原创 Lions hot topics

Lions hot topics
No throwbacks: The Lions wore their regular home uniforms instead of their throwbacks for Thanksgiving. After tweaking their logo and overall look, they weren't going to come out for their only game on national television with plain helmets, jerseys and pants. But that's a shame. Don't they keep talking about the importance of tradition?

Daunte's inferno: Daunte Culpepper is a proud man. But he has to be more professional than he was Thursday, sulking on the bench before the game because the Lions decided to start Matthew Stafford.Ed Hardy The last time Culpepper played, it was against the Packers -- and it was a disaster. Culpepper was once one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, but he isn't anymore, and if he wants to have a job here or elsewhere next year, he can't act like that.

Pettigrew down: The most important part of this season is the development of the Lions' young players. So it was a major blow when the Lions lost tight end Brandon Pettigrew to a left knee injury that looks serious. Nfl jerseysPettigrew, the No. 20 overall pick in the draft, was coming off perhaps his best game and starting to hit his stride. It would be a bitter setback if he misses significant time.

NFL defensive players don't see this every day. Come to think of it, most go an entire professional career without ever seeing an option play.In a league that occasionally dons throwback jerseys, this is a throwback play. UGG SandalsThe option used to be a staple in high school ball but now has been phased out by the spread. When it comes to the true option play, where the quarterback runs to the perimeter and then either keeps the ball or pitches it to a trailing back, few college teams still use it."If you haven't practiced against it, then you're going to run into trouble," Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck said.

Credit Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger for thinking outside the box. Since Young has returned as quarterback, Heimerdinger has searched for ways to counter opposing schemes that crowd the line of scrimmage with eight defenders.air jordans shoes The option gives him an option.The Titans ran it twice against Buffalo, with Young pitching to Chris Johnson for big gains. Against Houston, Young had a memorable option keeper that set up a touchdown.

Heimerdinger is quick to point out that he does not bring an extensive background in option football to the huddle. He jokes that he worked under option practitioner Ken Hatfield at Air Force in 1981 "coaching the one wide receiver we had."Going old-school like this is decidedly against the grain in the NFL. There is a certain level of arrogance in pro football. With no recruiting and no booster club speeches, these coaches work on football 24/7.

They may not have invented the game, but they seem convinced they're in the process of perfecting it.rolex replicaThis rubs some people the wrong way. Consider this keeper quote from Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach:"The notion the NFL discovered America first is ridiculous."Heimerdinger concurs but points out that some of the offensive staples of college football are rendered null and void by the speed of NFL defensive linemen and linebackers. The spread that Tim Tebow runs at Florida would take it on the chinstrap in the NFL.

"Tebow is special but I don't think you want to do that with your quarterback if you're paying him millions," Heimerdinger said. "You can't have him taking such a beating.Discount UGG Boots"Instead of paying one guy $12 million, you'd have to sign three quarterbacks and pay them each $4 million. That might get you through a season."As for the Titans, this wrinkle is yet another way to make use of Young's mobility instead of trying to turn him into a classic pocket passer.

"It's fun," Young said.Heimerdinger doesn't necessarily want Young running 11 times, like he did against Houston. He'd like to cut that number in half to limit exposure to seek-and-destroy linebackers.In a pinch, though, Heimerdinger may dust off a golden oldie.