The 2009 Detroit Lions

After going 0-16, it seems the only way to go is up, but it's going to be steep climb.  Everyone knows the story of the 2008 Detroit Lions, but what will the 2009 Lions do?  It's a tough question to answer but expectations should be held low.

I think it's safe to say that the Lions have decided that change is needed.  Detroit brought in Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to be the new head coach. 

Schwartz brings a hard nosed approach to the Lions and may be the kind of leader they've been looking for.  The Titans defense has always been stout and hopefully Schwartz can bring that kind of leadership to the Lions. 

Schwartz immediately said he wants to be a head coach for the whole team and not just for one side of the football.  To prove this he went out and hired two coordinators with impressive resumes. 

The new defensive coordinator will be Gunther Cunningham.  Cunningham has been in the league 28 years and has been defensive coordinator for the Chiefs and Raiders. 

On the offensive side of the ball, Scott Linehan was named coordinator.  Before he was the head coach of the Rams, he was offensive coordinator for the Vikings and Dolphins.  His style has been very successful and players like Steven Jackson, Torry Holt, and Chris Chambers all saw career years under Linehan.

The Lions also shook up personnel this year, with some steady veterans being brought in.  They made a great deal in trading Jon Kitna to the Cowboys for Anthony Henry. 

Kitna had worn out his welcome and the Lions secondary may have been their weakest spot last year—Henry will bring veteran leadership. 

They also brought in great depth at the running back position with Maurice Morris.  Morris will go a long way in backing up Kevin Smith and will help guide the youngster along. 

Lions have a star wide receiver in Calvin Johnson but they needed someone to play opposite him.  They brought in underachieving veteran Bryant Johnson, hoping he'll fill that role. 

The offensive line has been a problem for years now and the Lions didn't do much in the offseason to fix it.  They signed guard James Blair, center Dylan Gandy, and tackle Kirk Barton, but they aren't much more than backups.

On the defensive side of the ball, Detroit made some great moves that should help improve this defense vastly.  Defensive lineman Grady Jackson is a great run stuffer and can still be a force up front. 

The Lions traded away streaky defensive lineman Cory Redding to the Seahawks for linebacker standout Julian Peterson.  Along with fellow OLB Ernie Sims and recently signed MLB Larry Foote, the Lions boast one of the most impressive linebacking corps in all of football. 

In the secondary the Lions also signed CB Phillip Buchanon, CB Eric King, and CB Antonio Smith. All are improvements on what Detroit had last year. 

The big story all offseason for the Lions this year has been the draft.  Who would they take with the first pick?  Well the draft has come and gone and Detroit hope they got their franchise quarterback in Matthew Stafford. 

Stafford seems to have what it takes to be a quality player but there is a lot of pressure to fill a need the Lions have had since Bobby Layne was throwing in the 50s. 

Along with Stafford, the Lions picked TE Brandon Pettigrew which was a bit of a surprise, but he should start right away and help take some of the pressure off Calvin Johnson. 

Safety Louis Delmas was a nice pick, some have compared him to Bob Sanders.  WR Derrick Williams could fit in the slot position and also fill the kick returning needs as well. 

So, after changing the coaching staff, bringing in nice pieces in free agency, having a good draft, and even changing the uniforms and symbol, where does this leave the Lions? Improving, but still at the bottom of the division. 

I expect the Lions to win about three to four games this year.  The defense should be much better and could surprise some.  If the Lions want to win more than that, I think that there are a few things they need to do. 

First off, let Daunte Culpepper start the whole season.  I understand that Matthew Stafford is the new face of the franchise, but it would be foolish to throw him into this situation right away, he almost certainly would struggle and may never recover. 

Culpepper lost 30 pounds and had a great mini-camp.  He is also familiar with Scott Linehan's offense, as he played for him in Minnesota. 

Second, let Kevin Smith run.  Smith proved in college that he can handle a heavy workload.  He has the tools to become a Pro Bowl-caliber running back and can help keep defenses honest up front.

Third, Calvin Johnson needs consistency.  He may be the most talented wide-out in the game but he needs consistency from his quarterback, whomever it may be.  If he can find chemistry with either Culpepper or Stafford—watch out.

Fourth, cut down on sacks allowed.  I know it seems obvious, the but Lions need to find someway to keep the quarterback upright, otherwise it will be a long season for the OL and the QB.

Fifth, find a pass rusher.  Someone needs to step up and be a force on defense.  Last year DeWayne White led the team in sacks with only 6.5.

Sixth, coverage!  The Lions couldn't stop anyone last year when it came to pass defense.  The new secondary should help but if they don't, it's gonna be a long season again.

Seventh, win a game.  The Lions need to win a game eary to give them some confidence, otherwise the only thing they will hear about is whether or not they will ever win.

If the Detroit Lions can do these things they may have a chance to be a competitive team. 

They have some weaknesses on both sides of the ball that other teams could capitalize on, which could mean less than three wins again, but if Schwartz and company utilize the potential that this team has then they can start building a new, respectable franchise.