Detroit Lions Roundtable: Where Do We Go From Here?

We're still here.

The Super Bowl is over, which leaves us a "so what?" Pro Bowl away from full offseason discussion. And in spite of all of our threats to leave, we're still fans of the Detroit Lions, we still care, and for some reason, whether misguided or not, we still believe.

Now that 0-16 has come and gone, Detroit has a new look at the top of the franchise, and a looming question remains: Now what?

This is a bigger question than I cannot take on by myself, so I've divided it into major areas of interest, and enlisted some help from my respected colleagues and fellow die-hards.

Let's see what they have to say.

What To Do About the Lions' QB Situation?

Keith Shelton

I would strongly recommend that the Lions not pick up Culpepper’s option for 2009, which will pay him over $6 million, and instead get through one more season with Dan Orlovsky.

As a backup/third-string option, there’s plenty of serviceable free agents out there. Orlovsky doesn’t lose games though, he’ll play well enough to keep the Lions in the game.

If Detroit drafts a hot rookie with happy feet and sporadic judgment, it will be a disaster.

David McClure

Ideally, I would like to see the Lions wait for a year and sign a free agent veteran or one of the quarterbacks currently on the roster for this season.

Orlovsky and Stanton really haven't had a chance to go through a camp and run the team. I'd like to see them add some talent up front that can help both the run game and pass protection. This will give the offense a much-needed boost.

Defenses will no longer be able to tee off and the Lions can then control the ball by getting good yardage on first down, setting up more manageable third-and-short situations. This will have a positive effect on the defense, as they will be on the field less and hopefully not be playing off of quick turnarounds in bad field position.

If they draft a QB at No. 1, it will not be that bad, but I'd rather see a top tackle or top defensive player at that spot.

This draft does not appear to have any consensus No. 1, but Andre Smith seems to be the odds-on favorite at the top.

I'm a Jason Smith fan, too, but I don't know that he is worthy of the top pick. If he has a great combine, then I would consider him. He has the best feet, and is the best athlete of the bunch. If he can show good strength numbers then he's my pick. He is a solid pass protector, but could use a little more size for the run game.

If the Lions can be patient and wait for next year's draft, which will likely will be more solid at the quarterback spot, they can rebuild the defense and set-up the offense for a franchise signal-caller.

Who knows, maybe they get lucky and Orlovsky or Stanton turn out to be good. Luck was the real catalyst for Atlanta and Miami this year.

Dean Holden

Neither Orlovsky nor Stanton—especially Stanton—has gotten a fair shot to run the team yet.

Orlovsky started to look pretty good, and just as he appeared to hit a stride, he got injured. That he was able to produce anything with a team as shattered as the Lions is a small miracle.

Stanton is an unfortunate case.

He was drafted in the second round (like Drew Brees,) with an eye to the future. Then he stubbed his toe or something in training camp and was shut down in his rookie year so Mike Martz could tinker with his throwing motion, in between his weekly campaigns to get Jon Kitna killed.

Last season, I advocated to keep him on the bench in order to prime him to take over the team in 2009. Better that than send him in 10 losses deep to get his head taken off while the Lions play for nothing.

I stand by that decision now.

Culpepper has to go, Kitna will probably be cut, and Orlovsky is worth keeping on board as a serviceable backup, as long as he doesn't cost too much (I'm guessing he'll just want a roster spot somewhere.)

Scott Rieger

I am in favor of letting the quarterback situation figure itself out with the current players the Lions have.

Remember, the Lions have only four quarterbacks under contract in Culpepper, Kitna, Henson and Stanton, with Orlovsky being a free agent. I believe that Orlovsky will go elsewhere as a backup with a chance to compete for a starting job instead of remaining here.

I believe that Detroit can be successful with Daunte Culpepper under center, and my gut tells me that Linehan will also. Now, I am an admitted Culpepper fan and apologist, but I truly believe he's the most talented quarterback they have.

Kitna could possibly be back along with Stanton to compete for the job, with one becoming the backup.

As I've said before, I don't see a franchise signal-caller in the draft and therefore we should avoid selecting one, especially at No. 1.

As far as the quarterback situation in 2010, I believe that it depends on what happens next season. If Culpepper flourishes and looks like the player he was in Minnesota, he could be here for years to come. Remember, he's only 31.

If he struggles again, they'll have to go in another direction.

