Detroit Lions: Keys to Taking the Next Step in 2012-13

Coming into this season, the Lions had plenty of reasons to be optimistic with a young core of bright talent. They also dealt with plenty of questions in need of an answer.

Can Matthew Stafford stay healthy? Will the offensive line make sure he stays upright? Will the suspect secondary hold their own against the pass?

After a healthy 16 game, 5,038 yard, 41 TD and 10 win kind of season, it's safe to say Matthew Stafford is the real deal and he'll be wearing a Lions uniform for a long time.

In the end, it came down to the offensive line and the secondary. After allowing an NFL record performance to Matt Flynn in a 45-41 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and a 45-28 playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints, the debate was finally settled. The secondary was the guilty party.

The improvement of the front four defensive line was supposed to help give the defensive backs time to cover and create pressure for the quarterback. With an underachieving season for the defensive line, corners and safeties were picked apart worse and worse as the season went on.

Chris Houston, Eric Wright and Amari Spievey created nine interceptions through the first eight games of the season. The second half of the season, the entire secondary only picked off four more passes after that. Louis Delmas and Twitter nemesis Aaron Berry failed to record an interception all season.

Houston, Spievey and Delmas have shown durability concerns after missing many key games and plays during the season due to injury. The Lions entered the season short in depth with good players in the back four. Constantly losing the starters to injury didn't help the cause.

The safety play was a struggle to watch with plenty of missed tackles, blown coverages and miscommunication on deep passes. It was no question that the corners needed an upgrade. Martin Mayhew went on a witch hunt this past free agency for a boost at the position.

Mayhew and the Lions front office will have a handful of financial situations to deal with for the next couple years. Left tackle Jeff Backus is a free agent this year, leaving a vacancy in the blind side of the offensive line.

Middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch and defensive end Cliff Avril were bright spots on the defense, and are hungry for a long-term deal.

Not to mention Calvin Johnson will be playing in his contract year next season. Larry Fitzgerald set the bar rather high this offseason, signing an eight-year $120 million deal, with nearly $50 million guaranteed. Megatron will receive a monster deal, but whether it's from the Lions is a different story.

Even with these other concerns, for now the immediate concern is the secondary. Offensively, the Lions have shown they can keep pace with any team in the NFL.

The front office created a dynamic offense with all its' weapons on the outside, including a healthy running game with the return of Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure in the backfield. That offense should be much more diverse and that much more dangerous with a sense of balance.

In a quarterback's league, this defense has to stop somebody to have more success. Mayhew and the Lions have had pretty good success in the free-agency aspect since taking over the franchise three years ago.

Also, with the 24th pick in this year's draft, the Lions can find some great young players at the end of the draft. Look for Nebraska corner Alfonzo Dennard and Alabama corner Dre Kirkpatrick to be on top of the Lions' draft board.

As the saying goes, offense wins games, defense wins championships.

If Detroit wasn't satisfied with a one-and-done performance in the playoffs this season, then change has to be begin with the defense. To be more specific, it begins in the secondary.