SB Nation User Blog: The Maestro

What should change on offense?

The Maestro — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:04:51 -0000

What would you like to see the offense do to get better?

I have thought about this quite a bit and I think there are multiple things that I want to see. Overall, I want the offense to be unpredictable. It was very nice to watch portions of both games where the opposing defense had no answer for the play call. Either a 13yd run or a long pass, that looked easy for the Leo's.

Here are some things that I want to see:

- More TE passes. TE stays in too block, but slips out into the flat with an LB (mismatch) on him. Or just simply overloading the defense with receivers (including the TE's), to set up mismatches.

- Running plays that have some misdirection in them. The Lions have run a few plays like this (Flip 90, or fake end around). Even if the misdirection is there just to throw the defense of, it helps the o-line. Draws are nice too. I have always liked the way Green Bay ran the ball. Something different here and there.

- Play action. Of course this only works if you establish the run. This kind of falls under the misdirection plays, but in the passing game.

- Smash mouth running. I enjoy seeing Felton and T. Smith smoking people in the gut. I think that the O-line really enjoyed and responded to it against Minnesota in the first half. I am not sure if Kevin can hold up to the punishment.

So I put it to a vote.....

Poll

What do the Lion's need to do on offense?

More plays for Pettigrew and the TE's?

19 votes

More deception plays in the running game?

8 votes

More deep passes?

17 votes

More smash mouth running plays?

2 votes

Other? Explain.

3 votes

49 votes | Poll has closed

How did Shaun Smith not make the team?

The Maestro — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:44:31 -0000

After a lot of hub-bub, Shaun Smith got cut?? I can't remember who said, but Smith was talked about as maybe the best pick up for the Lions in the offseason. He is big and talented. The knock on him was attitude. I have trouble believing that he couldn't beat out Sammie Hill or Landon Cohen or Fluellen. These guys are just not getting it done, not to mention small.

Let's hope the waiver wire still has something to offer.

I had high hopes for this guy, and I hope that attitude alone didn't make this happen. This begs the question.....what means more attitude or talent? Both are nice, but if you have to pick one or the other. Keep in mind Marinelli went all attitude....all the way to 0-16!!

Poll

What means more attitude or talent?

Attitude, because without talent you cannot win.

14 votes

Talent, because attitude can split a team.

38 votes

52 votes | Poll has closed

Zack Follett's Future

The Maestro — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:25:22 -0000

I normally am against this sort of post. People like to fall in love with guys because of some ridiculous personality traits or what a guy did in college. However, that is exactly what I am about to do.

If Zack does not make the team, I think that there is something way off here. I believe that he will be snatched up by some other team, and his name will surface again in the NFL and haunt us. This is a guy that is somewhat limited from a physical standpoint, but has the heart of a.....dare I say....Lion. He wants to play and will work like a man possessed to make things happen. Let's look back in history a little at LBs that were physically limited, but made a huge impact Stephen Boyd, Spielman, Urlacher, etc. You get my point.

I am in no way trying to allude to Pro Bowls in Zack's future, but c'mon we have had our share of Boss Bailey's (see the post "Denver Cuts Boss Bailey") that are all flash. This is a guy who has no flash, just substance. Special teams maniac and maybe future killer in the LB corps.

He needs to be kept around instead of some of these pretty boys. This is supposed to be a team with a crazed attitude that is ready to bring on every down. Zack epitomizes this attitude. He seems like the exact type of guy that you want to have on the team and develop.

I also hate wasting draft picks!!

So many mistakes, so little time......

The Maestro — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:45:59 -0000

It is so crazy to me to look over the past regime and see all of the mistakes. The drafts have been futile. Here are just a few....Drew Stanton instead of David Harris, Mike Williams, Jordan Dizon, Last Year's WR pick (4th or 5th) that was cut....the list goes on. It just stresses the importance of having a good draft.

I have created this poll of which scenaro is the best, you tell me??

Poll

Which picks are the best?

#1 A. Curry, #20 Maualuga, #33 Beatty

27 votes

#1 A. Curry, #20 Andre Smith, #33 Laurinitis

10 votes

#1 J. Smith, #20 Maualuga, #33 Vontae Davis

11 votes

#1 J. Smith, #20 Sanchez, #33 Laurinitis

4 votes

#1 Stafford, #20 Andre Smith, #33 Cushing

1 votes

53 votes | Poll has closed

Drew Stanton- Bust?

The Maestro — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:01:44 -0000

Does anyone out there have any deeper info on the status of Drew Stanton?

I have heard that he is not very intelligent and does not play well in practice.

Personally, I would like to see him play. He has more upside at this point than Culpepper. Unless Culpepper comes into camp in tremendous shape, I think that he will be a mess. Culpepper does not see the field well and makes many bad decisions because of it.

I would let them fight it out in camp and possibly start Stanton. What do you really have to lose? The Lions are going to be bad again this year, regardless of the starting QB (unless we catch lightning in a bottle). If you play him, you know what you have and you suck. If you don't play him, you have no idea what you have and you suck.

What do you think?

Poll

The Lions should.......regarding Drew Stanton.

Start him to find out what he is.

52 votes

Cut him to save money and find a different backup

15 votes

Keep him but only as a back up

26 votes

93 votes | Poll has closed