Detroit Lions: Beer Thinker's Thoughts for 2011 Season: BRING IT!

Here we go.

On the eve of the 2011 NFL Season, there are many thoughts running through the Beer Thinker's head.

Will Matthew Stafford live up to all the hype we Lions fans have generated?  We all know the story since young Mr. Stafford has joined the Lions.  He has played in only 13 games over the last two years, throwing for just over 2,800 yards and 19 touchdowns.

But in those games, he has shown flashes of brilliance and toughness.  He built a reputation of toughness and grit in 2009 playing the Cleveland Browns in Ford Field.  Throwing for 422 yards and five touchdowns, Stafford brought back the dim memories of the last great quarterback the Detroit Lions had, Bobby Layne.

Stafford had suffered an injury to his left shoulder and was being administered to on the sidelines when the Browns inexplicably called a timeout, which allowed Stafford to get back into the game.

On an untimed play, due to a pass interference call on Brown's safety Hank Poteat, Stafford found fellow rookie Brandon Pettigrew to tie the game and the Lions won it on Jason Hanson's extra point.

The game reminded me of what they used to say about Bobby Layne:  He never lost a game, he just ran out of time to win it.

Stafford has looked very sharp in the preseason, as have all of the Lions.  They went 4-0 and had a very impressive first half against the New England Patriots first team.  Stafford went 12 of 14 for 200 yards and two touchdowns.  And most importantly, no interceptions.

Another question revolves around the secondary.  Will they be able to perform well enough to win?

I think over the last three to five years, too much as been made around lock-down cornerbacks.  I know that I was in the corner to draft Patrick Peterson as well as go after Nnamdi Asomugha.  However, the moves that Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz has made to focus on the Detroit Lions makes me glad they didn't go that route. 

Best way to make a quarterback ineffective isn't to defend the pass, it's to force him to make poor decisions.  Lions have made it a point the key to victories is to get after opposing quarterbacks.

The Lions current starters, Chris Houston and Eric Wright, may not make opposing offensive coordinators tremble but they are competent enough to get the job done.

Chris Houston is entering his fifth year.  His career stats show that he's had only four interceptions but he has defended over 46 passes.

Eric Wright, also entering his fifth year, has nine interceptions with 47 passes defended. 

The idea here isn't to intercept everything thrown your way, it's to stop the play.  The aforementioned Nnamdi Asomugha is going into his eight year with 11 interceptions and 57 passes defended. 

Darrelle Revis, considered the top cornerback in the league, goes into his fifth year with 14 interceptions and 74 passes defended.  And here I thought no team would throw his way.

My consensus?  We're going to be fine in the secondary.  Along with Houston and Wright, there is the hard-hitting and opportunistic Louis Delmas and promising Amari Spievey.  The secondary will turn out to exceed people's expectations.

Where the Lions will shine will be the defensive line.  Ndamukong Suh, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams and Cliff Avril are the starters.  Coming off the bench are Sammy Hill, Lawrence Jackson and Andre Fluellen.  And once Nick Fairley heals up from his foot injury, the depth of the front four is very, very deep.

There are some unanswered questions regarding this squad, but then, every team has some issues to deal with.

But here's the thing:  The Detroit Lions are not going to be making any excuses.  Nor will they be intimidated by ANY team.

To all those naysayers, doubters and other NFL teams I have only this to say to:  Bring it, we're waiting for ya!