Archives for October 2014

‘What Orton does has over Manuel is a sterling record against the Lions. In four games against the Lions, he is 4-0 with four touchdowns, no interceptions, a 63% completion percentage and a 102.2 passer rating. Those numbers could add up to helping Orton accomplish the simple directive he was given by Marrone on Monday.’

For Lions, game vs. Bills is ‘not about coach Schwartz’ (Detroit News)

Lions’ Suh shows frustration as he’s pressed on future (Detroit News)

Lions’ Calvin Johnson in wait-and-see mode over ankle (Detroit News)

Lions put special teams ace Montell Owens on IR (Detroit News)

Lions’ George Winn might make quick rush into action (Detroit News)

Lions RB Joique Bell misses practice but is improving (Detroit News)

Ex-Lions coach Jim Schwartz off to good start with Bills (Detroit Free Press)

Much-traveled RB George Winn (U-D Jesuit) joins Lions (Detroit Free Press)

Bills QB Kyle Orton owns Lions with career 4-0 record (Detroit Free Press)

Frustration boils over for Lions’ Suh on contract talks (Detroit Free Press)

Detroit Lions practice: Calvin Johnson, Nick Fairley out (Detroit Free Press)

Lions’ Stephen Tulloch: Knee surgery was a success (Detroit Free Press)

Isa Abdul-Quddus’ early-season play allows Detroit Lions to deploy ‘heavy nickel’ sub-package (Ann Arbor News)

Nap time is over: George Winn could play right away for Detroit Lions (Ann Arbor News)

Detroit Lions’ Corey Hilliard avoids surgery after Lisfranc injury (Ann Arbor News)

Detroit Lions practice report confirms RB Joique Bell’s concussion; LaAdrian Waddle a full participant (Ann Arbor News)

Detroit Lions’ Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford say they’re OK despite injuries; Joique Bell misses practice (Ann Arbor News)

Detroit Lions’ Ndamukong Suh slams the door on talk about 2015 plans (Ann Arbor News)

Detroit Lions Ndamukong Suh quiet on report he wants to play in New York (Oakland Press)

Detroit Lions notes: George Winn rested and ready; Calvin Johnson, Joique Bell don’t practice (Oakland Press)

Lions’ Suh gets testy, slams door when questioned about contract (Fox Sports Detroit)

Notes: Lions expect Jim Schwartz to return to Ford Field with something to prove (Fox Sports Detroit)

With Odd Injuries Befalling Lions, Bush Shares Story Of Jet Ski Fail (WXYT-FM)

Tale Of The Tape: Buffalo Bills At Detroit Lions (WXYT-FM)

Lions DL star Suh still mum on future (AP)

Lions prep for return of Schwartz with Bills (The Sports Xchange)

Ndamukong Suh not looking ahead (ESPN)

Golden Tate Blog: It’s never about who we are playing (DetroitLions.com)

Practice report: Lions without Calvin Johnson (DetroitLions.com)

O’Hara’s scouting report: Buffalo Bills (DetroitLions.com)

Notebook: George Winn pauses nap to talk roster promotion (DetroitLions.com)

Versatile Jeremy Ross breaking out of return-man mold (DetroitLions.com)

Tim and Mike: Talking Jim Schwartz’s return to Ford Field (DetroitLions.com)

‘Dubbing it Andre Reed Way, Allentown officials plan to rename a portion of Washington Street next to Dieruff High School, where Reed was a standout football star before graduating to Kutztown University and eventually the Buffalo Bills. Plans call for nearby Irving Park to also be renamed in Reed’s honor.’

‘”He demands what he wants out of us,” added receiver Sammy Watkins, the rookie first-round draft pick. “The way he talks, the way he handles business, the way he looks at plays and breaks down defenses is kind of different than EJ.”‘

‘”I’ve been working hard the last four weeks,” he said. “I got in a lot of throws with the guys, so I don’t think time is too big of an issue. I think we’ve got the full gamut of plays in and I feel comfortable. I’ve felt comfortable for the last two or three weeks. The coaches have done a good job. I feel comfortable with everything in the playbook.”‘

‘”I think we’ve got the full gamut of plays in and I feel comfortable. I’ve felt comfortable for the last two or three weeks,” the new starting quarterback said Wednesday. “The coaches have done a good job, [quarterbacks coach] Todd Downing has done a great job with me over the four, five weeks that I’ve been here. I think I feel comfortable with everything in the playbook.”‘

‘And he wasn’t afraid to call out a reporter, either. Orton was asked, “Kyle, why will you run this offense better than EJ [Manuel]?”‘

‘”We thought he was a good player even in the preseason when he started,” said Brown of Orton. “He went out there and commanded the team on a few drives. We were like, ‘Wow this young quarterback that we got is pretty good.’ We never thought we would end up using him. We just thought it’d be nice to see him develop knowing he had the talent. But we wound up using him sooner than we thought.”‘

‘”I just play my game,” said Orton. “I think first and foremost just let the guys know who you are in the huddle, how I like to run the huddle, what I expect of them. We’ll go from there. We got off to a great start (Wednesday).”‘

‘Orton, simply put, does not pass the smell test. The worst thing that’s happened for Bills fans is Orton being signed after the preseason, because Buffalo has had four weeks to sit back and think “What if?” instead of reflecting on what they’ve seen in person.’

‘Risking first-round draft picks in such a cavalier fashion is steps one two and three to getting fired in the NFL. Technically, Whaley’s predecessor, Buddy Nix, made the Manuel selection. But with the Watkins trade and Manuel’s benching, the Bills’ management has squandered two out of three picks (2013 and 2015). Aside from a franchise quarterback, no commodity means more in today’s league than first-rounders. This move confirms a failure to value both.’

‘Yes, it’s early. Brady could come back and shred the undefeated Bengals this Sunday in Gillette Stadium. The Pats could reaffirm their place in the division a week later with another win over the Bills. Buffalo could lose to Detroit and New England for four straight defeats. Anything is possible. That’s precisely the point.’

‘”I think he ruined EJ Manuel in that game,” King said. “EJ Manuel is not a very confident guy anyway but, I mean, I think he sent EJ Manuel to the bench. That’s the impact he had. He hit EJ Manuel nine times in that game. He had the incredible leaping interception and he outruns a running back and a quarterback 80 yards for a touchdown.”‘

‘The search for the next franchise quarterback hasn’t been an easy one in Western New York, and the benching of EJ Manuel for Kyle Orton isn’t likely the solution to the problem, either.’