Detroit Lions Cuts: Full Report Card for the Final 53

Nick Harris is out, Ryan Donahue is in.

Derrick Williams is (finally) out, Maurice Stovall is in.

Nathan Vasher is out, Brandon McDonald is in.

The day of (preseason) reckoning has come and gone in the NFL, and the Turk has once again left 53 men standing on 32 teams. The Detroit Lions, in particular, had a number of tough decisions to make this year, as they cut ties with longtime punter Harris, third-round bust Williams, and veteran cornerback Vasher.

These are all good signs, as it means the Lions are continuing to build the talent level on the roster and move the team forward.

But exactly how good are those remaining 53 players? What can we expect from them this season? Can we attach arbitrary grades to them before they actually start the regular season?

You bet we can.

Matthew Stafford

You can't grade a guy on prospective health concerns, especially when he hasn't shown any sign of them so far this year.

Matthew Stafford has the look of a guy who could be a top five quarterback very, very soon. All he has to do now is show it for 16 games.

Grade: A+

Shaun Hill

Shaun Hill started out the preseason looking shaky and indecisive. However, much like his regular season play last year, he seemed to get more comfortable with each game.

Maybe the guy is simply a slow starter. Either way, he looks like he's going to be just fine. He's an absolutely prototypical backup quarterback, likely one of the best in football.

Grade: B

Drew Stanton

Last week, the Lions' third-string quarterback was doing a fine job of running the offense and making accurate throws while the Bills' second-stringer, Tyler Thigpen, was sailing passes 10 yards over his receiver's heads.

This reinforces the notion that Stanton could have been a backup had he chosen to leave Detroit. But stay he did, and that makes Stanton perhaps the most capable third-stringer in the NFL.

Stanton looks sharper this preseason than he ever has, and that's taking into account that he led the Lions to a win over Green Bay last season.

The Lions' quarterback depth is absurd. Stafford could be a Pro Bowler, Hill could be a starter, Stanton could be a quality backup on most teams, and the guy they cut, Zac Robinson, will almost certainly make someone's third string at some point this year.

Grade: B+

Jahvid Best

Anybody who was concerned about Jahvid Best coming into this season has gotten very little in the way of reassurance. Neither his ability nor his durability have shown very strongly in the preseason.

Best's final stat line for the preseason: 8 carries for 13 yards, 3 receptions for 26 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 concussion.

You can blame the offensive line for part of Best's weak showing, and you can attribute some of it to just being the preseason (it's not like Best was going to get cut, so there was no reason to run him into the ground).

But still, for a guy who raised a couple of red flags last season, he has done nothing to lower them just yet. It won't matter as long as he shows up in the regular season, but for now that's in question.

Grade: D

Maurice Morris

Maurice Morris isn't a flashy runner, he just quietly gets the job done three or four yards at a time.

Of course, that hasn't happened in the preseason, during which time Morris has been sidelined with a hand injury.

If we're grading based on what we've seen so far this year, Morris' grade can be only one thing.

Grade: Incomplete

Keiland Williams

With the Lions' Sunday acquisition of lineman Jacques McClendon and bruising running back Keiland Williams, it looks as though the coaches realized they had no power running game.

Can Willams and McClendon breath life into a running game with no push? Possibly, but not likely. The 5' 11", 230-pound Williams will likely see the majority of his reps as a short-yardage specialist, especially with Jerome Felton off the squad.

The upside is that Williams and McClendon are only heading into their second years, meaning this could be another of Martin Mayhew's patented "square peg" moves. He has a tendency to find guys whose previous teams gave up on them too quickly, and bring them to a system where they can become solid starters.

It isn't as though these kids don't have potential. We just don't have any idea whether they'll actually realize any of it.

Grade: TBD

Jerome Harrison

At first glance, Jerome Harrison was pedestrian this preseason. He did enough to earn a roster spot only because of a lack of better options.

That may be true, but he was responsible for both the longest running play (47 yards) and the longest passing play (52 yards) of the preseason. Harrison is the only player who seems to have figured out how to read the tenuous blocks being thrown by his linemen and react accordingly.

Early in the preseason, Harrison bounced all his runs outside and was quickly tracked down. Against New England and Buffalo, he played with more discipline and found better running lanes.

Harrison is still looking at being a rarely-used backup for Maurice Morris, but if Morris isn't quite ready to start the season, Harrison could show strongly. He seemed to grow within the offense each week.

Grade: B+

Calvin Johnson

Megatron is the offensive player who had the least to prove this preseason.

