Drew Stanton takes reps with Detroit Lions starters, but possibility of Shaun Hill starting exists | MLive.com

Drew Stanton takes reps with Detroit Lions starters, but possibility of Shaun Hill starting exists | MLive.com

Drew Stanton takes reps with Detroit Lions starters, but possibility of Shaun Hill starting exists
Published: Saturday, December 18, 2010, 12:00 PM
By Tom Kowalski
Follow


Share
0
71
Share
Email
Print

AP Photo
The media hasn't gotten a look at Shaun Hill in practice.
ALLEN PARK -- All indications are that quarterback Drew Stanton will start Sunday when the Detroit Lions visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the team is not confirming anything.

Apparently, they prefer to leave a little wiggle room.

Stanton took the first-team reps at practice on Friday but Shaun Hill, who broke his right index finger three weeks ago, has been throwing in practice all week.

If Hill feels he can make all the necessary throws in a game, he will be the starter. Apparently, he hasn't reached that point yet.

"We're prepared for either way," Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said after Friday's practice. "Drew took a lot of the reps and he has had a very good week, so we're very comfortable there. If Shaun wakes up on Sunday feeling like it's close to 100 percent -- and it's getting there -- I've been happy with how Shaun progressed this week. He did more today."

How much more? That's really none of your business. The media is only allowed to watch the first 30 minutes of the two-hour practice and Lions coach Jim Schwartz likes it that way.

"That's why we don't show you it all -- so you guys can't write that (Hill's) looked really sharp or he's looked terrible or he can't throw a certain route or anything like that. That's why we don't put it on display. It doesn't do a lot of good not to put it on display and then give you a rundown of everybody's strengths and weaknesses and what they can do at practice and what they can't do."

Stanton said he hasn't been told anything about his status for Sunday's game.

"They haven't said anything more about it than Shaun's trying to get back and ready to play," Stanton said. "I'm aware of the circumstances, that if Shaun can play, than he's going to play. If he can't, then I'm next in line."

Hill previously faced the Bucs once -- while Hill was in San Francisco -- and won the game, throwing three touchdown passes in the process.

Defensive stoppers
Detroit's Ndamukong Suh has eight sacks this season and he needs three more to break the NFL record for a rookie defensive tackle. Dana Stubblefield had 10 1/2 sacks his rookie season). The Lions have 36 sacks this season but only three from non-linemen. Delmas has two sacks and Peterson has one.

Delmas and linebacker Julian Peterson share the team lead in tackles this season with 74 each.

Breaking down the Bucs
Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman has won 10 of his last 16 starts, dating back to last season. Overall, Freeman is 11-11 as a starter.

Bucs' rookie running back LeGarrette Blount has scored a rushing touchdown in three of his last four home games.

Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber had two interceptions against the Lions in their last meeting, including one that he returned 65 yards for a touchdown.

Odds & ends
The last time these two teams met, on Nov. 23, 2008, the Lions took a 17-0 lead and it appeared they would win their first game of the season. However, the Bucs scored 35 straight points and won 38-20 and the Lions would not win a game all season. ... No Lions receiver in team history has ever had two seasons in which they had 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in the same year. Calvin Johnson is 84 receiving yards from accomplishing that feat. ... There's a battle going on for the team leader in receptions -- Johnson has 63 catches, while tight end Brandon Pettigrew has 62. ... While Stefan Logan is getting a lot of attention for his role in Detroit's running attack, he's still on top of his game in the return department. Logan is averaging 28.8 yards per kickoff return (which ranks No. 2 in the NFL) and he's averaging 12.0 yards per punt return (fourth-best in the league).

Related topics: Drew Stanton, Shaun Hill