Lions > Dolphins

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

 

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

And the whole "weak schedule" thing is a big-old crutch for those trying to downplay our win total, imo.

We played who they gave us, simple as that. Just like every other team in the league does.

When they start adjusting the win total at the end of the season to compensate for strength of schedule, then I'll start being concerned about it. Otherwise there's no sense in complaining that our 11 wins are invalid because they didn't come against the right teams. That seems pretty silly to me...

TP, I don't know if you read my post to numbnuts, but the SOS only effects 2 games. You play 6 division games, you play 4 against one division in conference, and 4 against 1 division out of conference. With SOS playing a role in only 2 games, one on the road and one home. And like I said, last year we had one playoff 10-6 team and one losing team. Don't know how they made those choices.

 

[Dr. Evil-er]

You can both be happy with the empty trophy case then. Congrats. I'm done with you both.

 

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

Wait, I know im stupid so forgive me. I think I get it. You did not want Avril extended, and not franchised. Sooo you think we should have let him a walk. A guy who had 11 sacks. Just let him go. 11 sacks, the most weve had on this team in forever...kick rocks bro. That doesn't make sense, but then again im stupid and ignorant.

 

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

You can both be happy with the empty trophy case then. Congrats. I'm done with you both.

You can't quit me.

 

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

 

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

 

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

Suck it Dr Evil.

 

[gandydancer]

I am trying to understand how we call it a weak schedule? Before the season started many talked of a tough schedule. Then injuries or for whatever reasons the schedule became softer.

This year looks to be brutal. As the season unfolds and players miss games for whatever reason does not suddenly make the schedule weak in my mind. The Lions overcame nagging injuries on the OL and two key injuries on the defense last year and still had a top ranked D. Is it the Lions fault that other teams could not?

The part that stood out on a 11-5 season was every team that beat them had a winning record and three of them went further in playoffs. Call the other 11 games weak or call it making progress if you want. I don't care. I care that the Lions still can not beat winning teams. Start beating those teams and I will call it progress.

 

[Old Lion]

And we will raise that "Playoff Appearance 2015" banner as a result. Awesome.

Do you have to play teams with winning records in the playoffs? Cause if we do then we are fucked. Do we get to beat up on another bottom feeder schedule this year?

I keep hearing this nonsense. I couldnt care less how bad the Lions were against winning teams before last year. That is a result of just how fucking incompetent Shwartz and company was. It has little to do with the new regime or even most of the current roster.

Don't even get me started on the math of it.

 

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

Does anyone know what our record was last year?

I thought I remembered us doing pretty damn well? But that can't be if our management is so god-awful, I mean there's just no way they could possibly field an 11-5 team since that takes... oh wait... we were 11-5.

How does that work? If we had that good of a record, but our management is such an utter joke, then what gives?

Did we get the right results using the wrong players? Must be...

We were just super damn lucky. Now that we lost Suh get ready for our defense to go from 1st to worst. He was the whole team, he made the season. And now that we have the 2 games based on an 11-5 record. We should look for a free fall, maybe back to 0-16. Anyone who thinks we can be good without Suh is an utter schmuck.

 

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

I am trying to understand how we call it a weak schedule? Before the season started many talked of a tough schedule. Then injuries or for whatever reasons the schedule became softer.

This year looks to be brutal. As the season unfolds and players miss games for whatever reason does not suddenly make the schedule weak in my mind. The Lions overcame nagging injuries on the OL and two key injuries on the defense last year and still had a top ranked D. Is it the Lions fault that other teams could not?

The part that stood out on a 11-5 season was every team that beat them had a winning record and three of them went further in playoffs. Call the other 11 games weak or call it making progress if you want. I don't care. I care that the Lions still can not beat winning teams. Start beating those teams and I will call it progress.

I think 11 wins against anyone is progress when you had back to back losing seasons. Now I agree Gandy that if we don't beat get some wins against the winning teams this year that we aren't progressing. But last year was progress. Now lets take the next step.

They looked much more put together in their wins last year than in the 10-6 season I thought. The coaching was better. They closed out much better. Seems like progress. Lets hope it can continue.

 

[gandydancer]

I think 11 wins against anyone is progress when you had back to back losing seasons. Now I agree Gandy that if we don't beat get some wins against the winning teams this year that we aren't progressing. But last year was progress. Now lets take the next step.

They looked much more put together in their wins last year than in the 10-6 season I thought. The coaching was better. They closed out much better. Seems like progress. Lets hope it can continue.

