SB Nation - Stephen Peterman

Thursday Notes: Matthew Stafford Likely Out Against Arizona

Sean Yuille — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:00:59 -0000

It is "not likely" that Matthew Stafford will play against the Cardinals this week. The coaches seem like they really don't want to rush him back, especially with how banged up the rest of the offense is. It's not like Stafford would be returning to an offense simply missing him; Brandon Pettigrew, Kevin Smith, Stephen Peterman are all gone, and Calvin Johnson is banged up as well. The entire offense is hurting, and personally I don't want to see Stafford back until he is 100%. Of course, it sucks that the Lions really don't even have a chance to win any games without him, but hey, if that winds up making it possible for a certain defensive tackle from Nebraska to come to Detroit next year, I don't mind.
Calvin Johnson, Louis Delmas, and Don Muhlbach all missed practice today. None of them have been ruled out of Sunday's game yet, but none of their situations look promising.
The Lions gave free tickets for Sunday's game to 400-500 random former season-ticket holders. Even with those tickets being given away, the Lions are still more than 9,000 tickets away from a sellout, meaning the blackout will become official any minute now.
Brian Witherspoon used to be Sammie Hill's teammate at Stillman.
In SI's revised 2009 NFL Draft, four players the Lions drafted ended up in the first round, including Louis Delmas and DeAndre Levy.
The Cardinals signed an extra kicker in case Neil Rackers can't play on Sunday due to a groin injury.
Roll Bama Roll, SB Nation's Alabama blog, took a look at the 1948 Sugar Bowl, which featured Alabama and Texas as well as former Lions Harry Gilmer and Bobby Layne.
My thoughts go out to the Cincinnati Bengals, as they are mourning the death of Chris Henry.

Sunday Notes: Daunte Culpepper Breaks Silence on Not Starting on Thanksgiving

Sean Yuille — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:00:47 -0000

Prior to the Thanksgiving game, Daunte Culpepper had what appeared to be an interesting conversation with Martin Mayhew about the fact that Matthew Stafford was starting. Everybody, including Culpepper, assumed that Stafford would be out and Culpepper would get the start against Green Bay. That obviously excited Culpepper not only because he was expecting to get a chance to play, but also because that chance was going to come on a national stage, allowing him to show what he's got to the rest of the league. Well, we all know what happened instead. Stafford started, and Culpepper was visibly upset over that decision.

Asked if there was a communication issue on gameday, Culpepper said Friday, "I mean, clearly it was. But, hey, it is what it is."

"I want to just let you know this: There was no issue between Martin and I," said Culpepper, who'll be the No. 2 quarterback again Sunday at Cincinnati. "That's all I'm going to say. Me and Martin had no problem at all. We didn't argue one bit. It's as simple as that. Anything else, it is what it is. But Martin and I didn't have any problem."

As for any lingering problems with the coaching staff, Culpepper said, "I ain't got nothin' to say about it. But it was handled. The situation was handled. And I'm moving on."
I really don't have much of an opinion about how Culpepper reacted to finding out that Stafford was going to start instead of him. On the one hand, Culpepper should know by now that his role on the team is to be Matthew Stafford's backup, and any issue he had with not getting to start should be kept to himself and not shown on national TV. Then again, on the other hand, if I were in Culpepper's shoes I would have been pissed off as well. All signs pointed to him getting the start, but when gameday arrived Stafford was ready to play. I don't know if I would have basically pouted on the sideline during warmups, but I can understand why Culpepper was upset.

I guess for me I really don't care about Culpepper's reaction one way or another because there's no question that this is Stafford's team, so it's really a non-issue. I suppose I would prefer for a veteran like Culpepper to keep his frustrations on the inside rather than let them be shown in front of a national audience, but like I said, I really don't care.
Stephen Peterman hates being injured because he doesn't like not being around the game of football.
Here's a depressing stat via John Niyo: In their last 9 games after Thanksgiving, the Lions have a record of 1-8. Ouch.
Gunther Cunningham is not a fan of the spread-style of offense from college that is slowly making its way to the NFL.
As a FanPost pointed out, Drew Stanton was named the Lions' Man of the Year for 2009.
Grady Jackson's brother, Javorris Jackson, has been found guilty of second-degree murder.
The Bengals ended up selling out today's game.

