tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post2026444986814008603..comments2024-03-22T03:17:47.335-04:00Comments on Armchair Linebacker - a New Writing blog: The UnbearableRaven Mackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777849609532782535noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-46988774381666784092011-11-28T17:18:40.445-05:002011-11-28T17:18:40.445-05:00"The Lions, instead of playing the insurmount..."The Lions, instead of playing the insurmountable underdog card, chose to play the we're here and we deserve it card...yeah, they said they haven't done anything yet, but underneath you could just sense that veneer of cocky bullshit that frankly, the Lions just don't deserve. Schwartz needs to get these guys' attention because they just don't play like a team desperate to prove themselves to the world.<br /><br />All of that having been said this team is immensely talented and have all the building blocks to be a legitimate playoff contender. I just think they are immature and need a big attitude adjustment. The confidence I've seen throughout the year is great and has been missing from this team for a LOOOONNNNGGGG time...but there's a fine line between that and undeserved cockiness. They've still got a shot at the playoffs but they need to get their heads right (and Stafford needs his finger exorcised)."<br /><br />This is a great point and I think it's going to become one of the defining themes of this season. Hell, I think it already has.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-74769744545239886822011-11-28T17:17:24.325-05:002011-11-28T17:17:24.325-05:00Lord Anonymous,
Yeah, on the point of optimism vs...Lord Anonymous,<br /><br />Yeah, on the point of optimism vs. defeat, I'm just going to cut and paste something I said in an e-mail response to UpHere on the notion that it felt like a lot of fans emotionally gave up on the season following this game:<br /><br />"I absolutely think that's true. However, I think the nature of fandom is so ridiculous and so fickle that every single week features an emotional surrender of some sort, either to Hope or to a resigned sense of despair. Especially amongst Lions fans. This one was especially heinous and crushing but I remember one commenter also said something like - and I'm paraphrasing here - "I guess I'll just keep hoping because what other choice do I have?" That's an incredibly poignant and telling statement, one which reveals the beating heart of Lions fandom: for as much as we grouse and complain and tear our hair and groan in despair to gods that may or may not be listening, at the end of the day, we're still there, investing at least some small part of ourselves because what other choice do we have? I think that's an inviolable truth that supersedes everything else and it's what allows someone like me to hang out in the dark, dark places without getting my soul torn away. As bad as it gets, as bad as it seems, as emotionally crushing as it can sometimes be, there's always an untouchable, unreasonable core that hopes and believes."<br /><br />Like I said earlier (either in the post itself or in one of the comments, I can't remember which), while I was depressed by the game, I also simultaneously had one eye on the rest of the schedule, looking at playoff scenarios, so yeah, for as bad as I felt in the aftermath of the game, there was still a big part of me that was pushing towards a sunshiny future.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-26388471596659498792011-11-27T12:59:41.049-05:002011-11-27T12:59:41.049-05:00Okay, I've had time to process things after wa...Okay, I've had time to process things after watching that soul devouring excuse for a game on Thursday and I think I'm back to being semi-rational again, so here's what I'm taking away.<br /><br />First and foremost, and I truly hate to say this, I think the Lions of 2011 are the Buc's of 2010. They really haven't taken out anyone noteworthy (the Bears don't count since they beat them when Martz still had his Samurai death-grip on Forte and wouldn't allow him to run more than 5 times a game). Even the teams that they did beat were pretty damn close calls...Minnesota and Dallas namely.<br /><br />The Lions, instead of playing the insurmountable underdog card, chose to play the we're here and we deserve it card...yeah, they said they haven't done anything yet, but underneath you could just sense that veneer of cocky bullshit that frankly, the Lions just don't deserve. Schwartz needs to get these guys' attention because they just don't play like a team desperate to prove themselves to the world.