News: 9/24/01

The only things missing were the giant floppy shoes and a big red nose.
   In his debut as the Lions' starting quarterback, Ty Detmer, a renowned jokester, turned in a performance not worthy of tears.
   In every way, it was simply laughable.
   Detmer, the 33-year-old journeyman, threw seven interceptions in the Lions' embarrassing 24-14 loss to the lowly Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
   For almost two weeks, we were sold on the idea that Detmer was going to solve the Lions' offensive woes. Coach Marty Mornhinweg was convinced Detmer would give the Lions a better chance to win. After all, we were told, not only does Detmer know the West Coast offense inside and out, but he is also an accurate passer and makes good decisions.
   That's why, we were told, Charlie Batch was benched after just one game.
   Well, the joke is on the Lions. Apparently, Detmer, a Browns reject, must have thought he was still on their team. Batch, by the way, never threw more than three interceptions in one game.
   "That's not me," said Detmer, who completed 22 of 42 passes for 212 yards and one touchdown. "I was just trying to do way too much with the ball today.
   "Then, it just snowballed. You keep trying and trying. You try to make something happen and get in trouble."
   Detmer overthrew receivers, forced balls into double-coverage, didn't see open receivers, and worse, made a lot of dumb decisions.
   "He was very loose with the football," Mornhinweg said. "He tried to create the big play. That's a good defensive football team. We all know that. He was trying to create the play and force the football rather than simply taking what they gave him and play within the system."
   Don't be upset at Detmer, who apologized to teammates afterward in the locker room. It's not all his fault. Sure, he didn't play well. But what did you expect? Detmer had only started 21 games in 10 seasons before Sunday?
   Mornhinweg, looking more and more like a head coach with no experience before this gig, might not think much of Batch's ability, but Batch is better than Detmer.
   That's why you don't make such a change without fully thinking it through. Mornhinweg and Lions President Matt Millen have painted themselves into a corner with this ill-advised switch-a-roo.
   Not only do players on the team know that Batch would have never been given the opportunity to throw seven interceptions, they all know that Batch is a better quarterback. Clearly, one game or not, Detmer is not the answer.
   
   Lions fans who moaned and groaned about Batch the last year or so couldn't have been happy with Detmer's debut. Not only was it ugly, but it probably also ended the Lions' season.
   This was a game the Lions (0-2) had to have. Given the problems this team has and the tough schedule, the Lions can easily open the season 0-5.
   Consider the way the Lions lost game No. 2.
   Down 17-7, Detmer looked to pass to tight end David Sloan, who had two defenders covering him. Running back James Stewart was wide open. The result? Jamir Miller intercepted the ball, all but sealing the victory for Cleveland.
   The Browns capitalized on the very next play, a 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tim Couch to a wide-open Quincy Morgan. The closest defender was in the stands.
   Was there still life in the Lions? Maybe, but that got sucked out when Detmer threw interception No. 5.
   Batch was told to warm up. But when the Lions got the ball back, Detmer made his way to the huddle. He shouldn't have.
   Mornhinweg said he actually thought about making the change.
   "We still had a chance to win the football game," Mornhinweg said. "I had some discussions with Ty on that exact situation, and I decided to keep Ty in the football game. Typically, I will let a man finish the football game, especially if we have a chance to win."
   

   When you really look at it, Batch's benching didn't make any sense.
   It would be one thing if Detmer was a young, unproven quarterback with potential. But that's hardly the case.
   Since Detmer isn't going to be here when, and if, things turn around, it seems silly to waste snaps on him.
   Batch should have been given the season to develop into the franchise quarterback.
   Batch honestly knows there's nothing else he could have done to keep his starting job. The powers that be simply didn't want him. Period.
   "I believe in this system and I believe in these players," Mornhinweg said. "We will get this thing right. Some of the players were talking in the locker room that when we get this thing right it is going to be good. It's not right now as we all saw on the football field. We will re-evaluate a lot of things this bye week."
   Starting with the quarterback position.
   "I'm disappointed," Detmer said. "I'm embarrassed."

