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| Curtis A. Clark. 19th October, 2005 - 9:33 pm
 Following the 21 to 20 defeat at the hands of the Carolina Panthers the Detroit Lions are questioning everything. Front to back, top to bottom, nothing is right, and it may start with the coaching staff not just the quarterback.
A locker-room blowup occurred soon after the Lions exited the field with their heads down. Middle Linebacker Earl ?Hitman? Holmes and cornerback Dre? Bly couldn?t take it any longer. The Lions defense had scored 14 points, forced 4 turnovers, and left the Lions with solid field position all day. The offense had mustered 2 field goals and a net loss of 4 yards in their last 10 plays. In fact after backup kick returner R.W. McQuarters left them only needing 20 yards or so to get into field goal range, the Lions offense promptly caved.
So why can the blame be directed towards the coaching staff? Because the Lions are a team divided. Not in the Baltimore Ravens big brother little brother relationship found between the stellar D and deplorable O. No, in a you cost us the game you suck sort of way. Finger pointing and the whole shebang.
Steve Mariucci is a players coach, but his leniency has cost the Lions dearly. In fact his passive ways are hurting them on and off the field. Brought in to save the franchise Mooch has lost control and left players feeling incapable. His conservative offense does not fit the fast young personnel. His media day deflections of all negativity has left players unaccountable for their on field performances. Joey Harrington, everyone favorite whipping boy, is a perfect example. While Jeff Garcia is now returning to the fold, the rift may be to large to mend between different sides of the ball.
The Lions also need to question motivation. The receivers look lax, almost sleepwalking their routes. The reason, no faith that the ball will be delivered. When they do pass, the quarterback is rushed, sacked, or inaccurate. The latter being the primary focus of every Lions fans from Iron Mountain to Kalamazoo. The receivers though are not blameless, they have become complacent in their motivation. Maybe they are just paycheck players until they can be convinced there will be change. Change that needs to happen before the window of talent closes.
Where can change come from? Well this season probably no where. Not unless, pardon my sailor tongue. Mariucci grows a pair. Aside from Mooch changing his ways Jeff Garica may be able to add a little offensive oomph, but his tank is way past low fuel. He is a band-aid at best on a cut that needs major stitches.
It?s sad really, the Lions stand alone in first place in the worse division in football and still the season feels a bust. They have a chance to make the playoffs with an under .500 record, but what would it matter as an all to familiar first round exit would be their prize.
Something dramatic needs to be done to this franchise, but with 2 more years on the coaches contract, 5 on GM Matt Millens, paychecks to be send out to offensive playmaker to young to cut, and a quarterback situation with no good alternative, the team is looking stuck in the mud. I can already hear the Barry retired to soon talk starting up again. Is it to late to bring back Scott Mitchell?
Curtis A. Clark
Detroit Sports Resident Writer for Realgm.com
Feedback can be send to Realgm_Detroit@hotmail.com
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