The Storm Before The Calm

There is a storm brewing. It will begin in earnest with the Lions' training camp July 30th and won't end even when the Leos declare their final 53 man roster on September 5th.

Detroit may or may not pick up KC safety Jarrad Page or Raiders linebacker Isaih Ekejiuba. Your favorite bubble player may or may not make the cut this year.

But this one this is certain. The storm won't end this year until the Lions reach the eight win mark. Fan expectations for Detroit are all over the board this year. Some folks will be mollified if the Lions go 5-11. Some think the Leos will defy the odds-makers and make it to the playoffs this year.

Louis Delmas predicted an 8-8 season, and that's the bar I'm setting for the Lions this year. They could go 9-7.

Detroit fans have long memories, but they only have to go back to 2007 when the Lions went 6-2 before nose-diving and ending up 7-9, disappointing, but still their best record since the 2000 season.

I'm a believer. (How's that, Seattle Lions Fan, for a tacky loyal Detroit fan theme song this year?)

I believe that the vastly improved Lions D-line rotation will provide a record high number of painful personal introductions to Farve, Rogers, Cutler (especially Cutler), Romo, Brady and Sanchez this year.

I believe that the "Pain Train" (what a great football nickname for Zack Follett!), DeAndre Levy and Julian Peterson, with able assists from Caleb Campbell and others, will do more than ruin the stats of opposing players.

This Lions talent group will keep opposing defensives up the night before a game and keep trainers busy afterwards.

And I believe that because of our killer D-line rotation and Motor City Madman linebacker play, our re-tooled secondary will be more than adequate. Except for the "Missle" of course.

Last year, opposing teams discovered that as the only rookie in NFL history to record an interception return for a TD, a fumble recovery for a TD and a safety in the same season, Louis Delmas is a force unto himself.

Mess with the Missile at your own peril.

And I believe in Matt Stafford and his O-line (with Sims, and Peterman healthy again). I believe in Stafford's ability to fully utilize all of his offensive weapons effectively, and that with Scott Linehan's guidance, Matt will effectively exploit opposing teams' weaknesses (they all have them).

As I've written here before, if you're an opposing defensive coordinator, and Pettigrew and Scheffler line up against you in a two tight end set, Nate Burleson and Calvin Johnson split out wide, Jahvid Best sets up in the backfield and Matt Stafford goes under center, what do you do?

Answer: have a nervous breakdown.

So 8-8 is the low bar for the Lions this year. Anything else will be a sub-par year. Like Delmas, I'm benching Lucy and telling Charlie Brown to kick it away, kick it deep Charlie! We fans got your back!

At 8-8, the storm of doubt about the post-Millen Schwartz/Mayhew era will begin to subside. Until next year, that is!