Kaspers Korner

The Detroit Lions are hoping that they found their franchise quarterback in Matt Stafford.

The thing is that even if Stafford turns out to be just that they are still a long ways to go to become a winner.

The Lions most glaring problem now is that many of the starters in key positions are in the their third year or less.

Usually, a player starts entering the prime of his career in his third year.

That means results will not be seen until next year as this year is all about learning what it takes to be successful at their position.

For many Lions’ fans that is not what they want to hear as many of them are sick and tired of losing.

In the end as Lions center Dominic Raiola stated Lions’ fans need to be patient.

The Detroit Lions once again proved that they have a long ways to go to make it to the playoffs.

What Lions fans need to be worried about more is coaching.

Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison had three sacks.

The fact is that if the offensive coordinator Scott Linehan had a brain he would of made sure Harrison was double team all game.

In the end hopefully when quarterback Matt Stafford there will be a considerable difference in the offenses’ performance.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford earlier this week meeting with the media on Monday came off as unconcerned about his knee injury.

With quarterbacks being the central figure of a football team the Lions need to be careful with Stafford.

Stafford suffered a dislocated knee cap, which popped back into place.

When a joint pops back in there is usually damage caused to the cartilage.

Knees are not something to be messed with as knee injuries have robbed countless careers and altered many others.

As of Wednesday Stafford did not practice, which is good news.

In the end anything other than Stafford returning at 100 percent will be playing with fire.

Cleveland Cavalier’s Lebron James became so hyped in high school, due to his ability, that ESPN started carrying some of James high school games.

It starting to look like that National Football League could have their own star of this magnitude very soon.

Barry Sanders is a legend in the NFL who many thought could be eclipsed.

That could be wrong as Sanders’ son Barry James Sanders is becoming a national star while he is only a sophomore in high school.

The younger Sanders was limited in a back up role, but recorded 89 carriers for 742 yards with 12 touchdowns at the varsity level.

Sanders is now the starter for his Heritage Hall Chargers as last year’s starting running back has graduated and moved on to college.

It would not surprise me that Sanders breaks a record for most yards in a season as he has his father’s ability.

Man I am just getting excited to see another Sanders that can stop on a dime and make star linebackers look silly.

In the end if Sanders’ stock keeps rising he will easily be the first overall pick in the National Football League Draft when he enters it.

The Detroit Lions have pinned their hopes on quarterback Matt Stafford to turn their franchise around.

The thing is the Lions are going to soon learn a hard lesson.

Success for an offense starts in the tranches with the offensive lineman.

Without a good offensive line a quarterback gets hit repeatedly and when that keeps happening a quarterback just become a complete mess like New York Giants quarterback David Carr did when he was on the Houston Texans.

The problem for the Lions is that they do not have good guards as both of their starting guards were castoffs from their previous teams.

Defensive coordinators will know that this is the Lions weak spot and will bring blitzes up the middle on rookie quarterback Matt Stafford.

In the end if the Lions do not address their gaurd position after this year then you can forget about Stafford being a franchise quarterback.

Many experts feel that Detroit Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper will never regain his form from when he was a Minnesota Viking.

The thing is Culpepper is primed for a comeback thanks to the reuniting with Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.

Linehan from 2002-2004 was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings when Culpepper was at the top of his game.

That means Culpepper knows Linehan’s system in and out, which means that Linehan doesn’t have to hold back is playbook as most offensive coordinators have to do with a new team.
Thus, Culpepper will have the freedom to audible in and out of plays, which will allow him to take advantage of coverages.

Also, Culpepper has a big weapon in the form of wide receiver Calvin Johnson like he did on the Vikings with wide receiver Randy Moss.

Johnson in only his second year caught 78 passes for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns.

With the third year of a wide receivers career being the break out year it is scary to think what kind of stats Johnson can put up this year.

Also, the Lions signed wide receiver Bryant Johnson and drafted tight end Brandon Pettigrew to open the Lions offense even more.

