I want to make sure I understand this correctly. The Detroit Lions lost to the Minnesota Vikings today? The same Vikings that traded away one of the most dominant forces in the game, Randy Moss, this past off-season? The same Vikings that were playing their second string quarterback? The same Vikings that have played like crap all year even with their all-world, first string QB, Dante Culepepper healthy? The same Vikings who are now commonly known to all as "The Crew of The Love Boat" for their off-field antics just a few weeks ago? The same Vikings that nearly everyone had written off for dead? Those Vikings? No wonder Greg Eno hates them.
After watching even half of that debacle this afternoon, and you should earn some sort of Boy Scout Merit badge if you did manage to stomach that much of the game, does anyone think it's not time for the Ford family to start over? After watching this team fall to 3-5, can anyone honestly argue against tossing Matt Millen, Steve Mariucci and everyone else in a management role out and starting over?
I'll start with Millen. He's been given much credit for drafting well. I think we have evidence to the contrary. He took Charles Rogers second overall, that's second in the whole stinking draft, knowing he failed a drug test. He's failed, at least, three more since. Did anyone in the Lions' front office do a background check on the kid?
Roy Williams, invisible in big games at Texas, has been just plain invisible in Detroit. Williams was another first round pick that has been underwhelming. Mike Williams, the third straight wideout grabbed by the Lions in the first round, is also a non-factor. Did I mention their off-field problems-like not showing up for practice or not working hard once there? That's zero for three with three straight draft picks.
The Lions have a terrible offensive line. Millen's free agent attempts to shore up the O-line have failed. Period. That's an underperforming receiving corps combined with a poor offensive line. Not the recipe for success, is it?
And what of our lovely, albeit typical Lions, quarterback dilemma? We all realize Joey Harrington is done here. Harrington was another wasted first round choice and Jeff Garcia is old enough to have been Bobby Layne's back-up. So, neither Millen's draft pick or his free agent acquisition have solved the Lions signal caller problem.
We are left with a team that desperately needs to acquire a new quarterback and probably around two offensive linemen minimum. They also have what appears to be three underproductive malcontents playing wideout. That's just on one side of the ball.
What about Millen's eye for selecting coaches? Gary Moeller, Marty Morninweg and Mariucci. That's three guys so far. Anyone one of you impressed with Millen's decision making in this area?
With each passing week, with each first round pick fading or not even making an initial impact, I lose faith in Millen's eye for talent. Both in terms of player and coach evaluation.
As for the Honolulu Blue and Silver's current coach, his claim to fame was offense. Again, anyone watching this silliness think the Lions play well on offense? Even if you believe Mooch is a run-first, pass second type of coach, where on Earth is the ground game? Outside of the last eight games of 2004, has anyone seen a Lions running attack?
If, in fact, Mariucci believes in running as a priority, why did the team just take three straight wideouts in the first round of the draft and not O-linemen? I understand Mariucci isn't Don Coryell, but on paper, that's the type of squad he finds himself in charge of. Yet, he hasn't adapted.
For a guy who may be best known for working with Brett Favre, Mariucci has shown no ability to help elevate Harrington's game (or confidence) nor has his handpicked back-up, Garcia, shown much more than he exhibited in his stint in Cleveland last campaign. A quarterback guru, Mariucci is not.
I am frustrated. Again. Still, is a better word. I'm trying to think of a reason for the Lions current decision makers to continue in that capacity. I'm failing miserably to do so. Then, again, so are the Lions.
I just don't like saying people should lose their jobs. Mostly because I don't really think it's very nice. I also don't like to call for people to be fired because it tends to sound like typical blog over-reaction. Or angry sports-talk radio caller banter. You tend to lose credibility because you simply don't sound reasonable. However, I'm struggling to find reasons for the Lions to continue down the road they are taking.
I'm in no mood for rebuilding. In fact, I don't even like using the "R" word in relation to the Lions. If you are a Lions fan, neither do you. Who knows how long that could take? It's been almost fifty years as it is now. Why in the world would any of us want to sit through another make-over? Yet, I can't imagine this group succeeding, so what other choice do we have?
1 comment:
The Lions are, yet again, the laughing stock of the NFC. Get rid of that entire coaching staff, let go of at least Harrington and Rogers, get a staff in here that is going to kick some sense into guys like Roy and Mike Williams and just do something for a change darn it!
Seriously, what I do not understand is how Millen can just sit there and watch. He was a hard assed LB for christ sakes, how can he watch all this softness without doing a damn thing! I understand he probably doesn't want another Mike Ditka radio show moment on his record ("Where are your testicals?" - That could be the theme for that whole team anyway couldn't it?)but he should at least speak up and say he is something - pissed, disappointed, whatever! He needs to make some move to at least prove to us all he still has a pulse, which is more than I can say for this entire team.
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