DETROIT, MI -
As another lackluster season draws to a close, I
think back and remember our better years and how we came to where we are. This
season is leaving the same bitter taste we all felt last year but this time, it
might just be a bit more bitter.
We left last season with a disgraceful 2-14
record. But wait a minute, We lost 9 games by 8 points or less. That's still
more than a touchdown in many people's eyes. Let's break it down even
further...Out of those 9 close games, only one was by 8 points...One was by 7
points...One by 5...One by 4...Four by 3...One by 2....
Now when we look at it broken down in this
fashion, we can see that 8 of those games were probable of winning...Five were
by a field goal or less!...With a draft and free agent acquires, plus an added
year in this new system, one could assume that we would be able to gain at least
those 5 games giving us a 7-9 for this year. It was also feasible to assume that
we should have been able to win 8 of those 9, giving us a 10-6 record to
possible look forward to for this year. But this was not meant to be.
So what happened?...Well, to be honest, they
created several of their problems themselves. First of all, Batch was released.
I know that many wanted him gone, but he had experience that we could have used
to groom our new QB. What do we have now? Detmer. Do we really want him teaching
our future quarterbacks? This could explain the high number of interceptions
that we've seen this year.
Second, we didn't get any playmakers this year,
not to mention that several players that were here last year are now gone. So,
it is not the same team as it was even a year ago. Free agency didn't bring us
anything special either.
But I think the biggest blunder has been the
conservative play calling by our illustrious leader. Matt Millen has recently
stated that the play calling has been overly conservative in order to protect
Joey Harrington. Why? Was this not the same Joey Harrington that was supposed to
bring a fire to this team and lead us into the future? Do not misread what I'm
saying. I am in no way degrading Harrington, I am instead blaming Marty for his
atrocious play calling.
Many are calling for an end to the M&M regime,
with more joining with each loss. Haven't we as fans had enough! How many years
have we had to endure the snickers and snide remarks? Too many! It is time to
put and end to this madness Mr. Ford! Fans are tired of the Lions being a
training ground for new talent. How many times have we seen them trade away a
player they told us wasn't worth keeping, only to have them show up on another
team and become a star? When was the Lions designated as the training team for
the rest of the NFL?...
Ford Jr., according to his statements, wants to
win just as bad as the fans do. This may be true. Jr. does not have complete
control of the Lions, Daddy still holds the reigns. Ford Sr. still has final
say. I don't recall hearing him say he wants a winning team.
Reminds me a child sitting on Daddy's lap
driving a car...Daddy said he could go as fast as he wants, he can do whatever
he wants, but the instant that he does something Daddy doesn't like, he hits the
brakes and puts the team back on track for mediocrity. Playing safe will see you
through the season, but you will never be a champion. Risks need to be taken,
and lessons learned. Just as players have learned their lessons, we let them go.
Now Matt and Marty have both made several
blunders in their time here, that I think will lead to their undoing. They have
had 2 complete seasons to start the turn around. They have failed. We all have
seen, whether we know it or not, other coaches on other teams, step in and in 2
years, sometimes one year, take a bad team to the playoffs and beyond. Most of
these are experienced and hardened coaches and GM's. Not rookie coaches and
GM's....
Matt and Marty came to town and made no qualms
about cutting players that didn't perform up to par. Mr. Ford, I ask that you
follow this example and cut the coach and GM that has failed to perform. When it
comes to job security, the coach should not be held above the players. the
standard that the coach and GM set for the players, should also be used for
them.
I do not expect to see a championship team
until Ford Jr. takes complete control. Hopefully he will not be permanently
influenced by how daddy ran the team, and he will do what's best for the team
and the fans. Without us fans, there would be no professional sports. As the fan
base grows, so do revenues. simple rules of supply and demand. The problem is
that they have supplied an average team despite the demand for better. The best
we can hope for this year is 5-11...At this pace, next year we'll see 8-8...the
year after 11-5...will it actually get that good? History says no, but
regardless of record or talent, there is always the possibility. I guess that's
why we stick around year after year, hoping that this will be the year they
finally get it together. Knowing that we can then say we have now seen it all,
and can then reminisce about not only the bad years, but the good ones too.
