Defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh recently stated that he would not change his style of play, even though he was fined by the league for another vicious hit. Everything Roger Goodell’s office does is not always fair though, as we have previously seen with the Terrelle Pryor five game suspension. This is tremendous news for Michiganders, who are poised for Tigers postseason baseball and the first winning season for the Lions in recent memory.
The addition of Nick Fairley will counteract the double teams that would have been sent Suh’s way. There are some questions in the secondary and with the placekicking, but the team as a whole is looking the best it has since the days of Barry Sanders.
With that said, I will make a few suggestions to the organization.
Head Coach Jim Schwartz seems to be the right man for the job. He has instilled a culture of winning that is almost impossible to do in the NFL. Anyway, he has opened some of his preseason camp sessions to the public. The negatives definitely outweigh the positives in this scenario. There are tumultuous situations between players that transpire on a daily basis. Having the public around to witness these transgressions will simply add fuel to the fire. These altercations are actually a good thing in football practices because they show the determination and passion of the athletes. Naïve spectators, however, might not comprehend the true nature of competition that is fostered through these types of situations.
In addition, some years would have this weekend’s Kenny Chesney concert would be the highlight of late summer. This year is different with the aforementioned expectations. This is why it is imperative that the ticket office should have sold single game tickets a.s.a.p. after the lockout was lifted. Striking while the iron is hot is important in the entertainment basis. Fans were so thankful that football will take place, money would have been flying out of their pockets. It is standard operating procedure for tickets to be on sale ninety days in advance for events. A few weeks doesn’t suffice for the Detroit Lions, especially with their track record so far this millennium.
The team looks to be an offensive juggernaut this season. Playing indoors some of the time will only increase the likelihood that they will have no problem outscoring some of their opponents. There are some contractual obligations of players in the United Football League, only allowing them to sign NFL contracts after the completion of their seasons. The Lions should be looking for secondary help in the supplemental draft and in the CFL. It is the weak link on the defensive side, but can still be dealt with during the preseason.
The team should be monitoring the diet, outside workouts, and hobbies of Matthew Stafford. His health is of the utmost importance for the success of the organization. Some players are simply fragile physically, but maybe there is a way the staff can make sure he can stay on the field.
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