RECAP

The move to Ty Detmer backfired for rookie coach Marty Mornhinweg.

Detmer threw seven interceptions -- one shy of tying an NFL record -- and rookie James Jackson rushed for 124 yards as the Cleveland Browns rolled to a 24-14 victory over the Detroit Lions.

After starting quarterback Charlie Batch struggled in a season-opening 28-6 loss at Green Bay, Mornhinweg made the switch to Detmer. He considered reversing his decision during the second half.

"I had some discussions with Detmer on that exact situation and I decided to keep him in the football game," Mornhinweg said. "Typically, I will let a man finish the football game, especially if we have a chance to win."

Less than a month ago, Detmer was a member of the Cleveland Browns. But on Sunday, he was humiliated by his former team. The 1990 Heisman Trophy winner completed 22-of-42 passes for 212 yards.

The Lions failed to overcome Detmer's interceptions or their 15 penalties for 115 yards.

"The crazy thing about it is that with all the turnovers and all the penalties we had, we were still battling and fighting to get back in the game," Mornhinweg said.

Jackson, a third-round pick, carried the ball 31 times and became the first Browns player to run for more than 100 yards in a game since December 17, 1995, when Earnest Byner gained 121 against Cincinnati.

"It wasn't really the game plan coming into today, but it developed as the game unfolded," Jackson said of his workload. "We wanted to do a great job running, but I really didn't think I'd get 31 carries."

Rookie cornerback Anthony Henry collected three of the franchise-record tying seven interceptions. The defense matched the mark set on December 11, 1960, when Art Modell was in the crowd contemplating the purchase of the original Cleveland franchise.

"Playing against Detmer worked to our advantage," Browns cornerback Daylon McCutcheon said. "We know what routes he throws well. The way he tries to look off certain reads and stuff like that."

McCutcheon, who registered five tackles, intercepted a pass from Detmer in the fourth quarter, but Henry was whistled for illegal contact, giving Detroit an automatic first down.

"I was just trying to reroute the receiver when it happened," Henry said. "I guess I just had my hands on him too long."

However, Detmer threw his seventh interception 62 seconds later.

"He was very loose with the football and tried to create the big play," Mornhinweg said.

Tim Couch fired three touchdown strikes, connecting on 12-of-20 passes for 138 yards with a pair of interceptions.

Making effective use of play-action passes, Couch hit receiver Kevin Johnson in the end zone with a four-yard strike in the first quarter and found Shaun O'Hara with a two-yard pass on a tackle-eligible play in the second to give the Browns a 14-0 advantage at the half.

"I think Tim made some really good plays," said Browns coach Butch Davis, who collected his first NFL victory. "He is coming along and making himself better every single week. He is developing some good practice and study habits. It is really rewarding for a player to see all of his hardwork pay off on Sunday."

Defensive end Robert Porcher sacked Couch with 8:25 left in the first half to move into first place on the Lions' all-time list. His two sacks on Sunday increased his career tally to 77 1/2.

Couch hit tight end Rickey Dudley for a 19-yard gain to spark Cleveland's seven-play, 57-yard drive for the opening score.

However, Todd Lyght was flagged for a defensive pass interference penalty on 3rd-and-8 and Terry Fair committed a personal foul on the ensuing play. The Lions cornerbacks helped Cleveland advance to the Detroit 7, setting up Johnson's score.

Detroit's most effective offensive weapon proved to be veteran receiver Johnnie Morton, who had six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown that reduced the Lions' deficit to 24-14.

Morton began the final quarter with a 26-yard reception. Detmer went right back to the third leading receiver in franchise history for a 24-yard pass that advanced them to the Cleveland 24.

