Detroit Lions Progress: One Step at a Time

I've been reading a lot of articles about these Detroit Lions. 

My conclusions:  There are a ton of NFL experts out there.

There have been some predictions the Lions will be competing for the NFC North title in 2009.  Accomplishing that would be one heck of a feat for a team that went 0-16 in 2008.

The other side of the coin sees the Lions as nothing more than an extension of the Millen years and see them winning only two games in 2009.  While that does seem more realistic to the casual observer, my honest opinion is the end result will be in the six to eight win range. 

The upgrade to the coaching staff and the new players coming in are a huge improvement over last years team.

New head coach Jim Schwartz isn't handing any starting jobs to anyone.  His mantra this year has been the player that is the best at his position and shows that he is ready to be the starter will earn the starting job. 

This includes the quarterback spot which many "experts" have the Lions making a knee-jerk reaction in stating Stafford should be the starter.

About the only two spots on the offensive side of the ball that is set is the WR spot with future all-world receiver Calvin Johnson and emerging leader, running back Kevin Smith.

Will the Lions ever get there?  Who knows?  But one thing that I do know is that all Lions fans have been waiting for decades for the Lions to move from a bad to mediocre team to a good team.  Becoming an elite team will take a lot of hard work and forward thinking.

But, one step at time folks.  First order of business is to just get better...win the games you are supposed to win.  Heck, I'd be real happy with the Lions winning all of their home games.

Once they get better, and win some games, the question that should be in the fore front of every Lion player, coach and front office person is "what can I do to make the team better?"

Players need to push themselves and each other.  Coaches need to design schemes to exploit players strengths.  Front office needs to be constantly on the look-out for players that can help the team.

Recent team history cannot be ignored.  Focus needs to be away from the 0-16 season of last year and all of the ineptness of the Millen era.  The current regime in place can't change the past but can point to it and use it as motivation.

The goal of the Lions should not be merely to reach the playoffs.  Too often, the Lions achieved that in the 1990s only to be one and done 90% of the time.  In order to win in the playoffs, teams have to learn how to win on the road.

The Lions road record in the regular season has been atrocious.  Let's not forget the even more depressing 24 game road loss streak.  So to improve chances of winning in the playoffs, the Lions must, must improve their ability to win on the road.

In 2009, the Lions should focus on winning their home games.  This is where the fans can help our team.  The Seahawks led the NFL last year with opposing teams getting flagged for false starts. 

If the Lions can give the fans something to cheer about, we can help them in the same way.  Opposing teams should be worried about coming in to the Lions den.

I hope the 2009 season is one that all can see forward progress.  The moves so far have indicated they are pointed in the right direction.  But until the wins outnumber the losses, fans aren't gonna be happy anytime soon.