<br /><br />All of that having been said this team is immensely talented and have all the building blocks to be a legitimate playoff contender. I just think they are immature and need a big attitude adjustment. The confidence I've seen throughout the year is great and has been missing from this team for a LOOOONNNNGGGG time...but there's a fine line between that and undeserved cockiness. They've still got a shot at the playoffs but they need to get their heads right (and Stafford needs his finger exorcised).StreetWormnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-85363146176860177322011-11-27T12:10:42.149-05:002011-11-27T12:10:42.149-05:00yeah, Neil ... I hate the Truth Bitch. She's l...yeah, Neil ... I hate the Truth Bitch. She's like the Tooth Fairy, except she takes your mojo instead of those fucking useless teeth...just ask Stafford, who is STILL suffering from the hit to the ol' mojo.<br /><br />I hate the way they play. It's ugly. I'm so glad I saw the Carolina game in person. It was entertaining, despite the opening when I felt like somebody had sucker punched me after all those turnovers.<br /><br />I guess we should remember that they ARE getting better. I think they will be better -- next year. Let's look at the positive. I think we all have to remember that Stafford is the real deal: a franchise QB. And he is not getting hurt! Sure, he is an interception machine, but he has a broken finger. And he is tougher than we thought. Let's hang onto that, it matters way more than we sometimes realize. He is 23. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm almost twice that age. When I was 23, I was little more than a masterbating, slobbering fool (ok, now I'm a slobbering fool who has a life and family). but I digress...<br /><br />Stafford is going to be very good -- later. Suh is going to learn from his suspension and be better at controlling himself. The Offence WILL get an identity. I have confidence in Linehan, despite all those fucking ridiculous "run it up the middle on first down" calls. I think he will look at the body of work from this season, cut a "best of" list...and use it next year.<br /><br />What I'm trying to say, after this rambling post, is that I AM optimistic, CJ!...(anyone know how to do stiches to one's own wrists, painlessly, I may have cut myself shaving).<br /><br />Lord AnonymousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-15063961758121448322011-11-26T20:48:38.988-05:002011-11-26T20:48:38.988-05:00Lord Anonymous,
Yes. To everything. As much as I ...Lord Anonymous,<br /><br />Yes. To everything. As much as I don't want it to be true, it just is and pretending that it isn't won't help anyone. It doesn't help the team and it doesn't help us, the fans, either. Like I said in the post itself, truth is a cold, hard bitch and right now that bitch is downright frigid.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-57928461975682114742011-11-26T20:46:37.277-05:002011-11-26T20:46:37.277-05:00Bubba (Like our pal Autospeed up there, I'm ju...Bubba (Like our pal Autospeed up there, I'm just going to call you Bubba unless you have a particular objection to it.),<br /><br />Yeah. A part of me keeps saying 7-4 NEIL! 7-4 COME ON BE HAPPY but it just feels ... wrong. It's hard to explain, but there it is.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-66744633969087949252011-11-26T20:44:45.475-05:002011-11-26T20:44:45.475-05:00Autospeed (I am just going to call you Autospeed f...Autospeed (I am just going to call you Autospeed from now on for short. Cool?),<br /><br />Right on, man. That's pretty much where I am too.<br /><br />Also, this ...<br /><br />"I've waited this long....a little more time won't hurt. I hope."<br /><br />... is pretty much the definition of what it means to be a Lions fan. It's sad and tragic but at the same time it reveals the special sort of insane strength it takes to actually be a Lions fan.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-87396487246712729612011-11-26T20:41:28.702-05:002011-11-26T20:41:28.702-05:00"Man it fucking sucks when the refs are awful..."Man it fucking sucks when the refs are awful and you can't even blame them."<br /><br />Yeah, that about sums things up.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-74693599098136749272011-11-26T20:41:04.043-05:002011-11-26T20:41:04.043-05:00D-Money,
Thanks, man. I just wish I didn't ha...D-Money,<br /><br />Thanks, man. I just wish I didn't have to write it. All of us are far, far too familiar with the terrible hate-boner Fate seems to have for us. It is a common theme in my writing here, and ... well, here I am again, rambling on about that shit. I just keep hoping for better days, man. Better days.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-13205633869852289032011-11-26T20:39:10.860-05:002011-11-26T20:39:10.860-05:00CJ,
