C'mon McFly, U Chicken?

Most everyone has heard the phrase "egging you on" in reference to goading someone into doing something -- typically something stupid, silly, dangerous, or all three.  Websters defines it as:

egg

²    /ɛg/ Show Spelled[eg] Show IPA

verb (used with object)

to incite or urge; encourage (usually followed by on ).

---

Origin:
1150–1200; Middle English < Old Norse eggja  to incite, derivative of egg edge

As I watched Suh throw a hissy fit on National Television as I chonked on Turkey I could only wonder why the bigger Turkey was on TV.  I had an image of my youngest little pink lion throwing a temper tantrum screaming "she started it!" Then, the following week against the Saints I again wondered if this other word from Websters was in the vocabulary of the Detroit Lions:

self-con·trol

   /ˈsɛlfkənˈtroʊl, ˌsɛlf-/ Show Spelled[self-kuhn-trohl, self-] Show IPA

noun

control or restraint of oneself or one's actions, feelings, etc.

---

Origin:
1705–15

Related forms

self-con·trolled, adjective

self-con·trol·ling, adjective

Synonyms self-discipline, self-restraint, willpower, levelheadedness.

It certainly wasn't being emitted from Jim "Meet me outside to see who the bigger Jimmy really is" Schwartz.  As a matter of fact, against both the Packers and Saints one would be hard pressed to find it being exhibited by the Lions anywhere on the field.

I know, I know.  The officiating was horrible you say -- it was.  But they were untying his shoes! you say.  Apparently they were.  Of course as soon as I read that, I instantly pictured good 'ol Biff Tannen. 



Your Shoe's Untied McFly.



The interesting thing is the Lions have been like two totally different teams.  Against the 49ers and the Falcons they pretty much George McFly'd their way through the entire game -- I just got the feeling they were waiting for that next nuggie, next jab.  In the meantime, they stammered their way through "putting on the second coat of wax right now" excuses that no one was buying.  They were playing timid, not the bold swaggering group from the first 5 games. 

Is making the playoffs their density, I mean destiny?

After building a Tebow proof lead against Denver, and then once again coming back against Carolina sandwiched around another timid game loss versus the Bears it became clear the Lions were playing alternating stretches of bravado mixed in with bouts of low self esteem like timidity.  Sticking with my Back to the Future analogy here they were acting more like Marty McFly than his pop.  Unfortunately, I didn't realize how much like Marty they were until the Green Bay and New Orleans debacles...

Let me start with this basic thought: If you think New Orleans and especially Green Bay went through 8 quarters against the Lions without a single holding penalty I have this great property in Montana with a beautiful view of the Caspian Sea and magical fairies that tend the gorgeous gardens to perfection producing amazing fruit all year round to sell you.  Really.  That is still no excuse; The Packers, soon followed by the Saints, were basically calling out to the Lions "whatsa matter, you chicken?"

That's right.  Just like poor Marty and his historical namesake, the Lions couldn't walk away from a fight and paid dearly for it.   Will they also end up getting fired from a dead end job because they are too "manly" to back down?  Just like Marty McFly and my temper tantrum throwing daughter, now the other 31 teams in the league know all you have to do is goad them enough, and the Lions players will lose it to the tune of 15 yard penalties, ejections and even suspension.

Against Minnesota, they finally managed to ignore these McFly Penalties -- but how long will it last?  Will Marty McSuh be able to keep it together once he hits the field again?  If not, just like in Back to The Future III it will be his name and the Lions playoff hopes on that tombstone...

The future can still be altered.  Will the Lions avoid this fate?

I'm thrilled the Lions are 8-5.  They are making a push for the playoffs and hold their destiny, like Marty above, in their hands.  The question now is can they hold it together, or will they give in to the shoelacing taunts of their opponents?   Oakland is the most penalized team in the league so there will be a parity of reputations - if the Lions can come out of that game relatively clean (and with a win) then that is a huge step in the right direction.  If not, I'll have to start a "Great Scott!" Marty McFly Chicken Penalty of the week.

For everyone with Christmas gathering this weekend, I hope that you take the time out to enjoy your families while you can.  DVR, VCR, or have the game on in the background but remember what is most important this holiday season. 

DetFan1979

The Longest Time...

I take my first tentative steps back into blogging about the Lions and find myself wondering if maybe I'm still sitting in the hospital having delusions.  Lions?  In Control of their Playoff Destiny?  The Detroit Lions, Playoffs -- in the same sentence, seriously, in December? 

8 wins?  I can barely remember 6 months ago (okay a few days ago) much less the last time the Lions had 8 wins or more.  I was not yet a parent - the Little Pink Lions were merely a glimmer of the future.  If we go back to when the Lions were in the playoffs, I was still in college. I was not yet married. 

In a year fraught with trials and tribulations, the Lions have been a pleasant bright spot.  So where have I been, you ask, that I am just now weighing in on this already 8 win season?

