Right, Backus is terrible, but it's not like he's the first guy who can't block Peppers. Really, nobody can block Peppers, but the guy only shows up about half the time.

And while normally it's fine to argue about taking a LT, Suh is really a sick, sick talent. I'm not sure how you can pass on a guy like that. Given that the Lions aren't exactly going to be made contenders by adding an offensive lineman instead of Suh, I'd rather take a guy who has a chance to be a truly dominant NFL player and suffer the pain of having my young QB get beat up for a year. Bad beat that he went down week one.

It really looks like Suh is the real deal, and will be an interior force for years to come. But he'll never be better than an above average QB and LT, aniec. This isn't about Backus' ability to block Peppers, it's about him being able to block anyone. Being on the blindside of the 65 million dollar man who IS the franchise is. IDK why no one sees it this way. I want my franchise QB clean, what does it matter if I can pressure the opposing QB and shut down one rushing lane if my 3rd string QB is starting and running for his life? Football isn't about collecting the most HOFers, it's about collecting wins, period. By the way, the best defense is a good offense, ask Peyton and his little brother.

you're right, it was a bad luck hit. It's not it was a violent hit either, but the reason Pep got free isn't because he's good, it's was Backus' bad tecnique on that particular play. He's upright, no leverage, barely got a finger on him. He did the exact same thing against Mark Anderson earlier in the game. Is Anderson on Pep's level? What happens next year when the best shutdown corner (Patterson?)falls to them? What if AJ Green falls in their lap? Green/Megatron would be awesome. In b4 omg another WR.

Charles Johnson and David Diehl, elite tackles? Bushrod? No, no, and no.

Would you rather have Warren Sapp or Matt Light?

the only way this argument is valid is if you think Backus is on par with those guys. If you think that then no point of going any further in this discussion with you.

BTW, a tackle that doesn't get beat anywhere near as often as the one in question is more valuable than a interior lineman on a team who's focal point is (should) be the passing game. This was my argument from the beginning.

EDIT: which do you think the Colts would rather have, Matt Light or Sapp? You have to protect your franchise QB, at all costs. They don't come around very often. Why would you want one if you aren't going to give him what he needs to succeed? In this league, under current CBA, you don't get to build 49er's type teams with playmakers all over the field on both sides of the ball. The focus of each and every team is on either/or. Some teams (the Pats come to mind) have good players on both sides, but they are cheaper because they have a fantastic scheme and draft well. Name one player that left that franchise and did ANYTHING. (other than Seymour, who fits any scheme) I'd venture to say the player that had the most success after leaving NE is Deion Branch, and he's missed more games than he played.

You guys were ROBBED! that call ****** pissed me off big time. im kinda a lions fan besides the 49ers. i root for you guys big time and that call tilted me. (half of my family is from detroit). what a fing horse ***** call.

lol, i'm a 49ers fan besides the Lions.

I'd just like to weigh in on a few things having just found this thread. I will be posting here more often now, yay! (or maybe not yay depending on how you feel about my posts)

First, the refs got the Johnson call right. It's one motion of the catch and he has to come up with the ball. Plain and simple. IMO, if he had the ability to compose his body control in such a way that he could control his fall, put one hand out towards the ground and hold the ball like a loaf of bread, he could just as easily (and btw, fundamentally), grab the ball with two hands and make sure of it! IMO, we can't leave things to any doubt. GET THE JOB DONE YOURSELF!

Second, with the bears playing cover two basically all game, the running was just poor with our new "explosive" RB. He is explosive to some extent, but our OL is just not good. I already see drafting next year as being a couple good, big, OLM.

Third and finally, and I think a few of you already said this, I realize the bears are playing a pass defense, But look at the play at the end of the game. Throw the ball and let johnson get it. Maybe easier said than done with Hill in the game, but come on now. Johnson is a pro-bowl caliber (imho) reciever. Give the man a chance to make some plays. Dumping it off won't beat good teams and it didn't beat a struggling bears team.

They need to force it to Calvin even if he's covered, seriously.

how were we robbed? Johnson dropped the ball

I don't know what they teach OT's in a spot like that but I'd like to see Backus tackle Peppers and take the holding penalty. I see stupid nit-picky holding called all the time and it drives me crazy, but when a dude is blowing by you on the way to demolish your quarterback just ****ing tackle the guy and take the penalty.

this is normally what's taught, especially when defender is coming off blindside + backside of the play.

