Thoughts from the Exaggerated Optimist
The Exaggerated Optimist (aka Nick) is back with a rant regarding his favorite ruffians, the Detroit Lions. Enjoy.
______
I’ve been labeled the Exaggerated Optimist. Whether it’s relationships, job opportunities, or my beloved Lions, the glass is always half full.
After Detroit’s 36-21 victory over the Oakland Raiders yesterday, I was left with positive, confident thoughts. I know what you’re going to say: “The Raiders were the only team worse than the Lions last year. We’re supposed to beat them.”
False. Detroit has a long history of losing to teams they should have defeated. Yesterday was a pleasant surprise.
Though Oakland is far from a quality NFL team, they had football’s best pass defense in 2006. This is a combination of secondary coverage and pressure from the d-line. The Lions arguably have one strength, and that’s the aerial attack of Mike Martz’s “greatest show on turf.” If Oakland’s defense had dominated like last year, the lions would be 0-1 right about now. And considering that Detroit’s offensive line last year was abysmal, blocking for the worst run offense in the league and giving up 63 sacks (the second most in the NFL), it would have been a cakewalk.
Yesterday, however, the o-line gave up one sack. Kitna had time to throw, and the receivers were more open than a Lowell cheerleader’s legs. Calvin Johnson scored his first career touchdown. Roy Williams scored. Fourth receiver Shaun McDonald scored. Last year’s fourth receiver was current Oakland quarterback Josh McCown. Apparently Detroit added depth in the off-season as well. And if our offense can score against a top-rated defense, we can out score more than enough opponents this year.
For one week at least, I’m exaggeratedly optimistic about the Lions’ chances to make the playoffs. Hopefully I’ll have something to write about next week, after the Minnesota Vikings fall like a Minneapolis bridge…(too soon?)
Go Lions! They looked pretty good yesterday, except late in the game when they started letting Oakland come back. What I’m more concerned about is that video about Lowell that was posted. Lowell has always been a joke amongst us and all that video told me was that Lowell has trees and concrete. Somethings never change.
As a former Lowell cheerleader myself, I was a little disappointed with that link.
You’ll get over it. If memory serves correct, feature columnist Jeff Pfaller has a Lowell cheerleader for a wife. He’s not complaining.
I exclusively date Lowell cheerleaders. What’s it to yeh?