tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post1485159482482710795..comments2024-03-22T03:17:47.335-04:00Comments on Armchair Linebacker - a New Writing blog: Balancing on the Edge of HopeRaven Mackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777849609532782535noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-79384810257035648982011-10-25T19:19:39.554-04:002011-10-25T19:19:39.554-04:00Hey Neil. I'm a big fan of your blog, and I j...Hey Neil. I'm a big fan of your blog, and I just wanted to say what the fuck was that? The Lions should have, and could have won that game. What in the blue fuck was going on with the play calling? Some people are saying that Stafford might be changing 30-40% of the plays at the line. I am seriously pissed off about the conservative nature of the play calls we have seen, not to mention the overall lack of Stafford utilizing all of his weapons. I was at this game, in person, and I witnessed I don't even know how many slants by the Falcons. Why don't the Lions do that shit? Christ, Atlanta played a base 4-3 cover 2 for most of the game, and while the middle of the field, behind the linebackers, was WIDE open for a vast majority of the game, the Lions NEVER threw the ball to Burleson or Young in space! Yes, Calvin Johnson is a beast. Yes, he is our best player on offense. But really? If the ball doesn't go to CJ, does it ALWAYS have to go to Pettigrew? The Lions need to watch some fucking Packer games, and start spreading the ball around, especially given the fact that their run game is mediocre at best. I hate to say it, but if they keep running so conservatively, and they keep forcing balls at Megatron instead of using the rest of their weapons, we could be in for much more losing this year.KDawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00169286877982487115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-80719421498816863552011-10-23T18:51:22.146-04:002011-10-23T18:51:22.146-04:00Sure, but he's struggling to even get screen p...Sure, but he's struggling to even get screen passes completed.<br /><br />I've talked a lot about the balance issues in the past and different ways the Lions can overcome this. And I think the problem isn't so much that teams are taking away the pass - although that's definitely part of it - it's that Stafford can't even execute a screen pass correctly right now, which is kind of a problem because in order for the offense to work, that needs to work.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-56126424422114958492011-10-23T13:11:52.114-04:002011-10-23T13:11:52.114-04:00Stafford may be looking off because teams play mor...Stafford may be looking off because teams play more guys back and aren't as worried about the Lions running the ball. The threat of Best's home run potential is valuable in that regard. He makes at least one less guy trying to cover Burleson or, perhaps more to the point, Pettigrew (since I recall the Lions running that short TE pass over the middle about 34 times during last week's game). When everyone's covered, everyone's covered, you know? <br /><br />They don't necessarily need to be "balanced" in play selection or yard production (since everyone's pass-heavy nowadays) nor should they be, when you have Calvin Johnson you OUGHT to be a pass-first team. But diversity of threats makes each one stronger.<br /><br />Looks like I get this game locally today! I'll be able to comment when you recap this in a few hours.Whiouxsiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16294574254325222316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-3354320848660160172011-10-22T15:05:57.247-04:002011-10-22T15:05:57.247-04:00Bubbalouuey,
Yeah, I've been saying for the l...Bubbalouuey,<br /><br />Yeah, I've been saying for the last few weeks that I think he was rattled in the Minnesota game and ever since then something's just been ... off.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-65125714202637297702011-10-22T15:04:43.510-04:002011-10-22T15:04:43.510-04:00"I will be even more tense than usual tomorro..."I will be even more tense than usual tomorrow if the Lions start slow."<br /><br />Yeah, my mental state could unravel in a hurry if things go ... poorly.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-61246907859554095022011-10-22T11:26:22.303-04:002011-10-22T11:26:22.303-04:00I'm glad Neil survived that visit. Stafford ha...I'm glad Neil survived that visit. Stafford has had a "Different" sort of look in his eyes the last couple, a far cry from the KC game, and seems to have lost a little attitude somewhere. Hope Turner trips over some dinosaur poop and the Great Willie Young eats him.Bubbalouueyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03986370891454752176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-75499801193324109622011-10-22T10:29:49.390-04:002011-10-22T10:29:49.390-04:00I admit it - I have horrible visions of Michael Th...I admit it - I have horrible visions of Michael The Speedy Fire Hydrant Turner rushing for 458 yards. I will be even more tense than usual tomorrow if the Lions start slow. The Falcons can salt things away with run game.Interlopernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-36097809748907502182011-10-21T21:40:52.003-04:002011-10-21T21:40:52.003-04:00But I thought you said I could use that one after ...But I thought you said I could use that one after one of your pigs bit my pinky finger off. A picture for a pinky as it says in the Bible. Man, that was a weird weekend. I'll never try to fight a gang of pygmy goats ever again.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-49187088524752713162011-10-21T20:07:10.316-04:002011-10-21T20:07:10.316-04:00I thought you promised me you wouldn't use pic...I thought you promised me you wouldn't use pictures from your visit to my compound on the site.Raven Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00777849609532782535noreply@blogger.com