Detroit Lions Offseason Wish List: 5 Positions That Need to Be Upgraded

The Detroit Lions head into their NFC Wild Card showdown on Saturday at New Orleans with more questions than answers.

The defense was nowhere to be found yesterday from the second quarter on. Make all the excuses you want, and I have too, about the Lions' loss to Green Bay, and I will agree with all of them, because they're all valid, but one reason the Lions lost sticks out more than any.

Many will argue that the Packers simply overmatched the Lions. Okay, I can see that. The Packers didn't get to 15-1 by accident.

On the other hand, they were resting the majority of their starters, and their backup quarterback threw for over 400 yards.

Blame the officiating. That's what many people are doing, and again, rightfully so. The officiating in this game was deplorable at best. The Titus Young catch was clearly a touchdown. However, good teams are the ones that can overcome poor officiating.

Blame Gunther Cunningham. That's fine. He needed to make some more adjustments given the personnel that he had. He didn't, and it showed, and Schwartz ripped into the defense as he should.

The reason that sticks out most, however, is that the Lions simply just didn't get it done.

The play in the secondary made it seem as if the defensive line and linebackers got on the bus to Green Bay and the secondary got on a boat and sailed to Australia. That's how far apart they were.

The Lions have a very tough Wild Card opponent. New Orleans hasn't lost a game since a road game at St. Louis on October 30th, so they are beatable in that respect. They haven't lost a game at home this season, however, and Drew Brees can make mince meat out of this secondary if we're not careful.

The rematch begins at 8 p.m. EST on NBC on Saturday, but for now, let's take a look at the Lions' late Christmas wish list. There are five positions that need to be upgraded if the Lions want to go back to the playoffs next season.

5. Special Teams

Ben Graham did a decent job for the Lions this season, but there were times when he inexplicably really struggled. And I mean really struggled.

Given that rookie punter Ryan Donahue was placed on IR at the beginning of the season, Graham did an okay job of filling in, but he could have done better. Much better.

Very rarely did Graham's punts land within the other team's 10-yard line. Very rarely did his punts land in the end zone for touchbacks too. Yesterday he struggled too, but I can blame the wind for that one.

I think Jim Schwartz and the Lions' brass can get a more reliable punter on the free-agent market next season if Donahue is unable to return to what he once was. For now, though, if Graham is the only option, let's hope Detroit doesn't get into too many fourth down situations.

We don't need to talk about Jason Hanson. As far as I'm concerned, if he still has enough leg strength at 50 years old, let the man kick.

The return game, however, needs a serious boost. Stefan Logan has been anything but effective all season. Sure he's had his games, but overall, not so much.

Part of that is the new kickoff rule, sure, but that excuse can only work for so long. Kind of like the "the dog ate my homework" excuse. You can only use that as a crutch for so long.

One of the benefits of having Mikel LeShoure back is they don't need to look outside the organization for a kickoff returner right away. If he's ineffective though, a guy on the free-agent market would be the next best thing.

4. Defensive Line

You've all asked for it, and now you got it.

Even though I will defend the Lions defensive line to the death, they could still benefit from an upgrade or two, particularly on the outside.

Even though he's done a decent job this season, Kyle Vanden Bosch has quickly become the senior member of the line. He's getting long in the tooth, and it's showed at times this season. He didn't put up the numbers he put up last year, and Schwartz is routinely keeping him out of practice to give him a rest.

I put the defensive line as the fourth thing that needs to be upgraded because it is still the primary strength of this team. On the edges, however, the Lions need to start looking at KVB's replacement and start grooming him to take over in the next year or two.

On the other end, Cliff Avril must be re-signed this off-season. He has proved his worth more than anyone on the line this year. However, he is due to make a humongous salary, and the Lions may not be willing to pay him that much.

If that's the case, it's off to the free-agent market they go to get his replacement, though it's likely they'll re-sign him. He loves it here, and the Lions love having him.

Ndamukong Suh is fine, Sammie Hill is fine and Nick Fairley is fine at defensive tackle. However, it's everyone else behind them that could use an upgrade or two. Or three.

Andre Fluellen hasn't seen the field this year outside of special teams. Corey Williams is a shell of what he once was when he was first brought here. Do we even have any more defensive tackles outside of those five?