Wednesday Notes: Ernie Sims, Dewayne White Return to Practice

Sean Yuille — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:12:49 -0000

by Carlos Osorio - AP

3 months ago: Minnesota Vikings Eric Frampton (37) is tackled by Detroit Lions linebacker Ernie Sims (50) and cornerback Anthony Henry (32) during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Ernie Sims, and Dewayne White all practiced on Tuesday. Kalvin Pearson and Daniel Loper were out with injuries.
Ko Simpson was placed on IR last week and replaced on the roster by Jahi Word-Daniels.
Jim Schwartz didn't have a problem with Louis Delmas' hit on Jermichael Finley because some things you just can't coach differently.
According to Chad Ochocinco, Bengals receivers want the ball to be thrown 50 times against the Lions on Sunday. While that would probably be good for a few of my fantasy teams, the thought of Carson Palmer throwing 50 times against the Lions' secondary is just scary.
The Lions are causing ticket-selling problems for the Bengals, who are having trouble reaching a sellout for Sunday's game.
Similar to Matthew Stafford against Cleveland, Brett Favre was mic'd up against the Lions last month. As much as I can't stand Favre still being in the division, I have to say, it was pretty entertaining to listen to what he had to say throughout the game, including when he chatted with Stafford before kickoff and after the final whistle. My favorite part of the segment was when Stephen Peterman lined up at defensive tackle and Favre noticed and said, "Damn, Stephen. What they got you in for?" Favre quickly snapped the ball after the remark and Adrian Peterson ran into the end zone for a touchdown. Favre then went over to Peterman and asked if they are paying him overtime. It was just a funny exchange, though there were many in the video.
Citing the fact that "everybody's a little different," Jim Schwartz didn't want to even guess how long Brandon Pettigrew's ACL injury could keep him out.

Friday Notes: Lions Place Stephen Peterman on IR, Sign Eric Fowler

Sean Yuille — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:13:28 -0000

More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP

3 months ago: Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson (81), is congratulated by teammate guard Stephen Peterman (66) after his touchdown in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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My thoughts go out to Chris Spielman and his family, as his wife, Stefanie, passed away yesterday after a long and courageous fight with breast cancer.
I was a bit surprised that Stephen Peterman wasn't one of the players placed on injured reserve earlier this week, because the ankle injury he suffered during the Vikings game looked pretty serious. Peterman was in an immense amount of pain and though he managed to walk off the field without any help, he had to be carted off to the locker room from the sideline. It was apparent the injury was serious, but nobody was really sure just how serious until today. I say that because the Lions have now placed Peterman on IR, ending his season. He will probably have to undergo ankle surgery, which is why the Lions went ahead and ended his season.
Replacing Peterman on the roster is wide receiver Eric Fowler, who was activated from the practice squad. A replacement for Peterman was really already signed earlier this week when Melvin Fowler joined the team, so the Lions decided to promote Fowler to fill the latest open spot on the active roster.
Kalvin Pearson and Ernie Sims are out this week.
It was thought that Cleveland's Joshua Cribbs might be out as well, but now it looks like he will play on Sunday against the Lions.
The reason Louis Delmas' absence from last Sunday's game was so unexpected was because Delmas himself thought he was going to play despite having a root canal and dental surgery on the Friday before the game. All was fine up until kickoff was approaching, which is when he realized he was in too much pain and couldn't play. It happened so soon before kickoff that he wasn't even on the inactive list, which actually ended up hurting the Lions' depth because so many other players got hurt during the game.
Jim Schwartz made some adjustments to the team's schedule this week in order to get ready for playing two games in five days.
The fate of the Silverdome will be decided by a judge by Monday at the latest.
Ernie Sims and a few of his snakes visited a class of fourth-graders earlier this week to talk about reptiles.
Shaun Rogers talked about his time in Detroit earlier this week.

Wednesday Notes: Stephen Peterman, Ernie Sims, Others Miss Practice

Sean Yuille — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:50:51 -0000

According to John Niyo, the players listed below missed practiced today for the Lions.

