Detroit Lions: 5 Players Who Must Improve for the Lions to Be Successful in 2012

Training camp has only just begun yet, in the minds of most, the Detroit Lions have already slipped behind the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears in the battle for NFC North supremacy. Many cite the Lions' offseason troubles as a sign that they're not ready to take the next step.

People also love the moves Chicago made. The Bears bolstered their team, particularly their offense, with some big-name free agents. As for the Packers—they're still the Packers. They're really good.

Is it that simple though? Should the Lions simply be disregarded because of the stupidity of several players and another team's additions? It seems like Chicago signs big names every year. That hasn't exactly translated to Super Bowl wins has it?

The truth is that the Lions are on the cusp. Whether they follow through and take the next step, by improving upon their 10-6 record in 2011, remains to be seen. They certainly have the talent to do so.

As with every team, there are certain things that need to happen for them to be successful. Specifically, there are a handful of players that have to be better, if the Lions hope to be better.

Here are the Lions' key players who must improve upon their 2011 seasons, if Detroit hopes to keep up with their division rivals.

5. Punt and Kickoff Coverage Teams

I realize that this doesn't exactly count as "one player" as the title of this article suggests. So sue me. The Lions were dreadful in special teams last year and they desperately need improvement if they hope to contend this year.

There's been much said about the drop off in Stefan Logan's performance with regards to the return game. There is truth to that, particularly with punt returns. He only averaged 7.9 yards per in 2011. He wasn't bad with kickoff's though. The Lions were 14th in the NFL with a 24-yards-per-attempt average.

It didn't help that he only had 37 opportunities to return kicks. That was one of the lowest attempt totals in the league.

Unfortunately, Logan's mediocre performance wasn't the worst part. The coverage teams were awful. They gave up 25.6 yards on kickoffs (seventh-worst average) and 13.4 yards on punts (tied for worst in the NFL).

Something has to change because the Lions are giving up a huge advantage to teams in the field position battle.

They lost several key special teams players this offseason, but they also retained a couple—Maurice Stovall and Doug Hogue. They also added some youngsters that could provide an upgrade—Ronell Lewis, Tahir Whitehead and Chris Greenwood.

The impact of special teams tends to go unnoticed—unless you have a player like Devin Hester who consistently gives you big plays. The truth is that it's an important part of the game. Even if the Lions aren't racking up return yardage, they'd immediately improve if they can shore up the coverage teams.

With their offense they can score from anywhere on the field anyway. The Lions defense is the one that needs all the help they can get.

(Lions' special team statistics taken from ESPN.com)

4. Louis Delmas

Louis Delmas has demonstrated that he can be a very solid player for the Lions. Although he hasn't put together a Pro Bowl-type season, he has the potential to do so.

His leadership and energy also make him the heart and soul of the Lions' defense.

That is why it's been so frustrating for fans to see him sitting on the sidelines so much. Injuries have robbed him of playing time, particularly in the most important part of the season.

Injuries aside, Delmas needs to improve his play when he is on the field as well. His all-out style of play is a blessing and a curse. He plays with reckless abandon and as a result is great against the run. He comes up with some bone-rattling hits. However, he misses a lot of tackles that should be made too.

He also should be able to come up with more interceptions. He's only tallied two in three years and both of those came in his rookie year.

The Lions need his consistent presence in the secondary. Even with him they won't shut down the NFL's elite passing attacks; no secondary can. We've seen how the Lions' secondary performs without him and it is not pretty.

If the Lions hope to get better, they will need Delmas to do the same.

3. Brandon Pettigrew

Is it fair to say that Brandon Pettigrew needs to get better for the Lions to take the next step? He was their second leading receiver after all. 777 yards receiving and five touchdowns isn't anything to sneeze at.

It might not be fair but it is true. He is capable of much more and in his fourth year he really has to put it together. He doesn't need to be second or third on the team in receptions or yardage. Matthew Stafford has a bevy of top-notch receivers to do that.

As I already mentioned in a previous article, Pettigrew must become a more dangerous red-zone threat. He must improve his touchdown total.

It's easy to simply say he can do it, but the latest issue of ESPN the Magazine provides some statistical evidence to back that up.

In that article Matthew Berry provides 100 quick-hit factoids on a wide range of NFL subjects and No. 97, 98 and 99 concern Pettigrew's potential in the red zone.

Berry states that while Rob Grownkowski and Jimmy Graham—widely considered the best tight ends in the game—were tied for first with 17 end zone targets last season Pettigrew was third with 15.

With only a total of five touchdowns, you might think Pettigrew had hands of stone. Not so. Berry also points out that he only dropped one pass in the end zone. That was the same as Gronk, Graham and Jermichael Finley.

What was the reason for this? Who knows. Bad luck seems like the best explanation. The point is this: If Pettigrew had just the average completion percentage for a tight end in the end zone he would have been the eighth best scoring tight end in the NFL last year.

The Lions need those TDs to reach the next level and it's time for Pettigrew's luck to change.

2. Jahvid Best

Jahvid Best's concussion saga is well documented and has been discussed ad nauseum. No one knows for sure if he'll return. The Lions are optimistic he will but there is no time table. As Jim Schwartz and Roger Goodell said Thursday, it's in the hands of a multitude of doctors now.

No one wants Best to jeopardize his future. The man's life is more important than the game of football. That's for sure.

With that said, the Lions desperately need him to take the next step. They've planned their offense around him and without him on the field they're always operating in Plan B mode.

In July, Pat Kirwan of CBSsports.com wrote a fine article in which he highlighted how the best teams in the NFL have a "triple-threat" offense. Teams with only two elite weapons can be contained even with a top-tier quarterback.

The Lions were ranked fifth with Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew and Best. While Titus Young may evolve into an elite receiver, Best is a different animal. He can be used in a multitude of different ways out of the backfield and his speed and big play ability make it particularly difficult for opposing defenses to game plan for.

As I said, Best's health is concern No. 1. However, it's undeniable that his presence on the field gives the Lions offense the best chance to actually improve upon last year.

1. Ndamukong Suh

Fans of the Detroit Lions did a lot of waiting last season. In particular, they did a lot of waiting for Ndamukong Suh to show up. And no, I'm not talking about the two games he missed due to suspension.

Fans, and probably the entire Lions team, were waiting for the 2010 Suh to reveal himself. Unfortunately it never happened.

I've heard many people refer to his season as solid and list the things that he did every down that were invaluable but went unnoticed. That's fine and dandy but after a rookie year in which he amassed 10 sacks, 66 tackles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception on his way to the Pro Bowl, it simply wasn't enough.

The Lions need Suh to be dominant. Solid is not enough. Their defensive line is heralded as one of the best in the NFL and it all starts with him. In fact, the entire defense starts with him. Their philosophy is based on the guys up front getting to the quarterback.

That's why the Lions haven't invested much in their secondary. Ideally they don't need shut down corners because the pressure up front should consistently disrupt the opposition's passing attack.

With all due respect to Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch who both do a great job of providing pressure, they are not enough. The Lions absolutely need Suh to return to form and dominate again.

We've seen what happens when he doesn't. Quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler and—ahem—Matt Flynn pick the Lions apart.

Will the real Ndamukong Suh please stand up?