Kevin Smith Predicts Playoffs

[OKCL]

Now that Jon Kitna and Roy Williams are gone, second-year running back Kevin Smith has assumed the mantle of team optimist. On his blog, Smith predicts the Lions will go from 0-16 last year to the playoffs this year.

“I won’t make a prediction about how many games we’re going to win,” Smith wrote recently at smith34.com, “but I will say this: We will definitely make the playoffs this season.”

Smith goes on to write that all of last year’s losses weren’t as bad as they looked.

“Believe it or not we weren’t far off last year,” he wrote. “Almost every game we could have won, we were one play or one player short. Except for Tennessee on Thanksgiving, they just came out and beat us to sleep. They manhandled us, but nobody else did.”

Wow. The Lions lost three other games by at least three touchdowns last year, but Smith somehow did not consider those losses as being that bad.

Don't know what these Lions players are smoking but..........

[Kia Kaha]

LMAO!

[corbin]

Kevin Smith should be tested immediately. Send a couple squad cars to check to see if he has overdosed yet. He's gotta be on something.

[MvP]

I wouldn't be surprised..

[Obst]

Their schedule isn't that tough, and the team did upgrade a lot of positions, so I wouldn't be shocked if they had a good year, but 0-16 to the playoffs just seems unlikely. But what do you want Kevin Smith to say "Well, I'd be happy if we win 5 games this year, that's my goal." He has to say something to get this team to believe they can do it.

[DSpydr84]

Schwartz, step in and shut this stuff up man! Result oriented goals get you NOWHERE... I'd much rather he said this year we're going to play like a team, or we're going to work harder. Worry about what you can control, and let the chips fall how they may.

[Saluki]

hmmmm, where have i heard this before......OH YEAH

The Detroit Lions haven't had a winning record since 2000 and haven't won 10 games since 1995. That's all going to change in 2007, according to quarterback Jon Kitna.

Appearing on WDFN-AM in Detroit on Thursday, Kitna predicted that the Lions will win more than 10 games this season. The Lions were 3-13 in 2006.

In March, Kitna said the Lions would win 10 games in 2007, but after seeing the team's schedule he adjusted his prediction -- higher.

"I'll keep to myself what I think we actually will win. But it's more than 10 games," Kitna said.

Part of the reason for Kitna's optimism is Calvin Johnson, the team's first-round draft pick.

"I don't like putting a lot of pressure on people, but Calvin Johnson, to me, will have about the same impact that Reggie Bush had in New Orleans," Kitna said. "He's everything that they said he was and more."

[Buzzman]

Jon kitna was a man amongst boys

[Mit]

Whatever they are smoking in Detroit, it's inhibiting their performance on the football field. All I can say is that it is possible because anything is, but it's not likely. I don't like how a second-year player basically called that his team is going tot he playoffs. That definitely shows his immaturity.

[mcstl25]

What is he supposed to say? I think we will go 0-16 again? A big part of winning is believing that you can win. If he and his teammates really believe that they can make the playoffs, that's half the battle.

[Gonzo]

Whatever they are smoking in Detroit, it's inhibiting their performance on the football field. All I can say is that it is possible because anything is, but it's not likely. I don't like how a second-year player basically called that his team is going tot he playoffs. That definitely shows his immaturity.

WTH are you talking about? Immaturity? It shows leadership skills. He's a popular athlete, and he's stepped up and vocalized. I don't agree with him setting the bar up so high, but at least he was very positive and confident about it.

It definitely doesn't show immaturity.

[OKCL]

What is he supposed to say? I think we will go 0-16 again? A big part of winning is believing that you can win. If he and his teammates really believe that they can make the playoffs, that's half the battle.

He's supposed to say I think we can really improve this season, we have more pieces and I think we can actually win some games this year. Even if believing is half the battle, they are missing that other part, talent.

[Saluki]

WTH are you talking about? Immaturity? It shows leadership skills. He's a popular athlete, and he's stepped up and vocalized. I don't agree with him setting the bar up so high, but at least he was very positive and confident about it.

It definitely doesn't show immaturity.

It doesn't show immaturity but saying "We're gunna go to the playoffs" doesn't say anything about his leadership skills, and i'm sure more than one of his teammates told him not to talk about it, be about it, after he made that quote.

[steeljake]

john kitna predicted 10 wins 2 years ago and how'd that go? this kind of stuff is getting old, gauranteed wins and predicting the playoffs or championships, it rarely if ever works out for the team or player.

it doesnt show leadership skills at all, in fact it shows ignorance and arrogance, two things that can kill a football team. it is nice to see him be optomistic though, but i am sure teh coaches would like him to focus that energy in other ways than running his yap.

[Kuzzy Powers]

Not winning a single game can be considered "not far off"? Not far off from what? Being the worst team in sports history?

If the Lions make the Playoffs ill burn my Walter Payton jersey..