Quote:Sounds like a good test for Bortles (and the blockers) then....
As I think about it, the receivers too.
In order for the offense to be effective, the QB and the receivers have to be on the same page, especially when it comes to the blitz.
All need to be able to recognize it when they see it, and the receivers need to be able to correctly adjust their routes accordingly.
Both the receivers and the QBs need to see the same things formation and coverage wise.
Quote:While the Lions base Defense is a 4-3, a major part of the overall scheme is the new ' flamethrower' position which rookie LB Kyle Van Noy is eventually expected to be the key component. In essence, Van Noy would be lined up on the outside, in either a 4 or 5 man front. The Lions have used this package to some degree in the pre-season but Van Noy still has plenty of learning ahead despite showing major flashes. Van Noy was drafted by the Lions because of his versatile all around playmaking skills.
The odd fronts will be a good test for the team.
The blitzes should help in the preparation.
I am unsure who I am less confident in in terms of blitz pickup...our rookie QB or our piecemeal OL.
Quote:Sounds like a good test for Bortles (and the blockers) then....
I think it's potentiallly a great test for them.
Having said that, I do believe that the Jaguars Coaches will hold a significant portion of their playbook back in order to not show it to the Eagles on tape.
Quote:I think it's potentiallly a great test for them.
Having said that, I do believe that the Jaguars Coaches will hold a significant portion of their playbook back in order to not show it to the Eagles on tape.
There's no doubt about that.
Quote:The odd fronts will be a good test for the team.
The blitzes should help in the preparation.
I am unsure who I am less confident in in terms of blitz pickup...our rookie QB or our piecemeal OL.
If this was the Lions Defensive scheme from the previous 5 years, it probably wouldn't be a good test for the Jaguars based on their early season schedule. With Teryl Austin running the Lions Defense, while the Jaguars won't see all of the Lions blitzing packages because some will be saved for the Giants, Panthers, Packers , and the Jets ( September opponents ), this will be a great opportunity for the Jaguars coaches to prepare Bortles for a large variety of blitzes. The classroom and practice field are always important but probably even more so this week than in the earlier part of training camp and the pre-season.
My gut feeling is Blake Bortles is going to at least hold his own with the blitzes and probably even exceed that. On the other hand, I think you have legit reason to be concerned about how the protection is for him.
Related to what I mentioned in the last paragraph, on the other side of the ball, the Lions 2nd string interior Offensive Line has been struggling to say the least. In the 2nd half, the Jaguars DT's and others coming up the middle will have a field day if last week's pre-season game in Oakland is an indication.
i actually think he will do well. not only will he be going up against 1st team defense, but he will have 1st team offense on his side as well. i think he will throw his first td today as well, possibly 2. i don't expect him to throw any interceptions, maybe have a close call or 2, but nothing more. hopefully he continues to take shots down the field. as long as he does what he did against the 2 and 3's, he will give the coaching staff no choice but to start him.
Quote:My only complaint against Lewis isn't his own doing...his contract. I think the drops are blown way out of proportion as he's pretty much middle of the pack in that category. I think the uncovered drop in the end zone contributes to this. I think he's had a good preseason so far and I also think he's going to play a much bigger part in the offense. Will it be enough to get him the same kind of contract? Probably not. I think they finally started using him better in the red zone the second half of last year. I don't know why it took them so long to throw the ball up for grabs to a 6'6" receiver. We'll see what happens. I think he's better than a lot of people give him credit for. Although, unless he's willing to take less money, this could very well be his last year.
Lets not forget his struggles correlated exactly with Gabbert playing QB.
You are going to get a lot of drops when you have a QB that has a penchant for throwing at 6'7" man's shins.
Gabbert was a serious under thrower. Lewis just isn't built to flourish with that type of QB.
The Lions secondary is not good. Their front 7 otoh is going to be a challenge.
Quote:The Lions secondary is not good. Their front 7 otoh is going to be a challenge.
I think the Lions Secondary has the potential to be good or at least not a liability. Yet, at this time, there certainly are as many questions as answers.
The Lions Front 7 has the potential to be great but there are major question marks.
Either way, for the Jaguars, I do believe that the Lions will provide a good test for them on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams. And even more importantly provide the Jaguars with preparation that should help them when their season begins in Philadelphia.
Quote:I think the Lions Secondary has the potential to be good or at least not a liability. Yet, at this time, there certainly are as many questions as answers.
The Lions Front 7 has the potential to be great but there are major question marks.
