Detroit Lions Offseason Is Productive,Bbut Holes Remain

The Detroit Lions enjoyed a fairly productive offseason but couldn’t hope to fill all the holes of an 0-16 team. In a similar situation in 2008, coming off of a 1-15 season, Miami began its successful rebuilding process by selecting offensive tackle Jake Long first overall in the draft.

Detroit’s new management and coaching staff took a different path by selecting Matt Stafford to be—they hope—the Lions’ quarterback of the future, rather than focusing on the trenches, where the Lions are weakest. That and other offseason choices might benefit the team in the coming years, but the lack of improvement on their offensive and defensive lines will hurt the squad this season.

Defensively, the Lions improved significantly at linebacker and cornerback with the acquisitions of four solid veterans—linebackers Julian Peterson and Larry Foote, plus corners Anthony Henry and Phillip Buchanon.

Up front Detroit brought in 13-year veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson as a run-stopper, hoping to improve a defense that was gashed for 6.4 yards per carry in 2008. If the Lions’ old (Jackson) and unproven (everyone else) line can’t keep opposing offensive linemen from reaching the next level, stopping the run will again be a problem this year.

If the D-linemen play well enough to let the linebackers roam free, the Lions’ defenders should face more favorable down-and-distance situations this season. Even then, the Lions lack an elite pass rusher to take advantage of likely passing downs. The team will look for improvement from second-year end Cliff Avril, who posted a promising five sacks in his rookie season.

The Lions’ safeties are the team’s biggest question marks. Likely starters Daniel Bullocks and Gerald Alexander haven’t yet demonstrated they were worthy of being second-round draft choices. Another second-rounder, rookie Louis Delmas, could unseat one of those safeties this fall.

Currently, however, the Lions appear no better at safety than they did at the beginning of 2008, when Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan’s first NFL pass went over the top for a 62-yard touchdown against Detroit.

The Lions’ most glaring weakness last year was pass blocking. But the offensive line that permitted 52 sacks last season returns intact, with the addition of some veterans for depth. How do the Lions hope to improve their pass-blocking?

First, they need to keep games closer with better defense, which will allow their offense to run the ball more often, which will then prevent defenses from zeroing in on quarterback Daunte Culpepper on third-and-long. Detroit ran just 352 times while attempting 561 pass plays last year.

A better pass-run ratio is the key hope for overcoming their lack of pass-blocking talent. Of course, that was last year’s plan as well. Need I say more?