NFL

Detroit Lions: Well, They Have to Improve

Posted Feb 20, 2009 5:30PM By Bruce Ciskie (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Lions, NFC North

Text SizeAAA
Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

I'm going to do my best to avoid use of the phrase "Well, things can't get any worse," or anything like that. Really, I am. But it's worth pointing out that this is a true statement. Things are looking up for the Detroit Lions because they absolutely can't get any worse.

With two first-round picks and a ton of available cap space, a well-managed organization could make a significant dent in one year.

Free Agents: RB Aveion Cason (UFA), DT Shaun Cody (UFA), WR Keary Colbert (UFA), OL Damion Cook (UFA), OL George Foster (UFA), RB Rudi Johnson (UFA), LB Paris Lenon (UFA), OL Andy McCollum (UFA), WR Shaun McDonald (UFA), DT Langston Moore (UFA), LB Ryan Nece (UFA), RB Moran Norris (UFA), QB Dan Orlovsky (UFA), TE John Owens (UFA), DE Corey Smith (UFA), DL Stanley Wilson (UFA)

Draft Picks: 1 (1, 20); 2 (33); 3 (65, 82); 4 (97); 5 (129); 6 (161); 7 (193)

Needs

1. Quarterback. Even if Detroit doesn't draft Matthew Stafford, expect them to seek a serious upgrade. The Lions can have Daunte Culpepper back if they want, but he didn't exactly show them a lot down the stretch in 2008. They'd be smart to pursue someone who can hold down the gig, whether they draft Stafford or not. If they do draft the former Georgia QB, they can have an open competition for the starting job and hopefully let Stafford sit for at least a few weeks. If they go a different direction with the first pick, they can grab a developmental quarterback later, knowing the job should be in good hands for at least a year.

2. Secondary. They were a mess here a year ago. Unless you're a big fan of Leigh Bodden, Travis Fisher, or a guy like Daniel Bullocks, it's hard to argue that the Lions have a sure starter at any secondary position. That doesn't bode well in a league where offenses seem to rely more and more every year on the passing game.

3. Wide receiver. After all the work Matt Millen did to restock this position, it's back to being quite mediocre. Yes, the Lions have Calvin Johnson, who remains one of the best in the business. But they have nothing else. Detroit has to find a way to surround Johnson with people capable of making plays. If Johnson can put up the kind of numbers he had in 2008 (78 catches, over 1,300 yards, 12 touchdowns) with virtually no help, what would he be able to do if defenses couldn't focus on stopping him?

Tags: 2009offseasonroadmaps, andy+mccollum, AndyMccollum, aveion+cason, AveionCason, calvin+johnson, CalvinJohnson, corey+smith, CoreySmith, damion+cook, DamionCook, dan+orlovsky, daniel+bullocks, DanielBullocks, DanOrlovsky, daunte+culpepper, DaunteCulpepper, george+foster, GeorgeFoster, john+owens, JohnOwens, keary+colbert, KearyColbert, langston+moore, LangstonMoore, leigh+bodden, LeighBodden, matt+millen, matthew+stafford, MatthewStafford, MattMillen, moran+norris, MoranNorris, paris+lenon, ParisLenon, rudi+johnson, RudiJohnson, ryan+nece, RyanNece, shaun+cody, shaun+mcdonald, ShaunCody, ShaunMcdonald, stanley+wilson, StanleyWilson, travis+fisher, TravisFisher

Related Articles

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)



NFL Team Photos




Latest NFL Photos