FanHouse

Oh, Adrian Arrington, Your Rookie Season Has Ended Much Too Soon

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-29T19:26:00 00:00

About a month ago, I used this space to pimp seventh-round receiver Adrian Arrington as The Next Big (or at least Very Surprising) Thing. And then Arrington's first preseason contest he suffered turf toe. Now, the Saints have ended his season by placing him on the IR.

In a perfect world, of course, Arrington plays, catches 100 balls for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns opposite of Marques Colston, and has a 13-catch performance as the Saints win the Super Bowl. In the real world, the one where bad stuff unfortunately happens, this is the best move to make with Arrington.

Don't get it twisted, this turf toe will not sideline Arrington for the whole year. But it will sideline him long enough to force the Saints into deciding whether to let him eat a roster spot or put him on the practice squad. With little experience, more established names ahead of him, risk of lingering injury, and little special teams ability, Arrington wouldn't have been worth a spot on the 53-man team.

But putting him on the practice squad would have exposed him to waivers, and his performance so far and potential would lead him to getting snapped up right quick. So putting Arrington on the IR will allow him to heal slowly while learning the game better, it will save a roster spot, and give him the ability to compete for a more prominent spot next year.

The fact that the Saints put him on IR means they intend to have Arrington for a next year. I think it's going to be a pretty good one.

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And You Thought You Knew Mario Manningham

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-29T18:43:00 00:00

Filed under: Giants, NFC East

Mario Manningham was a lightning rod of criticism leading up to the NFL draft, boasting a what's what of recent draft infamy. Sprinkle a little bit of Vince Young (Manningham was reported to have scored a six out of 50 on the Wonderlic), add a dash of Luis Castillo, Calvin Johnson, Gaines Adams, and Amobi Okoye (being outed as a nasty, evil marijuana smoker -- the evil! -- and then admitting so in a letter to teams), and top it off with some flair and originality (sending the letter only after originally lying with no success, and then admitting to two other failed tests).

To be honest, squeezing all of that into three months is impressive. Add in a reputation for attitude problems and it's easy to see why a guy with such a college resume, an arguable first-round talent, fell all the way into the third.

The Giants didn't have to draft Manningham. They've got cemented starters and talented depth. But they saw Manningham's play in college and took a chance. And it looks to be working so far.

The former Wolverine missed time in training camp because of a quad injury, but made his preseason debut late in the Giants' third game and played again in last night's 19-14 victory over New England, and he's shown glimpses of the on-field ability that he showed in college. Better yet, he's integrated into the locker room seamlessly.

Manningham won't be much more than a fourth or fifth option in the Giants' offense, but he's going to make some plays, and establish himself as a player to watch.

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Jets Fan Blends Entrepreneurialism With Creativity. Jets Not Impressed.

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-29T12:43:00 00:00

Filed under: Jets, AFC East, NFL Fans

It should come as no surprise that this man is a sports marketer:

The team said the sports marketer is not permitted to try to cover his two lower-level loge seats in Section 113 with corporate or personal logos. Freeman and his son also would wear merchandise bearing the sponsor's logo at all games.

Howard Freeman is a Jets season ticket holder who will have to pay $30,000 for the right to purchase season tickets for the seats he has now. So he, in his own words, looked for a solution using "other people's money." Which are always the best kinds of solutions, if you ask me.

So can the Jets deny this sponorship? The FanHouse team of ~~legal experts~~ people smarter than me agrees that any permanent alteration of the seat is not kosher. But wearing a sponsor's logo is (after all, isn't that all we do anyway? We're not so much people as walking billboards for our favorite companies -- my Members Only jacket agrees -- and PAY THEM for the honor). Also within Freeman's rights, depending on the specific language in the PSL contract, is simply draping the seat in temporary advertising, like, say, a towel.

If I were running an apparel company in direct competition with Reebok, who owns the rights to all NFL garb, I'd get Mr. Freeman on the horn, if for nothing else than to provide a gentle needling to The Man. But would it work? Again, with all of the other logos affixed to bodies in that stadium, will Freeman's stand out? Or become another unnoticed contributor in the ad fatigue that overkill has set in our society?

