I thought for sure Detroit was on the way up three years ago. They looked like they were putting together the pieces, taking the long view, then...they just killed themselves.
I thought it would be interesting to have a resurgent Detroit Lions team, but their failure irritated me, and not because I am a Detroit fan (Pats here)
One thing that irritates me in all walks of life is self-wasted talent. I had a young guy working for me a few years back who was brilliant. I wished I had half the quickness, sharpness and innate ability this guy had. But he wasted it and we ended up firing him because he was lazy (not to mention a workplace wrecking ball)
That same feeling of disgust and irritation rises in me when I look at Detroit. They have some huge talent, but...they seem so darned undisciplined. It seems wasteful.
They were (and maybe are, still) on the way up. Last season would have ended better, perhaps with an outright division championship, definitely with a defeat of Green Bay, but Suh acted like an a-hole and got tossed from that game (Lions lost the lead and the initiative) and was suspended for some more games. He’s a playmaker, and this season he had just the one incidental contact with a QB’s babymakers, could have happened to anyone. His growth and maturity should be of great benefit to the Lions next season.
This season it hasn’t been the defense’s fault, or at least, they’ve had the least fault. Special teams has turned to wet tissue paper, getting back to their decade-long form of yesteryear. Offensively they can’t sustain drives, even when they look hot, something happens and suddenly, three and out. Or a turnover. Or a stupid penalty.
My guess is, someone will be getting fired, but it won’t be the head coach, and it won’t be fair. The team isn’t that far out, but a miserably bad losing record leaves everyone bitter, fatalistic, and wanting out. They have the best QB they’re likely to be able to get, and had better not waste any resources on getting one of the over-the-hill (or never got to the top) QBs likely to be out of a job, or already out of one, to serve as another backup. It might not be a bad idea to trade their 2nd and 3rd string QBs to grab some more muscle on offense. Calvin set a record, but he also had maybe what, two TDs all year? Ludicrous. With just a little help upfield, he’d get clear a lot more often.
Uh-oh, I’m sounding optimistic again. I’d better knock that off.