I'm not even going to look up his stat line, because who cares? Everybody knows what he's capable of, and everybody knows what they should expect from him every week.

I'm just going to dock him a half-grade for suffering a minor shoulder bruise. His first priority was staying healthy for the regular season. He's fine, of course, but still.

Grade: A-

Nate Burleson

Nate Burleson started slow last year, but began putting up big stats when his number was called late in the season.

And while he didn't actually catch that many passes in the preseason (six total, two in each game he played), every one belonged on a highlight reel.

But where Burleson most drew my attention was in his commitment to doing the dirty work. At least once in every game, I could see Burleson engage a defender and drive him right out of the play on a block. A couple times, that block opened up the field for a big gain.

Wide receivers don't often get recognition for their blocking, but Burleson's was too good to ignore.

Burleson's health, which has been an issue his entire career, arose as one again this preseason and will likely be a concern all year. But as long as he remains healthy, the Lions have found a reliable compliment to Calvin Johnson.

Grade: A-

Titus Young

A hamstring injury slowed Titus Young's start to the preseason, but he seemed to find a bit of a comfort zone against the Buffalo Bills.

The 2011 season will likely be a great learning experience for Young. While he should have some success, he likely won't be ready to contribute until he gets a better feel for the system and NFL-caliber defenders.

Grade: C+

Maurice Stovall

Maurice Stovall was a popular target for every Lions quarterback this preseason. His 6' 5" frame and ability to shield defenders off the ball proved valuable on multiple occasions.

He caught only six passes in the preseason, but two of them went for touchdowns.

On top of his receiving prowess, Stovall is a valuable special teamer who can use his length to trip up returners in the open field. He should be a valuable player on special teams coverage and, I think, a valuable receiving target in the regular season, especially while Titus Young works to adapt to the NFL game.

Grade: A

Rashied Davis

Rashied Davis caught one pass for 10 yards in the preseason. He shouldn't see many more than that in the regular season.

So why did he make the roster? Simple. He's a 32-year-old man willing to do anything to stay on an NFL roster. He's a talented and disciplined special teams player, who will play in coverage until his number is called in the passing game.

He's not flashy, but he won't need to be as the Lions fifth receiver. He might catch less than 10 passes all season (he caught nine last year with the Bears), but at least he brings special teams value.

Last year, the Lions' fourth receiver, Derrick Williams, caught three passes and had no special teams value whatsoever. Davis is a clear upgrade.

Grade: C

Stefan Logan

Stefan Logan isn't so much a sixth wide receiver as he is a return man and offensive X-factor.

Logan's return value will be diminished somewhat with kickoffs moving to the 35-yard line.

Still, he's a shifty punt returner, and the Lions aren't afraid to line him up at receiver or running back. Sometimes they'll run a reverse for him, sometimes they'll put him in as a decoy. He draws lots of attention wherever he is on the field, and that alone makes him valuable, whether the play is run for him or not.

Logan won't be a part of the standard offense, but based on the preseason, it looks like Scott Linehan has a bunch of packages with him ready to go. Should be interesting.

Grade: B+

Brandon Pettigrew

Like Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew had very little to prove this preseason. After battling some early injury issues, he came back strong and looks like he'll pick up right where he left off last year.

His receiving numbers might decline because of the vast improvement at the wide receiver position, but Pettigrew still appears poised to be one of the most effective all-around tight ends in football this year.

Grade: A-

Tony Scheffler

Tony Scheffler was in a weird sort of limbo last year. Lots of Lions fans found themselves with mixed feelings about Scheffler, not because of the player himself, but because of what he represented.

He put up pedestrian numbers, but cost the Lions Ernie Sims, previously thought to be the team's star linebacker. Scheffler didn't necessarily play poorly, but the presence of Brandon Pettigrew made it look like the Lions traded a starting linebacker for a backup tight end, thus leaving the linebacker position dangerously thin.

In reality, what Scheffler did was open up a large portion of the playbook, allowing the Lions to put two dangerous receiving threats in the game at tight end, making a traditional run formation look just as dangerous to opposing defenses as a passing formation.

Meanwhile, Ernie Sims has floundered since leaving Detroit, and looks to be a passing downs linebacker in Indianapolis this year after an unsuccessful 2010 in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Lions are now sporting four starting-quality linebackers (Levy, Tulloch, Durant, Carpenter) where last year there was one (Levy).

