Amsterdam Lions (7-3)
A year of streaks so far for the Lions: they opened the season with 4 consecutive wins, then lost 3 games in a row, and since then have won 3 more to remain in playoff contention.
They are 1 of only 2 teams to average more yards rushing than passing which, in their case, speaks to their great weakness: as Cam Newton goes, so go the Lions.
They are very strong defensively, one of the best in the league against the pass and no worse than average against the run.
#Bottom Line
Draft Needs. It has to be on offense. The courageous move would be at QB, but WR, LB would be more likely.
Week Four Draftee Update: Gino Cappeletti, caught in the numbers game, especially now that Megatron is back, but has managed a half-dozen catches.
#QB
The Cam Newton conundrum continues. Amsterdam is performing well above expectations but Newton continues to be extraordinarily average, throwing more interceptions (8) than TDs (7). He does add 300 yards rushing which helps quite a bit.
Matthew Stafford continues to linger in the wings, and also continues to underwhelm magnificently when given opportunities.
#RB
The running game is actually less dominant than last year: while Barry Sanders continues to shine with just over 853 yards through 10 games, Billy Sims has struggled in Year II, barely averaging over 3 yards per carry.
#WR & TE
Calvin Johnson missed over 4 games through injury, even so, he leads the team in receiving yards, which just about sums up the Lions’ issues in the passing game. They may have found another long threat in Harry Ebding, whose role in the offense has been on the rise. Steve Smith leads the team in receptions, and Miles Austin has been solid as a reserve.
Greg Olsen is second on the team in catches, and has yet to drop a ball, establishing himself as a top-tier TE in the league.
#OL
Like in Year I, the key here is health: the group of Lomas Brown, Jimbo Covert, Ryan Kalil, Andrew Norwell, and Larry Warford have been magnificent. However, that quintet has missed an average of 2 games each. Levi Brown and Travelle Wharton have been solid in reserve.
#DL
Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker have been excellent, combining for over 90 tackles and 7 sacks, but the middle of the line has merely been solid, with Alex Karras and Ndamukong Suh only managing 1 sack each.
#LB
Tackling machine Luke Kuechly continues to hold down the middle of the defense, and Paul Naumoff and Joe Schmidt have been solid. Kevin Reddick has struggled as the primary LB reserve, with Paul Worrilow likely to see more time as the year goes on.
#DB
Cornerback is not the problem: Jack Christiansen and Night Train Lane are excellent, with Christiansen among the best in the league, and Josh Norman has been more than adequate in reserve. Safety, however, is another story where Glover Quin has been the best of a weak bunch. Yale Lary missed 6 games, and his return should help, but neither James Ihedigbo nor Roman Harper have shown enough.
#P & K
Eddie Murray has been among the best in the league, converting 15 of 16 FGs and all 15 XPs.
Sam Martin has been good at P.
#Returns
Stefan Logan had been mediocre returning kicks, but he’s been moved to the Taxi Squad, with Christiansen, Smith, and Austin likely to take over. Smith has averaged just over 9 yards on punt returns.
#Awards
Teams of the Week: Lo. Brown (2), Christiansen (2), Covert (1), Kuechly (1), Lane (2), Martin (1), Murray (1), Peppers (2).