32 Teams In 32 Days: Detroit Lions 2009 Preview

[Hasselbeck]

2008 Summary:
Lets first go over the Lions victories a season ago.

Okay now that that's out of the way...

In all seriousness, if you look up "ineptness" in the dictionary, it's likely you will find a blurb about the Detroit Lions historically bad season a year ago. If you are new to the game of football, the Lions finished the season 0-16 and are currently riding high on a 17 game losing streak dating all the way back to December 30th, 2007.

Or if you would like to take a really positive look at things, the Lions have lost 23 of their last 24 regular season games.

Last season saw the winds of change for the Lions franchise, as the Matt Millen era finally came to a close. However, in much of the same manner as picking up pieces after a tornado destroys a trailer park, the Lions still have a lot of work ahead of them if they are to crawl back into the realm of respectability.

2009 Free Agency Additions:
T Jon Jansen (Washington)
LB Larry Foote (Pittsburgh)
WR Ronald Curry (Oakland)
FB Terrelle Smith (Arizona)
TE Will Heller (Seattle)
LB Cody Spencer (New York Jets)
T Daniel Loper (Tennessee)
CB Phillip Buchanon (Tampa Bay)
DT Grady Jackson (Atlanta)
WR Bryant Johnson (San Francisco)
CB Eric King (Tennessee)
RB Maurice Morris (Seattle)

2009 Trade Acquistions:
LB Julian Peterson (Seattle)
CB Anthony Henry (Dallas)

2009 Offseason Departures:
DE/DT Cory Redding (Seattle)
CB Leigh Bodden (New England)
DT Shaun Cody (Houston)
WR Mike Furrey (Cleveland)
LB Paris Lenon (New England)
FB Moran Norris (San Francisco)
QB Dan Orlovsky (Houston)
TE John Owens (Seattle)
QB Jon Kitna (Dallas)

2009 NFL Draft:
1-1 QB Matthew Stafford - Georgia
1-20 TE Brandon Pettigrew - Oklahoma State
2-33 CB/S Louie Delmas - Western Michigan
3-76 LB DeAndre Levy - Wisconsin
3-82 WR Derrick Williams - Penn State
4-115 DT Sammie Lee Hill - Stillman
6-192 RB Aaron Brown - TCU
7-228 OT Lydon Murtha - Nebraska
7-235 LB Zach Follett - California
7-255 TE Dan Gronkowski - Maryland

2009 Outlook:
If you're a Lions fan and you're looking for optimism, at least you can say 2009 can not be any worse than 2008.

New head coach Jim Schwartz comes over to the Motor City fresh off of coaching the Titans defense for the past seven seasons, and will immediately try to repair a Lions defense that was absolutely miserable a year ago (32nd overall). The Lions made some moves they hope can immediately begin this process by acquiring Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson from the Seahawks, and signing cornerback Phillip Buchanon to shore up the Lions paltry secondary. They also added Grady Jackson to anchor the Lions defensive line, and fill the void left behind by Cory Redding.

Offensively, no question all eyes will be on #1 overall pick Matthew Stafford. Whether or not Stafford can beat out late 2008 addition Daunte Culpepper remains to be seen, but when you are making the kind of coin Stafford is making, the question is not "if" it's "when".

New offensive coordinator Scott Linehan will oversee the offense, and more importantly Stafford's development. Linehan, while having a truly horrible stint as head coach in St. Louis, is very respected amongst his peers for his coordinating abilities and should help turn around an offense that was almost as putrid to watch a year ago (30th overall) as its defense.

The Lions offense is not without its budding stars however, as WR Calvin Johnson has quietly become one of the leagues best young talents. RB Kevin Smith also showed flashes during the forgetful season a year ago, and should continue to build on that in his sophomore campaign. Draft picks Brandon Pettigrew and Derrick Williams also figure to be major roles for Linehan's offense.

2009 Schedule:
2009 Prediction:
If you're looking for another Miami or Atlanta "worst to first" story in the making, it's not going to happen here. The Lions will show signs of progress, but will otherwise continue to struggle in a division that greatly improved from a year ago. The best case scenario for the 2009 Lions figures to be 4-5 wins, but they will not duplicate their 0-16 march from a year ago.

Predicted Finish: 3-13, 4th NFC North

[Senser81]

As you mentioned, Buchanon and Grady Jackson are decent pickups, but the rest of their acquisitions looks like the crap I have to pick from in Week 8 of fantasy football. Maurice Morris? Will Heller? Bryant Johnson? Ronald Curry?

The Lions still have some major rebuilding to do through the draft. I think Derrick Williams might be a very good pick. Calvin Johnson is IMO already an elite WR. If Stafford and Williams (and Pettigrew) pan out, the Lions will at least be competitive with their passing attack. That said, QBs usually have some growing pains and the Lions D has major issues.

[mgoblue2290]

Pretty fair analysis. I can see us getting 5 wins if things go well but 3-13 is a stepping stone. This team is still two years away from making the leap but some of the pieces are falling in place. We really just need to build up our offensive and defensive lines as that is where a lot of games can be won and lost.

I'm expecting quite a bit from Kevin Smith this year, he has potential to be a pretty good back in the league and like Hass said looked good last year in some games.