Scheffler looks comfortable in the Lions offense so far this year, and the dangerous receiving threat the Lions thought they were getting last year could be poised to show a very strong season this year. He might even outperform Pettigrew as a receiver (though not nearly so as a blocker).

Grade: A-

Will Heller

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Lions' fans to the second coming of Casey Fitzsimmons.

Fitz did whatever the Lions asked of him in his time in Detroit. Tight end, fullback, special teams, whatever. He took on his responsibility, and he gave it everything he had.

That will be the expectation placed on Heller this year, as the Lions decided to economize a roster spot by having him be a replacement for Jerome Felton.

Heller has always been better on the blocking side of things, so it makes sense to have him pull double-duty in a primary blocking position.

But Felton was cut barely a week ago, so there hasn't been much time to evaluate whether Heller will sink or swim with his new H-back responsibility. Still, the coaches have faith in him, which is a more telling endorsement than anything I could say on the matter.

Clearly, the Lions wanted Heller more involved with the offense than he was as a third-string tight end. Playing H-back will accomplish that.

Grade: B-

Jeff Backus

The Lions' offensive line right now is a bit like a steel-reinforced house of cards. It's stronger than it looks, but it still can't deal with a strong push, and will collapse if you remove the wrong piece.

Jeff Backus is that piece.

It's not as if he's a Pro Bowl player or anything, but he is the best on the team at his position right now. He suffered a partial pectoral tear earlier in the preseason, which threw his consecutive starts streak into doubt, but he came back and performed well in the last two preseason games.

It's hard telling what will happen to Backus after he completes his contract, but it is good to have him healthy for the start of the season. Like him or hate him, he's an upgrade from Corey Hilliard.

Grade: B-

Gosder Cherilus

Gosder Cherilus looked like he was figuring it out last year before he went down with a knee injury that required microfracture surgery.

His top priority this preseason was to get healthy, and he appears to have done that. The Lions will be expecting big things from him this season. 

Grade: B+

Jason Fox

The man who may replace Jeff Backus next year spent most of his rookie season inactive, recovering from injury and putting on muscle.

He spent most of the preseason inactive as well recovering from a foot injury.

It's frustrating that Jason Fox was drafted in the fourth round last year, and we still have almost no clue whatsoever what he's capable of. He made the 53-man roster despite not playing at all, which should say something about both the severity of his injury (minor) and the coaching staff's opinion of him (high).

Still, there's only one way this grade can go.

Grade: Incomplete

Corey Hilliard

The Lions love Corey Hilliard's versatility, and he showed it in the preseason as he filled in at left tackle for the injured Jeff Backus, and at right guard for the underachieving Stephen Peterman.

He's not better than any of the starters at their positions (he might be creeping up on Peterman), but he might be the second-best at every position. He's virtually guaranteed to get work at some point this year.

Grade: B

Rob Sims

Rob Sims has picked up right where he left off last year. He remains quietly effective in pass blocking and quietly ineffective in run blocking.

Basically, he doesn't push, and he doesn't get pushed. But he's undeniably solid, and he rarely lets anyone get by him, which is a virtue not necessarily shared by his fellow interior linemen.

Grade: B

Stephen Peterman

He was ineffective because of bad line chemistry. He was battling a nagging foot injury. It's Raiola's fault. It's Cherilus' fault.

Stephen Peterman doesn't look good, and he's running out of excuses as to why. Eventually it has to be because he's just an ineffective lineman. Unfortunately, the Lions are looking at a very bad salary cap situation, so they can't spend anything to replace him.

So the Lions will, on the surface, express the utmost confidence in Peterman. Behind the scenes, however, they need to either get more out of him or find his replacement.

Peterman's only saving grace is that he hasn't allowed much pressure on the quarterback. But he's supposed to be a mauler as a run blocker, and we're seeing none of that.

Grade: D-

Jacques McClendon

Jacques McClendon, one of two players signed after the Lions cut Aaron Brown and Chris Morris on Monday, is a big unknown.

He's a slow, plodding power run blocker, which is precisely what the Lions have needed on the interior. Now, McClendon's game is full of holes, but he's entering only his second year in the league, and Martin Mayhew is hoping to see something out of him that the Colts didn't.

After all, the Colts drafted him in the fourth round of the 2010 draft, and kept him for all of one season before cutting him. He's far from a complete player, but his biggest strength (power run blocking) supplements the Lions' biggest weakness. Stephen Peterman should probably start looking over his shoulder.

Grade: TBD

Dominic Raiola

Things don't look good for Dom. He's 32 years old, obviously declining, and wasn't exactly a league leader in the first place.

