PopeLando

August 27th, 2016 at 10:05 PM ^

I think Caldwell wants to give Orlovsky every opportunity. This isn't an open competition, really. 3rd string OL and WRs are really screwing Rudock.

Joined: 08/01/2015

MGoPoints: 69678

reshp1

August 27th, 2016 at 10:22 PM ^

Unfortunately, they have to cut down to 75 players before then and it seems like if they were serious about a competition for the #2, Rudock would have had more of a chance. Hopefully he did enough to survive the cut and do something in the final preseason game, where the starters will probably not play much or sit completely.

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34170

Wolverine In Iowa

August 27th, 2016 at 10:29 PM ^

My MGoBrethren - I have to admit that I always laugh a lot when I read the Lions threads.  It makes me appreciate the filters we all have built in when talking about the Wolverines.  Some quality stuff here :)

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 10766

hazardc

August 27th, 2016 at 10:58 PM ^

I think it's pretty obvious that there is a correlation between football players who perform bettter in the classroom being better suited for football today.  Cerebral football players are what Harbaugh craves, and it pays off in dividends. 

 

With that said, I think Michigan has all the right people in place that want academics and on-field performance to co-exist as much as possible. 

 

The only problem I see in the future is that football is kind of collapsing in a lot of places from the ground up with all of the CTE related stuff and persistent chronic physical injuries coming to light. I hope we find a way to keep this game around. 

 

 

 

 

Joined: 11/24/2013

MGoPoints: 2366

stephenrjking

August 27th, 2016 at 11:03 PM ^

I think that's malarky. There's a much stronger correlation between athleticism and on-field success.

It's not to say that academic skills can be useful in football preparation, but many of the skills that produce a good academic achiever and a good football player are different. 

And while preparation matters, especially for QB, there are certain physical/reflex characteristics whose absence cannot be overcome by hard work. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady work really hard, yeah, but there are plenty of guys who have worked that hard and not been nearly that good, because they just weren't equipped for it. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

stephenrjking

August 27th, 2016 at 11:00 PM ^

I appreciate that playoff win chart in the OP. Something notable that doesn't get talked about much: Yeah, there are a couple of other teams that have never made the Super bowl--the Browns, Jaguars, and Texans.

What do those other teams have in common? They are expansion franchises. Yep, even the Browns, whose original franchise of course moved to Baltimore and won two Super Bowls. Their current franchise has only been incompetent since 1999. 

That's right, the Lions are the only team that has existed for every year of the Super Bowl era and not played in it.

I'm not sure what's sadder: That statistic, or the fact that I know and kinda sorta guiltily enjoy the Lions fight song. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

mgoDAB

August 27th, 2016 at 11:06 PM ^

Well the bright side looking at this graphic is that our current coach has more playoff wins than Lions do in the history of the franchise.

Joined: 01/04/2015

MGoPoints: 2887

uminks

August 27th, 2016 at 11:16 PM ^

will have a running game. Stafford will get sacked a lot and start throwing his side arm shit. The schedule will be slightly easier, so their high water mark could be 7-9 or 8-8 but this team could also finish with 2 or 3 wins. Your typical Lions with no chance for the playoffs is my prediction.

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32189

stephenrjking

August 28th, 2016 at 12:49 AM ^

That's really impressive, since the win actually occurred in 1991. 

The 1994 playoff loss was that terrible game at Lambeau where they gained roughly 150 yards and Barry only rushed for -1. Better than the next year's playoff loss, though.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031