Quick injury update from practice: Guard Stephen Peterman (ankle), linebacker Ernie Sims (hamstring), defensive end Dewayne White (toe), safety Kalvin Pearson (hamstring) and receiver Derrick Williams (hip) all are sitting out today.
Also according to Niyo, Daniel Loper has stepped in for Peterman at right guard.
Louis Delmas, who didn't end up playing against Minnesota because of an infected tooth, did practice, as did Larry Foote and Phillip Buchanon, who are both recovering from injuries.
According to Jim Schwartz, Anthony Henry is going to be active this Sunday and will be "in a lot of different roles." Schwartz specifically mentioned that Henry can play at outside cornerback, nickel cornerback, and safety.
Joshua Cribbs, perhaps the Browns' best player, missed practice today because of an injury that happened on the last play of Monday's game against the Ravens. The game was basically over, but Cribbs was still out there playing and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher after receiving a big hit. Why you would have a player like that out there when the game has already been decided is beyond me, but this is Eric Mangini we are talking about. He may be one of the most incompetent coaches I've ever seen (the NFLPA is reportedly going to Cleveland to investigate his practice methods for crying out loud), and if you don't already think that, wait until you read the next bullet. As for Cribbs, he merely hopes to play on Sunday. For the Lions' sake, I hope he takes this game off, because he owned Detroit in the preseason.
Vikings cornerback Benny Sapp talked up Calvin Johnson yesterday, calling him the "best receiver in the league, hands down." He also said this about Megatron:

"He's like the LeBron James of football because of his size, speed and his knowledge of the game."
What's funny is that if Eric Mangini had it his way, LeBron James would be the LeBron James of football. James talked on Tuesday about how he could become a football player if he was committed to it, and Mangini said this about the possibility of him playing for a different Cleveland team:

"I think he should come on down," Mangini said.
Shaun Rogers was a bit more skeptical, but for marketing reasons alone I wouldn't hesitate to sign LeBron James if he truly wanted to become an NFL player. Still, Mangini must be pretty desperate if he has no qualms about an NBA player joining the team. Then again, without Joshua Cribbs, the Browns' top receiver is Mohamed Massaquoi, who was one of Matthew Stafford's targets at Georgia last year. Maybe signing James wouldn't be such a bad idea considering how little talent the Browns currently have, especially since Mangini thinks that the Cleveland Cavalier could play outside linebacker, wide receiver, and tight end.
The Lions have already been eliminated from contending for the NFC North title.

A Canadian real estate company won the auction for the Silverdome and will buy it for only $583,000. The plans for the Silverdome are to refurbish it and try to bring a Major League Soccer team to the area. To that I say good luck, because the Silverdome is way, way too big for an MLS team. Also, the commissioner of MLS sort of shot down the idea already, so I hope the new owners have a plan B. Regardless, it's nice to see that there are actually plans to do something with the Lions' former stadium, though I'm saddened that there will be no Pride of Detroit Dome.
Staying on the topic of the Silverdome, there is a story on WDIV's website about how a local development company is going to try to block the sale of the stadium to the Canadian real estate company. Why?

Silver Stallion lawyers said the company offered to purchase the stadium for $20 million but the negotiations broke down.

Silver Stallion, which describes itself as a minority company, claims that the city breached contract and racially discriminated against them.
I had to laugh when I read that. Yeah, the city of Pontiac turned down an extra $19.4 million because they didn't want to sell it to a minority company. Oh common sense, where art thou?
I'm going to blame all of the recent injuries on Tom Kowalski because he jinxed the Lions about 40 minutes before Sunday's game.

The Lions, though, aren't really in need of roster spots at this point in the season. The Lions are in relatively good shape physically -- Sims is believed to be the only player on today's inactive list because of an injury. The rest of the inactives are coaching decisions.
The inactive list will definitely not include only one injured player this week.

