FanHouse NFL Season Preview: Detroit Lions - Is 2008 the Payoff?

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: Jon Kitna -- man of God, man of many passing yards, man of many lapses in judgement. With Kitna, Mike Martz found a quarterback who could air it out appropriately in his offense. Appropriately, in this instance, means bombing away with little regard to risk, and the interception and sack totals with Kitna under center reflect that. Martz is gone and the Lions are shifting to a more conservative offense. Kitna isn't the right man to helm it, and, turning 36 early this season, should be on his last tour in Detroit. The problem is that the Lions aren't sure if they have anyone behind him to take over, with Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton possessing exactly zero starts and only 17 passing attempts between them, all Orlovsky's. Heat Index: 5

Running back: That conservative offense will put more work at the feet of the team's tailbacks. The Lions' running game in 2007 was 31st in the league and lost their best runner in Kevin Jones. Still, they're going about improving in the right way. They kept Tatum Bell and Brian Calhoun from last year and tailored their attack to a one-cut zone blocking system that suits their skills. Bell had almost 2,000 yards and 10 touchdowns running in that system in 2005 and 2006. Assuming he stays healthy, he should bring a big-play punch. But the biggest impact will be made by the biggest unknown -- rookie Kevin Smith. He also excels in a zone system, and the wildly productive college back is one of the players I think is going to absolutely turn heads this year. Heat Index: 7

Receivers: Let's put it this way. The Lions have exactly two true playmakers on their team, and they're receivers. We all know what Roy Williams is going to bring to the table -- he's averaged over 900 yards and seven touchdowns a season in his career while missing anybody who could take attention away from him. Now he's got that in Calvin Johnson, who was hurt for much of his rookie season but still managed to put up impressive numbers all things considered. He's healthy and drawing rave reviews this preseason and camp, eager to justify all of the hype and money he got coming into the league. With Williams in a contract year, this could be the best receiving duo in the NFL this season. Heat Index: 10

Offensive line: Offensive line was a disaster for the team last year, routinely letting their quarterback get mauled and failing to offer anything significant in run blocking. The biggest improvement has been made by replacing George Foster at right tackle with rookie first-rounder Gosder Cherilus, but Cherilus is far from a safe bet and the rest of line remains in tact. Center Dominic Raiola and left guard Edwin Mulitalo have talent, but left tackle Jeff Backus is a disaster. Adding Cherilus is nice, but he only brings enough talent to marginally improve this group. Being able to add LeCharles Bentley, who visited with the team but declined a contract, would have been just what the team needed. Heat Index: 4

Defensive line: It should be no surprise that the defensive line, Rod Marinelli's specialty, is also the team's deepest group. The addition of starting nose tackle Chuck Darby from Tampa is another move that brings a hard-working veteran who shares a familiarity with Marinelli and his style. Meanwhile, a trio of rookies make this group much better. Tackles Andre Fluellen and Landon Cohen provide talented depth, and speed rusher Cliff Avril is going to make an impact immediately coming in on third downs, guaranteed. Add in the underrated Jared DeVries, and the Lions are fine with this group. Heat Index: 6

Linebackers: I'll feel much better about the Lions' linebackers once I see the team find a solution for the strongside. Ernie Sims is a mainstay at weakside backer and it seems the Lions know (no matter what they say) who the other two starters will be -- Paris Lenon and Jordan Dizon. It's just a matter of who plays in the middle and who plays outside. The problem is, with both practicing in the middle, whoever loses that battle will not have adequate time in camp to adjust moving to the strongside, meaning this is a unit that will probably get better as the season progresses. If Dizon, who I have reservations about, can prove he can handle the middle as a rookie, the team will be getting what it wants. Whether that happens remains to be seen. Heat Index: 6

Secondary: By far, the most improved group on the team. Three new starters -- corners Brian Kelly and Leigh Bodden as well as strong safety Dwight Smith -- were all brought in this offseason, along with backup safety Kalvin Pearson. In Bodden, one of the league's more underrated players, the Lions have a true top corner, and though Kelly is 32 he's still got enough in the tank to be productive, especially in a system that doesn't require much man coverage. But the biggest bump to the secondary might come from free safety Daniel Bullocks, who was looking like a break out candidate until an injury erased his 2007. He's working his way back into practice and up the depth chart, and should usurp the starting role from second-year man Gerald Alexander, another bright young prospect, in time for the season. Heat Index: 7

Special teams: As far as kicking and punting are concerned, the Lions display the model of consistency in Jason Hanson and Nick Harris, respectively. They're in good hands, there. Aveion Cason is unspectacular but gets the job done as a kick returner, but the Lions plan on featuring the largely unproven Devale Ellis to bring back punts. Heat Index: 5

Coaching: I like Marinelli, and I think the team genuinely does, as well. That goes a long way. Losing Martz is better from a physical, practical, and psychological standpoint, as this is firmly Marinelli's team now. Martz's offense clashed with Marinelli's ethos, and his stature commanded some of Marinelli's authority. That is no longer. With another year of putting together the roster he wants, as well as his first season in possession of the team's collective ear, things should operate much more efficiently. Heat Index: 7

Intangibles: Marinelli has worked hard (Dizon and Cherilus aside) to put together a team with impeccable character and work ethic, and for the most part that effort has paid off. Jettisoning Martz and Shaun Rogers cannot be underestimated in the long run; those two moves will do wonders for team morale. Add in the embarrassment of last year's 1-7 second half, as well as the individual motivation for players like Williams, and I think this team has a lot going for it in the spiritual department. Heat Index: 7

Total Heat Index: 64

I thought last year would finally be the year the Lions made it up to their fans for the years of misery inflicted on them, and for eight weeks it looked as if I'd been right.

This year I really think is the year (and when I'm inevitably proven wrong, I'll say the same thing about next year). Not to say the Lions will be a Super Bowl contender, because we all know that isn't going to happen. But this is going to be an entertaining team that should take advantage of a weak division and fight for its crown. I wouldn't be surprised to see 9-7 take the NFC North, and that's in the Lions' wheelhouse.

The question in January, to me, will be: what will the Lions fans do when they have no one to rage against?