What Has Been the Best Front-Office Move of This Season?

Keith Shelton

I’d like to say Matt Millen’s firing was the best front-office move, but in reality, Millen leaving in mid-season hurt the team more than if he had waited until season’s end.

So, I’ll have to go with Mayhew’s trade of Roy Williams for Dallas’s first and third-round picks.

We won’t know just how good of a trade that was until the end of the 2009 season, but as of now it looks like Detroit got great value for Williams.

David McClure

Getting rid of Millen was the best move. It started the ball rolling in the right direction, finally. He was a terrible GM, one of the worst ever.

Next to that was removing the coaching staff, followed by the new coaching hires.

Without getting rid of Millen, none of the rest happens.

Dean Holden

An easy call here.

Though I feel a little bit bad for picking on the guy now, Matt Millen had to go. Since his departure, every move the Lions have made, with the possible exception of the Culpepper signing (we'll see,) have looked like home runs.

Obviously, I can't say the coaching hirings were fantastic yet, because the have yet to begin coaching.

All I can say is that since the departure of Millen, every move has looked like one in the right direction.

Scott Rieger

Well, I've been happy with most of the moves since Mayhew took over, but the best move had to be firing Matt Millen.

No one has presided over such futility in the history of sports, and it was long overdue.

The Roy Williams trade would be next for me, followed by the choices of Schwartz and Linehan as coaches.

What Was the Brightest Spot, and Biggest Disappointment of the 2008 Season?

Keith Shelton

The best play I saw all year was Dan Orlovsky’s 97-yard pass to Calvin Johnson.

It was more Johnson than Orlovsky as most of those yards were after the catch, but it was the longest pass in franchise history, and for a brief moment every Lions fan could jump out of their seats and be proud of their team.

Meanwhile, the worst player on this team was either Brian Kelly or Leigh Bodden.

Kelly on more than one occasion tripped on coverage and left the opposing receiver wide open for a touchdown. Often times he wasn’t even in the same zip code as the guy he was supposed to cover.

Leigh Bodden had one interception all year, and for a guy that came in as a result of trading Shaun Rogers, and with such high expectations, he was a huge disappointment.

David McClure

I was thoroughly pleased with the development of Kevin Smith. I really think he will be a solid back in this league.

He actually developed into a better running back this season. He runs with good power, not as shifty as some, but he has good speed and power.

Later in the season he developed some patience at the point of attack, and was much better at taking the best option that he could find. He ran much better as the season progressed.

The offensive line looked better towards the end of the season, but I think that was largely due to Smith's play. A good run game keeps defenses on their heels enough to buy a quarterback those extra two seconds.

Linehan should be able to get a lot out of Smith this season. I think he rushes for 1,300 yards or better this season, and has over 400 yards receiving.

Dean Holden

I have two great moments, but only one really counts. I take great pleasure in Roy Williams falling flat in Dallas after the Cowboys sold nearly their entire 2009 draft to Detroit for him.

I have nothing against Williams, but I love getting the better end of the deal. Especially since that didn't happen with the Shaun Rogers trade.

As far as people actually on the team, how about Jason "Thunderfoot" Hanson?

The greatest kicker nobody cares about became the first kicker ever to go 8-for-8 on 50+ yard field goals this year, and broke Morten Andersen's all-time record for 50-yarders in a career.

Against the Carolina Panthers, he moved into eighth place on the NFL's all-time scoring list.

On the other side of things, Mike Furrey went from the NFC's leading receiver to cut in two seasons. That's disappointing, after it looked like the Lions had found a diamond in the rough.

Scott Rieger

I think the first part of that question would be a tie between Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson, while the most disappointing player would've been Brian Kelly.

Kevin Smith had one of the best rookie seasons for a running back in team history, and it would've been even better had they made him the starter from day one.

Calvin Johnson proved that he is one of the best wide receivers in the league, and it was mind blowing to see the numbers he put up while being thrown to by five different QB's.

But what can you say about Brian Kelly. Here was a guy who came over with a nice contract and was expected to play well.

He was horrible, looked old, was benched, and was later cut during the season.

What are Detroit's Biggest Needs This Offseason, and How Should They Fill Them?

Keith Shelton

Detroit's biggest need(s) this offseason are on the offensive and defensive lines, the core foundation of any good football team.

The offensive line hole can, and should be filled with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Andre Smith.