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Saints Fans Get Shock-Blocked Yet Again

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-29T11:40:00 00:00

Filed under: Saints, NFC South

Four preseason games have come and gone and, despite repeating that Jeremy Shockey is sufficiently healthy from the broken fibula that caused ~~him to miss~~ the Giants' Super Bowl run, he has yet to play. Leading up to the last two games, Sean Payton vowed Shockey would play. He was a late scratch in each contest. Including last night's 14-10 loss to the Dolphins.

The difference between the team's proclamations and actions are a bit puzzling. I doubt Payton was trying to play cat-and-mouse with the Saints' opponents, given that these games are meaningless, so why say anything at all? The league doesn't require injury information in the preseason, so Payton could have simply deferred questioning with a "game-time decision."

So it's one of two things, I think. Either Shockey is fine, Payton knew he was going to rest him for the entire preseason, and is really playing that cat-and-mouse game with the division-rival and season-opening-opponent Buccaneers. Or Payton has convinced himself that Shockey was (or would be) good enough to play in these games, and reality has mandated otherwise, indicating Shockey's injury is more troublesome than indicated.

I think it's the former. After a trouncing by the Colts in Week 1 last year set in motion a series of negative events, Payton knows how important a quick start to the season is, and a win over the division champions would be a quick confidence boost to get 2008 off on the right foot. Keeping the new playmaker under wraps keeps the Bucs off-guard, and proves that Payton has confidence in his tight end. And if it's really the latter? Oy.

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Saints Have Plan in Place for Gustav

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-27T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Saints, NFC South

Three years ago, despite advanced warnings, Hurricane Katrina caught the Saints, New Orleans, and our government off guard. If that weren't bad enough, all three of those entities responded embarrassingly.

But if Gustav, the ~~feisty Euro metrosexual~~ tropical storm which has devastated Haiti (see right) and is currently heading towards the Gulf Coast, decides to touch down and wreak havoc on New Orleans again, the Saints will already be prepared.

"What we do is really predicated on when it's supposed to arrive, and the good news with a hurricane is there's advance warning," Payton said. "So we'll have a plan; it's currently in place. And having gone through this once before, we'll be thoroughly prepared."

Gustav was recently downgraded from a hurricane. And considering the margin of error in predicting storm patterns, Louisiana might not get anything more than a swift thunderstorm. Still, it's good to know that the Saints have thought ahead this time, and are prepared for any contingency plans that need to be implemented. Said contingency plans probably don't involve working out in a parking lot in San Antonio, and so that's already a step up.

That being said, as Sean Payton notes, the first concern in the Gulf Coast when news of a potential hurricane comes shouldn't be the football team. If Gustav proves even half as troublesome as Katrina, New Orleans residents will probably wish their leadership was as on-point as the Saints'. For that, we turn to Washington, and are unfortunately and inevitably met with a sea of disinterested faces.

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FanHouse NFL Season Preview: New York Jets - B-B-B-Bretty and the Jets

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-25T13:15:00 00:00

Filed under: Jets, AFC East

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: Chad Pennington enters 2008 trying to prove yet again that he -- wait, what? Who? Really? Didn't he retire? Oh. I see. It doesn't seem like Brett Favre wants to play in New York this year, he's basically said so much in the most diplomatic way possible, which means this is the year where Favre stops having fun. This is the year he stops looking like a kid again, to support the cliche. And it can be argued that that magic has perpetuated itself, and has been the reason Favre is still considered -- rightfully or not -- one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Without it, I can imagine 2008 being a disaster for Favre -- bad play and missed games. And then the New York media jumps in and the misery just compounds. That's how I see 2008 rolling. Oh, plus, they don't have a decent backup quarterback. Heat Index: 6

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FanHouse Raises a Fist in Solidarity with Jets and Giants Protesters

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-25T11:50:00 00:00

Filed under: Jets, Giants, NFL Fans, NFL Video

I ventured five miles east on Rt. 3 on Saturday afternoon to check out the PSL protest being held at Giants Stadium before its two tenants met in the preseason. Perhaps naive, perhaps hopeful that our society is still capable of making change the old fashioned way, I was expecting hundreds of people with conviction. I was expecting marches. Police in riot gear. Bra burning (OK, I was just hoping on that one). I've got quite the imagination.