I injured my shoulder in January.  It turned out to be pretty severe (torn labrum, torn rotator cuff, and a bone spur just to top it off).  I finally had surgery on it in May.  Prior to the surgery it was just too much pain to sit at the keyboard and type, so my blogging trailed off.  The surgery had a few complications, and despite early promise after the surgery our house flooded.  So post surgery my father and I were ripping out and rebuilding the basement/first floor while I was also doing physical therapy. Toss in some family needing help, trying to catch up at work and I was pushing myself harder than I should have been.  Too hard.  Too soon.  Major blood pressure and fatigue issues led to Minor heart issues. I nearly collapsed and work and was hospitalized briefly. - I only call them minor as I was supremely blessed not to suffer any real permanent damage.  That episode sidelined me completely for over a month.  In September I headed back to physical therapy in what has been my routine and will be through the end of the year: get up at 4am.  Physical Therapy for two hours, get ready for work, go to the office until about 6.  Supper, Family time, bed.  Repeat. 

I've just been too tired to blog.  Now things are finally improving! Most of the pain is gone. I'm doing better balancing things.  The Little Pink Lions now each have their own brand new bedroom in the walk out basement/first floor. (We took the opportunity that the disaster created to make things better).  I'm afraid I still can't promise consistency for a while, though I will try. I don't even know how many of you are still reading -- I appreciate all of you who are!  I'v really missed blogging about the Lions, and it's been building for quite a while that I feel a need to start writing again. 

This experience has definitely given me a great respect for how much time and effort -- and pain -- football players go through; even those who are not injured.  For those who are and are still playing through it I feel I have a better understanding - and more sympathy for how it can effect their game.  While I haven't been blogging, I have been watching.  It has been an enjoyable and entertaining ride - I am excited to see how it ends!

Real football is being played in Detroit, and from the looks of it will be for years to come.  My health is improving, and I can see "normal" not so far distant in the future.  Live every day your best - because you never know what will happen in the next. 

Its good to be back

DetFan1979

Once in a Lifetime -- Weekly

What was Barry Sanders?  He was a lot of things to a lot of people, players and fans.  His ability and his impact on the game on any given Sunday can't be described in a hundred words, or a thousand words, or more.  When you watched him you had to suspend belief because what you were seeing wasn't possible on a football field.

Expectedly Unexpected.  Commonly Unique.

What Barry did was make every game he was in a thrill to watch no matter what the score was.  Points, winners, losers -- it all seemed to fade when Barry touched the ball.  Breath held, we waited to see what was going to happen next.  One tackle behind the line.  Two.  Three.  Four.  Five - wait - Magic!

You knew you were going to see something special, and yet every time he slipped a tackle, spun two defenders around, leaped over one player while simultaneous ducking another tackler and somehow still staying on his feet and headed to the endzone we sat and stared, mouth agape and mind unable to believe what we were seeing even though we expected to see it.

Barry had more negative runs than anyone else.  He had more awe inspiring runs than any three other backs combined.  Emmitt ground out the rushing record over time.  Barry was the only back who could run about 100 mind numbing perplexing yards for a 20 yard touchdown.  Spinning, juking faking.

He knew what defenders were going to do before they did, and then he avoided it.  Jumping through holes that didn't exist, rolling away from hits that should have leveled a mac truck.  Lowering his shoulder like he was going to be tackled, and then jumping back as defenders fell to their knees in front of  him and taking off as those behind him did the same in an ironic type of homage as they grasped for that which couldn't be caught - couldn't be harnessed.

Barry Sanders was like an optical illusion on a football field.  He wasn't the biggest.  He wasn't the strongest.  He wasn't the fastest.  But when he touched the ball science stopped and Barry started.  Inertia no longer existed and we saw angles and cuts and moves that defied the laws of physics but somehow conformed to the rules of the Gridiron.  Barry's rules.  Rules no one else could comprehend, much less follow or duplicate.

Watching Barry play made being a Lions fan something special.  It wasn't about wins and losses -- it was about the mystical.  The enchantment.

It was about once in a lifetime -- weekly.

Game PreView: Tampa via Mlive Lions Forum

I was looking at trying to get together a preview for the season opener at Tampa Bay, when I saw that Thunderfoot on the Mlive Lions Forum had already posted a summary I essentially agreed with -- and felt would be good to share with you. 

961128.

Detroit's offense vs Tampa's defense...

by thunderfoot, 09/02/11 1:30 PM

When the Lions go into Tampa they will be facing a defensive line which they match up better against than a lot of the lines they’ll play this season. The Bucs line is young and quick, and they’ll rotate 7 or 8 guys like the Lions will. But they are not the overpowering type or line Detroit generally has problems with. The Bucs have seen film of Stafford and his arm, but they’ve never been on the field with this guy. Without Talib, Calvin Johnson caught 10 passes from Drew Stafford last season in a Lions win at Tampa. CJ may do the same this season with Talib in the lineup. On the other side for the Bucs is 36 year old Ronde Barber who has slowed done, but not enough so that any of the other young Bucs could take his job. There safeties are nothing to write home about. At linebacker the Bucs have a rookie, in Mason Foster, manning the middle after no OTA’s and 6 weeks of training camp. He may end up a great one but he’ll be taken advantage of early. The Bucs problem on defense, besides the fact that they are young, not stout and can be run on, is the fact that there are too many interchangeable parts. They don’t have enough great or even better-than-average defenders who grabbed their position and look ready to take their games to the next level.

