2008 Detroit Lions: Where Are They? Martin Mayhew, Jim Schwartz Deserve Praise
While listening to sports talk radio (strictly WDFN 1130 AM, not WXYT for me), I heard some fans question whether Jim Schwartz is the right coach for the Detroit Lions, and that led me to wonder if these guys know anything about football.
I mostly ignored it, until I saw this headline here on Bleacher Report, “Should The Lions Fire Jim Schwartz?”The author, Ken Hoehn, talked about how some feel because of penalties, Schwartz should be let go.
Now Ken is not part of the fire Schwartz crowd, but he does bring up the same thing that has been bothering me: Why are some calling for Schwartz’s head?
The problem here is that a lot of fans are suffering from short-term memory; 2008 was only two years ago, yet some are choosing to forget just how horrible a state the Lions were in.
Let us look at where the members of the 2008 Detroit Lions are, and what Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz have done to replace the majority of them.
I usually don't like to remember the massacre Matt Millen committed against this team, but here it goes.
Quarterbacks
1 of 11
Still with the Lions: Drew Stanton, third-string
On another NFL team: Dan Orlovsky, Houston Texans, Backup
UFL: Daunte Culpepper
Out of football: Drew Henson
Running Backs
2 of 11
Still with the Lions: Jerome Felton, starter at fullback, Kevin Smith, backup
On another NFL team: Moran Norris, San Francisco 49ers, starter at fullback
UFL: Aveion Cason
Out of football: Rudi Johnson
Wide Receivers
3 of 11
Still with the Lions: Calvin Johnson
On another NFL team: None
UFL: John Standeford
Out of football: Keary Colbert, Chris Cannon, Adam Jennings, Travis Taylor
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Tight Ends
4 of 11
Still with the Lions: None
On another NFL team: None
UFL: None
Out of football: Casey FitzSimmons, Michael Gaines, John Owens
Offensive Linemen
5 of 11
Still with the Lions: Jeff Backus, Gosder Cherilus, Stephen Peterman, Dominic Raiola, starters
On another NFL team: None
UFL: Damion Cook, Junius Coston, George Foster
Out of football: Manny Ramirez, Andy McCollum
Defensive Linemen
6 of 11
Still with the Lions: Cliff Avril, starter; Andre Fluellen, backup
On another NFL team: Ikaika Alama-Francis, Miami Dolphins, starter; Shaun Cody, Houston Texans, starter; Landon Cohen, Jacksonville Jaguars, backup
UFL: Langston Moore
Out of football: Chuck Darby, Dewayne white, Corey Smith (RIP)
Linebackers
7 of 11
Still with the Lions: None
On another NFL team: Paris Lenon, Arizona Cardinals, starter; Ernie Sims, Philadelphia Eagles, starter
UFL: None
Out of football: Darnell Bing, Anthony Cannon, Ryan Nece
Defensive Backs
8 of 11
Still with the Lions: None
On another NFL team: Leigh Boden, New England Patriots, IR
UFL: Daniel Bullocks, Stuart Schweigert
Out of football: Travis Fisher, LaMarcus Hicks, Kalvin Pearson, Dexter Wynn
Special Teams
9 of 11
Still with the Lions: Jason Hanson, Nick Harris, Don Muhlbach
On another NFL team: None
UFL: None
Out of football: None
Players Who Finished 2008 on IR or Practice Squad
10 of 11
Still with the Lions: Jordon Dizon, LB, IR; Eric Fowler, WR, practice squad; Jake Nordin, TE, IR; Caleb Campbell, LB, practice squad
On another NFL team: Gerald Alexander, FS, Jacksonville Jaguars, backup; Mike Furrey, WR, Washington Redskins, IR; Jon Kitna, QB, Dallas Cowboys, backup; Cory Redding, DE, Baltimore Ravens, starter; Ben Claxton, C, Arizona Cardinals, backup
UFL: Jon Bradley, FB; Brian Calhoun, RB, CFL; Alex Lewis, LB
Out of football: Reggie Ball, WR; Dan Campbell, TE; Jared DeVries, DE; Jon Dunn, OT; Shemiah LeGrande, WR; Shaun McDonald, WR; Edwin Mulitalo, G; Dwight Smith, SS; Keith Smith, CB; Stanley Wilson, CB
Analysis
11 of 11
There are only three spots where players that the Lions gave up are starting for other NFL teams: fullback, linebacker and defensive line.
The Lions could not keep two fullbacks, and kept the younger and cheaper one in Jerome Felton. They didn't lose a lot in not keeping Moran Norris, who bolted as a free agent to the 49ers.
The two linebackers starting for other teams are Ernie Sims and Paris Lenon. The Arizona Cardinals use a 3-4 defense where a player like Lenon fits in much better than he did in the Lions' 4-3 defense.
Ernie Sims is one player that many Lions fans would probably like to have back. This is not because of anything special he has done in Philadelphia; it is more of a product of lack of production from the Lions' 2010 linebackers.
The defensive line is where what Mayhew and Schwartz have done can truly be appreciated. This is the spot where they decided to attack and get stronger first. They were not satisfied with having marginal starters like Cory Redding or Shaun Cody, as the previous management team would have done. They instead went out and got Pro Bowl-caliber players to fill those positions.
This is why I think Mayhew and Schwartz are going to throw us a curveball next offseason. I believe the offensive line is going to be an area they concentrate on in the 2011 NFL draft. They are going to use at least one high round pick—either a tackle in the first round or a center in the second round—to solidify the offensive line.
This Lions front office gets it, and although linebacker is a much weaker position than offensive line, they understand you build a football team from the inside out.
Only 22 games removed from 0-16, the Lions have become a competitive team that will win it's fair share of games after the bye week.
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