News reports said the protest had about 50 participants. I'd say, in my two or so hours there, it was closer to 25, and they were less riotous than perturbed. My dreams of capturing a real, live Event were dashed. Instead I turned to a new experiment -- whether or not I could make the whole thing seem much more eventful with the right soundtrack. And thus, I present, FanHouse's trip to the PSL protest at Giants Stadium:

So, in summary: there are no need for PSLs to make back the money the stadium will cost, and corporate fans suck. In truth, there were quite a bit of interesting facts bandied about. And it's a shame more people didn't show -- in fact, many of the people I talked to while subsequently tailgating were aware of the protest and in agreement with it, just too passive to attend and strengthen its message. Sam Cooke would be disappointed, because with that attitude, a change ain't never gonna come.

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A Short Retirement for Michael Strahan?

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-24T20:18:00 00:00

Filed under: Giants, NFC East

As I mentioned earlier, the Giants have far more questions than answers to the season-ending injury to Osi Umenyiora. One of those questions is whether or not the Giants will call Michael Strahan and lure him out of retirement.

If Strahan wants to come back, and I think he would for the right money seeing as how he would have taken $8 million to return this season, he'll probably be asking for something similar to the $12 million Brett Favre is getting from the Jets. Luckily, the Giants have enough cap room to afford that type of hit. But then there's the question of how quickly Strahan could be ready to play with meaningful games coming up quickly.

But that's assuming he wants to play. And that's assuming the Giants want him to play. Though it seems like a no-brainer, since Strahan will eventually get into shape and provide the talent and experience of an All Pro, there has been no contact between the two sides. Yet.

"I haven't heard from anybody on 92. As far as I'm concerned, he's working for Fox," said Agnone, who also represents Umenyiora. "If something comes into play, we'll talk about it. Until that point, anything else is speculation."

Tom Coughlin concurs on the matter. That being said, I have a hard time believing the Giants' decision makers wake up tomorrow morning, pinch themselves to make sure it wasn't just a bad dream, look at what their options are and decide calling Strahan and offering him whatever he wants isn't the only viable move to make. And I'd be surprised if Strahan doesn't take the offer. Whether Strahan could match Umenyiora's production is unknown, but bringing back the legend would certainly be better from a personnel and marketing standpoint than going into the season with what they have now.

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Jeremy Shockey Still M.I.A., Defense Finally Appears for the Saints

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-24T19:41:00 00:00

Filed under: Saints, NFC South

Saints fans were finally going to get their first glimpse of Jeremy Shockey in black-and-gold game action. Sean Payton even went as far as to say everyone would like what they saw of Shockey. What we wound up seeing was more of the usual -- Shockey on the sidelines in street clothes -- as Payton decided to keep him out after all.

But the coach insists that Shockey hasn't suffered any setbacks, simply that it was a last-minute decision change and simply a precautionary measure. And he insists that Shockey will get some time in the team's final preseason game on Thursday. If Shockey misses Thursday, or clearly looks rusty, it wouldn't surprise me to have Payton give the season-opening spot to Mark Campbell, and work Shockey in over the first couple of games.

What was a welcome sight on the field, however, was the reemergence of the defense, which rebounded after a disaster against the Texans. Even though the Bengals were missing Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Saints did a great job of shutting down the Bengals' attack. Most pleasing is that Mike McKenzie, making his first appearance of the preseason, played great and dissuaded worries about his recovery from a torn ACL.

If the team is to seriously push for a playoff spot this year, they'll need Shockey to eventually show up, and the defense to keep it up.

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Osi Done for the Year, Cries Against Preseason Games Flood From New York

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-24T19:14:00 00:00

Filed under: Giants, NFC East

Well, I guess it's time to give the Giants a final preseason heat index, huh?

This is the worst possible news for the Giants and their fans, and further ammunition for those who bemoan the abundance of preseason games, but here it is: Osi Umenyiora is done for the year. The freak injury he suffered while planting is a torn lateral meniscus, and Osi will go under the knife on Tuesday.

This is, pretty obviously, a crippling blow to the Giants and their defense, and the type of injury that can seriously disrupt their chances of defending the Lombardi. Umenyiora is the defense's leader and arguably the most talented player on the team. He was supposed to assume the void left by Michael Strahan, but whoever replaces him will be a stitch attempting to fix a tear.

