How To Fix The Detroit Lions

All is not lost in Detroit for Lions fans... fan? Sympathizers?

There are some pieces in place to build around. Youngsters Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith aren't bad football players, but the lack of a mediocre, much less decent or good, quarterback on the roster is the biggest issue.

Also, the defense showed flashes of decency amidst the horror that was 2008. Again, when the offense averages a three-and-out, it's hard for any defense to perform at its best for an entire game.

The following is my brief action plan to fix the 0-16 Detroit Lions.

The Blockbuster

For LaDanian Tomlinson and the Chargers' pick in the middle of the second round, trade the top pick in the second round, the top pick in the fourth round and a conditional third round pick in the 2010 draft.

The Chargers have been rumored to at least be open to the idea of moving Tomlinson after injuries took him out of the playoffs this year. Darren Sproles was terrific in his place, and watching Michael Turner burn it up in Atlanta has to make the brass in San Diego wonder "what if?"

By moving down approximately 15 slots in the second round, the Lions are not forfeiting second round talent; they have two picks in the first round (1, 20 from Dallas). The 33rd pick might be enough value, along with the 4th rounder, to entice the Chargers to move the aging face of their franchise. The conditional pick in 2010 would be based on Tomlinson's health and production; both categories are long shots for any back to achieve behind the current Lions offensive line.

Also, the addition of Tomlinson gives Lions fans something to cheer for to break their gloom. With Kevin Smith as an able sidekick, the Lions could have a the building blocks of a terrific running game to compliment Johnson on the outside.

The Free Agent

Sign Byron Leftwich to play quarterback.

Leftwich has looked more than serviceable while backing up Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh this year. He has also stayed healthy, albeit by spending most of his time listening to the plays being called and not executing them. He still has a strong arm and is a leader; two things the Lions have lacked for the better part of a decade.

The other reason you attack Leftwich as your primary target in free agency is to keep him out of Chicago. The Bears' GM Jerry Angelo has already told the media that he is looking for a quarterback to compete for the starting job with Kyle Orton. If Detroit guaranteed Leftwich the starting job, he'd be more likely to end up a Lion.

In Leftwich and Tomlinson, you would be adding two enormous pieces to an empty puzzle. Suddenly you have an experienced leader under center, a Hall of Famer to teach Smith the ropes in the backfield, and organization in an offense to take the attention off Johnson.

The Draft - Round One

Select Andre Smith, T, Alabama with the first pick, and Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois with the 20th overall selection.

The Lions will be tempted to take Matthew Stafford with the top pick, and those that draw the Jay Cutler comparisons will be behind the wheel of the bandwagon the entire month of March. 

The fire will be fueled by the millions watching rookies Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco in the playoffs as rookies. But the decision making skills that cost Georgia the top ranking this fall also leads to concerns about Stafford at the next level.

If you bring in Leftwich, it eliminates the urgency to pick a quarterback. This allows the Lions to make the logical selection by taking a tackle to protect their quarterback for the next decade. He also opens running lanes for the projected running attack of Tomlinson and Smith.

The Lions' pass defense was miserable last year (the entire defense was awful). Davis will likely be the best defensive player on the board at 20, and is probably the only shut-down corner in this year's draft. With players like Bernard Berrian and Greg Jennings in the division, having a solid number one corner is huge to building a defense.

The Draft - Rounds 2-7

Continue to address the offensive line and defensive backs (linebackers and secondary).

With many skill position players coming into this draft (other than quarterbacks), there could be a wealth of depth on the offensive line and on the defensive side of the ball this spring. This could play into the Lions hands well.

In this proposed scenario, the Lions would select 16th in the second round. There will likely be a quality linebacker or safety available still at this stage of the second round, or a tight end with a lot of upside. This would still help the Lions while moving down allows them to acquire Tomlinson.

Once it gets to the second day of the draft, trading for picks in the 2010 draft is also a consideration. With the status of the collective bargaining agreement still to be decided, and the substantially larger talent pool at the quarterback position looking to come out after next year, it would make sense for the Lions to sandbag picks in an effort to be in position to take a signal caller next year.

While home town pick Drew Stanton is nice, the potential of adding a leader in the middle rounds like Tim Tebow, whether he plays quarterback or not, has to appeal to Lions' management.

The Result

If this plan is put into place, the Lions would be looking at an offense that would be dramatically different than the one that lost every game in 2008.

An offense with Leftwich, Tomlinson, Johnson, and Kevin Smith has weapons all over the field. If Andre Smith and Gosder Cherilus can solidify the offensive line, the ball could me moving all over Detroit like it did in the days of Erik Kramer, Herman Moore and Barry Sanders.

I would submit that, if the Lions put this offense on the field, you would see an improvement of ten points per game on the defensive side of the ball. A team that gives up 22 points per game in the NFC North is right in line with the Bears (21.9) and Vikings (20.8). By bringing in Leftwich, you're handicapping the offenses of both of these division rivals by taking off the board a player that could be on their lists as a potential starter.

This plan is not designed to make the Lions the 2009 version of the 2008 Baltimore Ravens, but it's easy to see how it could. In a division that has issues all over it, there is no reason to believe that just a few moves couldn't dramatically improve the Lions in 2009.

The only reason this plan couldn't take effect is that it takes a certain amount of... intestinal fortitude to out something this impactful into place. If the Lions find their roar in a new head coach and a general manager with a clue this winter, there could be reasons to smile in the Motor City.