We fans of Detroit sports have much for which to be thankful.
The Pistons, Wings, and Tigers are all currently established as contenders in their respective leagues. The Wings and Pistons are currently tearing through their regular-season competition, while the entire sports-watching state is atwitter with the prospects that Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis have instantly improved a very-competitive contender into a juggernaut on a collision course with World Series glory.
So, why is it that so many of us are so miserable again early in the year?
Why does it seem we cannot at all help but be entirely consumed by the horrors and pitfalls of the men in the Honolulu Blue and Silver much like the self-immolating Vietnamese monk by gasoline-fueled flames?
It’s simply too easy-and, at the same time, hopelessly difficult-to follow the Lions’ 16-game schedule. As much as I’d like to, I don’t see a series of circumstances arising that will allow me to watch 162 baseball games a season. I push my luck enough as it is by instantly sparking up the XM receiver when I arrive home from work to hear the goings-on of the ‘Boys of Summer’ while I penitently prepare dinner for myself and my live-in girlfriend, hoping today is not the day she tires of my baseball jones and boots my radio into Elliot Bay.
Hence, I manage to secure approximately four hours each of the 16 Sundays the Lions play, which has, far too commonly, been the exact number of games Detroit has played the last several years.
Every year, I and millions of others yearn for the season that stretches out another three games.
Actually, I think we’d all settle for one or two right now, considering the history, but why dream small? Nobody is nearly as interested if Captain Ahab runs around a small town in pursuit of, say, a stray dog to adopt.
Sadly, it’s hard to see any real reason to believe that 2008 is the year. While the seven victories marks the best season since the 9-7 campaign of 2000 and was more than twice the three wins recorded last season, it would appear that an offense in dire need of personnel changes will likely also see some systemic changes in the wake of the departure of offensive coordinator Mike Martz after two disappointing seasons.
The steering wheel is now going to be in the hands of Jim Colletto.
That is the same Jim Colletto who was the head coach at Purdue until Joe Tiller took over and immediately established the Boilermakers as an offensive team. He also has experience as an offensive coordinator at Notre Dame. When he took over in 1997, he led the Irish to their lowest point total since the dark ages (a.k.a. the Gerry Faust era) of 1985.
While I’d definitely count myself among the number of fans who had grown convinced that the Martz-style of offense wasn’t ever going to work for the Lions, I’m also the sort of person who believes you don’t get rid of somebody unless you have a better replacement in mind. This most-recent turn of events seems like just another in a long line of curious personnel decisions by the ‘Teflon Don’ of NFL team presidents, Matt Millen.
The best evidence to say that Millen’s job is secure is the fact that he hasn’t been fired after any of the previous six failed seasons under his guidance. His failures are fairly well documented, so there’s no need to rehash them here. Even if he was implicated in the Benazir Bhutto assassination tomorrow, William Clay Ford would be hesitant to consider replacing him, and, even if he did make a change, the cupboard is inexplicably bare considering the annual high draft status ‘earned’ by losing so many games.
Nowhere is this more glaring that at the quarterback position. The nicest thing I can think of to say when thinking of the prospect of another year of Jon Kitna running the Lions offense in 2008 is, “Well, he has established a long career in the NFL in the face of a glaring lack of ability.” In all seriousness, I’d rather see Scott Mitchell suiting up than suffer through another series of downs in which Kitna looks confused, throws behind and above his receivers, inexplicably manages to drive to the red zone, and then either fumbles, throws an interception or takes a 15-yard sack resulting in either a punt or a long field-goal attempt. The Lions’ starter was outplayed by the Green Bay third-stringer (Craig Nall) on Sunday.
Waiting in the wings are J.T. O’Sullivan, Drew Stanton, and Dan Orlovsky. The Lions coaching staff would rather let Kitna play shortly after suffering a concussion than allow any of the others a chance at game experience. Granted, Stanton has been injured since about fourth grade, so he gets a pass, but I think the message is, “If you think Kitna’s bad, you ought to see the other guys we have!”
Kevin Jones seems to also be too injury-prone to be the answer carrying the ball. T.J. Duckett proved last weekend that he’s not nearly as good when he’s the number-one guy. So, now we’re looking for answers at the two top skill positions.
What is there to say about the wide receiver position? Everyone has drilled Millen on the use of four high draft picks on the same position in his seven years. I think he knows that Kitna is afraid to throw to his primary receivers. Mike Furrey has a big year in the slot position for that very reason and earns a big contract. Once that money was spent, Shaun McDonald promptly starts getting the throws his way, most of which he drops.
Then there is the offensive line, which is so entirely awful that the rest of the offensive squad has a built-in excuse for their ineptitude.
Hence, it’s hard for me to believe this team can improve on the 7-9 record from this season. The six-game losing streak took much of the joy out of the season that should have been regarded as an improvement, if not an outright success. Instead, the way the team played after the 6-2 start crushed any misguided hopes of a winning season and led to dark thoughts about the coming season.
So I say to you all, “Lions fans, fear not…pitchers and catchers report in about six weeks, so try to not think about what’s going on down in Allen Park. You’ll thank me later.”
2 Comments
January 10, 2008 at 7:14 pm
To answer your question: yes, we are in fact nuts.
Good points that you made…I agree on just about everything.
Nice blog.
check mine if you get the chance…we seem to have the same interest in Detroit/MI sports.
January 10, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Thanks for the comment…still figuring the whole WordPress world out!
mikedorazio.wordpress.com