Chris, loved the modern day QB comparisons with the stars of the past. Given tonight's game, wondering if you have today's QB that is similar to Jim Kelly? That class Elway, Marino, Kelly & three other QBs drafted in Round 1!
I didn't watch a ton of Kelly at his peak -- no Sunday Ticket back then. I did see him in the playoffs and Super Bowls, but don't remember him as well as some of the others. So any name I threw out there would be kind of random. Stafford or Matt Ryan come to mind, but back then Kelly would attempt only about 400 passes per year, and those are high-volume guys.
As the resident Lions degenerate, watching the game, I had 3 takeaways...
1) this was absolutely a game that old Lions teams, including the 90s Lions teams, would have lost. A lot of people locally are raising concerns about the defensive performance, and while those concerns might be valid, the team has went from "finding a way to lose" to "finding a way to win," which is a quality of contending teams.
2) How far this roster has come in just two years is outrageous. As much credit as deservedly Campbell gets for being a motivator, Holmes roster construction needs more. This team was Matt Millen-esque pure bonafide dogshit for the tail-end of the Quinn/Patricia era, and Holmes in just 2 1/2 years has not only cleaned house, but infused a core of talent. The team is in a solid salary cap space situation (although they'll eventually have to pay up with some of the late round talent that Holmes has found).
3) We go back and forth on Goff a lot, but one skill he has that is difficult to notice is his ability to feel pressure and get rid of the ball. the Chargers had zero sacks with a D-line led by Mack and Bosa. Granted, much credit needs to go to the Lions O-line which is outstanding, but Goff is very skilled at recognizing pressure/has a built in "2.5 sec get rid of ball" clock. Great example of this was late third quarter, he felt pressure sliding to his right, and threw an uncatchable ball at the feet of Brock Wright, rather than risk a catchable ball that could have been picked. It was a nothing play, but he avoided the sack, didn't force a dangerous pass anywhere, and kept the drive alive which would later result in a TD. Not many QBs possess this skill.
Chargers are awfully soft on defense, but he played well. And while the old Lions would have blown it, so would the old (and current) Chargers, so someone had to win! I actually think this Lions team has a chance, mostly due to the O-line, but the defense (which had played better a few weeks ago) has really fallen off. Also, they could really use a field stretcher. They have everything else.
Yeah the defense is a concern for sure, and while I think we have a chance to get to the NFC championship or even appear in the Super Bowl as a longshot, I don't think title teams have this quality of defense.
The sack numbers are alarming. against bad teams:
7 Sacks vs ATL
5 sacks vs GB
1 sack vs CAR
6 sacks vs LV
against average or good teams
0 sacks vs KC
1 sack vs SEA
1 sack vs TB
0 sacks vs BAL
0 sacks vs LAC
We likely get a couple key defenders back for the playoffs in James Houston and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, but it's probably not enough.
Chris, loved the modern day QB comparisons with the stars of the past. Given tonight's game, wondering if you have today's QB that is similar to Jim Kelly? That class Elway, Marino, Kelly & three other QBs drafted in Round 1!
I didn't watch a ton of Kelly at his peak -- no Sunday Ticket back then. I did see him in the playoffs and Super Bowls, but don't remember him as well as some of the others. So any name I threw out there would be kind of random. Stafford or Matt Ryan come to mind, but back then Kelly would attempt only about 400 passes per year, and those are high-volume guys.
Sun-God love! I dig it!
As the resident Lions degenerate, watching the game, I had 3 takeaways...
1) this was absolutely a game that old Lions teams, including the 90s Lions teams, would have lost. A lot of people locally are raising concerns about the defensive performance, and while those concerns might be valid, the team has went from "finding a way to lose" to "finding a way to win," which is a quality of contending teams.
2) How far this roster has come in just two years is outrageous. As much credit as deservedly Campbell gets for being a motivator, Holmes roster construction needs more. This team was Matt Millen-esque pure bonafide dogshit for the tail-end of the Quinn/Patricia era, and Holmes in just 2 1/2 years has not only cleaned house, but infused a core of talent. The team is in a solid salary cap space situation (although they'll eventually have to pay up with some of the late round talent that Holmes has found).
3) We go back and forth on Goff a lot, but one skill he has that is difficult to notice is his ability to feel pressure and get rid of the ball. the Chargers had zero sacks with a D-line led by Mack and Bosa. Granted, much credit needs to go to the Lions O-line which is outstanding, but Goff is very skilled at recognizing pressure/has a built in "2.5 sec get rid of ball" clock. Great example of this was late third quarter, he felt pressure sliding to his right, and threw an uncatchable ball at the feet of Brock Wright, rather than risk a catchable ball that could have been picked. It was a nothing play, but he avoided the sack, didn't force a dangerous pass anywhere, and kept the drive alive which would later result in a TD. Not many QBs possess this skill.
Chargers are awfully soft on defense, but he played well. And while the old Lions would have blown it, so would the old (and current) Chargers, so someone had to win! I actually think this Lions team has a chance, mostly due to the O-line, but the defense (which had played better a few weeks ago) has really fallen off. Also, they could really use a field stretcher. They have everything else.
Yeah the defense is a concern for sure, and while I think we have a chance to get to the NFC championship or even appear in the Super Bowl as a longshot, I don't think title teams have this quality of defense.
The sack numbers are alarming. against bad teams:
7 Sacks vs ATL
5 sacks vs GB
1 sack vs CAR
6 sacks vs LV
against average or good teams
0 sacks vs KC
1 sack vs SEA
1 sack vs TB
0 sacks vs BAL
0 sacks vs LAC
We likely get a couple key defenders back for the playoffs in James Houston and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, but it's probably not enough.