Worse yet, the Lions took notice. The only interior linemen they kept on the roster play both center and guard. We can attribute some of that to the Lions placing value on versatility on the line, but it's clear they also want to be able to replace Raiola if it comes down to it.

Raiola's starting position is probably safe this year, but if he doesn't have a career year, he should watch his back (and the draft) in 2012.

Grade: D-

Dylan Gandy

Dylan Gandy provides quality depth, even if nobody knows who he is or what he's capable of.

Gandy isn't going to save the Lions' run game by replacing Dominic Raiola or anything, but he is effective when called upon. He's also older (29) than most probably realize.

Ultimately, the most telling accomplishment of his preseason is the fact that he beat stiff competition from Donald Thomas, Rudy Niswanger, and Dan Gerberry.

Grade: C

Ndamukong Suh

This is the face you get for asking Ndamukong Suh about preseason grades.

Grade: A+

Corey Williams

Corey Williams is invisible. That's the conclusion I've come to after watching him play.

It probably has to do with the fact that any offensive player within 10 yards just watches Ndamukong Suh. But Corey Williams may as well have set up a tent in the offense's backfield.

He got called for lots of offsides last year, and likely will again this year if the preseason is any indication. His pastime is jumping the snap count.

But he was oh-so-good at it in the preseason, and on many plays he was in the backfield before his blocker was even out of his stance.

At the rate he's going, Williams is on track to be the most unappreciated defender on the team once again (especially once Nick Fairley gets going).

Grade: A

Sammie Hill

The most improved player in 2010 looks effective once again in 2011, and the rotational backup lineman role appears perfectly suited to him.

In 2009, Hill played most of the year as a starter. In 2010, he backed up Suh and Williams, and ended up making more stops on less plays. He may not be as improved this year as he was last year, but he didn't have as far to go, either.

Ultimately, Hill will spend the majority of the year as a fourth-string defensive lineman who could start for most teams. When Nick Fairley returns to action, Jim Schwartz's plan of installing an impossibly deep and talented defensive front will be complete.

Grade: B

Nick Fairley

Hopes are high for Nick Fairley, but he hasn't had the chance to quell any of the concerns that caused him to drop to 13th overall in the draft.

He's in a tough position, because he's playing for a fan base that watched Ndamukong Suh go from unproven rookie to one of the most dominant defensive players in football in about half a season. Fairley won't do that, because nobody does that. To expect more than one player per generation to come in and dominate immediately at the defensive tackle position is just unrealistic.

Fairley's first few games will be his equivalent to training camp and preseason. Once he adjusts, he should come on strong in the second half of the season, but remain a primary backup behind Suh and Williams.

Of course, this is all wild conjecture, because we haven't seen the kid play at all yet. At this point, you know what his grade is.

Grade: Incomplete

Andre Fluellen

I've been unkind to Andre Fluellen in the past, but I have to hand it to the guy. With the roster beginning to stack against him, he stepped up and made himself impossible to cut.

Nick Fairley's injury likely attributed to Fluellen's ability to hang on to the last DT spot, but the Lions had other options if Fluellen hadn't made his presence felt.

His ability to play either DT or DE once meant he was miscast at any position. Now it represents versatility. Fluellen may not be around for too much longer, and I still think he'd be much better as a five-tech in a 3-4 scheme, but he fought tooth and nail to stay with the Lions, and he did. Respect is due.

Grade: B (But an A for effort)

Kyle Vanden Bosch

Kyle Vanden Bosch's impact off the field is unquestionable.

On the field, it's diminishing. Is it possible that Vanden Bosch recovers fully from his neck and shoulder injuries and returns as the high-motor, high-intensity player we're all used to seeing? Absolutely. It may even be likely.

But if he doesn't, there isn't a huge step down to Lawrence Jackson and Willie Young. That's good for the Lions, bad for Vanden Bosch.

Grade: C-

Cliff Avril

Yes, it was preseason, but in less than a half of football, Cliff Avril sacked Tom Brady twice. One was a strip sack.

And he wasn't even coming from the blind side.

If I were basing this grade on that alone, I'd be crazy. But combine that with his career-high 8.5 sacks last season, and I'd say he's ready to go.

Grade: A

Lawrence Jackson

Lawrence Jackson is a starting-quality defensive end. He proved that last year by filling in when Kyle Vanden Bosch went down.

Does anybody remember how he came to Detroit in the first place? The Lions traded a sixth-round pick to Seattle for him. That's all.

