So, each week, I'll pick 10 good questions that I either didn't get to or would like to expand upon. I might also throw in a few here and there from my Twitter account, @ttwentyman.
Q. Will
A. That’s one of the big questions still remaining with this team.
The good thing about his six-week stay on the PUP list is that it will make the time since his last concussion creep over the one-year mark. I don’t know if that’s significant or not, but Schwartz said Best’s time on the PUP list will coincide with the range doctors wanted Best to be in before his return.
Here’s what Schwartz said:
“Well, that’s within the range of where the doctors wanted him to be. So it made for an easier decision; it’s not an easy decision but it made it an easier decision.
“We’ll just wait and see. Like I keep saying, he’s looked extremely good in all his physical stuff and as soon as we can get him back and get clearance we will.”
Q. If Delmas comes back and gets hurt again this season is it time to let him walk? From Corbin Dallas Page.
A. No.
Delmas is a rare talent in the back end because of his speed and quickness. His ability to change direction without losing speed is one of the best assets a safety can have. Plus he hits like a darn freight train.
But if he comes back and gets injured again and misses more time, I don’t know if you try and break the bank to keep him in free agency this year.
The franchise tag for the safety position this year was $6.2 million. Only the tight end position was cheaper ($5.4). Maybe that’s an option and a way for the Lions to cover themselves.
Q.
A. That’s a good observation, Mork. There’s a reason the Lions extended a restricted free agent tender worth $1.2 million to Hill this offseason.
What’s been even more impressive to me is that he missed some time during training camp with a back injury and those can be nagging injuries sometimes. He’s battled through it.
You look at the stat book and you see two tackles through two games and you might think he isn’t making an impact, but you’d be wrong. He’s had a hand in two of Suh’s 2.5 sacks this season and has been disruptive up the middle.
The stats don’t always tell the full story and that’s the case with Hill so far this season.
Q. One of the big differences I noticed Sunday was size. The 49ers are big at nearly every position. What can the Lions do? From Mike C.
A. That’s where the Lions are trying to go.
Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham told Detroitlions.com on Tuesday that the team made a concerted effort this offseason to try and get bigger on the back end of their defense with the drafting of cornerbacks
Offensive tackle
The Lions aren’t trying to get big just to get big, though. The problem they’ve had over the last two years, especially on defense, has been injuries. They want bigger and more physical players who have a better chance to stay healthy.
It won’t hurt against big teams like the 49ers, either.
Q. Tim, how do you feel about our O-line? It seemed that they did a decent, but not great job of protecting Stafford on Sunday against a good defense. From TScott
A. I actually thought they did a really good job protecting Stafford compared to last year vs. the 49ers.
In that loss last year, the 49ers sacked Stafford five times for minus-49 yards and hit him 11 times. 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith had two sacks and Justin Smith 1.5 sacks.
Last Sunday in San Francisco, Stafford was sacked twice for minus-16 yards and Aldon Smith and Justin Smith combined for one sack.
Stafford was forced out of the pocket a few times, but all in all had plenty of time to throw.
I thought the line did a pretty good job keeping Stafford upright.
Q. Any update on
A. There was never an issue about his talent. Lions coaches have always thought he was talented enough to play. The issue has been his health the last two seasons. He’s finally proving that he can stay healthy and that was a big hurdle for him during the offseason and into training camp.
As far as being inactive for the first two weeks, it’s a numbers game. The Lions have been able to keep seven offensive linemen active on game day because the starting five has done a great job over the last two years of staying healthy, or battling through injury. The five starters haven’t missed a game due to injury since 2009.
Fox’s day to be active and play is coming. Maybe not this year, but I think he’ll be a starter at right tackle at some point.
Q. Have the Lions forgotten that
A. You’re not the only fan who’s asked that this week.
The problem is that you don’t want to tell your quarterback to stop going through his progressions and start forcing the football.
The 49ers didn’t give the Lions a lot of opportunities to make plays down the field. Instead, they dared the Lions to run and complete the intermediate and underneath routes.
I thought when there were chances to go downfield when coverage dictated it, Stafford recognized it and made the right read on plays to
The Lions feel they have enough weapons that they don’t have to make bad reads or force a play to Johnson. I get why it’s not a bad idea just to do it once in awhile, I saw the catch in Dallas, but the 49ers have two of the best ball-skill safeties in the league in Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner, who had eight interceptions between them last season.
Other players should be able to step up and make plays instead of having to force ball to Johnson. That’s why they’ve spent second-round draft picks on Young and
Q. How big of a need is DE going into next year’s draft? It may be our biggest concern in 2013. From AF
A. I agree. I thought they would address it earlier than they did in this year’s draft (
Not to mention
Willie Young will also be a restricted free agent, though the Lions aren’t likely to let him get away.
That’s three of their top five defensive ends either entering free agency or at the tail-end of their career in Avril, Jackson and Vanden Bosch. Those three accounted for 23.5 sacks last season.
Depending on what happens in free agency with Avril and Jackson, it certainly could be a position of need this offseason.
Q. Who's going to emerge as our other playmaker to take at least some attention off Calvin? Somebody needs too. From Corey
A. I still think its Titus Young.
Let’s not forget that Young had a slow start last year after missing time in camp with a hamstring injury. He didn’t have a touchdown until Week 8 last year and didn’t catch a pass in Week 1.
Young missed some time in camp again this season with a sore knee and maybe he’s feeling some effects from that.
It certainly raises a few eyebrows that he’s had two catches and 25 yards – combined – over the first two weeks, but I suspect he’ll break out soon enough.
I still think Young, with his skill set, has the best chance to make plays opposite Calvin Johnson.
Q. Got time for a special teams question? What was the deal with the "onside kick" that they kicked all the way down to around the 30-yard line? Can you provide some insight about why they did that instead of the traditional? From Guest
A. I’ve seen it done that way before.
The 49ers were creeping up expecting a traditional onside kick and the Lions must have saw something on film that made them think they could fit the ball behind the hands team.
I thought it was a good idea but Lions kicker
The 49ers had no one back deep, so I thought it was a good call, they just needed Usain Bolt on that play.