At this point, there are more questions than answers, by a lot. But the one certainty is that the Giants are far worse off today than they were yesterday.

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Detroit Lions Fans Give Shaun Rogers the Special Matt Millen Treatment

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-24T13:41:00 00:00

Filed under: Lions, NFC North

When you're overflowing with anger, bitterness, and sorrow, you need a big target to direct it at, and Shaun Rogers is the literal and figurative target Lions fans crave. He represents everything that's doomed the Lions for however long the Lions have been doomed. He represents the failings of the Matt Millen era. And he now looks like he's going to deliver on his promise for somebody else after all these years. Wonderful.

Well, Lions fans let Rogers know how they felt about him every time his name was called in last night's 26-6 victory over Rogers' Browns. The Free Press' website even has a nifty headline -- Just like old times for Ex-Lions Shaun Rogers ... boos and a loss -- poking fun at the big guy.

Rogers was dominant, collecting five key tackles in one half of action. But it was his old team, the Lions, that looked like the team his current squad is supposed to be. While still facing some struggles in the running game, the Lions excelled on defense and through the air.

Losing Rogers and his immense, if mostly untapped, potential was the best thing for the Lions. The team now appears to have the right path, preseason or not, and it's no small coincidence that it finally appears to have happened in the post-Rogers era. Still, that won't temper the Lions' fans vitriol, and I love them for that.

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FanHouse NFL Season Preview: New York Giants - The Title Defense Begins

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-24T12:57:00 00:00

Filed under: Giants, NFC East

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: Who would have thought a year ago that the perception of Eli Manning would have changed so drastically? That's what happens when you win a Super Bowl. But can you really expect Manning to be as precise as he was during that improbable championship run? Either the light finally went on for Manning, or he simply found a zone. Or a combination of the two. Last year was a step forward, for sure, but I expect Eli Manning v.2008 to resemble something in between the lows and highs of the two Eli Mannings circa 2007. Still, that's good enough to win games. What isn't good enough to win games is David Carr, the team's new backup, so Manning better stay upright for all 16. Heat Index: 7

Running back: The Giants found out exactly how critical depth at running back is, and they also found out that they luckily have it. Great contributions came from Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Derrick Ward, and Reuben Droughns. Danny Ware will likely take Droughns' place this year, but the team is still set in the backfield. Jacobs' combination of speed and power is pretty unstoppable, and while punishing backs don't typically have long shelf lives, Jacobs is in his prime now if he stays healthy this year. Heat Index: 8

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Bad Luck Sidelines Drew Stanton's Development ... Yet Again

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-22T14:40:00 00:00

Filed under: Lions, NFC North

Maybe some spirit out there in the ether just does not want Drew Stanton to be a starting NFL quarterback. Saddled with bad luck in his rookie year, luck which came in pairs -- a knee injury that drove him to the IR and the unfortunate situation of being stuck with Mike Martz as a coach -- Stanton came into this offseason pretty much as a rookie.

And he looked good, too, so good that it was assumed he'd win the job of backing up Jon Kitna, putting him one sack (of the 70 that will surely come) or one interception (of the 20 that will surely come) away from stepping on to the field. But his progress is taking another hit as he'll be sidelined for a month after spraining his right thumb on a teammate's shoulder.

With recovery and re-acclimation, it's tough to imagine Stanton taking over as primary clipboard holder until early October, meaning it looks like he'll have to wait until 2009 -- unless something drastic happens -- to be The Man. There's a good chance that would've been the case anyway, but Stanton is missing a vital point of the season for a player in his position, leaving us still to wonder what could've been.

