[Wizard of Os]

If someone states that he/she likes the Detroit Lions' chances in 2006, is he/she just gullible, optimistic or neither? It's akin to prognosticators triumphly proclaiming that This Is The Arizona Cardinals' Year!!!!!!!!

Anyway, i've got a longer speculative piece here, but in short...

Reasons for guarded pessimism: an inexperienced head coach, Mike Martz, McCitna at QB, a roster that will apparently see little other improvement from those who went 5-11 last year, and about $20 million in unused cap space.

Reasons for guarded optimism: a head coach from completely outside the Lions organization, Mike Martz, and most of all no more Harrington.

So whaddya say, all? Is 8-8 a proper result for the silver and blue...?

Cheers!

[Lefty Noob]

People have been expecting big things out of the Lions for years now, but every season it seems like the expectations get a little lower. I think you're right - this year, the tone will probably be pessimistic but hopefully. But there is a shot it could finally all come together for them, with Martz running the offense and Kitna/McCown at QB. A winning season is not out of the question.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Wizard of Os

If someone states that he/she likes the Detroit Lions' chances in 2006, is he/she just gullible, optimistic or neither? It's akin to prognosticators triumphly proclaiming that This Is The Arizona Cardinals' Year!!!!!!!!

Anyway, i've got a longer speculative piece here, but in short...

Reasons for guarded pessimism: an inexperienced head coach, Mike Martz, McCitna at QB, a roster that will apparently see little other improvement from those who went 5-11 last year, and about $20 million in unused cap space.

Reasons for guarded optimism: a head coach from completely outside the Lions organization, Mike Martz, and most of all no more Harrington.

So whaddya say, all? Is 8-8 a proper result for the silver and blue...?

Cheers!

I'd be optimistic only if Billy Sims and barry Sanders come out of retirement... ...they both could share the number 20...no noe will know...

[Wizard of Os]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

I'd be optimistic only if Billy Sims and barry Sanders come out of retirement... ...they both could share the number 20...no noe will know...

"...at halfback, number twenty, BALLY SIMDERS!!!!!!"

[expatlion]

I thought he was Birry Sandims? Honestly though, we've all been cautiously optimistic for quite a while. Unfortunately, anyone who says they like the chances of an over 500 season is probably most on the gullibly optimistic.

[rmjvol]

Welcome to GoTeamsGo, expatlion

Look forward to chatting with you.

[ThePundit]

Welcome to goteamsgo Expatlion. How does Matt Millen keep his job? He hasn't done a bad job. He has done an abominable job.

He may be the worst GM in the history of professional football. Heck - he had a lot of experience before he took over. He went from pretty good player to awful broadcaster. Now there's some qualifications for ya.

[Lefty Noob]

How much of a difference do you think Mike Martz and the new quarterbacks will be able to make, expation? Will they be able to get the offense running smoothly enough to at least improve in 2006?

[Wizard of Os]

Cheers, all...cheers, Expation.

The Lions could easily go 8-8 or even 9-7. Have you seen their schedule?

(I have a longer version of my thoughts on this here. I'll try to keep this version shorter.)

The first two weeks are rough: Seattle (though that one's at home) and at Chicago.

I'm also assuming that the Vikings and Packers don't improve significantly; with either team's questions they'll be carrying at QB, i can't see too much crawling up the North standings too too much.

Atlanta comes to town in week nine. Following a Lions bye week, this game makes for the midpoint of each team’s season. I'm guessing 4-4 isn't enough to be near the top of the NFC table (and certainly not the North's), but the Lions may very well be in the thick of the hunt come December.

And then things get a bit more serious in December, though. On December 3, the Lions go to New England; barring disaster to the Pats, this game is a scary prospect as it always has been this decade. Then there's a back-and-forth slate against Minnesota, at Green Bay, and against Chicago. Closing the season is Dallas.

I've said it before and i'll say it again: The Lions are easily the biggest question mark in the NFL. This could be a playoff team. If Coach Marinelli is up to the job. Having Martz on the offensive side (and only on the offensive side) has got to be a plus until he goes conservative say, during the playoffs. And how will playing time shake down among the three-headed QB monster? This could be another 4-12 team. If the new gameplan doesn't gel. If Martz tweaks. If Kitna can't cut it.

As for Millen, yes, he's brutal. Probably not the Isiah Thomas of the NFL, but at least the Mitch Kupchak...

[expatlion]

Matt Millen was a bad solution to a worse problem with the franchise and he needs to get out of dodge that's for sure. We all know the Lions haven't been on the right side of the slope for quite a while and certainly not since he took over what 5 years ago? As far as Martz, I think he's a good play at OC and might be what the doctor ordered for the 3-headed QB monster Wizard describes. He did great with Warner who came from no where and Bulger who is still playing well.

However, I have to say the QB situation is closer to a 2 1/2 headed monster as Josh has got a box of rocks upstairs which isn't all bad, but not for this team who needs a solid leader under center.