Comments on: An Analysis of the Detroit Lions Final Roster has Few Surprises http://sidelionreport.com/2011/09/04/an-analysis-of-the-detroit-lions-final-roster-has-few-surprises/ A Detroit Lions Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more. Sun, 30 Dec 2012 07:22:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: JoeDoubleYou http://sidelionreport.com/2011/09/04/an-analysis-of-the-detroit-lions-final-roster-has-few-surprises/comment-page-1/#comment-5143 JoeDoubleYou Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:42:27 +0000 http://sidelionreport.com/?p=11277#comment-5143 I wanted Finley to make the final squad but they're deep there. Heller's a vet who's hard to beat out, Sheffler hopefully will be more solid in the system now and Pettigrew should be a perennial Pro Bowler. But my fear is 'Grew is always going to get banged up because of his size and how he plays (seems to always take contact to his upper legs) so I like the idea of having as much depth as possible and Sheffler is more a pass catcher and Heller is solid but not much of a playmaker. Obviously, Finley is not Antonio Gates but I like his rangy size and he seems like he's got good hands with a little shake in open space but can also block. Then again maybe he's just another example of guys looking good in pre-season against guys who don't make the final 53 of their team. Amazing how many guys in past years would have made the cuts but this year got sent packing. As a Lions fan you are used to watching these guys play well in the 3rd and 4th quarters in pre-season and expecting them to make the roster and possibly even start. These Lions have so much more talent and depth that in the back of my head I wonder if they can really show up and surprise even the people picking them to "do well" at 9-7 when they were 6-10 with their 2nd and 3rd string QBs and many defensive starters injured. Why does everyone act like they were 4-12 and not winners of the last 4 including the SB champs and 2 teams fighting for the playoffs? I get it... they always underperform expectations but what if one year they overperform? 12-4? Time to put down the Kool-Ade, right? I wanted Finley to make the final squad but they’re deep there. Heller’s a vet who’s hard to beat out, Sheffler hopefully will be more solid in the system now and Pettigrew should be a perennial Pro Bowler. But my fear is ‘Grew is always going to get banged up because of his size and how he plays (seems to always take contact to his upper legs) so I like the idea of having as much depth as possible and Sheffler is more a pass catcher and Heller is solid but not much of a playmaker. Obviously, Finley is not Antonio Gates but I like his rangy size and he seems like he’s got good hands with a little shake in open space but can also block. Then again maybe he’s just another example of guys looking good in pre-season against guys who don’t make the final 53 of their team.

Amazing how many guys in past years would have made the cuts but this year got sent packing. As a Lions fan you are used to watching these guys play well in the 3rd and 4th quarters in pre-season and expecting them to make the roster and possibly even start. These Lions have so much more talent and depth that in the back of my head I wonder if they can really show up and surprise even the people picking them to “do well” at 9-7 when they were 6-10 with their 2nd and 3rd string QBs and many defensive starters injured. Why does everyone act like they were 4-12 and not winners of the last 4 including the SB champs and 2 teams fighting for the playoffs? I get it… they always underperform expectations but what if one year they overperform? 12-4? Time to put down the Kool-Ade, right?

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