The Lions will probably open up in shotgun formation passing against Tampa. The Bucs will play 2 deep and may even start in the nickel. Look for Detroit to make yards on the ground, this game, and we’ll see if Tampa’s safeties get tempted to peak in the backfield. If so, the Lions will probably get at least a couple of big plays. But Tampa will be coached not to do that. As we’ve seen last season, Stafford can play a patient game as well. The bottom line is Detroit has too many real offensive weapons for the Bucs to deal with. They have to try to slow down the Lions, limit touchdowns defensively, and try to limit Detroit’s possessions. A shootout is not good for the Bucs.

961129.

Tampa's offense vs Detroit's defense...

by thunderfoot, 09/02/11 1:31 PM

When Tampa has the ball, they need to run it and get positive yards on first downs. Last season, that strategy was somewhat successful, as LeGarrett Blount had a big game running and leaping over Lions’ safeties and LBs for big gains. We should look for a better effort from Detroit this season. Tampa’s offensive line should be the best part of that team. They may indeed be with some high draft picks, high priced players and Probowl performers. The problem? They play against the relentless front 4 of Detroit this week in front an improved LB unit. They will be pressured.

I like Josh Freeman—a lot. He has it all. He is a very efficient QB with a big arm. He’s a strong kin who reminds me of Rothlisberger in that he has muscle his way out of trouble, keep plays alive and complete passes. He’s going to be a really good one in this league. Freeman, however, doesn’t have enough tools to outscore a team like Detroit. The aforementioned Blount is a slugger in the backfield, but they don’t really have an explosive 3rd down type back. Mike Williams had a really good rookie season but he is really not a burner. Benn was injured most of last season. He IS the burner but his patterns are readable at this point. The multiple knee surgeried, Kellen Winslow still holds down the fort at TE.

This offense, though featuring a good young QB is not a high scoring type offense. They won a lot of close games last season by shortening the game with Blount behind that OL, and winning in the late stages. A couple of these games they really had no right winning at all. It’s going to be fun for Lions fans to look at the differences between this back 7 and last season’s back 7. We already know what to expect from the front 4 and they will have a time battling Tampa’s best unit. However, Suh, Williams, Avril, KVB and co. should win most of those battles this season and I see no reason week one will be different

961131.

How the game should play out...

by thunderfoot, 09/02/11 1:32 PM

Here’s the game…

This season’s Lions/Bucs game kind of reminds me last season’s game against the Rams. On paper there is no reason the Bucs should even be competitive against the Lions. Like the Rams, it is the team’s record that will scare the Lions fans instead of the players on that team.

What the Lions want to do is score quickly against Tampa, and force Tampa to try to keep up. Tampa in turn, wants to play a first down game and keep their offense on the field. That’s the chess match here. Look for the Lions to score, however. Though the Bucs have some young talent on the defensive line, they are very young, and will have a couple of rookie ends playing in their first NFL game. They also have a rookie MLB backer playing in his first game. Look for those players to be taken advantage of particularly in the passing game (Best, Pettigrew). Even if butterflies affect the Lions for a series or two, they will eventually score against this unit. Tampa is trying to build a front wall but they aren’t there yet. The Bucs need Detroit’s help. They need to create turnovers and may even score off of turnovers to keep it a game. If not, the game may be out of reach by the end of the 3rd quarter.

What the Lions want to do defensively is stop the run, first, then make Tampa play a fast game. If Tampa has to try and keep up the scoring they are playing Detroit’s hands. Not only do the Lions have a front 4 built for that, but they have a quick and veteran LB corps who can not only hit, but think on their feet. Also, Tampa doesn’t have the weapons for that kind of game.

The intangibles are the Florida heat and the Bucs penchant for ball security. But the overall talent of the opponent should more than make up for those intangibles

Lions 27- Bucs 13

Thanks to Thunderfoot for putting together such a well thought out piece!  Agree? Disagree? What are your thoughts readers?

Lions Organization has Class

In stark contrast to the tumultous, rancorous, often bungled situations we as Detroit Lions fans became accustomed to over the Millen Era (and even before) the new front office has turned a sharp about face.  The Lions, instead of dysfunctional, are now often shown to be organized and downright classy.

The perfect example of this is how they responded to the death of Tom "Killer" Kowalski -- honoring him at the first news conference after his passing & the Bills/Lions Preseason game.

But now, they have gone further -- renaming the Press Lounge at the Allen Park facility in his honor, as well as donating a portion of the home-opener concessions to Killer's two favorite charities.  On top of that, they are starting a sports journalism scholarship in his honor. 

That goes far enough beyond classy I'm not even sure which word to use.

I can be proud of the team I root for because when it came time to back up what could have been mere words of sympathy and loss with solid substance, they took up the gauntlet proudly, openly, and far exceeded any token gesture to leave no doubt about the sincerity of the organization's intent nor the pain of their loss.  While we fans lost a bridge to the Lions organization, they too acknowledge having lost a respected bridge to the fans. 

Awesome job Lions!