(The above quote is from Kowalski's story about how Ernie Sims' injury reportedly isn't season-ending, by the way.)
It was nice not having Brett Favre in the division last year, because he owns the Lions.
This week's SB Nation power rankings have been posted.
Jon Gruden signed an extension with ESPN, meaning he won't be getting a job in the NFL (or with Notre Dame) anytime soon.
The Bills fired Dick Jauron.
The Bengals signed Larry Johnson.
Vikings coach Brad Childress is likely going to receive a contract extension in the near future. I'm fine with that, because Childress really doesn't seem like that great of a head coach. Some of the decisions he made on Sunday left me scratching my head, and if it weren't for Brett Favre, he would probably be on the hot seat right now.

Lions Sign Two, Place Jack Williams, Marquand Manuel on Injured Reserve

Sean Yuille — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:25:36 -0000

More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP

3 months ago: Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is stopped by Detroit Lions safety Marquand Manuel (40) during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Browse more photos »

The repercussions from Sunday's injury-filled game are now being felt, because at least two players are out for the season and have been placed on injured reserve. Cornerback Jack Williams and safety Marquand Manuel have already been placed on IR, and it's possible that Stephen Peterman could end up joining them at some point.

Williams was just claimed off waivers by Detroit a week ago and tore his left ACL on his first play with the Lions. The injury is disappointing not only because of how soon it happened, but also because Williams has a lot of potential that will go unseen until 2010. The hope was for Williams to come in and continue to develop as a pro cornerback, but the knee injury will be putting that development on hold.

Manuel hurt his shoulder against the Vikings and is being shut down for the rest of the season as well. It seemed like Manuel had hurt something in every game this season, but up until now, none of his ailments had been serious. That is no longer the case, and the Lions have lost another defensive back because of an injury.

To replace the two open spots on the roster created by the injuries to Williams and Manuel, the Lions signed safety DeAngelo Smith and offensive lineman Melvin Fowler. Smith was a fifth-round pick by the Cowboys this year and was most recently on the Bears' practice squad. Fowler is a veteran that most recently was on the Cardinals. He spent exactly a month in Arizona right before the start of the season and was cut loose on September 4. He actually took Donovan Raiola's spot on Arizona's roster when he was originally signed. Donovan is Dominic Raiola's brother, and at some point Fowler could be lining up next to him in Detroit. (Another odd coincidence is that Donovan Raiola is currently on the Bears' practice squad, which is where the Lions got Smith from. It's definitely a small world.)

Right now there is no specific word on just how serious Stephen Peterman's ankle injury is, but considering he was carted to the locker room after it happened, I wouldn't expect him to be back anytime soon. To steal Jim Schwartz's favorite word when describing injuries, Peterman's ankle problem seems significant. The Lions haven't placed him on IR, but it doesn't look like he will be returning in the immediate future.

Tuesday Notes: Copeland Bryan Has MCL Sprain

Sean Yuille — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:42:22 -0000

The trade deadline is at 4 p.m., and so far it doesn't appear that there are even whispers of a trade by the Lions. Jim Schwartz did say that the Lions are "open to everything," but as of right now I haven't heard even a single trade rumor.
Defensive end Copeland Bryan sprained his right knee's MCL during Sunday's loss to the Packers. That is the same injury that Steelers safety Troy Polamalu suffered during the opening week of the season, and he just returned on Sunday. It obviously depends on the severity of the injury, but usually it'll take 3-6 weeks to get back on the field after suffering an MCL sprain.
Offensive guard Stephen Peterman enjoyed playing some defensive tackle against the Packers.
I made the mistake of forgetting my iPod when I went home this weekend, so I actually listed to 97.1 The Ticket for a bit while driving yesterday. The little bit I listened to before I changed to music was basicaly Brandon Pettigrew getting criticized and the hosts of the show questioning the Lions decision to draft him at pick No. 20. I thought to myself: Yes, he has been rather average so far, but let's wait until at least the end of the season before making that kind of judgment. John Niyo agrees with that line of thinking, pointing out that Pettigrew missed part of training camp and is still adjusting to the NFL. My guess is that by the end of the season, Pettigrew will be one of Matthew Stafford's favorite targets, assuming of course that Stafford gets healthy and stays healthy.
That brings me to my next bit of news. Stafford went on Mitch Albom's radio show yesterday and denied that there is talk about his injury potentially being season-ending. According to him, any talk of him possibly having surgery or being out for the season is nothing more than a rumor. Let's hope it remains nothing more than a rumor.
Cliff Avril shared his plans for the bye week on his blog.
Julian Peterson is going to be an honorary captain for Michigan State on Saturday. Considering the Lions are on a bye and both Michigan and Michigan State are home, I would expect to see Drew Stanton in East Lansing and Jeff Backus, Larry Foote, and Jon Jansen in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

