If you were Dom Capers,...
 

would you focus on shutting down the Lions Pass or Run game to make them a 1 dimentional team? In other words, would you make KJ/Pinner beat you or Harrington/RW/Streets/Hakim beat you?

Hmmmm I'd tell my secondary to do what they are SUPPOSED to do ,,,and my D-Line to do what we pay them to do !!! But since i didnt see much of a running game when yall played the bears i'd focus on your WR until you can prove that your guys can get it done on the ground. Which i believe they can but it'll take them a little time !!!!! Who would u focus on Davis and Hollings OOOORRRRR Johnnson/Bradford and Gaffney ???

I'd focus on the passing game. We have a pretty good run defense already. No disrespect to the Lion's RBs, but they are no LT. Our pass defense looked shaky on Sunday, and I feel that's what he'll focus the practices on. Harrington isn't as athletic as Carr so there isn't as much of a worry of him creating something with his legs. Jones is a rookie, and he'll have his share of rookie mistakes. I believe most Lions fans have said that there OLine Pass blocks better than they Run block. That should mean open lanes for our LBs to run through and catch the back in the backfield or for short gains.

You'd be real nervous because all of a sudden your fans went from giving you
unqualified support to mold and build an expansion team to booing you in the
opening game of your third season. You'd been thinking the way things might go
in the first couple months of the season: David Carr might look like a ******
as* hippy from CA instead of clean cut AGGY boy who got his hair cut because
he just won his second straight game in Detroit.

I'd say that if any of those combinations beats the Texans, then it's gonna be a long year. Texans 23-13. No way they lose to the Lions.

shut down the passing game, Kevin Jones doesnt strike fear into me...yet

Concentrate on the passing game. Their passing game is more of a threat than their running game, and we have players in our secondary that can handle their WR's. I am not worried about their running game.

Considering DD is the key to ball control, and the Lions secondary is more seasoned, I would probably try to make Carr and the WR's beat us. I would probably put Bryant on Bradford, have Lehman spy DD, and let Bly's replacement play AJ and make AJ make all the plays, and hope for no BIG plays.

You don't research any teams but the Texans do you?

You'd guys be the first to try the: let Carr and AJ beat us philosophy. Everybody we play focuses on the WRs because AJ and Bradford can break your back with one play. DD isnt a threat to hit a 60 yard TD run so teams focus all their attention to the WRs and will be willing to give up 3-4 yards a rush for DD and stop the pass at all cost.

Yeah, I had a feeling that the passing game was the aspect ya'll (trying to get into the Texas thang) would say. It's a unique situation. Is it going to be 50% Joey that can't convert a 3rd down, or is it going to the Joey that comes out and throws for 300 yds and 2-3 TD's. His inconsistency makes him the target to beat you. I agree with all of you. But what happens if KJ/Pinner come out against last years 31st (32nd?) ranked run D and light it up. Lions are still so inexperienced that nobaody knows what team is going to show up.

The run defense was 31st because Payne and Walker were on the IR and we didnt have Robaire Smith. Our starting d-line last year, for most of the season, was Deloach, Iaone/Sears, and Martin with Iaone/Sears as the top backup...

That would be fine if Texans only wanted to run up the middle, Lions can stop that, but the Lions DE's are not that good. That is where Jones got all his yards last week. Those off tackle plays that are 3-4 yds against most teams could be 10-20 yd plays against the Lions. If you force the Texans to throw, there is a better chance for TO's. I'm not saying this is what the Lions will do, and there is a reason I'm not a NFL coach, but that is what I would do.

There is also a better chance that AJ has a 150 yards, 3 TD game if you give him single coverage...

Fiddy is right on with this one. I'd add that if you took a look at our stats from 2002 against the run you'd see a very different scenario, and that's due in large part to Payne and Walker being in there along with Deloach (who's now a backup). The LB front was essientially the same in 2002 as it is in 2004 just minus Babin. We had Payne for the Miami game to start 2003, and he went out with an ACL in the New Orleans game (our 2nd game). When we say we'd concentrate more on the pass than the run it's not a knock on KJ's talent, but we're just more confident of the ability of our run D.

Hope isn't always a great strategy for a NFL game. AJ is the best WR of the bunch, and Bradford won't beat you up for 10 receptions. He might have one or two big pass plays on a good day, but he's not the guy you look to for a 3rd and long. AJ has the capability of shedding DBs and turning a 6 yard pass into a 60 yd TD. Just look at the game against Buffalo last season. Buffalo had two very good corners in Winfield and Clements, but AJ caught a pass then shed 3 Bill's defender as he ran for a long TD. It would be a mistake to put anything but your best cover corner on AJ. Plus Bryant has the advantage of having previously played against AJ whereas the other Lion's CBs have not.

I guess I should have included: roll the safety over the Top of AJ so the CB isn't on an island and to stop the big play.

AJ can make a big play out ofa short pass as well as a long one. Double coverage on AJ is never a bad idea, but the Bills had a good safety in Milloy. He put up 122 yds against Buffalo, and then he put up 108 yds against Tennesse who have a pretty good set of safeties too, and a couple of good CBs. Then 97 yds against Bryant & Jacksonville. The Lions would be in trouble if they don't gameplan for AJ.

Followed the next game against Jax by 1 catch for 11 yards, but I see your point

I guess we'll find out tomorrow

That was probably one of the games Ragone Started at QB, because both Carr and Banks were injured.