NFL 2010 Preseason: The Lion's Goal Is Not To Win Games

Ok. I admit that the wording of the headline is a little misleading.

The point is not that the Lions should try to lose preseason games.

It's just that the primary value of the outdated four-game preseason format that fans are forced to endure every year isn't found in the won-loss column.

Preseason games give players another important opportunity to demonstrate why they deserve starting jobs and why they should be on the Lions final 53-man roster.

Failing that, preseason games provide "bubble players" an opportunity to earn a place on Detroit's eight-man practice squad.

And I'm all for that.

Preseason games give coaches a chance to evaluate players in full-contact mode under game-type circumstances (although usually the 2s play against other 2s, and 3s play against 3s).

It's one thing to look good in practice. But it's another thing entirely to execute well during the heat of actual battle.

Size Matters

Some good arguments have been made that both the size of a team's final roster and practice squad should be expanded.

The case for a 55 or 57-man final roster was strongest after NFL Europe folded in 2007 and before the United Football League was launched in 2009.

NFL Europe had acted as a sort of farm club system for the NFL, a role that the UFL has essentially taken on now.

However, the case for expanding the size of a team's practice squad remains strong.

Practice squad players currently earn $5,200 a week, an insignificant expense for NFL teams, especially when you consider the benefit these players provide during the season.

It's true that any team is free to sign practice squad players from any other team at any time without compensation. But this provides added incentive for practice squad players to try hard and risk serious injury.

It also gives coaches a chance to take a longer look at players on the cheap. That's how Zack Follett was able to convince the Lions to give him a shot at starting weak side linebacker this year, for example.

NFL teams with good scouting operations always keep a close eye on other team's practice squad players.

That's how the Miami Dolphins were able to pluck the Lions 2009 seventh-round draft pick, Lyndon Murtha, from Detroit's practice squad last year and plug him into their roster as a promising backup offensive tackle.

Familiarity breeds success

Smart coaches can extract other benefits from preseason games.

These contests can provide good opportunities to familiarize their team with opposing schemes they'll face later in the year in games that actually count.

This preseason the Lions play the Steelers, Broncos, Browns and Bills. All four of these teams play a base-3-4 defense.

Detroit plays a base 4-3 defense, so prior to the preseason, our offense will practice against a 4-3 most of the time.

Yet this year half of the regular season games the Lions will play are against teams that run 3-4 defensive schemes, including the Packers, Redskins, Jets, Bills, Cowboys, Pats and Dolphins.

This year, the Lions preseason games offer four opportunities to gain valuable experience against 3-4 defenses and prepare for schemes they will face eight times during the regular season.

Lions head coach Jim Schwartz, like his kindred coaching spirit Bill Walsh before him, believes strongly in the value of thorough preparation.

So did Abraham Lincoln, who once said, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe."

Why most fans, especially Detroit Lions fans, hate preseason games

Sure, watching preseason games is better than watching no football at all.

But just barely.

While the Lions have added a lot of talent during the last two years, we're still thin in some areas, especially with backups.

All Detroit fans cringe each week of the preseason at the prospect of a serious injury occurring to any player on our roster during a meaningless game.

Finally, many Lions fans were pumped up after our team went 4-0 in the 2008 preseason only to become deeply humiliated when Detroit went on to post the worst regular season record in NFL history during the infamous Marinelli-Millen "OwenXVI" debacle.

It would be far better for the Lions to go 0-4 during the preseason this year if doing so reduces the risk of injury to key players and otherwise serves the cause of furthering our chances of making the playoffs.

Author's Note: I had not read the excellent article by Chrissie Wywrot on the Detroit Lions website prior to writing this piece. Lions fans should take a few minutes to visit detroitlions.com and read her analysis.