racosun
10-19-2006, 12:28 AM
The Lions finally get a win, and then lose their best defensive player (Shaun Rogers) for four games due to a banned substance violation. Right now it's hard to gauge what kind of impact this will have on the team, since the defense wasn't exactly a strong point for the team. If the offense can keep moving the ball decently, and stop falling apart at crucial moments of games, the team should at least be able to keep games close, even if they have to be in the 40-point area. Losing Rogers should be good news for the Jets' running game, since Rogers is a fantastic run-stuffer, and stopping the run was the only good aspect of the Detroit defense.
As usual, look for the Jets to go deep on the weak and battered Lions secondary, but to also break off a few good runs. RB Kevin Barlow could be in for a big game for the Jets. This game is probably much more important to the Jets than it is for the Lions. The Jets are 3-3, and getting above .500 at this point in the season would be huge for them. Detroit is trying to teach the complicated offensive and defensive schemes to clueless players, and are simply jockeying for another high drafting slot. On a good note, WR Roy Williams and QB Jon Kitna seem to have developed a great chemistry. Kitna is currently third in the league in passing yards (although his play has been somewhat spotty), and Williams is first in receiving yardage. RB Kevin Jones also seems to have figured something out. He hasn't fumbled since week 2, and his 127-yard game against the Bills last week was his first 100+ yard game in nearly two years. Jones might have been among the league leaders in rushing yardage if not for the fact that the Lions need to chuck the ball downfield more often due to always chasing after the lead. If Jones was getting the usual 25+ carries per game that any franchise RB needs, he'd be having an All-Pro calibur year.
But we're talking about the Lions here, and there's always too many "ifs" to be consistently successful.
As usual, look for the Jets to go deep on the weak and battered Lions secondary, but to also break off a few good runs. RB Kevin Barlow could be in for a big game for the Jets. This game is probably much more important to the Jets than it is for the Lions. The Jets are 3-3, and getting above .500 at this point in the season would be huge for them. Detroit is trying to teach the complicated offensive and defensive schemes to clueless players, and are simply jockeying for another high drafting slot. On a good note, WR Roy Williams and QB Jon Kitna seem to have developed a great chemistry. Kitna is currently third in the league in passing yards (although his play has been somewhat spotty), and Williams is first in receiving yardage. RB Kevin Jones also seems to have figured something out. He hasn't fumbled since week 2, and his 127-yard game against the Bills last week was his first 100+ yard game in nearly two years. Jones might have been among the league leaders in rushing yardage if not for the fact that the Lions need to chuck the ball downfield more often due to always chasing after the lead. If Jones was getting the usual 25+ carries per game that any franchise RB needs, he'd be having an All-Pro calibur year.
But we're talking about the Lions here, and there's always too many "ifs" to be consistently successful.