't it?
And, as usual, we have a few more to ponder, too:
• They came close last season, so will we see the first regular-season blackout at Ford Field? Actually, if it's a blackout, guess we won't see it, will we?
• Who'll win more games, the Lions or Michigan?
• Why does the NFL insist on playing that fourth exhibition game?
• If the Lions run more, does that mean Jon Kitna won't get sacked 50 or 60 times? And maybe not fumble as much?
• Calvin Johnson, Superstar -- is that a rush to judgment, just like some calling him a bust last season was?
• Will the Lions have added incentive to win the opener at Atlanta, after the Falcons cut you-know-who? You know, something for Joey!
• You know, since it looks like Mike Martz might have been right about Tatum Bell, what else was he right about?
• With Martz gone, will Rod Marinelli finally get more TV face time on the sideline? (Assuming games aren't blacked out.)
• Also with Martz gone, who's this year's scapegoat going to be?
• Hey, they were 4-0 in exhibition games -- but seriously, after last year's 6-2 start and 1-7 flop, what's it going to take to get you to believe in them without fear of getting burned again?
• 8-8?
Pick 'em
What some analysts are predicting for the Lions:
• Paul Kuharsky, ESPN.com: "A simplified offense and an emphasis on the run game are good ideas. A better stable of running backs would have been, too."
Fourth.
• Kevin Seifert, ESPN.com: "Slowly, Rod Marinelli is effecting a culture change and is making the Lions a tougher team. It's not clear how many wins that will translate to, but the Lions are going in the right direction."
Third.
• Don Banks, SI.com: "The Lions didn't do much to inspire much buzz this off-season in terms of personnel moves, and I can't find reason to change their slot from last year's 7-9 finish."
Third.
•
Kevin Smith, Lions rookie running back, predicts that not only will they make the playoffs, they'll win a playoff game. This season. And he also set a personal goal of 20 touchdowns -- which would break Barry Sanders' team record of 17 in 1991.
• Of NFL.com's four forecasters, only one -- former Freeper Thomas George -- thinks the Lions will make the playoffs, via a wild card. George also says Kitna will be the NFC North's top offensive player. (Everybody else had Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson.)
• Kitna: He will be disappointed, as usual, if the Lions don't win 10 games.
Bottom line: They can all say what they will, but why should this season be different from any other? Nobody can predict what the Lions will do.