3 Things To Look For

1. With the fierce pass rush the Philadelphia Eagles present, I would expect some no-huddle from the Lions. The Lions employed this strategy on the road vs the Tennessee Titans successfully, with a 5.83 ypa (yard per attempt) and 3.56 ypc (yard per carry) average.  The Lions ran a total of 27 no-huddle plays that afternoon.  Over the first four games, the Lions in their no-huddle attack, is averaging 5.59 ypa and 2.63 ypc. This strategy could play a role in tiring out the speedy, athletic Eagle defensive ends.
2. Expect to see more 11 and 12 personnel sets. 11 personnel being 1 running back, 1 tight end, 3 wide receivers. 12 personnel being 1 running back, 2 tight ends, 2 wide receivers.  The Lions operate out of these looks on more than 65% of their total offensive plays.  Of the 288 total plays, 189 have been run out of these sets (one hundred plays in 11 personnel, eighty nine plays in 12 personnel).  Also expect to see touchdowns scores ran from these sets.  Of the team’s nine touchdowns, four were ran in 12 personnel, and three were ran out of 11 personnel.
3. Look for the Lions defensive line to get after Mike Vick.  Vick for his career has been sacked once every 10.5 pass attempts. In his last 12 home games, Vick has been sacked 32 times. An average of 2.67 sacks per game.  Also look for the Lions to takeaway Vick. In his last 12 home games, Vick has turned the ball over 17 times, not including 6 additional fumbles recovered.

The Madden video game started featuring players on the cover of US versions with Madden 2001. Since that time, some feel a trend has developed in which bad things happen to the players whose images appear on the game’s cover. The Madden curse theory is now so ingrained in the landscape of NFL fandom that 66% of Lions fans in a recent poll said they don’t want to see Calvin Johnson on the cover of Madden 13.

Is the Madden curse really something to be concerned with? As it turns out, not surprisingly, no.

At this point you have two choices as a Lions fan. One, just go vote for Calvin Johnson over Arian Foster to move on in the cover tournament. Two, read through whatever portion of the next 2,000 words you need to come to your senses and conquer your irrational fears of the Madden curse and then go vote for Calvin Johnson.

Here’s the real story behind all 12 Madden covers. (more…)

November 13, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel (22) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during second quarter action at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey G. Pittenger-US PRESSWIRE

The Eagles must pay Samuel $9.4M in base salary this season. In addition to two other bonuses, he will account for a $10.5M salary cap hit. He will be the third highest paid player on the Eagles this season by making roughly $800K less than CB Nnamdi Asomugha and $3.4M less than QB Michael Vick.

The Lions do not have enough salary cap room to sign free agents, upcoming draft picks, and undrafted free agents if they trade for Asante Samuel. The only way Detroit trades for Asante Samuel is if he is willing to take a significant pay cut to join the squad; however, as we previously saw with his contract negotiations with the Eagles, he is all about his money, man.

Another factor Lions fans should be aware of is that Samuel is 31-years old and is no longer in his prime. The Detroit Lions could add a more valuable player to its secondary by drafting a younger, cheaper player in the middle rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.

The final reason the Lions will not make this deal is that Martin Mayhew is too smart to pull the trigger on such a lousy trade. The Detroit Lions franchise has one of the most levelheaded General Managers in the NFL and Mayhew knows that the money and draft picks saved from not trading for Samuel will be more valuable now and in the future. Samuel will most likely attract a middle-round draft pick and a conditional late-round pick. The Lions have found several players in those rounds that have contributed during the past three seasons (e.g. Amari Spievey, DeAndre Levy, and Willie Young).

Do not waste your time arguing for this trade, Lions fan. The Lions do not need Samuel or his putrid contract.

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