Diablo's Corner: Analyzing The Detroit Lions

As the NFL season approaches, it’s the time for a look back at last season and predictions for this coming season. 

I will go through each team in order based on their records from last year, from worst to first.  Starting with the team that broke an inauspicious record, the Detroit Lions. 

The Lions are the first team to go 0-16 and a season after the Patriots went 16-0 in 2008.  I guess the only real highlight for the year was going 4-0 in preseason. 

One higlight was the firing of Matt Millen on September 24th, 2008.  In retrospect, this was a great move and probably needed to be done long before then and the Lions did come close to winning a few games after Millen being shown the door.

There was the Vikings game where Minnesotta's Ryan Longwell made the winning field goal with 12 seconds left.  The near comeback against the Houston Texans as well as the near misses against the Redskins and the Bears.

There were good signs for the future last season for the Lions. 

Calvin Johnson, not surprisingly, didn’t have a sophomore slump with 78 receptions, 1,331 yards, and 12 touchdowns last season.  Jason Hanson had the highest field goal made percentage in the NFL at 95.5%.  Lions are probably wishing they had gotten into field goal range a little more often.  Kevin Smith in his rookie campaign had a decent season with 976 yards and 8 touchdowns to go along with 39 receptions which was second on the team behind Johnson. 

Despite these individual successes, most of the season was down in the doldrums for this once proud franchise. They were at or near the bottom in every major offensive or defensive category. 

Their highest rank was in passing yards per game (185 ypg), 24^th in the league.  This makes a lot of sense as they were behind most of the time.  Using a total of five different quarterbacks during the season, they ranked 27^th, 30^th, and 30^th in points per game, total yards per game, and rushing yards per game, respectively. 

The defense was not much better.  Statistically, it was worse.  The Lions were at the bottom in almost every category except passing yards per game, mere  27^th in the league.  The team leader in sacks, Dewayne White, had only 6 sacks for the season and they totaled 22 fumbles and 4 interceptions on defense. 

All of this leads to some optimism for the Lions coming into this season. 

Offseason

Free Agency

The off-season started with the firing of Rod Marenelli as the head coach and the hiring of Jim Schwartz former defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans. 

In another off-season of rebuilding for the Lions, they went all out.  A total of 25 players were added through trades or free agency and 26 were sent packing. 

The offense added a few key players, notably OT Jon Jansen, WRs Bryant Johnson, Ronald Curry, and Dennis Northcutt.   Jon Jansen finally lost out in Washington and signed with the Lions after being released from the ‘Skins.  When healthy, he is a good offensive tackle and can protect the quarterback whoever that might be.

Bryant Johnson, Ronald Curry, and Dennis Northcutt are a pretty good trio of wide receivers to go along with Calvin Johnson.  Bryant Johnson caught at least 40 balls in all but his rookie season, Northcutt is a proven return specialist with 44 passes the past two season in Jacksonville, and Curry had lackluster season after two good seasons in Oakland.  Northcutt and Curry are true deep threats with their speed which combines well with the Johnsons who are more possession type receivers. 

Notable additions via free agency on defense are LBs Larry Foote and Julius Peterson, DT Grady Jackson, and CBs Eric King, Tra’ Battle, and Phillip Buchanon.  Larry Foote, a native of Detroit, wanted to be released from the world champion Steelers to play for his hometown team. Last season he totaled 63 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the best defense in the league last season. 

Julius Peterson was a key member of the Seattle defense the past three seasons totaling 249 tackles, 24.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions during his tenure in the Northwest.  They also added good depth to the one position they were alright at before at cornerback with the additions of Eric King, Tra Battle, and Phillip Buchanon.

Draft

Come draft day, the Lions were able to address most of their team’s needs. 

They drafted Mathew Stafford quarterback from Georgia with the #1 overall pick and tight end Brandon Pettigrew from Oklahoma State 20^th overall. 

Stafford is a prototypical pocket passer with good arm strength.  He had a 27-7 record at Georgia, throwing for 7,731 yards and 57 total touchdowns. 

Pettigrew is all around great at tight end and will be a big time threat in the 2009 sesason.  He was a Mackey Award finalist after catching 42 balls for 472 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Pettigrew also posted 43 knockdowns as well for the 2008 campaign. 

Safety Louis Delmas (33^rd overall) is the Lions second round pick and while it looks like an odd pick coming from Western Michigan, he projects as a ball-hawking safety that will help against the run and the pass. 

Also drafted by the Lions were LBs DeAndre Levy and Zack Follett, WR Derrick Williams, DT Sammie Lee Hill, OT Lydon Murtha, and TE Dan Gronkowski. 

Season Preview

The downfall to this season for the Detroit Lions is that they have one of the toughest divisions on the schedule in the AFC North. 

The good news is that there are some winnable games on this schedule and this is a much improved team. 

With a bye week in the middle of the season (Week seven), they are not playing a long stretch all at one time as they did in 2008 when the bye week was at week four. 

The Lions best chances to get the elusive regular season wins are home games against the Redskins, Rams, Browns, and Packers. 

With that said, this will be a much improved team and I don’t see going for another 0-16 season.  But don’t expect a Miami Dolphins-type turn around but do expect this team to improve their record. 

I project a 3-13 record for the Lions, finising fourth in the NFC North. 

Next up the St. Louis Rams.