The 270-pound Jackson can (and will) play either end position, and is as good a run-stopper as he is a pass-rusher. He's been nothing but solid so far in the preseason. I have neither lavish praise nor any complaints.

Grade: B+

Willie Young

I have been one of Willie Young's biggest fans this preseason. He's not a do-it-all DE like Jackson or Vanden Bosch, he's more of a single-minded DE like Avril.

Those two don't care about much of anything but laying a smackdown on the quarterback. Young, in particular, excels as a speed rusher. Even when he's being run way outside, he still forces the quarterback to step up to avoid his wide angle rush.

Given the pressure the Lions are able to bring up the middle, I have a feeling that Willie Young will force a whole lot more sacks this year than he'll get credit for. Not bad at all for a 2010 seventh-round pick.

Grade: A-

Stephen Tulloch

I'm not saying Stephen Tulloch has been a disappointment, but there still isn't a good picture of him in a Lions uniform.

You know when players get their pictures taken? When they make plays.

Now, am I suggesting that Tulloch is already a bust? No, that would be absurd. He's facing a steep learning curve stepping in as the MIKE linebacker, and none of his fellow linebackers have played together at all.

Linebacker is the unit currently most devoid of chemistry, and they're playing like it. There is talent at every position, Tulloch and his linemates just need to learn their system, their assignments, and each other's abilities.

They'll get better as the season goes on, almost undoubtedly. But for now? Eh.

Grade: D+

DeAndre Levy

Like the rest of the linebackers (except one), DeAndre Levy has been quiet for the preseason.

That's not to say he's been bad, but for the only returning player on a unit expected to be the most improved on the team, I was expecting a little more. Especially considering how the defensive line sucks up almost every block on every play.

Grade: C-

Justin Durant

Justin Durant is supposed to be an above-average coverage linebacker.

Haven't seen that so far, and haven't seen much of anything else, either. Like Tulloch and Levy, it's probably just that he needs time to gel with the system, but if we go by his performance so far, I'd say Durant is the defensive player with the greatest chance of losing his starting position.

Grade: D

Bobby Carpenter

Oddly enough, the Lions' best playmaker at linebacker probably won't even be a starter on Opening Day.

Bobby Carpenter, after years of bouncing around and playing special teams, finally looks like a first-round pick at linebacker. He has been a sideline-to-sideline playmaker, whether down the field or in the backfield.

And he still plays a mean game on special teams.

If he practices like he's played this preseason, he could push Durant for his starting role, and soon.

Grade: A

Ashlee Palmer

Carpenter got most of the attention this preseason, but Ashlee Palmer also found his way to the Detroit Lions as a reserve linebacker last year, and he has been solid.

I don't think I've heard Palmer's number called once all year, but he still made the team. That's the sign of either a weak unit or a solid role player.

Grade: C+ 

Isaiah Ekejiuba

Pictured: Isaiah Ekejiuba tackling Stefan Logan.

FACT.

This is also indicative of Ekejiuba's contribution to the team this year. He's good enough on special teams to warrant a linebacker spot, even though his actual value as a linebacker is on par with a blocking sled.

But the Lions have lots of young players with upside at linebacker and value in special teams waiting on the practice squad. Ekejiuba, who turns 30 in October, isn't one of them.

Grade: C-

Doug Hogue

Doug Hogue is raw, by dictionary definition. His talent is immense, but he needs some work figuring out how to use it.

This is exactly what the Lions thought they were getting by drafting a player with two years of linebacker experience. He is showing flashes of ability, but none of consistency. It will be a year, maybe two, before he's ready to play with the defense consistently. As long as he develops, that day will come.

In the meantime, he has shown ability on special teams.

Grade: C

Eric Wright

Opinions on Eric Wright have varied so wildly, I often wonder if people are talking about the same guy.

Personally, while I wouldn't say I'm necessarily "impressed" with Wright, I think he has played well. It doesn't show on the stat sheet, but whatever receiver he's assigned to has had a rough go of it all preseason.

The Lions' need at cornerback was badly overblown this year, but it was still a need. Wright has filled it well thus far, and should get better as the season goes on.

Grade: B

Chris Houston

The return of Chris Houston to the Lions' defense made the secondary a much smaller concern. He may not be in the upper tier of cover cornerbacks, but he gets the job done at an affordable cost.

