Detroit Lions End Losing Streak / Photo: Newscom

Following the game, a relieved Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said:

“Our guys were carrying the burden of 0-19, and it was unfair to them. But this gets us off of that and puts it behind us.”

Rookie starting quarterback Matthew Stafford didn’t exactly tear up the league during the team’s 0-2 start this season, but he is developing some chemistry with receivers Calvin and Bryant Johnson, as was evident in today’s win. Johnson and Johnson (not related) combined to catch nine of Matt’s 21 completions for 122 yards and a touchdown. I’m not going to go way out on a limb and predict the Lions are headed to the playoffs. But as long as the team continues to improve and as long as they learn how to win close games like this one, losing streaks will be a distant memory for an organization trying to change a culture of defeat.

Source: DetroitLions.com

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Detroit Lions End Losing Streak

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Following a 31-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers today, the Detroit Lions became the first team in NFL history to go 0-16. I can’t even imagine how difficult a season it was for the players and coaches. After today’s game, quarterback Dan Orlovsky said:

“I don’t ever want to be a part of this again. We haven’t won since — November of ‘07 — maybe? I don’t even know the last time we won a game.”

It was December 23 of last season, actually. But the fact remains, there are so many problems in Detroit, it’s hard to determine where to start. I guess you begin at the top with owner William Clay Ford Sr. What he does this offseason will go a long way in determining if the Lions repeat this kind of performance in 2009. He already did the right thing by ousting former President and CEO Matt Millen back in September, but it seems to me a total housecleaning is in order. Nevertheless, it appears Mr. Ford is probably going to continue with General Manager Martin Mayhew and Chief Operating Officer Tom Lewand. Head coach Rod Marinelli even stands a chance of returning to the team, which seems pretty unfathomable when you consider his 10-38 record as head coach of the Lions the past three seasons. The Lions have some good core players with whom to build a solid team around (namely Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey, Kevin Smith, Paris Lenon, Ernie Sims and potentially Daunte Culpepper), but without a proven franchise quarterback (like Matt Cassel, perhaps) and the right leadership, they’re just going to continue to spin their wheels.

Source: NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

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Detroit Lions Make NFL History

The Detroit Lions fired offensive coordinator Mike Martz on Wednesday. Today, I get a press release from the Lions saying O-line coach Jim Colletto had been promoted to the OC position replacing Coach Martz who “will not be returning to the team.” That’s a nice way of announcing someone was fired.

Coach Martz was supposed to bring his offensive genius to Detroit, the same one that pioneered the St. Louis Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” teams. And with all-world rookie receiver Calvin Johnson being added as the final piece of the puzzle, the Lions’ offense was supposed to run like a well-oiled machine.

And it pretty much did through the first half of the 2007 season in compiling a 6-2 record. But things fell apart during the playoff push and Detroit lost seven of their final eight games to finish a miserable 7-9. Someone is to blame and whether it’s fair or not, that someone was Coach Martz.

Apparently it’s going to take two minds to replace him, however. While Coach Colletto will be the offensive coordinator, receivers coach Kippy Brown will take on a role known as assistant head coach/passing game coordinator (additionally, Shawn Jefferson was promoted to wide receivers coach). Too many cooks in the kitchen? We’ll see, but one thing’s for sure. Detroit’s going to need to lose their negative identity. Will a new OC and passing game coordinator make that happen? Only if they can change the attitude of some of the players on the team. The Lions are still loaded with offensive talent. They just need someone to convince them they are the “new Detroit Lions.” It looks like the Cleveland Browns have managed just such an identity overhaul. The Detroit Lions need to follow suit.

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Detroit Lions Fire Mike Martz, Jim Colletto Takes Over as Offensive Coordinator

It’s bad enough that the Detroit Lions have lost four straight games. Now they’ve lost their top receiver for possibly the rest of the season. Wide receiver Roy Williams (63 catches for 836 yards and five TDs) has a sprained knee and Lions head coach Rod Marinelli says the injury is similar to the one sustained by CB Stanley Wilson in the Thanksgiving Day loss to Green Bay. Stanley was put on injured reserve. The Lions are hoping the same fate does not await Roy Williams. Luckily, the Lions have a lot of talent at the receiver position (Shaun McDonald, Mike Furrey and Calvin Johnson), but Roy’s shoes will be difficult to fill. And with three of their final four games against playoff-bound teams (Dallas, San Diego and Green Bay), the playoff outlook for Detroit is grim.

