This!

I don't think the defense is lacking much on talent as people say, we have probably a top 3 DL group, we also have 3 quality starting linebackers, obviously are back 4 are lacking but the front 7 is really good. We aren't playing to our potential with the front 7, I don't know enough about defense to point the problem out but there is something. There are teams with scrubs that can get to the QB, but we have superior talent and can't sometimes.

I see what you are saying, but when you say 3 quality starting LB's, I wouldnt quite call Levy "quality".

DING DING DING. WE HAVE A WINNER. That is the exact point I was trying to make with this thread.

I think there was a purpose for the way the plays were called early this year. I think they were designed to get the other WR's involved and productive so that they would require enough attention to free up Calvin more often. And I think we are seeing the fruits of that in the last few weeks. It just took 10 weeks for the efforts to start showing that it was working. Next year, will be where we see far greater benefits from it. Add to that, we were also trying to get the running game into gear. That's still a work in progress.

1) When I said derivation of a play, I meant for instance, An off tackle run to the left would be considered the same as an up the gut run between the Center and LG. Any running play to the left is scored as if it were the play you called. The same for the a running play to the right. Basically, just designate running or passing. Then designate for runs, ( right or left), for passing it would be a little more complex.

Designate the pass play then say (short, intermediate, or deep) then (right, left, or middle).

I'm not asking for an actual Peyton Manning style play call.

2) If you really think you can call a better game than Linehan, give the first 20 plays your best guess. Put your reputation where your mouth is or quit second guessing the play calls. Because I guarantee you, Linehan spends more hours each week just studying the opponents film then you do at your place of employment. Then he has to devise a plan based on what he has seen on film.
Then 1 or 2 plays go bad and Joe Sixpack gets online and says Linehan sucks donkey balls and suggests that he could do better.

P.S. Don't misconstrue this as a defense of Linehan. I just think it's the lamest thing in the world for Joe Schmoe to claim he could do better. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry can second guess and No-one will ever know if they are right. So, put your reputation on the line, and first guess!

Prove you know better than Linehan by taking the challenge, or quit calling out his play calling. You have the chance right now to prove you know better than Linehan.

Your preaching to the quire here. I wanted to start the rebuild with defense. You can get way better way faster by building a defense first. Then the Offense is not required to score so much.

I disagree that our front (7) are really good.

Our front 4 are fantastic.

Our Linebackers are not all that good. Durant is almost as bad as Ernie Sims when it comes to playing himself out of the play. Levy stinks. And Tulluch is seriously lacking in run defense. I can't remember the dudes name, but, he used to be a MLB for us and everyone always bemoaned the fact that he would not tackle the RB until he was 5 yards down the field even though he lead the team in tackles every year. Well Tulluch is the same. With the wide 9 system, your LBers, had darn well be really good at plugging the running lanes. Tulluck, ( who came here from a wide 9 system ), is a major disappointment in this area.

That said, If we can Fix the DB's, we can get by with our current LBers. You only need to be really good in 2 of the 3 areas on offense and defense.

On Offense, we are really good at QB and WR. RB, not so much.
On Defense if we could be really good on D-Line and DB, we can mask our being average at LB.

Spielman?

Paris Lenon?

Gotta be paris lenon. It either him or Steven boyde.

edited because I went back and looked up the all time roster for the Lions. It was Earl Holmes. He played from 2003-2005 for us.

It sounded like you're talking about Paris Lenon

Last call for you to be a first guesser. Don't pass the chance by and then second guess later. That would make you a wind bag that is full of cow manure.