A second year within the Lions defense could help Houston to settle in and really find his groove, too. He made strides last year, particularly in the ball skills department, but he's not consistent, and sometimes regresses to just running with his man. If he can break some of his bad habits, he could be due for that big contract he thought he would get this year.

Frankly, I'm still not sure whether Houston or Wright will be the Lions' top corner this year. Houston seems better served as a No. 2 corner, but he's not facing Pro Bowl-level competition to be No. 1.

Yet.

Grade: B+

Brandon McDonald

Brandon McDonald is far from perfect, but he was one of the Lions' best playmakers in the preseason.

After a year of wondering about whether Aaron Berry or Alphonso Smith was the next big nickel corner, it now appears that job will go to McDonald. If not for the signing of Wright or the re-signing of Houston, he could probably be a starter.

Grade: B+

Aaron Berry

Aaron Berry carries a whole lot of expectation with him into the regular season. Last year, he was a super undrafted free agent who earned the nickel corner job, and rewarded the Lions by grabbing an interception in his first game.

He wasn't able to finish that game healthy, and was shut down for the season having played less games than Matthew Stafford.

This year, he's still on the roster, but he appears to have slid behind Brandon McDonald on the depth chart. It's hard to say if that's because Berry has regressed or if McDonald (who wasn't on the roster last year) is just that much better.

Berry should still get ample time on the field, though. The coaches believe the sky is the limit for the former Pitt Panther.

Grade: C+

Alphonso Smith

Alphonso Smith is still best remembered for his pick-six against St. Louis, or rather his awesome touchdown dance afterwards. It more than made up for his failed attempt at the Deion Sanders high-step beforehand.

That was just one play, though. Smith actually started 10 games and notched five interceptions and eight batted passes last year.

There was some discussion about whether or not he could hold down a starting job, but that's no longer an issue with Houston and Wright on the roster. Right now, the question is where he lands on the depth chart, having missed the entire preseason and training camp with a foot injury.

Grade: Incomplete

Louis Delmas

The man widely considered the favorite to have a huge season in 2011 hasn't really showed much in the way of development.

At one point, he was the only starting-quality safety on the team, and widely considered a Pro Bowl player in the making.

Now, he doesn't even look like the best safety on the team, and it doesn't have anything to do with a nagging groin injury this year. Delmas needs to exercise some discipline and wrap-up tackling, and fast. He needs to (and can) play much better in the regular season than he did the preseason.

Grade: D+

Amari Spievey

Amari Spievey is a popular vote-getter for most improved player on the team.

He still has some room to grow, but it appears Gunther Cunningham knew exactly what he was doing when he stuck Spievey in at safety last year. He showed up this year quicker and leaner, and he has flourished at the position.

At this rate, Spievey might be Pro Bowl worthy before Delmas.

Grade: A

Erik Coleman

If Spievey hadn't shown up and been so good at the safety position, Erik Coleman would have been a easy decision to start. He is undoubtedly a quality player, it just so happens the Lions are three-deep with starting-quality safeties.

It isn't that Coleman isn't good. He was downright solid in camp, Spievey is just younger and a little better.

Grade: B

John Wendling

John Wendling is effectively meaningless as a safety. But he is the Lions' special teams ace and captain.

He didn't show up hardly at all in preseason special teams, but he will when it counts. He wasn't a Pro Bowl alternate on at a practically invisible position (special teamer) for nothing.

My biggest complaint about Wendling now is that he kept Ricardo Silva off the roster.

Grade: C

Don Muhlbach

The only time people hear the long-snapper's name is when he makes a mistake.

Nobody ever hear's Don Muhlbach's name. Enough said.

Grade: A

Ryan Donahue

Ryan Donahue fought Nick Harris to a draw in training camp. Normally, draws go to the incumbent.

Apparently not when the challenger is younger and cheaper. So for the first time since 2003, the Lions punter is not Nick Harris. Instead, it is an undrafted free agent out of Iowa.

Donahue did just about everything he could to earn that job. He matched Harris in punting average, punted well under pressure in his own end zone, and fielded a skipped snap as holder for Jason Hanson. He'll be just fine.

Grade: A

Jason Hanson

Still the most accurate long-range kicker in the game into his 40s, and rumors of his inability to handle kickoffs are now greatly irrelevant.

If the preseason is any indication, taking a half-season off to recover from injury is the best thing that could have happened to him. He looks like he's in 2008 form (reminder: that was the year Hanson missed only two kicks, both blocks, and went 8-for-8 from 50+ yards; it was the rest of the team that was terrible), and could kick for another five years at this rate.

Grade: HOF