In the end there are too many things going for Culpepper to not like his chances of a huge comeback in 2009.

The Detroit Lions last year were the worst team in the history of the National Football League by going 0-16.  With the team picking quarterback Matt Stafford in the first round the Lions need to resist the temptation of starting him right away.

Last year in 2008 rookie quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco started every single game for their teams, and even led them to the playoffs.

According to Tom Kowalski of MLive.com reports that the Lions are confident that Stafford will be ready for the season opener.

That would be a horrible move and would ruin Stafford’s career.

There is a big difference between the situations as both Ryan’s Atlanta Falcons and Flacco’s Baltimore Ravens have solid offensive lines and running games.

The Lions may have some talent in tackles Jeff Backus, Gosder Cherius, and center Dominic Raiola, but their guards are crap as Damion Cook and Stephen Peterman are nothing more than journeymen.

However, they did sign free agents tackles Jon Jansen and Ephraim Salaam who if they were moved to guard would probably change everything, but this is the Lions were talking about and I highly doubt they are that smart to think that.

You have to look no further for evidence than former Houston Texans quarterback David Carr as the lack of an offensive line in Houston ruined his career.

Also, there really should be no rush to start Stafford as quarterback Duante Culpepper is a decent quarterback who would do a better job than any rookie would do.

In the end with the rest of the NFC North all having solid defenses the Lions are making a move that will leave them in the basement of the NFL for the next decade.

Linebacker Larry Foote forced his way out of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then signed with the Detroit Lions.  It starting to look like that he is already regretting that decision.

Foote in an interview with WDFN relayed some already noticeable differences.  Those being there is a lot more swearing as he has heard more f-bombs in one day than he did in five years with the Steelers and the practice more military style versus the Steelers laid back approach.

The thing is about that type of coaching is that it can work at first, but if the Lions don’t start to win very soon, then the players will tune the coaches out.  That will ultimately lead to worst season, and then the coaches being fired.

Foote should regret leaving the Steelers as he is a fool for leaving a classy one of the best organiztion in the National Football League.

It is understandable what Foote wants as he left the Steelers to become a fulltime starter, which in Pittsburgh he was not going to get.  He shared time and won two Superbowls with the Steelers, thus he probably felt it was his time to seek what he wants.

The fact of the matter is Superbowl championships do not grow on trees.  The Lions have not made the playoffs since 1999 and the Steelers in that time have won two Superbowls and have made the playoffs numerous times.

Luckily Foote has only a one year contract, so he can return to the Steelers once the season is over with.

After 2009 he will most likely be thankful for only signing one year as the Lions will have another horrible season.

Shuan Cody DT unrestricted

Damion Cook OL unrestricted resigned with team
George Foster OT unrestricted

Jason Hanson PK unrestricted resigned with team four year deal
Drew Henson QB restricted

Rudi Johnson RB unrestricted

Paris Lenon LB unrestricted

Andy McCollum C unrestricted

Shaun McDonald WR unrestricted

Ryan Nece LB unrestricted

Moran Norris FB unrestricted signed with 49ers three years five million with $1.5 guaranteed
Dan Orlovsky QB unrestricted signed with Texans three years $9.15 million $2.4 million signing bonus
John Owens TE unrestricted signed with Seahawks
Stephen Peterman G unrestricted resigned with team five year $15 million $5.5 guaranteed
Corey Smith DE unrestricted

Stanley Wilson CB unrestricted

The Detroit Lions made a trade that shocked many people.  Simply, the Lions will never learn.

The Detroit Lions traded for linebacker Juliam Peterson giving up defensive lineman Corey Redding and a fifth round pick in next months draft.

The problem with the trade is that the Lions never had to give up anything to get Petrson.  The reason being was that Peterson was going to be cut by the Seattle Seahawks.

The stupidity emminating from the Lions organization and the trade will go down as one of the worst of all time.

Simply, the Lions are not going to turn anything around unless there is a house cleaning.