"If we lose a couple of battles, you just can't give up and lose the war," Morton said. "The important thing now is to look ahead, fix what is wrong and gain some confidence, especially on offense. We just aren't executing."

Five plays later, Morton made a diving catch in the right side of the end zone.

Scott's Game Commentary:

Nothing like killing an entire day watching the honolulu blue and silver lay a rotten egg to one of the worst teams in football. I was all pumped up when I got to Cleveland...lots of Lions fans made the 2 1/2 hour drive, beautiful day, and a very nice stadium. In my eyes, this was a must win game for the Lions given it was their best chance at a win on the road and Kurt Warner and company on the horizon. But, once the game started everything was downhill! Ty Detmer returned to his old field and played worse than I have ever seen Batch play. Seven interceptions??? To the Clevelend freaking Browns??? Not to mention that some no name 3rd round rookie gains over 100 yard on the Lions defense??? Down 14-0 at the half to a team that won only three games last year??? 15 penalties??? How low has this team fallen??? I mean, for crying out loud, they were damn good last year on the road...5-3, and their three losses were never blown out. Every year is a different year...just look at Cincinnati...they beat Baltimore today...and Minnesota...losing to the Bears. All I know is its going to be one long year for the honolulu blue and silver!

Grades:

Offense: --- F. Could it get any worse than last year! Absolutely! Morninweig's decision to start Detmer blew up in his face as he almost tied an NFL record for most INT's in a game. Seven picks??? The offense was non-existant, just like in Green Bay. They went three and out on their first posession...and failed to get into the red zone until the 4th quarter, when the game was out of reach. Going 1 for 12 on 3rd down is just inexcusable!!! I never thought I would see a performance worse than Batch's last week...but Mr. Detmer trumped that! The offensive line was mediocre...tons of stupid penalities, as usual! James Stewart is not a $5 million/year RB...he's too slow and is nothing more than an average RB. Germane Crowell had another quiet day...David Sloan was no where to be seen...the only player that showed up was Johnnie Morton, who is definitely the Lions #1 receiver.

Defense: --- D-. The Lions dearly miss Bryant Westbrook and Kurt Schultz!!! Their replacements: Todd Lyght and Lamar Campbell have been nothing but liabilities on the field. Cleveland's first touchdown was setup because of a pass interference call after the Lions stopped the Browns...Lyght had two that ended up costing the Lions 14 points. Chris Claibore has been a non factor in the first two games now...he needs to step it up a bunch or be labelled a high first round bust. And what happened to the half way decent run defense last year??? James Jackson rushed for over 100 yards? I've never even heard of the guy until he was in the game! As disappointing as the offense has been, the "D" isn't far behind. Terry Fair got the Lions first TD of the year, but then fell asleep and allowed the Browns to get another TD right back. Rookie Shaun Rogers continues to show he was the steal of the draft as he lead the team in tackles...Robert Porcher also had a solid game, including two sacks.

Special Teams: --- D. Jett had two crappy punts that helped setup two of Cleveland's touchdowns...Desmond had a quiet day...and coverage was nothing special.

Coaching: --- F. Morninweig is definitely looking like a rookie coach now. After Detmer threw his fifth INT, I saw Batch warming up on the sideline...but in came Detmer and an another INT...Morninweig said after the game he left the decision up to Detmer...aren't you the head coach Marty? And all those penalities...looks like some things just never change.

Overall: --- F. The Lions needed a win to be 1-1 heading into a MNF game against the Rams after their bye week. Now, they will head into the bye at 0-2, with three games on the horizon that could eaily be losses. But, six years ago, the Lions were 0-3 heading into a Monday night affair with the San Francisco 49'ers...the Lions shocked everyone and ended up making the playoffs...but that year they had the #1 offense in the NFL...this year its one of the worst! It should be very interesting to see how the Lions respond to the Rams...who could ever forget that miracle win a few years ago. Bottom is the Lions better get their act together ASAP, or they'll be facing a 5-11 season.

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