Falcons 34, Lions 21: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
OK, might as well get the compliments out of the way first ...
I thought the offensive line looked decent today, at least with the pass protection. And obviously, the tandem of Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams is pretty darn good, though I don't think they'll face a size/experience mismatch with CBs quite like that the rest of the season. (And it should be noted that it was Roy's mis-read that caused that critical INT by Kitna at the start of the 3rd quarter.)
But that's about it for the good stuff.
As for the bad, the tackling was really, really bad, as everyone could see. There were a lot of mistakes that were glaring, too, starting with G. Alexander on that skinny post route on the third play of the game.
And an area of concern that seems equally hopeless right now has to be the special-teams play -- the coverages aren't good and the returns don't seem the slightest bit of a threat right now. The Furrey experiment on KO returns lasted two kicks Sunday. But all he managed on the two punts he fielded were a pair of fair catches (thanks to poor blocking by Daniel Bullocks it looked like).
Sunday Inactives
Today's inactives:
DL Ikaika Alama-Francis QB Drew Stanton DB Ramzee Robinson LB Gilbert Gardner DL Andre Fluellen DL Landon Cohen OG Manny Ramirez
Barry Sanders Speaks!
Actually, it's not like he has been hiding. Barry's doing some promotional stuff for Alltell Wireless and he's making the media rounds of late, including this Q&A with The Oklahoman.
It ends with the question Lions fans are still asking nearly a decade later: Why did he retire when he did?
"I will give you the best answer I can," Sanders said. "For me it's something that just kind of ... I knew it was time at the end of my career. I didn't necessarily want to be the guy who played for 15 years or continued to play (past his prime). I didn't necessarily think we had a chance to assemble any sort of team where I thought it was worth staying around for. I really thought it was time to move on. It was nothing more complicated than that."
Tatum Bell On The Radio
Ex-Lion Tatum Bell will be on the Dan Patrick Show shortly after 10:30 a.m., in case you want to hear his side of things.
Bell: "I'm No Thief"
Talked to Tatum Bell a few hours ago, and you can read the full story here, but the guy is clearly distraught about this whole locker-room "theft" that has been alleged -- or at least strongly insinuated -- by new Lions running back Rudi Johnson.
Believe what you will, but the end result of this thing runs deeper than the $200 bucks and cancelled credit card hassles Johnson endured. Bell is worried how this incident and the dark cloud hanging over his head will affect his future employment opportunities. And since a possible workout with the Houston Texans appears to have vanished, his concern may be justified, whether or not he's in the wrong in this bizarre incident.
"A lot of teams backed out when they heard that news," Bell told me, when I asked him about finding a new job. "Everybody's backing out. They're like, 'We don't want no thief in our locker room.' It's out on ESPN. My family's calling. It is hard, man. But I'm dealing with it the best way I can, and that's to try to stay positive."
Was Ex-Lion RB A Bell-Hop Or a Bag Man?
Rather comical story posted on Pro Football Talk about Tatum Bell's bizarre parting shot as he left Allen Park on Monday. Apparently, he walked off with Rudi Johnson's belongings, and according to PFT it took surveillance video to discover who had swiped Rudi's bags that'd been left outside Matt Millen's office.
Update (Wed., 12:40 p.m.) The Lions, not surprisingly, are neither confirming nor denying the report. Instead, they issued a statement just now saying, "We are aware of the media reports regarding former player Tatum Bell. Our sole focus continues to be on our regular-season opener in Atlanta. We will not have any further comment on the media reports involving Tatum Bell."
We'll see what Johnson has to say, if anything, after practice.
The Rudi Report: "He's here" - But Will He Stay?
Updated (2:30 p.m.): Rudi Johnson worked out for the Lions' coaches and front-office personnel Monday morning in Allen Park. But there's nothing imminent as far as a possible contract offer to the former Pro Bowl running back who was released Saturday by the Cincinnati Bengals."I haven't had a chance to talk to him," coach Rod Marinelli said. "But I just had a chance to watch him in some of the drills out here, and he's impressive. I mean, (he's a) big, thick guy. He seems to have great feet and all those things, from the workout. But I played against him over the years, so I know he's a very physical back. He's a guy with a lot of talent, and a lot of experience. He's a veteran."