Either way, for the Jaguars, I do believe that the Lions will provide a good test for them on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams. And even more importantly provide the Jaguars with preparation that should help them when their season begins in Philadelphia.
What do you think has been Fairley's biggest shortcomings that have resulted in him running second team?
Did he somehow get in the new HC's doghouse, or has he been an underachiever/malingerer throughout his tenure with the Lions?
Quote:What do you think has been Fairley's biggest shortcomings that have resulted in him running second team?
Did he somehow get in the new HC's doghouse, or has he been an underachiever/malingerer throughout his tenure with the Lions?
Nick Fairley is as physically gifted, if not more, than Ndamukong Suh. Unfortunately, Fairley doesn't have remotely close to Suh's work ethic. Excess weight and inconsistent effort have led to numerous injuries for Fairley since he came to the Lions in 2011. This is the 2nd straight training camp that Fairley actually gained a significant amount of weight. My guess is at least 98 % of the players in the NFL over the decades have lost weight in training camp.
There have been games in which Nick Fairley was absolutely dominant. But even in some of those games, he's disappeared for streches. There have been other games in which he was practically invisible.
Lions GM Martin Mayhew wanted Fairley to be more accountable for his excess weight/ conditioning/ inconsistent play. But previous HC Jim Schwartz looked the other way. This is one of the reasons why I believe Mayhew fired Schwartz last winter. On the other hand, Jim Caldwell believes players have to be accountable. Discipline with weight and penalties is a major part of Caldwell's coaching style. If Schwartz was still the HC, Fairley probably wouldn't have been demoted to the 2nd team. Time will tell if the demotion will truly get Fairley playing to the level he's capable of playing at on a consistent basis. But the truth of the matter is no team can risk taking the chance of giving Fairley a long term contract. Even after the Lions didn't pick up his 5th year option, for the purposes of motivating Fairley in 2014, he didn't stay the course in training camp. I wish he had the approach to football that Suh, C.J. Mosley, and Jason Jones has.
Quote:Nick Fairley is as physically gifted, if not more, than Ndamukong Suh. Unfortunately, Fairley doesn't have remotely close to Suh's work ethic. Excess weight and inconsistent effort have led to numerous injuries for Fairley since he came to the Lions in 2011. This is the 2nd straight training camp that Fairley actually gained a significant amount of weight. My guess is at least 98 % of the players in the NFL over the decades have lost weight in training camp.
There have been games in which Nick Fairley was absolutely dominant. But even in some of those games, he's disappeared for streches. There have been other games in which he was practically invisible.
Lions GM Martin Mayhew wanted Fairley to be more accountable for his excess weight/ conditioning/ inconsistent play. But previous HC Jim Schwartz looked the other way. This is one of the reasons why I believe Mayhew fired Schwartz last winter. On the other hand, Jim Caldwell believes players have to be accountable. Discipline with weight and penalties is a major part of Caldwell's coaching style. If Schwartz was still the HC, Fairley probably wouldn't have been demoted to the 2nd team. Time will tell if the demotion will truly get Fairley playing to the level he's capable of playing at on a consistent basis. But the truth of the matter is no team can risk taking the chance of giving Fairley a long term contract. Even after the Lions didn't pick up his 5th year option, for the purposes of motivating Fairley in 2014, he didn't stay the course in training camp. I wish he had the approach to football that Suh, C.J. Mosley, and Jason Jones has.
Sounds like a more talented version of Terrance Knighton.
Quote:I think the Lions Secondary has the potential to be good or at least not a liability. Yet, at this time, there certainly are as many questions as answers.
The Lions Front 7 has the potential to be great but there are major question marks.
Either way, for the Jaguars, I do believe that the Lions will provide a good test for them on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams. And even more importantly provide the Jaguars with preparation that should help them when their season begins in Philadelphia.
The fact that Rashean is your best CB says a lot. We know him very well.
Quote:I don't think I've looked forward to a pre-season game this much in a long, long, time.
Ha! You've got a man crush and you're all giddy.
Quote:Ha! You've got a man crush and you're all giddy.
Is that what they call it when you drink a lot of beer?
Quote:Is that what they call it when you drink a lot of beer?
I'm told that is a side effect, yes.
Should we panic is Henne looks bad and Bortles lights it up?
Quote:Should we panic is Henne looks bad and Bortles lights it up?
nope. Ideally they will both play well but I wouldn't complain if Bortles outplayed Henne.
Quote:Should we panic is Henne looks bad and Bortles lights it up?
Panic! The expected is happening! :o