LIONS: WHO WAS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE ON SUNDAY?

Interesting question...glad I asked it, frankly. Well, I've already blogged about how positive I thought the game was, particularly for the defense, and I see promise for the offense. But, to me, we've got a top flight player in Shaun Rogers, a top 3 d-lineman in the league in my opinion. When you combine everything, age, productivity, etc., of all the other DTs in the NFL I would take ahead of him would be Chicago's Tommie Harris...maybe.

So, Shaun gets the award, but some other guys need a shout out, too...Cory Redding and James Hall for starters. Particularly Hall...people can forget he was a Pro Bowler a couple of years back and played hurt all last year (Hey, you don't get all the love you deserve in the NFL when you're team goes 5-11 every year, its just that simple)...I also thought Cody looked solid and Tyroka Jackson gave us some good downs which bodes well for our depth...maybe we won't miss Big Daddy Wilkinson as much as I thought we would...

Fernando Bryant looked real good, I can see why the coaching staffs, past and present , wanted to wait out his injuries...got to keep him healthy, though. (Note to Fernando: Stay healthy, brother)

And, of course, big shout out to Ernie Sims. Some of you who were reading this blog during draft time know I liked Kiwanuka or Jimmy Allen for the Lions if Vernon Davis was gone at 9, but you've got to love Sims so far...we haven't had a guy who wants to hit like this since the days of Blades and Spielman. 10 tackles, looked great.

Also, I liked Mike Furrey, too...I feel good about that slot position for the first time in a while.

TIGER TALK: THAT GUILLEN IS SOMETHING, HUH?

It would be hard to overstate his importance to the club, and last night just works as another example, though you can make a hell of an argument for Marcus Thames-in my opinion-as the team's MVP. Carlos will probably get some love, but not too much, when it comes to MVP voting, maybe he's got an outside shot to finish in the top 5, but I would not count on it.

Now, we've been here before, taking the first game of a series, and we really, really need to get one tonight and take this thing, we're going to get some help from other folks with the Twins and ChiSox, trust me. On the other hand, disregard that talk about how easy our schedule is compared to the other two contenders. The Royals, yes the Royals, have been playing good ball recently (ask Boston if you think I'm sh****** you)and probably have a better record in August than we do. We've got to bear down, because the Royals are going to break someone's heart. One team is going to finish with 90+ wins, miss the playoffs, then realize they dropped 3 of their last 5 games with K.C., the worst team in the league. Lets not let it be us, boys.

TIGER TALK

Well, that series certainly didn't go like we thought it would after taking the first game, did it? To me, the series turned in the second game when we blew the lead...but you knew that, too. The question is, how do we feel now being only 2 games up on Minnesota and 3 1/2 on Chicago? Well, looking at it from a contemporary point of view, you probably feel shaky as hell.

Looking at it from a totally fair and realistic point of view, if someone asked you in April (I know you were busy watching the Pistons and Red Wings blow wonderful seasons in the playoffs) how you'd feel about having a 2 game lead in the toughest division in baseball coming into mid-September-even though the Tigers will have had a horrible month leading up to that, you would have been more giddy than Paris Hilton running into 5 sailors just beginning their leave after six months at sea.

Is this all just psycho-babble BS? Probably, doesn't mean it won't work, however. We'll be fine if we can just turn it around and win or series or two in a row...something we haven't done since the Boston series in the first week of August. Remember, its not like the Sox or the Twins are exactly streaking past us here, they have both played .500 ball down the stetch...better than us the last month, but its not a problem we can't fix.

That's what I'm telling myself, anyway. Do you think I will ever totally convince myself to really buy my own BS? Well, if I don't, it won't be because I didn't try.

LIONS: THE BEST LOSS WE'VE HAD IN A WHILE...

I know the thing to do would be to moan and bitch about yet another loss, to decry the change in direction of the team, to essentially say "same Lions" and move on, but I just can't. Sure, it would have been nice to get the win, and it was tough to see our defense soften just enough after such an outstanding effort, but we've got to be realistic here.

Don't let those who would devalue this as Seattle being shaky or try to pretend that our D-line was very good only because Seattle lost Steve Hutchinson in free agency fool you. I was very impressed with our defensive tenacity, speed, and-most of all-hitting. We covered well and got to the QB. Folks, Hasselback is a good QB, he got out of some things with quick, accurate throws that a lot of other QB's wouldn't...or won't. Five sacks, holding last year's MVP to less than 100 yards, keeping the highest scoring offense from last year out of the end zone...really couldn't ask for more from the defense other than letting them go down the field on the last drive-and even that was really two big plays, the seventeen yard run being the real killer.