Ending The Bye Week Blues

Mitchell_M — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:32:36 -0000

It's been a rough fortnight for me, Packer fans. Not only did Green Bay lose round one of FavreFest 2009 (while watching Jared Allen and his lame-unless-he-was-on-your-team stirring sack celebration), but they headed into the bye week at 2-2, re-signed an old favorite who may or may not be ready to play, and draw a feisty Detroit Lions team that looks like it's charging back towards middle-of-the-pack status.

So there's that whole deal. Combine that with the fact that the Milwaukee Bucks are wrapping up their preseason (and Brandon Jennings looks even less ready than we thought he would), the World Series is shaping up to be a showdown between the Dodgers and Yankees (after yet another disappointing Brewers campaign), and hockey is less important to me than the price of high heels in Sri Lanka, and you can see that it's a tough time for a Wisconsin-native sports fan. Even my fantasy teams are imploding (1-4 and 2-3 in the leagues that matter).

It's tough to lose your last game before a bye week. It gives you an awful taste in your mouth about your chances afterwards. But then I remember that the Packers are playing the Lions at Lambeau this week. That makes me feel slightly better.

DET rushing vs. GB defense: Every time I think of the Detroit running backs, I think of Kevin Smith, and every time I think of Kevin Smith, I think of Clerks 2, and every time I think of Clerks 2, I think of the scene where Randal and Elias debate which trilogy was better: Lord of the Rings or Star Wars (definitely NSFW). Specifically, I think of the part where Randal reenacts the LOTR movies by simply...walking.

That scene is oddly parallel to the story of Detroit's run game. Detroit's top 4 running backs (Smith, Maurice Morris, Aaron Brown, and Jerome Felton) are averaging less than 3.6 yards per carry. Not that we're used to dominant running performances around these parts, but Kevin Smith and his 3.1 average (287 yards on 94 carries) does not strike fear into opposing defenses.

It's not even that Kevin Smith is a below-average running back. He has good size (6'1", 217), and excellent speed and agility. He regularly breaks off 10+ yard runs, and is even a decent pass catcher (19 receptions for 143 yards). But his line is giving him no help.

Jeff Backus (6'5", 305) and Gosder Cherilus (6'7", 325) are capable bookends (especially Cherilus, who is a nasty run blocker), but the interior linemen, Daniel Loper (6'6", 320), Dominic Raiola (6'1", 295), and Stephen Peterman (6'4", 323) simply aren't able to move defenders and open running lanes. Smith is the type of running back that needs space to gain momentum and use his second gear, but he can't get started because he's constantly running into brick walls.

Green Bay has fared well this season against opposing running backs. Besides Cedric Benson (who has looked every bit like the player Chicago wanted him to be, including breaking Baltimore's streak of 39 games without allowing 100+ rushing yards to a single player), the Packers have effectively bottled up opposing running backs. As a team, Green Bay is only allowing 3.5 yards per attempt, in no small part because of the "Big Okie" formation that puts 5 linebackers on the field, allowing effective pursuit to the ball, stringing plays out to the sideline, and cutting off gaps. Brandon Chillar is a surprise tackling leader this season (26 on the year), but 7 other players in the front seven have at least 11 tackles.

Advantage: Green Bay. As a team, the Packers do an excellent job of closing running lanes, while Detroit does not do a good enough job at opening them up.

DET passing vs. GB defense: When I was a kid, 'Transformers' was awesome. When Michael Bay tried to turn it into a summer flick, it made me want to further repress my childhood so that I'd have no memory of ever enjoying the battle of Autobots vs. Decepticons. But there's still one guy that makes me glad to have watched that cartoon: Calvin "Megatron" Johnson.

