Black Monday

It was only one pre-season game.

It was only one stinking, putrid, horrific, awful, embarrassing pre-season game broadcast to a national television audience.

In case you missed it, and I'm hoping most of you did, the Detroit Lions got hammered last night by the St. Louis Rams, 37-13. It wasn't as close as the score might indicate. To put into words, let alone complete sentences, my disgust with last night's performance is challenging. Please forgive me if my writing is even worse than normal. Much like the Lions, that may be difficult to comprehend, but it is possible.

I must admit that I cashed out when the score was 21-6, Rams. There was no need to continue to waste time in that fashion. After all, the Tigers were busy coughing up a 5-0 first inning lead on FSN-Detroit. By all accounts, nothing improved at Ford Field after I moved onto less frustrating ventures.

As a form of release, allow me to review some of my observations for this debacle. That's what blogs are for, right?

Everything combined-the expectations, the new uniforms, the Monday Night Football broadcast, their performance or lack thereof-may have made last night's game the worst exhibition loss in Lions' history. It was very deflating.

The Lions first teamers didn't score for the third straight game. I wish that was our biggest problem. No, fans of the Black and Silver (and some Honolulu Blue), the biggest problem our offense seems to have is that the line has a difficult time blocking. Anybody.

For a pleasant change, Joey Harrington got left off the hook because his line was so terrible at every phase of the game that Harrington had no time to do much of anything. The Rams blitzed repeatedly and nailed Harrington for a loss nearly every time. Matt Millen had best be checking the waiver wire for O-Lineman today. This group is not getting the job done. Which leads us to our next two problems.

This offensive scheme, I use that word with hesitance, is not only dull, but horribly ineffective. The lack of touchdowns is one reflection of that. So, too, is their inability to adapt to defensive changes. Guys, if the QB is getting mashed like Thanksgiving Day potatoes, maybe we need to look at something else.

I have to assume they, in fact, did make some changes. I believe the Lions attempted to run multiple receiver formations forcing the Rams into playing more dime packages. It just didn't help the team improve. Of course, in the coaches defense, it's hard to make a good change when your quarterback is on the turf most of the night.

Oh, and why can't this team throw the ball down the field? Ever. I'm sure one reason Steve Mariucci, and, yeah, I'll be getting back to him shortly, doesn't like Joey is that Harrington wants to fling the ball downfield. You remember downfield, right? Where the endzone is. The place touchdowns are scored. No, the Lions prefer tossing out patterns. And more out patterns.

This team has three number one picks, three former All-Americans, at wideout and the most effective way to take advantage of their abilities is to limit their patterns? I just don't get it.

Why don't the Lions run three and four receiver sets all the time? Roy Williams, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams should be a load to handle, I don't care how young they are. Toss in Kevin Johnson and Marcus Pollard and Mariucci could play to Harrington's strength. Nope. Short, conservative passes are the rule around Ford Field. So, too, is losing.

As for Mike Williams, doesn't a number one choice for a fourth string receiver seem a bit much? I like the guy. He could be good. Very good, in fact. However, he's the fourth receiver on a team that seems to have flaws all over the place. Couldn't the tenth overall pick have gone to an area of more need? Like, let's say, a playmaking linebacker? (I wonder how Derrick Johnson is doing this pre-season?)

As bad as the offense was, the defense was worse. I am under the impression after last night's game, that the Lions have either A) opted not to have linebackers on the payroll or B) have chosen to play a defensive scheme that doesn't employ LBs.

Did a linebacker get close to making a play last night? Not the back-ups, I'm talking about the starters, if there are any. Teddy Lehman gets a pass as he didn't suit up, but for all of Lehman's speed, he can't even secure a starting role, so how good is he? (This is coming from someone who might list Lehman as his favorite Lion.) Boss Bailey was invisible. Earl Holmes didn't make a play. James Davis? No sign of him, either.

The D-Line was manhandled as badly as the O-Line. Shaun Rogers was out and it showed. The Rams' Steven Jackson is still running. He could have gotten 200 yards, if it were a regular season game. The defense has been bad since game one and it's not improving. Here's where we get back to Mooch.

This team is not improving on either side of the ball. The talent on paper sure seems better, but the product is still the same. Yes, it was only a pre-season game. Is it asking too much, though, to expect to see signs of progress?

I'm not talking Super Bowl champion dominance, just an effective use of what weapons you have and some steady improvement. Does anyone in Detroit think we've seen any of that thus far this pre-season? How about during Mooch's reign?

I'm not in the camp that wants Mariucci on the next plane out of Metro Airport, but I am in the group that's thinking about calling my travel agent to check on prices.

Oh, and before I forget, to all those fans who loved the new black (Raiders) jerseys the Lions donned last night- Where was all that manhood the new look was supposed to inspire? I thought it was psychological. The Honolulu Blue just wasn't tough enough. Well, the boys in black and silver got pushed around like the JV squad Monday night. The new duds were duds, indeed.

Okay, I'm a little mad. Maybe, I'm over-reacting. Maybe the Lions will be just fine come the season opener versus Green Bay. However, after the lack of effort displayed last evening, the Lions have forced many of us to re-consider our aspirations for 2005.

Before the game, I expected something like 10-6, maybe 9-7. A playoff berth was mandatory. Now, I am expecting them the struggle to get to 8-8. It's hard to envision this collection of players making a huge improvement during the regular season.