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FanHouse NFL Season Preview: New Orleans Saints - Going for Broke

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-22T14:11:00 00:00

Filed under: Saints, NFC South

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: Drew Brees is, to me, the third best quarterback in the league. And that's not just because I have a giant man-crush on him. Say what you will about your Tony Romos and Carson Palmers, but I'd take Brees over those two, especially as he appears to be in the prime of his career. All he's done since arriving in New Orleans is put up gaudy numbers through the air, but he plays a heady game based on quick (and good) decisions. He's also a good guy off the field and the unquestioned leader of the team. Mark Brunell was brought in as Brees' backup while project Tyler Palko continues to develop, and while you don't want to see the old lefty play at all, his arm looks good enough in camp to sustain for a couple of weeks if need be. Anything more than that, though, and the Saints are in trouble. Heat Index: 9

Running Back: Running back committees are a bitch for fantasy owners, but none have encountered a mess like this, where four backs are going to get a fair share of touches. Exactly how the carries shake out depends on Deuce McAllister's health; ditto for the productivity of the group. All four backs -- McAllister, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, and Aaron Stecker -- are talented, but Deuce is the only pounder that can keep the running game glued together. If he's in the lineup, expect Bush to flourish, with Thomas making a solid impact as well. If he's not, Thomas takes on a larger role and, though he rolled up Chicago for over 200 yards from scrimmage in Week 17 last year, it remains to be seen whether he can be a full-time NFL back. Luckily, Deuce has looked healthy so far. Heat Index: 7

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Chad Pennington: Laveranues Coles is "an Extremely Loyal Guy"

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-21T13:10:00 00:00

Filed under: Dolphins, Jets, AFC East

Though Brett Favre hasn't felt shy about speaking on his behalf, we still don't know exactly what Laveranues Coles thinks about the team's decision to release Chad Pennington. That's because Coles hasn't said anything. And in the process, a lot of things have been said about him and his motivations.

But Pennington says that Coles' refusal to speak is not born out of anger or petulance, that he's simply misunderstood.

"He's an extremely loyal guy. That's what has made him great in the league, and it's taken him a long way in life.

... But once the games start and the whistle blows, he'll play hard for the Jets. I don't think anybody can ever question that."
...
"[Coles' silent treatment] is not something that I would make too big a deal of."

By all accounts the only people Coles isn't speaking to is the media (despite reports that he briefly left the team's hotel in Cleveland a couple of weeks ago in anger). And Pennington's right -- Coles will not let his play diminish because his feelings are hurt.

Though you have to wonder if he wishes he didn't sign a new deal earlier this offseason which precludes him from trying to force his way to Miami.

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Fight the Power: Giants, Jets Fans Rage Against The PSL Machine

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-21T12:28:00 00:00

Filed under: Jets, Giants, NFL Fans

Once the assorted Giants and Jets fans enter the Stadium on Saturday night for the two teams' preseason game, their rooting interests will be fractured in two. Outside the stadium before the game, however, blue and green will harmoniously blend into one distinct shade of rebellion.

Steve Kern, a Jets season ticket holder, has organized a pre-game protest rally at one of the stadium's entrances for fans of both teams to bemoan the personal seat licenses that are being foisted upon them when the new stadium for both clubs opens in a couple of years.

"What bothers me is that you aren't really getting perks beyond what you currently get as a season-ticket holder," said Kern, 44, who goes to each Jets home game with one of his three sons. So Kern has proposed alternatives, including limiting PSLs only to the most expensive seats; a five-year freeze on season ticket prices, and allowing small coolers to be brought into the stadium.

All great ideas, all sure to be ignored. The teams don't care what what these dissenters think, because they can just dip into their well of waitlisted season ticket applicants and find people to pay the personal seat license fee, despite the fact that they're absurdly priced and exist without any benefit to the holder.

Still, in this day and age the only time people stray from passivity is when they're speaking their mind through their fingertips. So I applaud Kern for his efforts. It may or may not make a difference, but Kern and co. will have made some noise. And in the end, that's victory enough.

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The World is Raving About Domenik Hixon

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-19T19:55:00 00:00

Filed under: Giants, NFC East

It's the preseason, which means it's the time when players unknown to everybody except us nerds do well against other unknown players who might or might not have the talent to play in the NFL and everybody gets all excited, thinking that their team really did find a gem in that running back sitting sixth on the depth chart because he averaged 4.5 yards per carry in the fourth quarter of a preseason blowout.

But Domenik Hixon is different. His incredible performance in front of a national audience last night -- four catches, 63 yards, two touchdowns, and an 82-yard touchdown on a free kick return -- came in the first quarter against a good amount of Browns starters.

Hixon, who also ran a kick for a touchdown in last season's Week 17 game against the Patriots, was in the opportunity to make such plays because the Giants have four wideouts ahead of him injured.

