Mid-Season Report Defense

Scoring 6th (18.4)
Yards 12th (331)
Passing 6th (193)
Rush 30th (137.6)

Defensive Tackles

Ndamukong Suh 24t 3 sacks- Much has been said about Suh being on Don Banks all-underacheiver team this past week. I admit I kind of agree. I have noticed long stretches of little impact and plenty of guards winning one-on-one battles. Davin Joseph of the Bucs handled him. On the other hand, Suh has made three or four short yardage stops. He has pushed pocket well at other times. It has to be said the guys around him are playing great. Maybe he is a victim of his great rookie year. I expect more impact plays in the second half.

Corey Williams 18t 1.5 sacks- I think Corey has played really well. Stopping the run and pushing the pocket. He has limited his mistakes this year.

Sammie Lee Hill 9t- Sammie has been limited by some injury this season but has not had great production. I think he is quality back up and Corey has played great. I hope Sammie more impact inside.

Nick Fairley 1t- Not really fair to grade him yet. Missed training camp and the front part of the season. He made his debut on MNF. Sat out the Broncos game. Long armed and can really move. If he gets going look out

Andre Fluellen 5t 1 FF- Solid 5th D Tackle, Great wedge guy on KOR. Not a player who can play a lot of snaps. More effective in 2 or 3 play series.

Ends

KVB- 18t 5 sacks 3 ff. Nice start to the year. 3 strip sacks. Has benefitted from the emergence of Lo Jack and Willie Young. Schwartz has sat him every Wednsdsay keeping him Fresh.

Cliff Avril 17t 5 sacks 3ff 1 td- He has arrived. Playing for a contract next season, he will earn big $$$$$$$$. Showing speed off the edge and a little nasty streak. Leads league in tunnel fights.

Lawrence Jackson- 18t 3.5 sacks. LJ has been a really good third end. Our best run stopper outside and solid pass rusher. Detroit has been perfect for him.

Willie Young- 10t 2 sacks. Young has been a force including a big sack vs the Cowboys that iced the game. Great in must pass downs.

Linebackers

Stephen Tulloch-52t 3 Sacks. Has brought toughness to the inside that we have lacked since Earl Holmes got hurt. Sometimes can washed out by because of a lack of height but he is a keeper.

DeAndre Levy- 63t- A great all around season. He can play the run and pass. Low point missing the tackle vs. Jacquizz Rodgers.

Justin Durant-27t- A lot better than I thought. Can play in space and over the TE. We missed him when he was out with a concussion.

Bobby Carpenter 19t 1 int 1 td- Has been exposed a little of late. Most big running plays have come at him. Much better as a nickel backer. He covers Te and screen well. His TD vs. the Cowboys was a season changer.

Ashlee Palmer 5t- Solid back up backer and special teams player. Has potiential to start in the NFL.

Doug Hogue- 1t- Has struggled to make plays on the special teams. He received first action at LB vs. the Broncos. Has a lot of work to do.

Corners

Chris Houston 41t 4 int 2 td- Has played close to pro bowl level. Has made two really big plays and been solid on coverage and run support. Was beaten by Roddy White but has been big.

Eric Wright-36t 1ff 2 int- Great free agent signing. Plays outside and inside. Has tackled and covered.

Aaron Berry 15t- Really impressive season. Has stood up on the outside against top competition. Has starting potiential in the NFL. Good find by Mayhew, as he fell out the draft in 2010 for character concerns.

Brandon McDonald 11t- Solid backup and special teams guy. Concerns about his speed has limited his time. He spoke up early in the season. Mayhew does not like that. (ask Jon Kitna, Mike Furrey and Dante Culpepper). Saw action at safety against the Broncos.

Alphonso Smith 5t 1 ff- The forgotten man this season,. Injured late last season and broke a foot during the lockout. Has yet to crack the line up. He plays just special teams. With 8 games left including 2 against Packers and one against the Saints, his coverage and ball skills might come in to play.

Anthony Madison 3t- Special teams player. Gunner on the punt team. Has made little impact.

Don Carey- Just signed, inactive vs. Broncos

Safeties

Louis Delmas- 42t- Up and down season. Played well at times but struggled badly vs. the 49ers. Flashes speed in run support but little impact in the passing game. Huge holding penalty on 4th down vs. Tony Gonzalez hurt against the Falcons. He needs to play better.

Amari Spievey- 32t 1 sack 3 int- Play has improved this season. Less mental mistakes more plays. Like Delmas struggled vs. the 49ers. Has established himself as a legit NFL starter.

John Wendling-14t- Specieal teams stud and solid back up safety. Had his 1st career start on MNF. Did not hurt us. Will back up until Chris Harris is ready.

Chris Harris just acquired by waivers and was not active vs. Denver.

Punter

Ryan Donohue 42.7 ave 4 touchback 2 t. Up and down. Mostly down. Special teams have been poor.