Whoa, nelly. Megatron is a beast. I know I gushed about him last year, but I don't care. The 6'5", 236 lb. Georgia Tech product managed to put up 1331 yards and 12 touchdowns on the putrid 2008 Lions squad. He is big, fast, strong, has great hands, and can make any catch at any time. He has been limited in the last two weeks because of injury, but coach Jim Schwartz says that it isn't serious and he is currently listed as probable.

After Johnson is where the problems start. Bryant Johnson is a first round pick who never lived up to his promise. Dennis Northcutt is a Jacksonville castoff, which is saying something. Derrick Williams has some promise, but is buried on the depth chart. Yamon Figurs is a recent addition, but will likely focus on return duties. Will Heller is a career backup at TE, and first-rounder Brandon Pettigrew was injured in training camp and is still trying to figure out his role.

Behind center, Detroit went all-in on Matthew Stafford, which I thought was a terrible decision back in April. Stafford hasn't looked awful, but he certainly hasn't outplayed fellow rookie Mark Sanchez (who is on a much better team). Stafford has a big arm (894 yards, 3 TDs), but merely average accuracy (56.8% completion) and questionable decision-making (6 INTs, 65.6 QB rating). Basically, I didn't think that Detroit should have spent first-overall money on a guy who may or may not work out at the pro level, but the jury is still out on him.

Ever since dislocating his kneecap against Chicago, however, the Matthew Stafford debate is moot for the time-being. With Stafford likely sidelined another week, Daunte Culpepper takes the reigns again. And you know what that means:

I've got these tiny hands...

While we remember his time with Minnesota in the earlier parts of the 2000's, Culpepper has never been the same since his 2006 knee injury. He's bounced around a bit before settling in Detroit as a stop-gap QB, but he's still a capable passer. He still has a big arm, decent accuracy, and can run a huddle effectively. As weird as it seems, one of Daunte Culpepper's biggest weaknesses is the size of his hands. For a few years, Culpepper was averaging over a fumble per game. He has compensated for his tiny mitts by employing an unconventional throwing motion, but when he tries to run or gets hit in the pocket, he is prone to losing control of the ball.

And Culpepper has been hit a lot lately. Seven sacks against the Steelers is downright Rodgers-esque. Even before that, though, the Lions gave up 10 sacks in 4 games, giving them 17 total for the season. The Lions simply cannot protect their quarterback, something we know all about. Backus is a decent blind-side protector, and Raiola has been around long enough to make good adjustments on the line, but Cherilus is still too raw, the interior linemen are too weak, and the backs do not block well.

Green Bay's 3-4 defense was supposed to be the kind that got after the quarterback and forced turnovers. While the +7 ratio fulfills the second part, the sacks simply haven't been there. Through four games, the Packers have five sacks. Two came against Jay Cutler, and two against Marc Bulger. Brett Favre and his porous offensive line wasn't even touched on Monday night.

The decision to change Aaron Kampman into a pass-rushing OLB was a head-scratcher during the offseason, and it's become downright dumbfounding in October. On the play where Favre had over 7 seconds to find a receiver, Kampman wasn't shut down by a Vikings lineman. He was in zone coverage, someplace he has been found all too often. Dom Capers' blitz-happy defense took a turn for the conservative when Atari Bigby went down in Week 1, so his return is much anticipated. The lack of pass rush has severely hampered the production of the defensive backfield. Charles Woodson, Nick Collins, Al Harris, and Tramon Williams are still ball-hawks. As long as they get opportunities from the front seven, they will break up more than a few passes.

Advantage: Push. While Green Bay has the clear advantage on paper, I want to see more results before I declare them to have any sort of edge.

GB rushing vs. DET defense: Detroit's run defense was one of the many weak points in 2008. Thus far in 2009, it hasn't been fixed. The Lions give up 4.9 yards per attempt on the ground. That includes performances of 142 yards by Mike Bell, 92 yards by Adrian Peterson, 121 yards by Matt Forte, and 77 yards by Rashard Mendenhall. Jim Schwartz has tried to fix the problem by shuffling personnel, but results are mixed. LB Ernie Sims was benched last week for rookie DeAndre Levy, DT Chuck Darby was waived to make room on the field for rookie Sammie Lee Hill, and Grady Jackson has seen more and more snaps.