An impressive, entertaining performance, to be sure. But overzealous fans should still curb their enthusiasm. Hixon won't be usurping Plaxico. But he has earned himself more looks from Eli Manning this season, which is all you can ask for when you're near the bottom of the depth chart.

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Jason David Understands Being Booed, Drew Brees is Miffed

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-19T19:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Saints, NFC South

After being humiliated (again) in the Saints' contest against the Texans last weekend, Jason David was at least man enough to stand up and answer questions about it.

"Looking at it from a fans point of view, I'd probably boo myself, too," David said. "The fans have a high expectation, and so do I and the coaching staff. "This is the NFL. It's part of the game. There's no one to blame but myself. I'm the only who can really stop the boos."

Oh, that's just fantastic. At least, it would be if we hadn't been down this road before. Repeating the "I've got to get better" defense is hollow unless you eventually, you know, get better. And David has not. Meanwhile, Drew Brees thinks the booing is disgraceful.

"C'mon people. We haven't even started playing games that count yet. It's extremely unfair. We're talking about the first quarter of our first preseason game at home. The bottom line is we all need to improve -- offense, defense and special teams. We shouldn't be hearing boos, especially at this time. We should be hearing encouragement."

Sorry, but this is the only time I'll ever disagree with Brees, though I understand that he has to say that. While I do believe fans are too fickle most of the time, this isn't just the first quarter of their first preseason game at home. The fans were booing the futility of a player who lost games last year, not a team working off rust. I've previously advocated keeping him, but David is being outplayed by every other corner on the roster. It's a numbers game, and his might be up.

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Enough Favre, Jets Fans Debate His Backups

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-18T18:21:00 00:00

Filed under: Jets, AFC East

The good vibes can only last in the New York/New Jersey media markets for so long before it's time to bicker and complain -- we're fickle like that. So after Brett Favre threw a touchdown in his first quarter of his debut with the Jets, it was only a matter of time before fans somewhat moved on.

In this case, they're arguing about who should take over if/when the marathon of games Favre has played over the years catch up to his 38-year-old body and he inevitably misses one or more.

The natural answer would be Kellen Clemens, the second-round pick from 2006. But Clemens looked bad last season as a starter and has been outplayed so far this training camp and preseason by Brett Ratliff. On Saturday night, Clemens went 5-for-12 for 63 yards, and Ratliff went 13-for-19 for for 148 yards, leading the team on a drive that ended with a field goal.

But fans looking at Ratliff as the future are being shortsighted. Not to say Clemens is the better quarterback, simply that it's too early to tell. Ratliff was playing against the bottom of the barrel. Clemens has talent, it just needs to be developed. It's myopic to forget that last year fans were begging for him as they are for Ratliff now. Last season was not a good barometer nor opportunity to develop his skills. Those wishing for Clemens to be exiled might be calling for the same to happen to Ratliff a year from now.

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The Ghost of Mike Martz Lingers

Tom Mantzouranis — 2008-08-18T16:37:00 00:00

Filed under: Lions, NFC North

The Lions are supposed to dedicate this season to the halfbacks, the residuals of Mike Martz's pass-wacky offense. The goal is that people will hear the word "runs" so much during Lions game broadcasts that they'd think they were watching a Pepto Bismol commercial.

That improvement has yet to fully manifest itself, although the team did hand it off 29 times (Drew Stanton added two carries). But one thing is indisputable -- meaningless or not, the Lions' passing offense has looked good.

Through two games Jon Kitna has a perfect quarterback rating. You might be able to peg that on the vanilla scheming of exhibition season, but Calvin Johnson's first-quarter catch last night is remarkable by any standards. He appears to build on last season and realize his promise. Even Stanton looked good in mop-up action, and Dan Orlovsky didn't screw anything up. High five.

About that running game, though. Kevin Smith started and looked impressive, but the other two tailbacks slated to get carries this season, Tatum Bell and Brian Calhoun, combined for 21 yards on 12 carries.

The team will figure out the running game -- the zone blocking scheme is one predicated on backs and linemen coordinating their timing to a tee, something that will come with. Until then, at least they know they can rely on the teachings of an old friend to score points.

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