Looks like Stafford is not going to require surgery ... varying reports saying he might be back next weekend and some say not until 4+ week.

Doesn't sound too bad from what I hear. Will be back by week 4 or so. Good news.

There were no holes for Best at all yesterday except for the first TD, running off tackle didn't result in anything. Maybe the bears defense is really good this year, let's hope so because we need a running game even more know with Stafford out.

Agree with throwing it up to CJ and let him come down with, put the ball in his hands

yeah, after he did two barrel rolls and had the ball for four seconds. are you a bears fan?

haha nice!

lol hip you are a tard. so is "IrunDET" lol cool ****ing s/n btw broski.

he caught the ball, was down....even down by contact and was making a move to get up and the ball was lost, plain and simple.

everyone in chicago is saying it was a catch too...lol @ two detroit tools saying it wasn't a catch. are you trying to get your jim joyce on? look impartial to the situation despite your affiliate? tards gonna tard i guess.

When Moss was in MN that ****er was probably drawing on average ~45 yards of pass interference per game on those jump balls. I don't see why CJ can't do the same.

First, in my defense, my screen name is awesome and my mom told me so, so thanks. I don't appreciate being called a tool. This is a thread for discussion so let's just discuss and have a good time and not call people "tards and tools" just yet if we don't even know them IRL. Let's save it for NVG and BBV ok greear?

Anyway, It's not like i'm supporting the rule. I don't like the rule at all and think it needs some serious scrutiny and hopefully this instance will shed some light on it. I believe, along with the masses, that it was a catch. However, to the letter of the rule which states--

"...a player must complete the 'process' of the catch..."-

meaning Johnson had to maintain possession after landing on the ground and butt hit the ground and knees and everything. He has to come up with the ball. He was still moving in the process of the catch and didn't come up with the ball. No catch. And trust me, I am a diehard lions fan and it saddens me to say so, but like Calvin himself said, it is what it is.

None of this would be talked about if he just secured it with two hands like he's done hundreds of times before, which is really my main gripe. Don't give the refs a chance to have to make a call. Just make sure of it.

Every GM, coach, personnel director that's ever lived takes Suh over Okung & Trent Williams at #2. Can't reach for need over the potential GOAT.

Most of those guys prolly gamb00l on Michael Oher over a TE at #20, tho.

Have to admit I would've been worried about a unique case like Oher on such a dysfunctional franchise like the Lions (and I posted that in the '09 Draft thread), and while Bodymore ain't got much up on Deadrot to live in, at least it's a lot closer to Oher's home.

Still, sick value at 20. What a draft they could've had; Stafford, Oher, Rey-Rey.

its the rule, you have to complete the catch. he didn't. If Johnson had jumped up, caught it, defender then chops his legs out, his feet and ass hit the ground first, then his body hits the ground and the ball pops outs:

no catch.


it's the same principle, just looked strange on replay. But you can tell he drop the ball before he finished the catch.


Me, I've been rooting for the Lions for my whole life, so I'm used to garbage like this happening

GREEAR, I 100% agree the rule is ****ed and that should've been a touchdown, but why is Megatron so quick and willing to drop the ball? You just made the game winning play, tuck that thing into your ****ing chest, get up and then hoist it up in the air to show 60,000 Bears fans what you just used to beat them. And if you can't...I hate to say it, but according to the rule, then that catch has to be brought into question.

If this rule was indeed emphasized to all teams before the start of the season - which the NFL has repeatedly said they did - then the receivers have no one to blame but themselves if they're not making every effort to eliminate all doubt from the refs' minds.

Still, it's an awful rule and that would've been a TD in the CFL, fyi. lol Canada.

from my viewing, it looks like he was trying to put his hand down, but the ball was in his hand, and the ground hit the ball and he dropped it. If he was showboating and dropped it, that would be so much worse.

But compared to other catches made in the field of play, it's obvious to anyone that he didn't control the ball throughout the catch. When he stood up, the ball was on the ground. It's pretty conclusive.

And Greeeear, I'm not ******ed, I just know the rules. He dropped the ball so it's no TD

lol hip you don't know a damn thing bro. not a damn thing. you don't post much around these parts anymore but when you do i always remember because of all the moron **** that comes out of your mouth.

i irony