QUOTE: “Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow.” -- Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and if travel is in your plans today, please be careful. Enjoy the day of giving thanks tomorrow. High school games and then three pro games follow. Is there anything better than Thanksgiving and football?
The first game Thursday features the Packers and Lions. As I wrote on NFL.com this week, I love the fact the Lions have the game as part of league’s annual tradition. Now, I do wish the Lions would stick with the tradition and not change their uniforms by adding colors that don’t belong in their color scheme, but that’s an argument for another day. The Lions finally have hope, and it’s based on the play of quarterback Matthew Stafford, their rookie first-round pick. Stafford has had his ups and downs, but the come-from-behind win he orchestrated this past Sunday has endeared him to his coaches, his teammates and most of all the fans. They can finally see that the Lions are making progress, albeit slow, but progress nonetheless.
Stafford injured his non-throwing shoulder, and if he can handle the pain, he’ll try to play tomorrow. He has flashed moments of brilliance this year, and he has also played like a true rookie — which is to be expected. But every pass he throws, every repetition he takes, will only speed up his progress for a better season next year. And leading his team to a come-from-behind victory is a trust-building factor with his teammates. He now has the locker room believing in his skills and not envious of his contract. He also has given the offensive coaches a true indication of his skill level, and they can continue to tailor the offense around his skill set. Bill Walsh would always say that the first year for any player was learning the system, and the second year was dedicated to developing his skills within the system. Stafford is ahead of the curve right now, and as the Lions improve their team, he will allow them to be competitive.
The Lions are so bad on defense that they could cut half their starters, and there’s a good chance they wouldn’t get picked up by another team. Defensively, they have a minimum amount of team speed and no playmaking ability, which forces them to take a beating every week. In the past two weeks, they gave up more than 490 yards to the Vikings, one of the top offenses in the NFL, and 439 yards to the Browns, the league’s worse offense. So it doesn’t matter who the opponent is -- the Lions are doing their best to just hold on. With defensive tackle Sammie Hill and rookie safety Louis Delmas, they have two legitimate starters to move forward. Now they need to rebuild their defensive line and could actually use an entire draft just on that area.
But at least with Matthew Stafford as the foundation, our TV viewing on Thanksgiving the next few years will be much better.
NFL thoughts…
1. There are many executives in the NFL who think the Bills will pay huge money to entice a big-name coach. But the fundamental problem in Buffalo will be selling a new coach on the future as it pertains to owner Ralph Wilson, who is 91 years old. That question is more topical than the amount of money being tossed around.
2. Spent the day in New England interviewing Bill Belichick for NFL Network’s Sunday Morning Game Day. He was great and, as always, very interesting in his thoughts about the New Orleans game.
3. I’m sure the Bears ownership group is frustrated with the season, but knowing how patient they’ve been in the past, it would appear to me that they would want to wait until the end of the season before making any decisions on staff. It would behoove them to sit down with their staff to determine if their views of the problems are the same as the coaches and front office.
4. The Broncos had a players-only team meeting Tuesday. I’ve never been a fan of these, believing that problems aren’t solved by meetings but by better execution on the field. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “Well done is much better than well said.”
5. Happy 76th birthday to my mother. May she have many many more!
Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi
Mike - Cannot wait to see your interview with Coach Belichick. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Now do you finally believe that Stafford will be better than Sanchez ? That being said I really hope that Detroit does turns the corner . The Lions T-day game has really been woeful recently . Recently meaning since the 70's .
It needs to be mentioned how extremely effectively Cleveland had been executing in the pass game all day. They had just completed a 3rd and 6, which you didn't seem to have a problem with only because of the result of the play. It seems strange that you embrace the huge end of game risk tolerance in the NE-IND game, but not a much more understandable risk here with the reward being a guaranteed win and the cost being 40 seconds of clock on a long field, TD required drive
As it worked out, they still needed a desperation Hail Mary to get the win. Pretty preposterous to say "no the loss is with the playcall to throw on 3rd down when the offense had put up 400 yards on the day," instead of the D's inability to execute a Hail Mary defense scenario
In regards to the Broncos, YES, please play better football on the field, screw off-field meetings if nothing gets accomplished. The Lions should not jerk around with their color scheme, Honolulu blue is the coolest color of all time. Stafford will only improve and finally, the Lions have hope. The Detroiters deserve better than what they've had. May the Lions and Broncos both win tomorrow in that vein of thought. Let's all have a good Thanksgiving and Lombardi, I would love to share my banana cream pie with you. Hopefully, you've got lots of good food to eat and may our football be magnificent. Late.
Hill gives them an anchor, Delmas is an impact type of player who can turn plays into turnover opportunities for he or others.
Add a lot of speed for that fast surface. Play fast for more chances to get that football.
A team with a young premiere ability passer, a young wideout good as anyone, the same at tight end, and a multipurpose back, included is of the best offensive tackles of a draft class. The 90's Cowboys formula is ready to apply to the building blocks of this team. Maybe a bit more speed in a change of pace back is needed for depth.
Stafford was always better than Sanchez. It was a joke to put them in the same category during the draft process.
Sanchez isn't and wasn't ready for what the NFL has to offer. His best scenario would have been Seattle, backing up Hasselback for two seasons at a minimum. Instead he's thrown into the fire in New York in a windy stadium his natural ability isn't suited for.
Stafford has the throws, the arm and the smarts to be a stud. He and Calvin Johnson will be amazing together for years to come. No amount of money is too much for that foundation on the offensive side of the ball.
Good for Stafford. Good for Detroit. It's been a long time for that franchise.
if the bills focus is only on the coach then the progress that ralph wilson deserves before he goes will not materialize. you said it many times before lombardi; quoing father vince, uncle bill parcells and the maras, bill walsh and eddie d, bill belichick and robert kraft, cower and the rooneys; it takes a great ORGANIZATION to win consistently in the nfl, wheres the rest of the improvement?.
His best scenario would have been Seattle, backing up Hasselback for two seasons at a minimum.
Thanks for information
A list of thank yous and a final...
Even if you called me an idiot,...
Their success will depend on QB...
Titans coach wants Chris Johnson...
Now is the QB’s chance to show...
Nov 25, 2009
10:53 AM
Happy Birthday Mrs. Lombardi!