Detroit Lions' SWOT Analysis

It’s that time of year, mock draft season. Mel Kiper posted his first mock draft backing in January. His counterpart, Todd McShay, is on his third version. Every writer at NFL.com has at least one draft of what the first round will look like.

In an effort to bring you a different point of view, I will bring you a full analysis of all thirty-two teams before endeavoring on any mock drafts. This will allow for you to fully understand the reasoning behind my opinions.

Seeing as I have a degree in marketing, I will structure these analyses as a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. As companies use this method to gain a full view of their own brand, I will use this method to full analyze the state of each NFL team heading into the draft.

We will start with the team with the number one pick, the Detroit Lions.

STRENGTHS

Young talent

Despite failing to win a game last season, the Lions do have some good, young talent on the roster.

Calvin Johnson is one of the top receivers in the league. He has the size and skill to remain an elite NFL receiver for a long time.

Running back Kevin Smith improved as the season progressed. Smith emerged as the go-to-back after Tatum Bell ruined another opportunity to be an NFL back. He finished the year just under the 1,000-yard mark with a 4.1 yard per carry average. Smith can expect to see his workload increase as Scott Linehan takes control of the Lions’ offense.

Finally, linebacker Ernie Sims is proving to be the leader of the Lions’ defense. Sims has accumulated over 100 tackles all three seasons he’s played in Detroit. He has also been named the team’s defensive captain since his second year in the league.

Sims is the eldest of these players, entering his fourth season in the league. These three are the beginning of a solid young nucleus for this team to build around.

Coaching staff

After the dismal years under Rod Marinelli, the Lions have gathered an impressive coaching staff for the 2009 season.

Jim Schwartz leads the staff after building one of the most physically imposing defenses in the NFL in Tennessee.

Schwartz is teaming up with the highly respected Gunther Cunningham. Cunningham is regarded as one of the top defensive minds in the league, and has head coaching experience.

New offensive coordinator Scott Linehan also has head coaching experience, having been the head coach in St. Louis. Linehan has proven effective at adapting his system to his talent.

In Minnesota, he continued to focus the offense on the aerial assault of Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper. In Miami, he focused his offense around Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.

In St. Louis, he tried to focus the offense around Stephen Jackson. With Johnson and Smith on offense, Linehan has some talent to work with on the offensive side of the ball.

Offseason signings

The Lions have been busy thus far in the offseason. They have addressed major needs through their free agent signings and trades.

The Lions have worked to improve their pathetic defense. The signing of Grady Jackson will improve their ability to stop the run. The loss of Shaun Rogers left a hole in the middle of that defensive line, and Jackson should be able to step in and improve that position immediately.

Detroit has also made major strides to improve a secondary which has been their weakest link for years. Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry represent significant upgrades to the cornerback position.

Both are veterans that bring significant experience to the defensive backfield. Henry is a playmaker, when he is healthy. He also offers versatility, as the Cowboys were considering moving him to safety before the trade.

WEAKNESSES

Quarterback

With the departure of Jon Kitna and Dan Orlovsky, the Lions are very thin at the most important position on the field. Culpepper has never been the same since his knee injury and parting ways with Randy Moss.

Behind Culpepper, the Lions are left with two big question marks. Drew Henson appears to be nothing more than a career back up. The bigger question is Drew Stanton.

The Lions have to decide how comfortable they are with Stanton, and whether they believe he is the franchise’s future. Given the fact that Culpepper was resigned, it does not seem that confidence is high with Stanton.

Linebacker

Other than Ernie Sims, the Lions have very little at the linebacker position. Paris Lenon actually led the team with 146 tackles from the middle linebacker spot, but he is an unrestricted free agent.

Their other backers are career practice squad and special team players with little playing experience.

Defensive backfield

Even with the recent acquisitions of Henry and Buchanon, the defensive backfield is still a concern. I believe in the mantra that you cannot have enough cornerbacks. Part of the reason Dallas parted ways with Henry was because he is injury prone.

Travis Fisher signed a three year extension a year ago. After those three, the talent drops sharply.

At safety, both Daniel Bullocks and Gerald Alexander have been affected by the injury bug.

Overall depth

It takes a lot for a team to go 0-16. Even at positions where the Lions have talent, they are no more than one person deep at any position. They need just a general infusion of talent up and down this roster.

OPPORTUNITIES

First-round picks

The best opportunity to acquire a plethora of new talent is through the draft. The Lions have an opportunity to add two impact rookies with two first round picks. Having the number one overall pick allows them to pick the player they feel will help their team the most.

With the 20th overall pick, the Lions can add a player that should still have the talent to start immediately.

New regime

The Lions have finally rid themselves of Matt Millen. It’s no secret how terrible a general manager Millen turned out to be. He took a 9-7 team and whittled them down to the 0-16 debacle that took the field last season.

A new president, general manager, and coaching staff bring the opportunity to begin 2009 with a new attitude. After the worse regular season in NFL history, an attitude change is a definite need, and starting with the top is the best way to start the process.

THREATS

Weak free agent market

At this point, the big free agent names have found work. If a guy is still unemployed, a team has to wonder why. Granted, name recognition does not equal to on-field ability, but what was considered to be a weak free agency class has had the top taken off.

Now, teams will be looking for role players more than playmakers.

Questionable quarterback class

The quickest way to rebuild a team is to find a franchise quarterback, just ask the Atlanta Falcons. However, there does not appear to be another Matt Ryan in this year’s draft. Mark Sanchez and Matt Stafford appear to be the front runners of the quarterback class; however, both have big question marks.

Neither would be higher than third had Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy entered the draft. It appears that both would benefit from sitting and learning. However, after these two, the quarterback talent drops significantly.

The Lions have to decide if they want to pay the big money and wait for one of these two.

First-pick pressure

The Lions have to deal with the pressure and money that go to the first overall pick of the draft. Should they decide to select a quarterback; the pressure will be great to put him on the field immediately.

It is very difficult to pay someone the type of money a quarterback would require, and have that player sit on the bench for a season. However, the Lions have to select a player worth the top overall pick.

For example, they Lions need help at linebacker, but they could not justify taking a linebacker number one overall.

DRAFT FORECAST

The Lions need to find the best football players available. Specifically, they need a franchise quarterback, linebacker help, defensive backfield help, and depth at every position.

They have to decide if they are sold on Sanchez or Stafford as a franchise guy. I’d expect one of those guys to be the first pick. With the 20th pick, they can look to fill roles.

I’d look for a linebacker or defensive back, especially considering the pedigree of the head coach. However, when selecting a quarterback first, they may consider finding someone to help protect that quarterback as well.

They should look to take the best player, and not because they’re loaded, but because the cupboard is so bare.