Three Things the Detroit Lions Need to Do in the Offseason

The Lions coaching staff has said from Day One they want to be a "power" running team. 

Great, but in order to be successfull, they need to be able to run up the gut of the other team's defense, which they've failed miserably so far. 

To be successful, they need OG's and the C to be able to move defensive lineman and create a surge. 

By successfully doing this, it will also open up your passing game and free your WR by giving them many more 1-on1 opportunities with DB's. 

Unfortunately the Lions fall woefully short in all other areas too.  In fact, they need to upgrade the rest of the team before they can fully use their WR talent. There are no shortcuts to success. 

The Lions can do three things in the off season to drastically turn their fate around.  First, trade CJ!  Yes, trade him. 

Let him go to a team where they can instantly take advantage of his skills and make him the receiver he should be.  In return, let's take their first- & second-round pick this year, AND their first-round pick in 2011.

The second part of the equation is to make a trade to get Shaun Rogers back in a Lions uniform. Teamed with Sammy Hill, this could be one of the most effective DT tandems in the NFL. 

Gunther Cunningham has said more than once... "if you have 2 huge DT's and 2 fast DE's, you can do anything."

Hopefully they won't have to give away the "store" to pry him away from Cleveland (maybe Simms/Heller or Cohen/Heller?)  but it fill a HUGE hole at DT and will allow the Lions to go after much needed help in other positions in the upcoming draft.

Now the third part...

The Lions MUST trade down their first round pick (which is looking more like it'll be in the TOP 3), ideally to some team who has a 15-20 pick and also get their third round pick as well. 

Hopefully they will find a team who is willing to trade with them in order to get a Suh or a McCoy. If they don't do this, it'll be financial suicide. 

They can't invest $100m in two UNPROVEN players in two years!  They need to spread this money around to as many good players as possible, not just two or three! 

To steal a line from the movie "Miracle"..."I'm not looking for the best players, I'm looking for the right players."

So, if all this takes place, where does it leave the Lions for the 2010 draft?  Think about this...the Lions can draft at least nine players in 2010 who realistically could be starters or at the very least, solid backups.

First round picks = 2 (1 from the CJ trade)

Jonathon Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech

Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho

Second round picks = 2 (1 from the CJ trade)

Greg Romeus, DE, Pitt

Jason Fox, LT, Miami

Third round picks = 2 (1 from the trade down)

Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida

Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri

Fourth round pick = 1

Barry Church, SS, Toledo

Fifth round picks = 2 (1 from a previous trade)

Reggie Stephens, OG/C, Iowa State...This guy could be the real sleeper because he can play center too!

Best available LB or WR

(Plus they now have two first round picks in 2011)

Am I crazy or is this idea something for the Lions to really consider?