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Roy Williams Could Miss Rest of Season, Detroit Lions’ Playoff Hopes in Question

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

Here are the new Nike Football print ads featuring Shawne Merriman (Chargers), Steven Jackson (Rams), Steve Hutchinson (Vikings), Omobi Akoye (Texans), and Calvin Johnson (Lions). Click on each one to go big. To check out the commercials, visit NikeFootball.com.

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Nike Football Print Ads

Detroit Lions press releases hit my inbox on a daily basis this time of year, but today’s news caught my attention immediately. I had been waiting for it: LIONS SIGN FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK WR CALVIN JOHNSON.

The Detroit Lions breathed a sigh of relief today as first-round draft pick Calvin Johnson ended his holdout and signed a six-year deal. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but what fun is that? An anonymous insider said the contract is in the neighborhood of $64 million. Just under $27.2 million is guaranteed money, but the deal guarantees Johnson’s salary in each season and will likely be worth $55.5 million by the middle of his rookie year because of easily triggered bonuses.

There’s a lot of hype on Calvin and the rest of the 2007 Detroit Lions. With all this money on #81, now it’s time for results. September 9, Detroit at Oakland. That’s a good place to start.

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Detroit Lions Sign Calvin Johnson

“We couldn’t be more excited to get Calvin Johnson. Our organization felt really comfortable to draft not only what we thought was the top player in the draft, but also one with great character. Calvin is going to be a big part of getting us to where we want to go. Calvin is going to team with Mike and the rest of this offense and turn it into one of the most dynamic offenses in the league.”

Detroit Lions OC Mike Martz and QB Jon Kitna (photo DetroitLions.com)

The addition of Johnson to Martz’s offensive system, dubbed “The Greatest Show on Turf” when he coached in St. Louis, has Lions fans excited and should already have defensive coordinators worried. In the week leading up to the draft, Martz left hand-written notes saying “Please draft me” for Detroit head coach Rod Marinelli and joked they were from Johnson. Martz said:

“That’s how excited we were about him. He’s just a dynamic and explosive player with unlimited ability in terms of what he can do for us on the field. He has the character we’re looking for and he will help this team win. I think he’s the best wide receiver in the draft that I’ve ever seen. I’ve never been so excited for a season to start.”

Martz, who spent seven seasons with the St. Louis Rams as offensive coordinator (1999) and head coach (2000-05) before joining the Lions last year, has high expectations for his receiving corps as Johnson and newly acquired Shaun McDonald join Pro Bowl wide receiver Roy Williams (NFC-best 1,310 yards in 2006) and Mike Furrey (NFC-high 98 receptions in 2006). Martz really likes his top four receivers and says they could equal or be better than the best he’s ever had. That’s saying a lot because he coached perennial All-Pros Isaac Bruce, Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt in St. Louis as the Rams became the first team to score at least 500 points in three consecutive seasons.

This team reminds me somewhat of the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, who drafted Randy Moss as the final piece of their puzzle en route to a 15-1 regular season and subsequent appearance in the NFC Championship game. The only difference? The verdict is still out on the Lions’ offensive line. Minnesota had the best O-line in football that season and as the foundation of any team, the Lions will need to be sharp there before any of these “skill” players can do their thing. And as much as I’ve hesitated to give QB Jon Kitna my full endorsement, the guy’s a leader and a battler and given the time to throw the football, he should also thrive with these weapons at his disposal. He may even be a fantasy favorite in 2007. Yes, these are the new Lions. Hear them roar!

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Lions Ready to Roar?

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Nike Ad Features NFL Rookies

The rumors Dogra was referencing came last week when news surfaced that three top prospects – Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye and Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams – reportedly admitted during interviews at the NFL scouting combine to having tried marijuana. Although none of the three has knowingly tested positive for banned substances, there’s a widespread belief for the leak. Someone was trying to hurt the value of those players. The obvious thought in this situation is that making such information public would scare some teams from taking those players. In this case, the situation seems to have backfired. Not only is the NFL upset with the leak of the information, but all three players have gotten high marks for their honesty.

I admire these players for admitting the truth, even at the risk of embarrassing themselves a little bit. We’ve all made mistakes. To be forthright about it and to admit to a wrongdoing is admirable. It’s not a habit for these players. It’s just a mistake they made. And I’m glad they are being commended rather than condemned for their honesty.

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Pre-Draft Trash Talk Backfires

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Players Named For Draft Day