They just made terrible mistakes at terrible ...CJ,<br /><br />They just made terrible mistakes at terrible times. Suh stomped on a dude following a key third down stop, which gave Green Bay an automatic first down and got Suh ejected. The Packers then scored a TD as a direct result of that to go up by 14 and then Stafford threw an INT right away on the very next possession. Then on the first play after the INT, Green Bay scored on a long catch and run. One play drive. Suddenly it was a fucking blowout. All this after a half of football in which the Lions outplayed the Packers and still managed to score 0 points following horrible penalties, shitty referees, a batted ball which ended up being intercepted by the Packers and led to their lone score of the first half, and a bunch of horrible injuries. Kevin Smith looked awesome and then his ankle laughed at him and destroyed itself presumably because it hates us or owed a favor to a universe which clearly hates us. In short, it was every awful thing you could ever expect to possibly happen in a Lions game all happening at once with the exception of Stafford being literally eaten by an escaped mutant ape or something like that. Everything else happened. It was the sort of perverse, despicable madness which has been at the heart of the Lions story for way too fucking long now. I feel sad even talking about it two days later. It fucking sucked.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-54508709727275727732011-11-26T18:24:48.848-05:002011-11-26T18:24:48.848-05:00I never get to see the Thanksgiving game, because ...I never get to see the Thanksgiving game, because I'm always cooking, but usually I have people calling me in to see plays, or coming in the kitchen to talk about the game. This year, shortly after the second half started, pretty much everyone was piled in the kitchen but no one wanted to talk about the game. We had Green Bay fans over and they weren't even trash talking. Now, absolutely no one wants to talk or think about football, and I just read your post Neil, and I still have no idea what went on.<br /><br /><br />I guess what I'm asking is...is there some sort of electronically-transmitted zombie virus that was dispersed during the game? Did Ndamukong Suh actually eat some brains? Did Nickleback? Are you guys all OK (because you seriously do not sound like you are)? Should I be stockpiling swiss cheese and bullets?CJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-19521125080412047832011-11-26T17:51:41.663-05:002011-11-26T17:51:41.663-05:00I agree with many of these comments. And Neil, you...I agree with many of these comments. And Neil, you nailed it when you made your dance analogy.<br /><br />Think about it: this team is often not easy to watch. The actual <i>entertainment</i> value is often not there. Earlier in the season, I could deny it because they were getting W's (even though they did steal 2 of those games). Does anybody remember the beginning of the Dallas game? The first quarter of the Monday night Chicago game? The beginning of the Panthers game? ... just for example: there were other instances.<br /><br />This team is ugly in its play. The Defence has to get more discipline and the Offence needs both an identity and discipline. Linehan is like Jeckyl and Hyde; at times, he calls brilliant series of plays and at other times he calls shit for series on end. I hope he starts to figure it out, because it is a damned talented Offence that is sometimes fun to watch but often difficult to watch -- especially against competant Defences.<br /><br />I like the agression on Defence, but it now borders on farce. These guys don't seem to have a sense of humor and they seem to take themselves way too seriously. Like others here have said, they need to back off and balance that agression with discipline.<br /><br /><i>"A fool doubles his efforts when he has forgotten his gains".</i> Indeed, if this team is going to get to the next level, they are going to have to refine their play as a TEAM.<br /><br />I get the strange feeling the Lions think they are better than everybody else. Stupid thugs.<br /><br />Ugly, stupid football.<br /><br />They will certainly lose to New Orleans, unless they get very lucky. New Orleans is another SMART football team, in the Green Bay mold.<br /><br />Something for Schwartz to emulate, instead of this bullheaded "we're great and we're just going to continue doing what we're doing" attitude.<br /><br />Smart, disciplined football. Lions will never get there, unless their attitude changes.<br /><br />Lord AnonymousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-325715880839987472011-11-26T17:07:21.644-05:002011-11-26T17:07:21.644-05:00I hope someone can figure out just what the fuck t...I hope someone can figure out just what the fuck this team is up to because it's hard to take solice in being 3 games over 500 when you should be 5 over. I don't think that everyones grandma has been kidnapped, I just don't want to hear LIONS for about a week.Bubbalouueyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03986370891454752176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-44307127384271545902011-11-26T14:08:20.885-05:002011-11-26T14:08:20.885-05:00Like U Neil....I immediately went into not wantin&...Like U Neil....I immediately went into not wantin' to think about this damn team mode. Not so strange of a place for me as I have been there over the years. <br /><br />Just that it seems an odd place to visit this season for some reason....yet....here I am....in that place. LOL<br /><br />What Suh did was foul. And dirty. And it was def uncalled for....