Jason Hanson- only 1 missed FG. Another great season for Hanson at 41.

Don Muhlbach- Still the Nolan Ryan of Long Snappers

Lions Report Card- Midseason Offense

Lions Rank 4th in points (29.9)
13th in Total yards (355)
10th in pass yards (260)
27th in rush yards (95.2)

QB

Matthew Stafford 61.2% 19td 4 int. He ranks 16th in Espn's QBR with 55.6. Just below Matt Cassel.

My take: Stafford is a good NFL QB. When he can set his feet he can make almost every throw. He excels at deep outs and dig routes. When forced to move he becomes poor. His accuracy on the run is not good. For him to make it to the elite level, he will have to improve this aspect of his game.

Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton. Both are on the last year on their contract. It will be interesting to see which you the Lions keep as a long term back up. I believe that Stanton has improved under the current staff.

RB

Jahvid Best: 4.6 ave 2 td  27 rec 1 td
Outside of the Bears game, Jahvid has done little to shake the 'bust' nickname. He refuses to put his foot down and gain yardage. His health is a major issue. His best attribute is catching the ball out of the backfield.

Maurice Morris: 4.1 ave 1td 8 rec 75 yards.
The veteran Morris is a one cut back who gets what is there. He can play all three downs. He at the age of 31 is not 20 touch guy. Will wear down with extensive use.

Keiland Williams: 3.0 ave 1 td
2nd year guy claimed off of waivers, Williams has shown little in this stint with the Lions. A third down back with the skins, he has but 1 catch with us. He has shown ability on special teams. Will need to step up down the stretch if we have a chance at the wild card.

Eldra Buckley: 1 tackle
Signed off the street a couple weeks ago. Buckley has not carried the ball this season. He played better on the special teams this week. He missed a tackle in the Atlanta game that really hurt.

Stefan Logan: 2.0 ave 21pr 8.9 ave 11Kor 26.5ave 1 Fumble Lost
Logan has not been a part of the offense this season. Only 4 carries. His return game has suffered as well. The new rule has limited him to 11 returns, 1 of which he fumbled. His coverage on kickoffs has been much better this season. He has emerged as steady tackler.

WR

Calvin Johnson: 47 rec 11 td. An absolute monster. True MVP candidate. Best Lions player since Barry.

Nate Burleson: 26 rec 1 td Needs to improve his production. When he and Titus can't win battles (See 49ers and Falcons) we struggle. He can run with the ball following a catch and shake coverage in the slot. Needs a better second half.

Titus Young: 19 rec 1 td At times he looks like a rookie lost and slow, others times he looks like a stud. Snagging the ball with hands in traffic. If he can play more like he did vs. the Broncos will be a tough team to stop.

Rashied Davis and Maurice Stovall: Both veterans have been held to one catch. Davis has struggled with a foot injury and Stovall with a broken hand. We may need them in the second half. Watch out for Nate Hughes on the practice squad, if Davis cannot go.

TE

Brandon Pettigrew: 41 rec 2 td: Our # 2 option in the passing game. He has improved his hands but will never be smooth. A little disappointed in his blocking. I rated him as a Pro Bowl TE coming out of college. Not there yet.

Tony Scheffler: 9 rec 3td. This WMU Grad is a key to our attack. If he can win battle it gives us another option opposite CJ. Great Td celebrations, we need to get him more touches.

Will Heller:  4 rec 20 yards. Perfect 3rd Te. Plays some FB as well. Can catch the ball. Good blocker.

Tackles

Jeff Backus- Typical Backus season. At times he is really bad (see Vikings and 49ers) sometimes he plays real well (see Bears). He is what he is.

Gosder Cherlius- Took a bad penalty and Schwartz benched him in week two. He has played pretty well since. I give him credit for coming back from Knee Surgery.

Corey Hilliard- Started and played at Right Tackle early in the season. Probably has a future at Guard. Was solid in his performance.

Jason Fox- Injured in camp and has not been active this season. The Lions have to see if has starting ability in the future.

Stephen Peterman- Better play from him this season. Really struggled the first half last season but rebounded down the stretch. Has cut down on penalities.

Rob Sims- A little disappointed with Rob. I thought he would be an elite guard this season. Has had some penalties. I have liked his ability to pull and block the second level.

Dominic Raiola- See Backus. He is what he is. Can get to the second level but struggles with big NG.

Dylan Gandy- Swing guy who play guard and center. Back up on the wedge on KOR.

Jacques McClendon- Inactive for frist 4 weeks, placed on practice squad ever since.

Cliff Avril named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

After a 3 tackles 2 sack for 22 yards, 2 FF, 1 QH, 1 ff, 1tfl and a 24 yard Fumble return for a TD. Cliff Avril was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Here is a tribute:

Cliff with a QBH

Sack, FF, FR, TD

Congrats, Cliff