Offesively I was not as impressed, but I wasn't displeased, which might surprise you since we rolled up 6 points. First, that defense is real good and got better from last year-they didn't go to the Super Bowl by accident-by adding Peterson. Next, I was pleased to see our offense trying to go downfield instead of sideways, something I hadn't seen in a while. I like the way Kevin ran, even though the stats weren't great...he caught the ball well. For the first time, it makes total sense to me why a former DB from St. Louis was valued more by the coaches than two former 1st round picks at WR. Our O-line is obviously better, but not yet up to where it needs to be. If I'm not mistaken, we gave up only one sack. And, yes, I like our QB. Confident, not afraid to throw downfield and make no mistake, that incomplete pass on 3rd and 3 that led to the decision not to try a FG was Bryson's fault for not making the right read.

All in all, we did well, the real key will be to come out with the same intensity and better precision next week on the road in Chicago. We've seen surprising one game positives from this team before, making it a week in and week out thing is the key. You can make an argument, which some people have made, that we have already played the best team we will play this season.

Any loss sucks, but compared to 31-3 shellackings and overtimes losses where we win the toss but decide to kick, I'll take one like this every time.

WHAT THE WOVERINES NEED TO DO TO BEAT THE IRISH

Its amazing the difference a year makes, isn't it? Last year the Wolves were a solid favorite over the Irish, this year, with largely the same personnel, you have football experts, like Mel Kiper, saying the Wolves aren't in Notre Dame's class.

Count me in as one who said the Irish as overrated, and I still say that. Now, does that mean I think they are not good? No, I take "overrated" literally. Are they a top 5 team in terms of talent. Not even close. There is not a single guy who scares you physically on this team, and I'm including Quinn. (understand what I mean by that...Tom Brady didn't scare people, either at UM...now he does) Notre Dame has next level offensive coaching, good play calling, and a defense that is much more athletic than last year. Here are the keys, as I see it, to UM winning on Saturday:

1) They must match the intensity of the Irish, if I'm not mistaken, this will be the first ND-UM game since '94 where the Irish will be favored (and that is the last time UM won in South Bend). For once, the Wolverines have to come out as if they are the ones with a bone to pick, so to speak, and get physical with Notre Dame

2) Avoid the early mistake. If you look at Penn State today, you realize that this is a young, fragile team with a lot of talent who is going to be really good later in the year and exspecially next year. You also realize that this game today would have been a lot more competitive if the Nittany Lions don't drop two sure interceptions, fumble, drop passes, and make horrible decisions on pitches. Notre Dame will give UM the chance to make big plays, the Wolves have to take it.

3) Expose the Irish secondary. Yes, the Irish have faced a great receiver in Calvin Johnson, and some good receivers today. But, this will be the first time they have faced some good receivers who also have a good QB and, hopefully, willnot be afraid to throw the ball downfield. Last year, I was beside myself watching the Wolves dink and dunk and do everything except force the ball downfiled to Breaston and Avant. Throw the ball downfield and make the Irish prove they can cover Manningham Breaston, and Arrington consistently. Hint: Trust me, they can't.

4) Stick with the running game. Look, Penn State was moving the ball fine until the game got away from them. UM, which clearly panicked last year whenever Hart was not in the game, needs to not worry about the occassions where they might be in 2nd and long...you've got a veteran offensive line, use it. The Irish haven't seen a line like this yet.

5) Bring it on defense. Georgia Tech showed the way to disrupt the short passing game, and its no big secret. The D-line needs to play big and English needs to bring people intermittently. The Wolves can't sit back in the soft "Hermann" zone and wait for them to make a mistake. You have a very athletic defense, and Ga. Tech showed that that will disrupt the Irish. The Wolves have more depth than Ga. Tech.

6) Henne needs to show up. Look, this kid is going to leave UM with all the records. He has only thrown about 9 less TD passes in his third season as glamour boy Quinn has in his fourth. But, you know what? He hasn't beaten ND or Ohio St. nor played particularly well in big games, the '05 Rose Bowl and the 4th quarter against Penn St. excepted. Good decisions. Strong throws. Can't be fumbling snaps, especially on the goal line like last year

7) Carr has to play this one to win, not to "not lose". Carr's vaunted record against top 10 teams, which isn't as good as it was a few years ago, includes a lot of wins where UM was not the favorite...he needs to approach this one like that, and play to win.

READY OR NOT, HERE COME THE LIONS...

Well, there is no question that there is not the unbridled optimism that there was last year, and any optimism out there is guarded, to say the least. But, is it more realistic? Look, some of the things we're seeing might gives us some reason to question, and for those of us on the plus side of 10 years of being Lion's fans, we've seen it all before: new tough coach, new optimistic quarterback, new defensive scheme, new offesive scheme, etc...

But, maybe the thing to most be optimistic about is the attitude, which obviously did not go over real big with everyone. There is no way that, if it holds and is real, that a tougher and more disciplined team won't translate into more wins. Having said that, it does not mean we'll see more wins right away. Only the most insane optimist would predict the Lions to win either one of their first two games, against arguably the two best teams in the NFC, but a win over one would make starting 1-1 a hell of a lot more joyful than last year. But, to me, the big thing is how we compete and execute...I am excited, hell, I always am, but this is the first time in a long time-if ever-that I feel we're going in the right direction on both sides of the ball.

