Dallas Morning News (Free subscription) | 25/11/2008
... pick. The Lions have five other players who entered the NFL as first-rounders: offensive tackles Jeff Backus, Gosder Cherilus and George Foster, quarterback Daunte Culpepper and linebacker Ernie Sims. The Lions have a running back who produced the second-greatest season in NCAA history – Kevin Smith, who rushed for 2,567 yards at Central Florida in 2007. They also have a past NFC...
Detroit Free Press (Free subscription) | 17/11/2008
... a tip of the hat (as opposed to a wag of the finger) to the offensive line, as well. Other than Jeff Backus getting his pants pulled down by Julius Peppers early in the first, I thought the line played a decent game against Carolina. Watching Marion Barber run through gaping holes in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys-Redskins game last night, I again was struck by the realization...
Detroit Free Press (Free subscription) | 16/11/2008
... with a dump pass that gets them 15 yards. Unfortunately, on the next play, Julius Peppers beats Jeff Backus inside and sacks Culpepper for a 5-yard loss. They pass their second test, too, when Calvin Johnson makes a first down on third-and-6.8:51: The Lions fail to convert on third-and-1 on Carolina’s 37 when Calvin gets stopped on a bootleg play. The Lions go for it on fourth-and-1...
Detroit Free Press (Free subscription) | 10/11/2008
... fourth quarter, only a few thousand fans remained."It was definitely empty and quiet," left tackle Jeff Backus said. "It's just the way it is right now with our record and what we're doing on the field. People have better things to spend their money on than tickets right now."This was a stiff challenge for Culpepper, who hadn't played an NFL game in almost a full year and had only...
Detroit Free Press (Free subscription) | 10/11/2008
... team like that, you leave them out there, they pound the ball at you, and you wear down."Lions OT Jeff Backus, on QB Drew Stanton: "It's just funny, because he's a quiet guy during the week. I mean, he was so excited in that huddle -- not to the point where it was bad. It just kind of surprised me. He was just talking and relaxed and ready to go."Backus, on going through his...
SideLion Report (Free subscription) | 02/11/2008
It just felt… natural, y’know? It’s not new to us that the Lions will lead for a sizeable portion of the game and give that up in the 4th. It’s also not new that the Lions actually controlled their own destiny with 5 minutes to go, only to end up 4th down and a million thanks to poor blocking, sloppy play execution and of course, Jeff Backus’ patented 3rd down twitch. It’s not like the...
49ersNews (Free subscription) | 31/10/2008
... Peters - 6 Games - 6.5 Sacks Allowed 5. Hou - Duane Brown - 7 Gamees - 6 Sacks Allowed 6. Det - Jeff Backus - 7 Games - 5.75 Sacks Allowed 7. Cin - Levi Jones - 8 games - 5.5 sacks allowed
Detroit Free Press (Free subscription) | 27/10/2008
... turned around and make our fans proud of us and have them coming out every week," left tackle Jeff Backus said. "It's on us that they're not willing to pay $85 a ticket, which is totally understandable."The Lions have lost 14 of their past 15 games, since their 6-2 start last season, and they blew an opportunity to win this season on Sunday.The Redskins (6-2) dominated statistically...
Detroit Free Press (Free subscription) | 24/10/2008
... enough on our end to make these fans come out and watch games. And that's a reality."Left tackle Jeff Backus, an eight-year veteran, said the slow ticket sales were a product of the Lions' poor play en route to a 0-6 start."Obviously, fans come to the game to see a good product, to enjoy themselves and have fun watching a good football game," he said. "And we haven't been getting...
Detroit Free Press (Free subscription) | 20/10/2008
... digging. If you look down the road, that's when you're really screwed."Lions offensive lineman Jeff Backus: "I would have hoped after eight years we would have gotten it right. I felt very positive about this year. I thought we legitimately had a shot at the playoffs. I still feel we can put a positive season together. But we have to execute and do our jobs."Quarterback Dan Orlovsky,...