*based upon what I saw or thought I saw anyway....* I have tried to excuse his behavior up til this point, but that ship has sailed. <br /><br />I haven't given up on this team....but I have no trust in the offense whatsoever at this point. The 1 aspect I just knew would make this team hum before the season began seems but a mirage....a tauntin', teasin' glimpse here and there of what could be....and frankly....I have grown tired of it. <br /><br />I know how special this entire team can be. But thats just it....IMO anyway....TEAM. And my Lions are not playin' as a team....yet....so I will reserve myself and muster all the patience I can in the fact that they are still 7-4 at this point....yet another part of me knows that the day that they polay together with all units backin' each other up is not yet here....and hey....myabe they prove me wrong this season....or maybe....maybe I am right....<br /><br />*shrugs*<br /><br />I've waited this long....a little more time won't hurt. I hope.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00259539822107481119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-20338160079545384532011-11-26T02:36:40.771-05:002011-11-26T02:36:40.771-05:00Man it fucking sucks when the refs are awful and y...Man it fucking sucks when the refs are awful and you can't even blame them.HillHeebnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-75543479241918140862011-11-26T02:14:35.650-05:002011-11-26T02:14:35.650-05:00good, good shit neil.....i must say you seem to wr...good, good shit neil.....i must say you seem to write what i fucking think, i especially like the part about 'happiness is a warm gun....' this seems to be my general consensus after watching shit like that too....but fate doesn't just hate us....the bitch also wants to drag our dead, rotten corpses through gravel pit roads as well. and even this shall never satisfy her ass, because whatever she desires at this point, i'm sure it's not even within our fucking possession... fate's just piling on now dammit. some deities just wanna see our world BURN...D-MONEY1980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-180818189419094132011-11-25T20:36:35.196-05:002011-11-25T20:36:35.196-05:00Also, I just noticed this, but it's probably a...Also, I just noticed this, but it's probably appropriate that this post, of all posts, is the 1,000th post in the history of Armchair Linebacker.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-53502516569857826022011-11-25T20:33:15.499-05:002011-11-25T20:33:15.499-05:00Yeah, my greatest wish is that I didn't have t...Yeah, my greatest wish is that I didn't have to write it. I argued with myself but, well ... here we are.<br /><br />I probably could have accentuated the positive and talked more about how well the Lions played at times but, honestly, that wasn't the story of the game and to focus on that for the sake of maintaining a veneer of positivity would have just been dishonest and if there's one thing that I think is the lifeblood of this blog, it's raw, unvarnished honesty. Well, that and madness, obviously.<br /><br />Also, I wish I would have talked about the injuries and the bad calls. I certainly meant to, but it kind of got away with me and I didn't want to interject a "By the way . . ." sort of thing thus interrupting the flow of whatever miserable river I was floating down. But yeah, by the way, those bad calls and injuries did create a whole slew of 2010 flashbacks, they sucked and they made me feel both angry and utterly helpless which is, sad to say, an all too familiar feeling when it comes to being a fan of the Detroit Lions. But so it goes, man. So it goes.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300561079216508635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580115438716980446.post-20937046449901655572011-11-25T19:48:34.006-05:002011-11-25T19:48:34.006-05:00My greatest wish is that there were grounds to obj...My greatest wish is that there were grounds to object to this post. There was so much to hate about that game - the bad calls and injuries that created the 2010 flashbacks. And then we add the new terror of complete mental breakdown, which is somehow worse than just garden variety suckitude. It'll be weeks before I'm not like a whipped dog watching the games, flinching every time anyone moves. <br /><br /><br />I admit it, I've been happier with my sports teams.UpHerenoreply@blogger.com