Johnson has been hampered by a hamstring injury this fall, after missing a good chunk of the 2007 season with a similar problem. But while Lions president Matt Millen told reporters at practice Monday that Johnson "looked fine," executive vice president Tom Lewand, who has spoken to Johnson's Denver-based agent, Peter Shaffer, said the team was just "doing our due dilligence."
"We kick the tires on a lot of guys," Lewand said. "We look at every opportunity to make ourselves better -- that's what we do. ... We bring guys in for workouts and physicals and those kinds of things, but it doesn't necessarily mean that anything's imminent."
The Rap On Rudi
Rudi Johnson is in town tonight, and he'll be here in the morning. The question now is whether he'll be here all season.
The answer may depend on his health. He struggled with a hamstring injury last season, missed a third of the games and was an annoying question mark far too often for coach Marvin Lewis' liking. And after showing up at camp 10-15 pounds heavier and promising to be a more physical runner again, he went down with a hamstring injury again in the first week of training camp and didn't play at all in the preaseason. Lewis cited that Saturday as the primary reason they let him go. (The $3 million cap hit they saved was probably the bigger reason, though.)
But he's certainly a better option, if healthy, than what the Lions have behind rookie starter Kevin Smith. Johnson's only a couple years removed from leading the NFL in carries for a third straight season. At his best, he was a Pro Bowler who ran hard inside and moved the chains -- exactly what Rod Marinelli and Jim Colletto are looking for right now.
As for Marcus Thomas, the rookie they claimed off waivers from the Chargers, he's more of a third-down, short-yardage guy. Big back with good hands and a decent blocker. San Diego drafted him in the fifth round out of UTEP, where he had a great senior year but really didn't do too much before that in college.
Another Buc For The Lions, And Rudi, Too?
One of the cut casualties down in Tampa this weekend is a favorite of Lions defensive coordinator Joe Barry. We'll have to wait and see if there's room in Allen Park for Ronnie Lott's kid.
Update (5 p.m.): There was room, as a matter of fact. The Lions have signed Ryan Nece, claimed RB Marcus Thomas (5th-round pick by the Chargers out of UTEP) off waivers, and released LB Anthony Cannon and FB/TE Sean McHugh. They also signed their eight players for the practice squad - no big surprises there: QB Drew Henson sticks around, as do WRs Kenneth Moore and Brandon Middleton, LB Darnell Bing and S LaMarcus Hicks. Other practice squad additions: G Matt Butler, RB Allen Ervin, WR Eric Fowler, and TE Jake Nordin.
Update (8:30 p.m.): Adam Schefter of the NFL Network says RB Rudi Johnson, cut yesterday by the Bengals, is coming to Detroit tonight to meet with the Lions. Likely will have a workout and a thorough physical Monday. Rudi in, Tatum out? Maybe.
Roster Cuts: A Couple Surprises, A Couple Running Backs?
That's the biggest surprise obviously: With Aveion Cason and Brian Calhoun put on injured reserve (gone for the season), the only RBs on the 53-man roster after today's cuts are starter Kevin Smith and backup Tatum Bell. A bit odd for a team that's emphasizing the run, I suppose, but it's possible the Lions are trolling for more help there. (Among today's cuts, as many of you have noticed, is the Bengals' Rudi Johnson.) Artose Pinner made his case to stay -- he actually led the team in rushing in the preseason -- but he'll likely still be there if -- or is it when? -- the Lions need help in the backfield down the line. And for now, your third back is actually your starting fullback, Jerome Felton, according to coach Rod Marinelli.
Another question mark is on special teams. With Cason gone and only the four WRs kept -- Ellis, Middleton, Moore (likely practice squad) and Standeford were sent packing -- Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey are the return men right now. (Eddie Drummond got cut by the Steelers, by the way.)
Teams can sign up to eight players to the practice squad beginning at noon Sunday.
