The Detroit Lions Defense Remains Historically Bad
1-liner, NFL September 24th. 2009, 1:45pmDetroit Lions: “While their 19-game losing streak tends to hog the spotlight, the Detroit Lions have managed to accomplish an even more remarkable feat. The team’s defense has allowed 1,033 points in 34 games—the most since Lyndon Johnson was in the White House … how can a defense whose players will earn $45 million this season be so stubbornly horrible? … [Matt] Millen’s greatest shortcoming may actually have come on defense. He used a second-round pick in 2007 for defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis, who is no longer in the NFL, and two third-round picks in 2004 and 2005 for cornerbacks Keith Smith and Stanley Wilson, who are not on an NFL roster.” [WSJ]
44 Responses to “The Detroit Lions Defense Remains Historically Bad”
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September 24th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Considering no team had ever gone 0-16…and only one had ever gone 0-14 in a season, I think the 19 game losing streak is the most remarkable and most embarrassing part of that debacle.
You could do dozens of posts on Millen’s bad draft picks.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
This isn’t really that uncommon. If you checked most NFL rosters, chances are they have a few second- and third-round picks who are sayonara.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
That is impressive. What is that, 30-35 points a game? No wonder Millen is allowed to comment about football players on national television.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Tampa Bay’s 26 game streak thinks this is bush-league.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
30.382
September 24th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
t/j
do yourselves a favor and watch this video and fast forward it to the 3:00 mark and see who shows up and what he’s doing. Completely safe for work
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/nms/acconomi/post_518.html
end blind item t/j
September 24th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Anyone going to Denver @ Oakland on Sunday?
Or Cal @ Oregon on Saturday?
I’m double dipping this weekend, should be a hell of a weekend.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
30.382
/Math’d
September 24th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Feels like I
wroteread this somewhere recently…/fake OUTRAGE!
//thought I was the only one that read the WSJ for sports
September 24th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
sorta. just think if he thought defense instead of offense for the drafts below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_NFL_Draft
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_NFL_Draft
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_NFL_Draft
September 24th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Lions have actually lost 25 of 26. Last victory came against the Chiefs in 2007. The 2007 Chiefs lost the final 9 games of the season that year to finish 4-12.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
30.382
was too lazy to click on the calculator.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I read the other day that only one (!) Matt Millen draft pick from 2002-2006 is on the Detroit Lions roster. That guy is Ernie Sims, the 9th pick in the 2006 draft. After a pretty good rookie year, the guy has been average and now he’s injured. I’ll give Jim Schwartz credit, he’s completely overhauled the defensive personnel. Detroit has nine new starters this season.
Matt Millen is a piece of shit. Don’t let anybody ever tell you any different.
/Lions fan
September 24th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I heard a stat which said that only one player drafted by the Lions (in total) from 2002 to 2006 is still a Lion. Ernie Sims. That shit is insane.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
The Rams are missing whole drafts from the mid 00’s. Hell in 2007 the only guy left on the roster is the first round pick (Adam Carriker) and he’s not really working out.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Fuck my slow brain.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Were the Lions given a few shitty teams to play early to prevent getting the record? Washington this week. The Rams Nov. 1st, and Cleveland if all else fails on the 27th game.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Tie.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Fuck Quinn Pitcock.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
i could actually see them winning all 3 of those games..
September 24th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
tOSU’s Pitcock?
September 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
From Peter King today at SI.com…
“What Laurinaitis might lack in terms of overwhelming athleticism he makes up for with great instincts, superb preparation and a fierce competitiveness.”
The first person to crack the code gets 10 Paolo points.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
jpq just surfs japanese websites looking for bankrupt athletes selling jewelry. and for that I salute him
/didn’t want to give away the surprise
September 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I heard a stat which said that only one player drafted by the Lions (in total) from 2002 to 2006 is still a Lion. Ernie Sims. That shit is insane.
check this stat out from Peter King about the Chiefs…
Since Week 17 of the 2008 season, 30 Kansas City Chiefs have departed — 20 active players, five on injured-reserve, five on the practice squad. Only two have found jobs on active rosters in the NFL: tight end Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta) and defensive end Jason Babin (Philadelphia).
they got rid of 30 guys since last season’s end, and only 2 were good enough to make another NFL roster. WOW
September 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
why did he retire?
September 24th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
That’s the one.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
haha. just wiki’d Pitcock. Who retires from the NFL at 24 while healthy?
September 24th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Peter King is an idiot?
September 24th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Must be white
September 24th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
jpq just surfs japanese websites looking for bankrupt athletes selling jewelry. and for that I salute him
/didn’t want to give away the surprise
spicious: Japanese porn is the best porn ever!! (actually just a link off a link off a link off of Sports Illustrated’s site)
September 24th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
September 24th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
James Laurinatis has Eckstein-like gritty scrappiness.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Triston27 wins the prize.
/does not have access to Paolo points
September 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Lions have actually lost 25 of 26. Ty
Ouch. The Chiefs have lost 25 of 27 and I thought that was the most horrible stretch going right now.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
dammit slow blockquoting skillz. I needed those points!
September 24th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Triston27 wins the prize.
/does not have access to Paolo points
Groin
That’s probably best. Accumulating Paolo points only leads to trouble.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
That and he has a non-stop motor.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
the pirates have lost (i think) 21 of their last 23 and have 2 distinct 3-17 stretches this year.
FML.
/kidding, i get to watch Big Ben win RINGS!!!!!!!!
September 24th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
The Broncos had a similarly terrible stretch of drafting defensive players–I think D.J. Williams is the only guy on the team drafted between 2000-2004.
Another fun angle: Detroit is employing Marquand Manuel, last seen starting here on 2008’s nearly-as-bad-as-the-Lions D. That oughtta help…
September 24th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
peter king means:
He’s a terrible white athlete, so here’s some other descriptions to explain why he is revered by me and still has a job.
peter king also listed brett favre as the 5th best QB ever, ahead of manning and brady on Mad Dog the other day.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
/fixed. he listed manning 5th and brady 9th.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
i love PK, but he’s an idiot sometimes.
brett favre would struggle to crack the top 5 from 1984 to today.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
King had Elway at #7. That is a goddamned disgrace.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Add in Mathias Askew, and you can probably start to print those playoff tickets.