Quote:D6 you saw the 2008 Lions team first hand. Do you think we are better than they were?

 

JAGANTIUS,   there were several games in 2008 that the Lions were very competitive.   The week # 5 loss at Minnesota that season probably would have been a win if not for a highly questionable pass Interference Penalty on CB Leigh Bodden.    In several other games though,   including the loss to the Jaguars in which MJD had 3 TD's,   the Lions had the look of an 0-16 team.  Rock bottom was either the Thanksgiving Day loss to Tennessee or the Game # 15 home loss to New Orleans.   Drew Brees and the Saints Offense was unstoppable that afternoon.   The only time the Saints Offense didn't score was when the QB took a knee on the last series of downs.  

 

While the trade of WR Roy Williams to Dallas was a great decision by then interim / now GM Martin Mayhew,  that trade likely was the difference in the Lions not winning at least one game.   Other than Calvin Johnson and HOF caliber K Jason Hanson,   the Lions didn't have any high caliber players.   There were some above average players that bordered on good players but the overall talent was lacking.    I give then HC Rod Marinelli credit for not losing the team that season,  despite the injury and talent situation.   The situation in the Secondary,  excluding Bodden,  was so bad that only 1 DB was back with the team in 2009 when Jim Schwartz became HC.    It wasn't Bodden,  who the Lions decided not to keep because of his contract.

 

I believe the current Jaguars have more to work with than the Lions team that was typically on the field in 2008.   Especially regarding the potential of Blake Bortles,  a WR corp that has much more depth than the post Roy Williams trade corp had,  and a much better Defensive Line situation.   DT Cory Redding and then rookie DE Cliff Avril were the best the Lions had up front.   DE Dewayne White had his moments.   After that,  there's wasn't much.     Other than Calvin Johnson,  the advantage the 2008 Lions had was having a veteran LT ( Jeff Backus ) and C ( Dominic Raiola- who is still a starter with the Lions ) that provided stability.   Yet,  that was the only season that Raiola missed multiple games ( 4 ) because of injury,    It proved costly,  as that combined with a revolving QB situation because of injuries made a bad situation that much worse.

 

The 2014 Jaguars are an evolving team that has more young talent than the 2008 Lions did.    That's why I think there's a good chance that the Jaguars will get better as this season goes along and provide the tangible results the Lions failed to provide in 2008.   

---