Lawrence Jackson has played well when he's been given the opportunity as an edge rusher, however the Lions could still find a few solid replacements on the defensive line, for depth if anything.

3. Offensive Line

Another (sort of) strength for this team is the offensive line, though like their counterparts on defense, they could benefit from a few tweaks.

Let's start from the left side. Tackle Jeff Backus, one of the two elder statesmen of the O-Line, has played well in spurts, and terrible in spurts. This season he's done a remarkable job of keeping Stafford on his feet against some of the better defensive ends in the league.

Backus is at the end of his contract. Unless he retires, which is not likely, or the Lions don't re-sign him, also not likely, he isn't going anywhere. While his new contract might only be for a year or two, you're still stuck with him. So who's next?

Jason Fox, the 2010 fourth-round pick out of Miami that they were grooming to be Backus's replacement, hasn't seen the field in two seasons, because he's been injured both times. I think it's a fair bet to say he's looking like a bust.

Therefore, it's time to look to the waiver wire to find a backup left tackle, since the two guys I had listed in my mock draft both decided to go back to Alabama...grrr....*shakes fist*

At guard, Rob Sims played well, but was it well enough to earn him another contract? We'll see. As his backup though...wait, does he even have a backup? Back to the free agent wire we go! Or to the draft, that works too.

At center, Dominic Raiola is a mystery, an enigma of sorts. He criticizes other players for making bone-headed mistakes, then goes out in the Green Bay game and makes two bone-headed mistakes himself.

Many have questioned his character (remember when he flicked off fans in Detroit?) too. He is a captain though, and has played like one. No one is more competitive and wants to win more badly than Raiola, so he likely won't be going anywhere for a while.

As for the right side, it would behoove the Lions to swap out Stephen Peterman for Leonard Davis. Davis did make the Pro Bowl after all. Peterman? Well...

At right tackle, Gosder Cherilus has been wildly inconsistent this season, to the point where he was benched in three games. Corey Hilliard is a nice replacement, but not quite good enough.

If anything, the Lions could benefit from depth signings on the offensive line if they're unable to land a big fish.

2. Running Back

Any of you remember this guy? Remember how great he was on Monday Night Football against the Bears? What did he do since? Oh yeah, he got two concussions. Ouch.

With Jahvid Best out, Mikel LeShoure out and Kevin Smith's ankle possibly snapping at any moment, the Lions need a huge upgrade at running back. There is no guarantee Best will be back next season. It's hard enough to come back from one concussion, but two in the same season?

So assuming Best doesn't come back, and even if he does assuming he's ineffective, the load falls on the shoulders of Mikel LeShoure. Coming back from that fushugena (that's Yiddish for "stupid") Achille's tendon injury is always tough for any football player, so we'll see how he comes through.

Maurice Morris has been wildly ineffective this year. I think it's time the Lions started looking elsewhere to start filling out their depth at running back. Joique Bell was a nice pickup, but I am not sure if he is the answer either.

The Lions can only win so many games with Stafford's arm, as we saw. You win football games on offense in three phases: passing, receiving and running. The Lions have won without a running game, but it can only last so long.

1. Secondary

As if this wasn't obvious.

Let's face it folks. In the NFL, you aren't going to win when you have a wide receiver playing safety. It just doesn't work.

The Lions need depth in the defensive backfield because, as we saw, when Chris Houston and Eric Wright go down, Alphonso Smith, Don Carey and Brandon McDonald just aren't going to cut it. Smith did play well in spurts though.

Eric Wright proved to be a nice surprise this season. It wouldn't shock me at all if the Lions re-signed him. In fact, I hope they do. Chris Houston is fine. Alphonso Smith? Eh, I can take him or leave him. It's everyone behind them that worry me.

The same holds true for their safeties, too.

Louis Delmas gets a free pass because he's been injured. Amari Spivey has played well, and so has Chris Harris. Unfortunately, though, Harris may be let go in the offseason, and John Wendling just isn't going to get it done if they lose their other safeties like they did this year.

The class of secondary players in the draft this April may not be as fruitful as it has been in previous years, but there are still some solid players the Lions could afford to spend a first-round pick on. Or, they could get someone via trade or free agency.

They need to do something though, or this ship will sink fast. The secondary cannot afford another season like they had this year.