NEW YORK (AP) — Comments on the Detroit Lions by the AP Pro32 panel (ranking in parentheses):
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DETROIT LIONS (13)
Chris Berman (ESPN, 8) — Lions learned how to win — can they do it when everyone's looking?
Clifton Brown (Sporting News, 8) — Calvin Johnson wants to top 100 yards receiving every week. He's good enough to set bar that high.
Cris Collinsworth (NBC Sports, 16) — Could be scary team if Matthew Stafford continues to get better.
Rich Gannon (CBS Sports/SiriusXM NFL Radio, 19) — Not good enough yet at RB or CB. Sounds like 9-7 to me.
Bob Glauber (Newsday, 13) — Bar now raised after last year's playoff run. But competition fierce in NFC North, and this might be year to step back for Lions.
Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News, 8) — Running game remains unsettled with Jahvid Best on PUP and Mikel Leshoure sitting out two-game suspension.
Clark Judge (CBSSports.com, 15) — William Ford's comments aside, think Lions are third-best team in NFC North.
Ira Kaufman (Tampa Tribune, 15) — Jim Schwartz can only hope Lions show more discipline on fall Sundays than they do off field.
Pat Kirwan (SiriusXM NFL Radio/CBSSports.com, 12) — Injuries and off the field issues seem to follow this talented football team. Stafford hurt his non-throwing hand in week three of the preseason but he should be fine.
John Lynch (Fox Sports, 13) — Extremely talented roster led by Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, but defensive play needs to live up to hype to become serious contender.
Alex Marvez (Foxsports.com, 9) — Expect a lot of high-scoring games because Detroit has patchwork secondary. Leading way for Lions offense will be wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who looked like he couldn't be covered at times during preseason.
Dan Pompei (Chicago Tribune, 10) — Matthew Stafford and Lions receivers might be able to pass for 800 yards against Lions secondary, which is both comforting and disturbing to Lions fans.
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Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
AP Pro32 Comments About Lions
/ CBS Detroit
NEW YORK (AP) — Comments on the Detroit Lions by the AP Pro32 panel (ranking in parentheses):
___
DETROIT LIONS (13)
Chris Berman (ESPN, 8) — Lions learned how to win — can they do it when everyone's looking?
Clifton Brown (Sporting News, 8) — Calvin Johnson wants to top 100 yards receiving every week. He's good enough to set bar that high.
Cris Collinsworth (NBC Sports, 16) — Could be scary team if Matthew Stafford continues to get better.
Rich Gannon (CBS Sports/SiriusXM NFL Radio, 19) — Not good enough yet at RB or CB. Sounds like 9-7 to me.
Bob Glauber (Newsday, 13) — Bar now raised after last year's playoff run. But competition fierce in NFC North, and this might be year to step back for Lions.
Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News, 8) — Running game remains unsettled with Jahvid Best on PUP and Mikel Leshoure sitting out two-game suspension.
Clark Judge (CBSSports.com, 15) — William Ford's comments aside, think Lions are third-best team in NFC North.
Ira Kaufman (Tampa Tribune, 15) — Jim Schwartz can only hope Lions show more discipline on fall Sundays than they do off field.
Pat Kirwan (SiriusXM NFL Radio/CBSSports.com, 12) — Injuries and off the field issues seem to follow this talented football team. Stafford hurt his non-throwing hand in week three of the preseason but he should be fine.
John Lynch (Fox Sports, 13) — Extremely talented roster led by Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, but defensive play needs to live up to hype to become serious contender.
Alex Marvez (Foxsports.com, 9) — Expect a lot of high-scoring games because Detroit has patchwork secondary. Leading way for Lions offense will be wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who looked like he couldn't be covered at times during preseason.
Dan Pompei (Chicago Tribune, 10) — Matthew Stafford and Lions receivers might be able to pass for 800 yards against Lions secondary, which is both comforting and disturbing to Lions fans.
___
Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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