I agree 11 wins are very good in the NFL. Certain divisions are harder year in and year out. What is more impressive, 11 or more wins in AFCE or AFCN over the last six years?

What has been a unique cliché around here for years? Can not beat winning teams. During the 10-6 and 7-9 seasons along with the 4 win seasons they could barely beat any winning teams.

So is it progress when you constantly beat the losing teams? Which is why I say progress to me will be breaking the trend and beating teams other than losing teams. Lions broke many trends last year, just not that one. I really like the coaching staff at the moment. However heading in the right direction for me is beating winning teams. Does it make me wrong? Not sure, considering the only way to the holy grail of football is to beat 3 or 4 in a row come the end of the season.

 

[tpaulus_2]

TP, I don't know if you read my post to numbnuts, but the SOS only effects 2 games. You play 6 division games, you play 4 against one division in conference, and 4 against 1 division out of conference. With SOS playing a role in only 2 games, one on the road and one home. And like I said, last year we had one playoff 10-6 team and one losing team. Don't know how they made those choices.

I think my back-and-fourth with Dr. Evil-er is being misconstrued as hostile. I'd like to dispel that notion right now. He's a good personal buddy of mine. We don't see eye-to-eye on the Lions AT ALL, but the dude knows his shit. He hates Mayhew something fierce, and he comes on like a ton of bricks on the board, but, imo, that's what makes this place fun. All the fucking characters we have. If we all agreed it would be boring as fuck. Look no farther than this very thread today- it's fucking poppin' because we're all arguing it out. I'll take that over a dead board any day of the week.

Like I said, though, he's my bro, so easy on the numbnuts stuff, eh?

 

[tpaulus_2]

TP, I don't know if you read my post to numbnuts, but the SOS only effects 2 games. You play 6 division games, you play 4 against one division in conference, and 4 against 1 division out of conference. With SOS playing a role in only 2 games, one on the road and one home. And like I said, last year we had one playoff 10-6 team and one losing team. Don't know how they made those choices.

I follow what you're saying, but I don't agree. Strength of schedule is determined by ALL the games we play, not just the two that aren't divisional, conference, or non-conference.

Maybe we're not on the same page, though. Are you saying that last year's strength of schedule factors in to the two "at large" games when they decide those? That could well be the case (I honestly don't know on that one) but strength of schedule is still strength of schedule, and, at least right now, we'd appear to have a pretty tough crop of opponents this year...

 

[tpaulus_2]

Honestly we should compile a list of the veteran players on the Dolphins roster and what they make.

Miami is projected to be more than $21 million over the cap next season, so they're going to have to cut and/or trade some of those pricier veterans this offseason. We might be able to scoop someone on the cheap to fill a hole...

 

[gandydancer]

I follow what you're saying, but I don't agree. Strength of schedule is determined by ALL the games we play, not just the two that aren't divisional, conference, or non-conference.

Maybe we're not on the same page, though. Are you saying that last year's strength of schedule factors in to the two "at large" games when they decide those? That could well be the case (I honestly don't know on that one) but strength of schedule is still strength of schedule, and, at least right now, we'd appear to have a pretty tough crop of opponents this year...

The extra games depend on what place you finish the season prior. Lions will play the second place team from the two divisions already chosen years in advance. Which are Saints and Eagles. Packers will play Panthers and Cowboys. So no SOS used at all. About the only thing SOS plays a huge role in is draft position. Which oddly enough you want the harder schedule by seasons end.
SOS might be a tiebreaker for playoffs way down the list though.

 

[gandydancer]

Here is a look at the next four years of schedules. They play the NFCW and NFCS teams that finish the same spot in respective divisions in 2016.

johnnyroadtrip.com - NFL NFC North Schedule 2012-2019

 

[lionstop1]

And we will raise that "Playoff Appearance 2015" banner as a result. Awesome.

Do you have to play teams with winning records in the playoffs? Cause if we do then we are fucked. Do we get to beat up on another bottom feeder schedule this year?

But...you said...you thought...we'd beat Seattle in Seattle, in the Playoffs last year? We were good enough then but not now?

 

[lionstop1]

Here's the problem:

The Lions cant beat good teams due to coaching, not the talent. They never prepare well for teams with better coaches.

The Lions beat bad teams due to their talent level, not so much coaching. They are inconsistent but do enough to win those games.

If Austin has another great year and Lombardi figures it out, the team should be able to win against some of the good teams.