Detroit Lions: Analyzing Playoff Outlook, Biggest Weaknesses & Rookies to Watch

As most of you are no doubt already aware, the NFL lockout is finally over. It only took four months of constant beatings, but the darn thing is finally dead. For those of you in Detroit, that means it's officially time to start looking forward to another season of Lions football.

In any other year, the very thought would precipitate a groan, as the Lions have been one of the NFL’s most consistent laughingstocks in the last decade. Moreover, the Lions didn’t show much improvement in 2010, going 6-10 to finish in third place in the NFC North.

They didn’t show much improvement, yes, but the good news is that they did show some. The Lions managed to win each of their final four games last season, and they went out and put together a very good draft back in late April. If nothing else, they're on the right track.

Now that we know that there is going to be football this season, why don't we go ahead and take a level-headed look at where that path might lead?

Playoff Outlook

It's been over a decade since the Lions last made the playoffs. That was back in 1999, when the Lions made it to the postseason seemingly out of spite for the recently retired Barry Sanders. They failed to make it past the first round.

Despite what their history since 1999 may suggest, the Lions do seem to have pretty favorable odds of making the playoffs this year. Of course, these odds will be exponentially better if they can keep quarterback Matthew Stafford healthy. The Georgia product played in just three games in his sophomore season, missing significant time with a series of right shoulder injuries.

If Stafford can stay on his feet, the Lions offense has the potential to be very formidable. Stafford himself has all the familiar trappings of a productive NFL quarterback, and he has a couple of very dangerous weapons at his side in wide receiver Calvin Johnson and running back Jahvid Best. In addition, rookie running back Mikel Leshoure and rookie wide receiver Titus Young could both turn out to be difference-makers.

On the other side of the ball, the Lions will essentially base their defensive attack off of the pass rush. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was a revelation as a rookie, totaling 10 sacks on his way to winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He will be flanked by rookie Nick Fairley, giving the Lions a dynamic duo in the middle of their defensive line that other teams will learn to fear.

If the Lions do turn out to be an offensive juggernaut, the only thing the defense will have to do is make sure the team avoids barnburner games. If that pans out and the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears come back to earth a little, the Lions could very well end up in the playoffs.

Biggest Weaknesses

The point is debatable, but the Lions' biggest weakness resides on the defensive side of the ball with the secondary. The team may have allowed a respectable 218.6 passing yards per game last season, but that number probably should have been better given the ferocity of the team's pass rush.

The biggest issue is the fact that Detroit's two primary cornerbacks—Chris Houston and Nathan Vasher—got burned on a seemingly regular basis. This is exactly why many people expected them to go out and draft a corner (i.e. Prince Amukamara or Jimmy Smith) in the first round. Instead, the Lions went for Fairley.

The good news is that Houston is a free agent, which more or less gives the Lions an excuse to go out and find an upgrade. Nnamdi Asomugha is one possibility, but it sounds like he may be too expensive for the Lions. Either way, they need able bodies on the corners.

On the other side of the ball, it seems to be a simple matter of key players staying healthy. This obviously starts with Stafford, and the pressure will be on the offensive line to keep him on his feet as much as possible. After all, if Stafford gets hurt again, the Lions are doomed.

Elsewhere, the Lions need to establish some consistency in the running game. They were one of the worst rushing teams in the league in 2010, which had a lot to do with Best's own injury troubles. Leshoure will have to step in and contribute immediately.

Rookies to Watch

Obviously, all eyes will be on Fairley, who has the potential to be just as disruptive as Suh was in his rookie campaign. Fairley absolutely dominated at Auburn as a junior last season, yet he fell in the draft due to concerns over his character. The Lions decided to take a chance on him with the No. 13 pick, and you can rest assured that Fairley would love to repay them for their faith.

Just as important to the team's success will be Leshoure. As mentioned above, he will need to help balance out Detroit's rushing attack, but he could end up doing much more than that. He is just the kind of between-the-tackles back the Lions needed last season, and it won't be at all surprising if he takes over as the team's feature back at some point in 2011.

Of course, keep an eye on Young as well. He's not going to take too many catches away from Johnson, but he has the kind of speed and explosiveness to stretch the field. He will also be helpful in the return game. Basically, think of him as this draft's answer to DeSean Jackson.

These players represent three of the Lions’ five picks from the 2011 draft, and they alone are the reason many people count the Lions among the winners from this year’s draft. All they have to do now is prove they’re worth the hype.

It will all start on September 11 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We shall see what the Lions have in store.