It doesn't help that the Lions are starting Packer castoff Jason Hunter at LDE with the 240 lb. Julian Peterson playing both at LOLB and at the other DE spot. Aside from Larry Foote, the Lions don't have anyone that can really shoot gaps and take on lead blockers. Ernie Sims was supposed to be that guy, but he's currently in the dog house. Rookie safety Louis Delmas is a big hitter, but he's no Troy Polamalu just yet. The only run-stopper they have is Grady Jackson, who is getting up there in years.

Luckily for Detroit, Green Bay doesn't seem that interested in running the ball. I did a little post last week exploring where the Green Bay rushing attack has gone. As it turns out, it really hasn't gone anywhere, it's just been ignored. The team averages a shade under 100 yards per game, which is somewhat respectable, but they haven't been able to sustain long drives by picking up yards on the ground. 2007 Ryan Grant is still MIA, and DeShawn Wynn has been downright awful. Brandon Jackson is coming back from injury, which might help, but he's best suited to a 3rd down back role anyway.

Up front, Green Bay's injury problems and lack of depth have exposed the team in pass protection, but also showed below-average run blocking. With Chad Clifton returning from injury, Daryn Colledge can resume his normal role at LG, putting Jason Spitz back at C and Scott Wells on the bench. From here, the Packers have a better shot of opening running lanes, especially on the right side (where Allen Barbre performs well).

Advantage: Push. This matchup is like the stoppable force against the movable object. If Green Bay calls an even offensive game, they might have an advantage, but I don't see any at this point.

GB passing vs. DET defense: Quarterbacks like playing Detroit. Against the Motor City Kitties, NFL passers have put up 15 scores against only 3 INTs while amassing a 73.3% completion rating. While the Lions have had middling success getting to the quarterback (10 sacks in 2009), their highest individual total is 2.0 (Jason Hunter). There is no designated pass rusher, unless you count Julian Peterson, who has been a failure as a DE on passing downs. Whether the sacks have been from good downfield coverage, poor blocking by opponents, or a schematic advantage, one thing is for sure: they aren't blitzing very much (bottom third in NFL).

The defensive backfield has been a sore point in Detroit. Anthony Henry has performed well as the #1 corner, but Will James and Philip Buchanon have been switching in and out of the starting lineup. Rookie Louis Delmas is best used in run support, but he is capable in pass coverage. The Lions split time at the other safety between Ko Simpson and former fan favorite Marquand Manuel.

Passing offense has been, for Green Bay, one of the lone bright spots in a disappointing start. Aaron Rodgers has put up big numbers behind an awful offensive line, showing accuracy and poise despite getting sacked 20 times in 4 games and having to run out of the pocket on numerous occasions. The receivers have been somewhat underwhelming, amassing 10 of the team's 14 drops. Greg Jennings has been unusually quiet in the first quarter of 2009, and has gone on record to say that he thinks that the team needs to get back to the short-passing game that allowed he and the other WRs to create yards after the catch. Hear, hear, Greg.

Advantage: Green Bay. If Rodgers can get hit 8 times and still throw for over 300 yards, he will get good looks against Detroit.

Preliminary verdict: Coming off a bye, Green Bay seems to have changed a bit as a team. Mark Tauscher has been re-signed. Brandon Jackson, Jeremy Thompson, Chad Clifton, and possibly Atari Bigby should be returning from injury. The offensive line should get back to the group that started the season, and the defense should get back to the blitzing that gave us all high expectations for 2009. Perhaps this is the week where we see the 2009 preseason team in action instead of the poor impersonation we've watched for the last month.

I can't think of how the timing could be better than hosting Detroit. Unless it was Oakland, or Kansas City, or the Browns, or even the struggling Cowboys. See, Lions fans? Your team has improved a lot!

Poll

What outcome do you see for Week 6 vs. Detroit?

Big GB win.

414 votes

Slim GB win.

197 votes

Too close to call.

26 votes

Slim DET win.

40 votes

Big DET win.