Hopefully the defensive line can be addressed in free agency. It would make Schwartz an instant hero if he could convince Albert Haynesworth to jump to Detroit from Tennessee.

David McClure

Middle linebacker. The Lions have got to replace Paris Lenon.

Speaking as a coach here, the guy fills the wrong hole over 50 percent of the time. He is a mediocre-to-poor tackler, and he plays too high at the point of attack. Additionally,he is not a leader.

I believe you need at least one stud linebacker to lead your defense, preferably in the middle. Ray Lewis is the best example.

I think they need to draft Maualuga, Laurinaitis, Cushing, or possibly Sintim to address that need. If they cannot get any of these guys, they should draft a slightly lower-rated guy like Jason Phillips out of TCU, and bring in another 'backer in free agency.

I wish the Lions could have gotten Takeo Spikes last year.

Other major needs for the Lions include defensive end, quarterback, cornerback, strong safety, and a second wide receiver to pair with Johnson.

I think they need two linebackers though. Ideally, they get lucky and Laurinaitis falls, or Cushing has a solid combine and moves into the 20 spot. Maualuga will not be there.

I would be happy with Bart Scott on the strong side, as he is the most likely Raven to leave. He's not great, but is a solid run defender and a significant upgrade for Detroit.

I think they get a DE at 33. Michael Johnson and Paul Krueger should be available there. My mock draft has Michael Johnson there unless he blows people away at the combine.

I still think Avril ends up starting as Detroit brings along another young guy. No free agent pickup is necessary.

It would be better to look for another good corner in the third round and bring in Dunta Robinson as a free agent. That gives you better coverage, and with Cunningham's new defensive style and good linebackers, you now are stopping the run and have improved the pass coverage.

If Avril or a rookie can make an impact off the edge, Detroit could really have something special defensively.

Dean Holden

When you give up the second-most points in NFL history, defense is a need.

With as many times as I saw the defense get gashed on a run right up the gut, I couldn't help but think about Shaun Rogers. The Lions need somebody to fill up some space down there in the trenches, and Schwartz reeling Albert Haynesworth in would be huge.

They need an impact player who makes guys around him better, and Haynesworth is that guy.

The No. 1 pick needs to be Andre Smith. Most of the rest of the draft will need to focus on defense. I laugh just thinking about it, but they should draft a wide receiver as well.

The return game needs help, and the Lions need somebody to go on the other side of Calvin Johnson now.

That being said, if they draft a wideout higher than the third round, I'll throw my television out the window.

Scott Rieger

Detroit's biggest needs are on defense without a doubt.

They desperately need a middle linebacker, and could use some standouts on the defensive front, and in the secondary.

On offense, they really need some line help, and also probably need another receiver now that Furrey has been cut.

I think they should fill as many of them as possible through the draft, while picking up some mid-level free agents that can come in and contribute to the team.

Some of the guys I've targeted as free agents are Gabe Watson, the defensive tackle from Arizona, and Baltimore linebacker Bart Scott.

What Is a Realistic Goal For the Lions in 2009, and What Are Your Personal Projections For 2009?

Keith Shelton

Given the overhaul needed for this team and the influx of youth that’s sure to be coming in, an optimistic projection for Detroit is seven wins.

That’s if everything comes together exactly as it’s envisioned by Schwartz.

My personal prediction? Five wins.

It’s the Lions folks, nothing ever goes according to plan. Look to 2011 (yes, 2011, not 2010) as the year when the Lions will post a winning record and possibly a playoff berth.

David McClure

They should realistically try to be a playoff contender.

With the right moves they could go 8-8.

Without having seen the free agent moves and the draft though, I'd say 6-10 right now.

Dean Holden

I'd love to see them be the next team to come back from the brink and make the playoffs, but even with a great draft, we're probably looking at a goal of seven wins, and an actual record of 4-12.

This team has losing etched in its bones. When is the last time they won a close game? They will find a way to lose a few frustrating games, and win one inspiring one, but they'll be better than the record shows as they begin to reverse the culture of losing.

Scott Rieger

I think the goal should always be the playoffs for a team going into a season, despite what transpired previously.

Personally, I cannot make an accurate projection until after the draft but I will say that I'd be happy with 7-9 or 8-8.

Thanks to Keith Shelton, David McClure, and Scott Rieger.

Looking forward to a great 2009 with you guys.