I rewatched the game on the DVR. Here's what I saw for the game: Sammie Lee Hill was getting pushed around a lot. Single teamed, double teamed, he was going backwards most of the time. Ernie Sims is very undisciplined. On the drive where Turner had the long run, Ernie took the wrong gap 2X which resulted in the two longest runs of that drive. Watching it over and over, I can't believe that he is making those blatant mistakes at this point. Culpepper is looking good. He looks much quicker than he did last year. I'm still not sure if he's making quick reads, but his legs are back and he looks much better than he did last year. Cason has terrible vision for a RB. He struggles to find the crease. OTOH, Kevin Smith is a stud. He's gonna do really well this year. He finds the crease and he hits it with ease. He never looks lost out there. The guards did a great job pulling with the first team. We can execute a screen! Kevin Smith had a really nice screen pass on the field goal drive, and Aaron Brown and Ervin had some nice gains as well. This will be a great benefit for our QBs. Disappointed we didn't get to see Felton carry the ball. Abraham schooled Backus on an inside move. It will be another long year with him holding down the edge. Cohen is a stud and he will be starting week 1. Buchanon and Henry are major upgrades at CB at least when it comes to tackling. The IQ in the LB corps has gone way up with the addition of Foote & Peterson. They didn't make a lot of tackles, but they were diagnosing and flowing the right direction every play. Culpepper holds the ball forever. Bummer that Spencer went down with an injury. White is solid at DE. Hopefully he can stay healthy this year. Sims may take the wrong gap sometimes, but he loves to blow up the lead blocks. Our corners are much more physical this year. Henry is big, King is big, and Robinson & Buchanon don't shy away from contact. Loved seeing Cohen rip Norwood's helmet off. Happy to see that Gunther is gonna bring the heat with different blitz packages. Stafford throws a hot ball. It's a little high sometimes. I'm starting to think it would be more beneficial to keep WRs that have great hands and good size instead of getting little guys that have the quickness to get open. Stafford can deliver the pass even if the guy is covered, but he needs WRs that can catch those fastballs. Colbert drops his 2nd ball after Stafford makes a great play evading the rush. Where did that pressure come from? Backus gets beat badly again off the edge. Ugh. Levy showed great recognition in the run game. He showed some decent instincts getting through traffic and running down the ball carrier around the edge. Avril never quits pursuing the QB. He's gonna have a good season. Stafford threw a perfect strike down the sideline and Colbert managed to hang on. Not many QBs can make that throw. It was a laser beam 30 yards and right on the money. Aaron Brown is FAST! The best part about his running style is that he isn't going 100mph constantly, he shows good feel in the open field for when to turn on the afterburners. It makes it hard for the defenders to get a good angle on him. Stafford's INT was inexcusable. Sorry man, this ain't college football anymore. Even if the LB didn't get the pick, the CB was right there and had a really good chance to turn that into a pick 6. The TE did look like he rounded off his route and kind of half-assed it, but still, that ball should have never been thrown. My favorite part of the game: Stafford makes a bonehead throw, then comes back and drives the team 80 yards for a TD. The drive had a gutsy run for a 1st on 3rd down, a 20 yard strike that got there in a blink of an eye, and a picture perfect touch pass for the TD. A thing about that TD pass: It was a playaction pass, he whipped his head around, looked off the safety, saw the pressure, looked the other way and let it fly while he knew he was going to get hit, and the ball was PERFECTLY thrown. That was not a typical rookie type execution. Now maybe since I have never seen a great QB in Detroit in my life and I may be making a bigger issue out of this one play than I should, but that play was FREAKIN AWESOME! The PI on King was ticky tacky. It could have been an easy no-call. Stanton threw an ugly pick, but luckily there was a penalty. Ervin showed some nice running. He won't make it, but he's got some strength and vision. It's gotta be said again, Aaron Brown is FAST. It's gotta be said again, Aaron Brown is FAST. He just had two runs that he bounced outside where he made guys look like they had cement sneakers on. Stanton is a gamer. I'd like to keep him as a 3rd QB. He could give our offense a different look if he comes into the game. Levy is big. He could probably play ILB in a 3-4. Again, Aaron Brown is FAST! After 18 years, Jason Hanson still has IT.
Aaron Brown is FAST If you replace Colbert with Johnson I think the drop balls are catches. and that ball he caught neer the sideline might of went for six. We need a starting Left Tackle I was at a bar watching the game and some fan was booing Stafford before he made a throw. Thats my Quarterback man. I might not agree with the pick, but no use crying over spilled milk... Aaron Brown is FAST I know its a pipe dream, but I think Stanton shuld be number 2 on the depth chart. We need the vet leadership that Pepp brings to the table. Stafford is going to start game 1 mark it down Aaron Brown is fast I would lay money down that we will at least DOUBLE our win total from last year. Aaron Brown can do a mean back flip
So we'll go 00-16? LOL! Stanton is a gamer, but I don't think he's ready for a #2 spot yet. If Stafford starts I would like to keep Culpepper for insurance through the year unless we can get a high draft pick for him (and that's doubtful). No doubt. CJ would have caught every one of those passes. Rumor has it that Stafford is going to start next week. I hope Pettigrew & CJ get some PT with the first team. I'd like to see what Matt could do with a full stable of horses.
