Talking With Lions Beat Writer Tom Kowalski
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:35 pm by Larry Figurski under Sports
The Detroit Lions will open a mandatory three day “mini camp” on Tuesday (June 23rd)… their last official team workouts until the opening of “training camp” in late July. At the end of OTA’s (organized team activities) I had a chance to talk with Booth Newspapers Lions Beat Writer Tom Kowalski, about the team heading into mini camp. Click here to see that interview: http://tinyurl.com/lr3nuz
OK! New Season coming up for the Lions. I’m telling you about this time the buzz will begin of whether or not this team will be good, will this team even win, will they be competitive, etc? Last season, it was very difficult to admit to being a Lion’s fan! They have so many things to address, O-Line, D-Line, Defense, A decent quarterback, etc, etc, etc. They also have a new coach!
I’m saying and hopeful that they will be improved. I’m saying they go 4-12 this season. Very tough to gauge because they are coming off of a 016 season.
I gotta admit, I’m pretty optimistic this year and for sure the next couple years going forward with the Lions. Stafford is going to be a star in this league, maybe not right away but soon. He’s been given a real good TE in Pettigrew to go along with Calvin Johnson. Then I really like what they did in the free agent market, especially on defense and even on the O-line. Sure they still have some holes to fill. I’m not crowning them just yet. But I don’t see why they can’t go at least 7-9 or so this year and maybe, just maybe, battle for a playoff spot. If they make progress like I think they will, they’ll be playoff contenders 3 years from now, possibly sooner.
I’ve forgotten Larry, what did you say the Lions record was going to be last year? I think I had them at 6 wins. I’m continually amazed how the Lions continue to sucker us into thinking “this year they will be better”. Although it doesn’t take much to improve upon a winless campaign. I am almost…almost to the point of not caring. They’ve done nothing in the last 40 years to justify any real optimism.
Ok well lets face the facts, the lions cannot get any worse than what they already have been. The only thing they can do is improve or stay the same. Well we already witnessed from the new coach that they are really concentrating on their holes. As we seen a huge struggle last year was their d-line and o-line. Every team they played they never really got pressure on the QB. He had all day to pass. Whenever they “tried” they tried to hard and always overplayed an easy play. Run plays expecially! You see 3 lineman running towards the QB and guess who has the ball. The running back! So there is a huge hole and easily gets 10 + yards. As the offensive line it was the complete opposite! They couldnt hold their ground and never really gave any qb a chance. Even if a WR was WIDE OPEN the QB was being flushed out of the pocket and sacked, or had to throw the ball away. I hope they do not make a mistake and put Stafford in this year. They already ruined how many QBs for putting that much pressure on them? I have been a fan for awhile. I am not saying they will Win the Superbowl this year but I believe they will do a lot better! They are finally going in the RIGHT direction. I see them going 8-8. This will put them at a good chance of getting in the playoffs. Just to make it there will make them play harder the next few years. Who knows maybe when Stafford is ready in a few years then we might be able to start talking about Championships and maybe Superbowls. For now it is just progress!