Still, the light at the end of the tunnel could very well be an oncoming train driven by some Seahawks, so we'll see. I have no idea how to predict this team, though I don't think a lot of us will really buy in until we finish a season north of .500. Having said that, did you get Peter King of SI predicting that we will be 10-6 and win the North? There is a reference to that in today's Free Press. Remember one thing as you are L.Y.A.O...last year, when most of the experts said the division would come down, as always, to the Packers and the Bears, with the Lions being a chic sleeper pick...Peter King picked the Bears.

TIGER TALK...

Big one yesterday, getting the first one in Minnesota in this crucial four game...remember when everyone was worrying that Verlander might wear down in September? Well, he is looking pretty good to me right now. How can you not love what Marcus Thames brings to the table? Leading the team in HRs? Amazing, and he might only be the third or fourth most valuable on this team...

Make no mistake, even just getting a split in this series is good right now, because the clock is starting to favor us, everyone is running out of tomorrows. A split and Minnesota cannot gain ground, personally, I think we have a chance to do better, but we'll see...

You know how everyone in the Detroit hating national media keeps chortling that we had a 10 game lead on August 7? Well, its all how you want to look at it, isn't it? The Tigers have had their worst stretch of the year and the lead is still 5 games...fortunately for us, wins in April count as much as wins in August.

TIGER TALK: FOREVER YOUNG NO MORE...

O.k., count me as one of those Tigers fans who was simply shocked to hear that Dimitri Young had been released. Huh? Here's a solid left handed bat that has hit close to .300 since he's been back and his release is strictly performance based? Uh, sorry, not buying that. Unless I'm missing something, this team has not exactly been tearing it up at the plate for the last month collectively....Messrs. Ordonez, Inge, Perez, and a few others could have been released under the standard of not setting the world on fire...not to mention the guy was released , not benched or anything. And, they were so fed up with his "lack of performance" that he is slotted to hit third just last night in a game we have to have? What, he hits a homer last night and its all good? Please.

Look, I don't know how any sane mortal or Tigers fan (the two groups often being mutually exclusive) could complain loudly about anything that Leyland and Dombrowski have done so far this year, but this does not, as we used to say back in the Southern courts, does not pass the smell test.

I'm not saying this was not a good move...yet. But, to release your best run producer over the past five seasons and a guy hitting .292 with seven homers in the month or so he's been back when you are in a playoff race and in dire need of a left handed power bat in the lineup...you don't do that unless there is some major issue somewhere else. And, don't tell me its "performance based" when everyone can see that, if a nightmare of not making the playoffs does come true, it will likely be because of the lack of offense at key times, not due to the young pitching coming undone , as most had feared back in the late spring.

Do they owe it to us to tell us every detail, particularly when its a guy who has had significant personal problems? No, I don't think they do.
Do they owe it to us not to BS us? Yes, I think they do.
A simple statement saying it was for team chemistry reasons or off the field issues, or private reasons would have been fine.
At least, that's my take.

DETROIT LIONS: THE FORGOTTEN COORDINATOR

With all of the hoopla surrounding Mike Martz and Head Coach Marinelli's defensive baqckground, its easy to forget about Donnie Henderson. Don't do that. Look, for all of the focus on offense the last few years, it was easy to forget that the defensive side of the ball was clearly the better unit. However, it was not an elite unit, but has the potential to be. I actually didn't mind Jauron as a coordinator, though I did think he was a tad conservative.

Henderson is known for blitizing a great deal, which is not one of the hall marks of the cover2 defense that the Lions-and it seems everyone else- is now running in the league. One thing that has also gone unnoticed-and justifiably so-is that as bad as Millen's drafts have been on offense (though you have to say that Backus, Jones, and R. Williams were good selections), his picks on defense, before this year always lower draft picks, have not been too bad. Shaun Rogers, Redding, Lehman, Bailey, Bailey, Lewis, Cody, and Holt all seem to be good players-to different degrees-and the biggest problem is keeping them all healthy. I hope that the two defensive guys we picked up this year will pan out. Remember, Ernie Sims will be the only guy that we have picked in the first round on defense.

Yes, like everyone else, I am more excited about seeing the offense develop after so many years of ineptitude and so much promise, but I am still confident, that at least for this year, the defense will again be the best unit for the team.

Whether that will turn out to be good or a disaster, only time will tell.

TIGER TALK: THE NEXT WEEK IS CRUCIAL...

but, you already knew that. It hurts to give one away to Seattle, this was a series we need to sweep, 'yall. But, there is always tomorrow, or should I say today, and once again we need the Gambler Kenny Rogers to get us one. There is not a way to overemphazie the importance of the Twins series, we will need a repeat of the last time we went in there and took two of three, and should have swept...but we gave up a multi run lead with Bonderman on the mound. (Sound familiar?) And, of course, we will run into Santana, but that's part of it, folks. Lets get one today and go from there.