11 votes

688 votes | Poll has closed

Tuesday Notes: Kevin Smith Hoping to Play on Sunday

Sean Yuille — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:31:40 -0000

Specific details about Kevin Smith's injury weren't released (Jim Schwartz didn't want to elaborate beyond the fact that it's a shoulder injury), but Smith did shed some light on how he is feeling right now.
"I’m alive," Smith said today. "I’m not ready to play if we had to play a game tomorrow, and that’s just probably because of the general soreness. But I’m 22 years old. I usually heal pretty fast. I don’t have any bone damage or anything like that."

Asked if it was just a bruise, Smith said: "I don’t know yet. I’m about to go walk in there and find out. I haven’t gotten my results yet. But they say I’m not out of it, so that’s a good sign."
I'd be willing to bet that Smith will be questionable on Sunday and ultimately play if he isn't in too much pain. If the injury is only a bruise or something like that, then he just needs time to heal. Considering how great of a game he had on Sunday and how important the Lions' running game is in their overall gameplan, I really hope Smith is able to play.
DeAndre Levy played a hell of a game in his first career NFL start, and Jim Schwartz had nothing but good things to say about him yesterday. John Niyo asked what will happen when Ernie Sims comes back from his injury, but Schwartz unsurprisingly didn't answer the question. It is one worth asking, though, as it will be interesting to see if Levy stays in the starting lineup a little bit longer than expected or if Sims is back out there with the first-string when he is healthy enough to play.
Stephen Peterman is not afraid to admit that he cries "all the time."
Despite being active on Sunday, Phillip Buchanon was benched in favor of Will James.
If you are going to win DIRECTV's contest for being the "Ultimate Displaced Fan," you will have to top a Cowboys fan who won the whole thing last year by turning his garage into his own Texas Stadium.
Due to bad weather yesterday, the extremely important Twins-Tigers series is now going to feature four games in three days (with two of them being played today). Basically the entire season rests on the outcome of this series, as the Tigers can either pull away and win the division or fade and find themselves in a deep hole heading into the weekend. For full coverage of the Tigers, check out Bless You Boys.

Saturday Notes: Culpepper Looks Good in First Practice

Sean Yuille — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:04:23 -0000

More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP

8 months ago: Detroit Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper throws during practice drills during an NFL football mini-camp at the team's training facility in Allen Park, Mich., Friday, April 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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By all accounts, Daunte Culpepper looked impressive during the Lions' first practice under Jim Schwartz on Friday. He weighs less than he did as a rookie and his passes were described as having zip on them. Of course, there is only so much you can tell from a minicamp, but it is good to hear that Culpepper looked good. Even if the Lions pick a QB in next weekend's draft, Culpepper will still likely be the starter heading into the 2009 season. For that reason alone, I'm glad to hear he is not only in shape but also looking good throwing the ball.
While there was much praise for Culpepper, the same can't be said for Drew Stanton and Drew Henson. Neither looked all that good, and Stanton especially struggled. If a QB is drafted, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if both Stanton and Henson were off the roster by the time training camp begins. The Lions probably are going to figure out that some of the free agent QBs out there are much better than Stanton and Henson will ever be, making it pointless to not sign a veteran. Culpepper is the only one guaranteed to stick around. Beyond that, the other QBs' roster spots are definitely up in the air.
Grady Jackson, Daniel Bullocks, and Stephen Peterman didn't practice due to injuries, and Kevin Smith was "somewhat limited."
On a positive note, safety Gerald Alexander practiced for the first time since fracturing a vertebra last October.
The Lions signed cornerback Antonio Smith on Friday.
Why does Paris Lenon still have a locker?
Dave Birkett compiled a list of the draft prospects that visited the Lions.
Photos from the first day of the Lions' minicamp.
Western Michigan cornerback E.J. Biggers visited the Lions.
The Jason Peters trade is official. The Eagles gave up a first- and fourth-round pick in this year's draft and a sixth-rounder in 2010. Peters was signed to a four-year, $53 million extension, meaning he will make $60 in the next six years.
If you haven't seen the video of Matthew Stafford throwing footballs at plates on Jimmy Fallon's show, then click here.
Ty from The Lions in Winter wrote a heart-felt letter to Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand. It's definitely worth a read.