[Hasselbeck]

As you mentioned, Buchanon and Grady Jackson are decent pickups, but the rest of their acquisitions looks like the crap I have to pick from in Week 8 of fantasy football. Maurice Morris? Will Heller? Bryant Johnson? Ronald Curry?

The Lions still have some major rebuilding to do through the draft. I think Derrick Williams might be a very good pick. Calvin Johnson is IMO already an elite WR. If Stafford and Williams (and Pettigrew) pan out, the Lions will at least be competitive with their passing attack. That said, QBs usually have some growing pains and the Lions D has major issues.

Agreed. And best case scenario in this division to me would be 2 wins.. I think Minnesota, Green Bay and Chicago are way ahead of the curve.

I think the Lions are beginning to turn it around, but they are a ways away from seriously contending.

[ralaw]

As senser said their acquisitions have been horrible, but without overpaying for overrated talent you have to start somewhere. I like what the Lions did on the offensive side in the draft, but the talent is young. I don't expect Culpepper to like the fact that the team drafted Stafford, which will cause some issues once Stafford in installed as the starter, but Culpepper's feelings really don't matter. It’s just sad that a talent like Johnson is there being wasted.

[Bmore]

3-13 is decent for a team with no wins.

[Sven Draconian]

Lions also added Anthony Henry via trade (for Jon Kitna). Larry Foote and Jon Jansen via free agency.

[krulmichael]

Dunno how you forgot to add Larry Foote to the key acquisitions Hass. Tsk tsk. ;)

[Hasselbeck]

Lions also added Anthony Henry via trade (for Jon Kitna). Larry Foote and Jon Jansen via free agency.

Thanks for that. Stupid ESPN Insider forgot those

[dboy_dc]

it's funny how you write off players saying they suck.. and at the same time they're exactly whats needed now. We finally (yes we, Detroit native '7 Mile') have a coach that makes smart moves, of course Donte isnt going to be there forever unless he's winning but at the same time he knows they are rebuilding and you dont rebuild with a 'end of the road type player'. Dont get me wrong I think he still has it but will he still be playing 5 years down the road? You at least need a future face of the franchise (like what GB did) warming up the bullpen.

[dave]

Thanks for that. Stupid ESPN Insider forgot those

Then maybe you should stop copy and pasting. :D

[dave]

2009 Outlook:
If you're a Lions fan and you're looking for optimism, at least you can say 2009 can not be any worse than 2008.

New head coach Jim Schwartz comes over to the Motor City fresh off of coaching the Titans defense for the past seven seasons (sounds just like the previous Lions coach), and will immediately try to repair a Lions defense that was absolutely miserable a year ago (32nd overall). The Lions made some moves they hope can immediately begin this process by acquiring Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson (past his prime) from the Seahawks, and signing cornerback Phillip Buchanon (overrated, likely a dime back by season's end) to shore up the Lions paltry secondary. They also added Grady Jackson to anchor (if this fat boy is anchoring their line, it'll be at Big Momma's House of Pancakes) the Lions defensive line, and fill the void left behind by Cory Redding.

Offensively, no question all eyes will be on #1 overall pick Matthew Stafford. Whether or not Stafford can beat out late 2008 addition Daunte Culpepper remains to be seen, (Lions really should redshirt him, but they're not really that bright) but when you are making the kind of coin Stafford is making, the question is not "if" it's "when".

New offensive coordinator Scott Linehan will oversee the offense (did a great job in St. Louis ... won a ton of Super Bowls as a co-ordinator), and more importantly Stafford's development. Linehan, while having a truly horrible stint as head coach in St. Louis, is very respected amongst his peers for his coordinating abilities and should help turn around an offense that was almost as putrid to watch a year ago (30th overall) as its defense.

The Lions offense is not without its budding stars however, as WR Calvin Johnson has quietly become one of the leagues best young talents. RB Kevin Smith also showed flashes during the forgetful season a year ago, and should continue to build on that in his sophomore campaign. Draft picks Brandon Pettigrew (What the hell is the first name of that big, slow solid blocking TE named Brady on Jacksonville?) and Derrick Williams also figure to be major roles for Linehan's offense.

2009 Schedule:
2009 Prediction:
If you're looking for another Miami or Atlanta "worst to first" story in the making, it's not going to happen here. The Lions will show signs of progress, but will otherwise continue to struggle in a division that greatly improved from a year ago. The best case scenario for the 2009 Lions figures to be 4-5 wins, but they will not duplicate their 0-16 march from a year ago.

Predicted Finish: 3-13, 4th NFC North 0-15-1

See above. Sorry Hass.

[krulmichael]

See above. Sorry Hass.

lol @ 0-15-1.

[dave]

lol @ 0-15-1.

They might squeak out a win vs. Cincy, so 1-14-1 is not out of the question.

[DSpydr84]

I think the writing was fair. I hate to make predictions about record because there's really no point.. but we did make great improvements this off-season. The problem is we were sooooooo bad last year so it doesn't look like much. We went from just god awful/shouldn't be in the NFL to a below average team in one off-season. I'm looking forward to what's in store and who knows what might happen this year.