October 6, 2009

My hamstring is getting better, it’s not 100 percent yet, and that showed up on film after this last game. But it’s getting better daily.

I did get my first sack in the loss to the Bears. I was cut blocked by the running back, but Grady was getting pressure on Cutler and he rolled my way. Basically I just tackled him and he fumbled. They recovered, though. It felt good getting the sack but overall in the game I feel that I didn’t play too well. I made a few mistakes here or there, but the sack was a plus.

I think we came out strong but it’s tough to bounce back from it when you’re tied and they take the second-half kickoff back for a touchdown. All-around, on both sides of the ball and on special teams, we needed to pick it up. But coming out at the half and giving up that TD, that definitely hurt us.

It was great to get a win last week. I feel like this has been a new team from Week 1, new guys, a different attitude. It was a great feeling going into the locker room after the game and everybody was happy for once.

Now we feel like we can win any game we play. We’re in most games in the second half, now it’s all about completing four quarters and putting together a complete game with offense, defense and special teams all in the same game.

As a defense we’ve let up a lot of points already. We just have to get better all-around, get more pressure on the quarterback, stop the running game. It’s not just one thing we have to work on. We have to get out there and play ball and have fun doing it.

We’ve got Pittsburgh at home on Sunday. No matter who we’re playing, it’s all about doing your assignment, being where you’re supposed to be and making the plays you’re supposed to make. I think it’s in our hands.

Cliff Avril is a defensive end for the Detroit Lions. His blog for www.playerpress.com
runs at www.avril92.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cliffavril.