BlackLantern
Eternal
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I love Norm.....his faith is in his Lions is nigh unshakable
Again, if I was trying to make the case that the Lions HAVE BEEN an elite team, then the complaints of "it's just not substantiated by what we've seen" would be valid. But that's not what I am saying.
1900-2010 are irrelevant when talking about the best teams in 2011. Anyone who watches the NFL should know that each year is different. The Lions, in 2011, are (and will demonstrate themselves to be) an elite team. If we were to remove the stickers from the helmets, the nameplates from the jerseys and evaluate all 32 teams in a vacuum, the way the Lions team is built would be placed in an elite category.
This isn't fandom, I can extend this classification to a few other teams (including your Ravens). (Similarly I can point out the weaknesses of other teams/causes I support). This is a declaration based on an understanding of the sport of professional football. Now it will be proven correct or incorrect, I am not saying that people who don't know the Lions should be placing them amongst the likes of the Patriots and Ravens. That sort of treatment requires time. But a team doesn't become elite because fans perceive them as such, a team becomes elite by being elite. By placing the right players in the right scheme with the right depth. The Lions are built the right way.
As far as Stafford goes, I am doing him no "disservice". For one, I am not really saying anything that hasn't been said by others, but beyond that he is deserving of my praise. The stats of his last four games (against Chicago, Washington, NY Jets and Tampa) are 81-129 62% 9 TD 2 INT 110 QB rating. Now yes, four games don't make a season but when you mix in his pre-season performance and everything we know about this guy (his freaskish memory recall, his outstanding football IQ, his knack for game winning drives, his iron man performance against Cleveland, etc.) the burden of proof becomes increasingly placed on the side of his doubters. (He is also no more-likely to get injured due to his past injuries.)
Now the whole team may perish in a plane crash this year, or Suh, Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford may all have career ending injuries. Fine. But you place the Lions 53 against any other in the league and the Lions are as good as any team out there.
Again, if I was trying to make the case that the Lions HAVE BEEN an elite team, then the complaints of "it's just not substantiated by what we've seen" would be valid. But that's not what I am saying.
1900-2010 are irrelevant when talking about the best teams in 2011. Anyone who watches the NFL should know that each year is different. The Lions, in 2011, are (and will demonstrate themselves to be) an elite team. If we were to remove the stickers from the helmets, the nameplates from the jerseys and evaluate all 32 teams in a vacuum, the way the Lions team is built would be placed in an elite category.
This isn't fandom, I can extend this classification to a few other teams (including your Ravens). (Similarly I can point out the weaknesses of other teams/causes I support). This is a declaration based on an understanding of the sport of professional football. Now it will be proven correct or incorrect, I am not saying that people who don't know the Lions should be placing them amongst the likes of the Patriots and Ravens. That sort of treatment requires time. But a team doesn't become elite because fans perceive them as such, a team becomes elite by being elite. By placing the right players in the right scheme with the right depth. The Lions are built the right way.
As far as Stafford goes, I am doing him no "disservice". For one, I am not really saying anything that hasn't been said by others, but beyond that he is deserving of my praise. The stats of his last four games (against Chicago, Washington, NY Jets and Tampa) are 81-129 62% 9 TD 2 INT 110 QB rating. Now yes, four games don't make a season but when you mix in his pre-season performance and everything we know about this guy (his freaskish memory recall, his outstanding football IQ, his knack for game winning drives, his iron man performance against Cleveland, etc.) the burden of proof becomes increasingly placed on the side of his doubters. (He is also no more-likely to get injured due to his past injuries.)
Now the whole team may perish in a plane crash this year, or Suh, Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford may all have career ending injuries. Fine. But you place the Lions 53 against any other in the league and the Lions are as good as any team out there.
We got is a viscious Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady discussion last night and I simply eat up how when you can't argue based on wins somehow winning ceases to matter and you get all the excuses for losing while no one else does.So much denial that it needed two posts.![]()
The Lions are not bad this year, that said, it'll take a lot of injuries on the Bears and the Packers before they even have a shot (Heck, both those teams have solid backups and losing Cutler may well be an improvement).I love Norm.....his faith is in his Lions is nigh unshakable
They went undefeated in the preseason, coming out as a team to watch the year they went 0-16.Mmmm ... Hawaiian blue Kool-Aid. Anyone want a taste?
I love the enthusiasm, but I'll still take the wait and see approach with the Lions. Seems like I've seen this film before.
Again, if I was trying to make the case that the Lions HAVE BEEN an elite team, then the complaints of "it's just not substantiated by what we've seen" would be valid. But that's not what I am saying.
1900-2010 are irrelevant when talking about the best teams in 2011. Anyone who watches the NFL should know that each year is different. The Lions, in 2011, are (and will demonstrate themselves to be) an elite team. If we were to remove the stickers from the helmets, the nameplates from the jerseys and evaluate all 32 teams in a vacuum, the way the Lions team is built would be placed in an elite category.
This isn't fandom, I can extend this classification to a few other teams (including your Ravens). (Similarly I can point out the weaknesses of other teams/causes I support). This is a declaration based on an understanding of the sport of professional football. Now it will be proven correct or incorrect, I am not saying that people who don't know the Lions should be placing them amongst the likes of the Patriots and Ravens. That sort of treatment requires time. But a team doesn't become elite because fans perceive them as such, a team becomes elite by being elite. By placing the right players in the right scheme with the right depth. The Lions are built the right way.
As far as Stafford goes, I am doing him no "disservice". For one, I am not really saying anything that hasn't been said by others, but beyond that he is deserving of my praise. The stats of his last four games (against Chicago, Washington, NY Jets and Tampa) are 81-129 62% 9 TD 2 INT 110 QB rating. Now yes, four games don't make a season but when you mix in his pre-season performance and everything we know about this guy (his freaskish memory recall, his outstanding football IQ, his knack for game winning drives, his iron man performance against Cleveland, etc.) the burden of proof becomes increasingly placed on the side of his doubters. (He is also no more-likely to get injured due to his past injuries.)
Now the whole team may perish in a plane crash this year, or Suh, Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford may all have career ending injuries. Fine. But you place the Lions 53 against any other in the league and the Lions are as good as any team out there.
Jim Plunkett, a man with two, is not in the Hall of Fame.Eli isn't an elite QB, but he managed a super bowl.....so did Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson
I think that's the only time I've ever seen "iron man performance against Cleveland (?!?!?)" not written sarcastically.As far as Stafford goes, I am doing him no "disservice". For one, I am not really saying anything that hasn't been said by others, but beyond that he is deserving of my praise. The stats of his last four games (against Chicago, Washington, NY Jets and Tampa) are 81-129 62% 9 TD 2 INT 110 QB rating. Now yes, four games don't make a season but when you mix in his pre-season performance and everything we know about this guy (his freaskish memory recall, his outstanding football IQ, his knack for game winning drives, his iron man performance against Cleveland, etc.) the burden of proof becomes increasingly placed on the side of his doubters. (He is also no more-likely to get injured due to his past injuries.)
Jim Plunkett, a man with two, is not in the Hall of Fame.
Brady and Manning (and probably Rodgers) are in my opinion the only ones who have earned the title "Elite", with Roethlisberger, Vick, Rivers and Brees as very strong candidates for the title. After that, I think the term shouldn't be thrown around.
I'd probably put Brees in that upper tier.
This makes me rather nauseous, but if you focus on being able to win games and less on stats and precision, then you'd.....
Have to add Big Ben to that list.