DETROIT LIONS
2009 RECORD: 2-14-0
(4th in NFC North)
HEAD COACH: Jim Schwartz
Key Additions: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (FA/Tennessee), QB Shaun Hill (trade/San Francisco), WR Nate Burleson (FA/Seattle), TE Tony Scheffler (trade/Denver), CB Dante Wesley (FA/Carolina), LB Landon Johnson (FA/Carolina), DT Corey Williams (trade/Cleveland), CB Chris Houston (trade/Atlanta) CB Jonathan Wade (FA/St. Louis)
Key Losses: QB Daunte Culpepper (FA), LB Larry Foote (FA/Pittsburgh), DT Grady Jackson (FA), DE Robert Henderson (trade/Seattle), CB Phillip Buchanon (FA/Washington), LB Ernie Sims (trade/Philadelphia)
Offense: Detroit is building the offense around second year starting quarterback Matthew Stafford (2,267 yards passing with 13 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions in 2009) and wide receiver Calvin Johnson (67 catches for 984 yards and five TD) and will look to improve a running game that has been dormant the past few years.
Kevin Smith led the team in rushing in '09 with 747 yards and scored four touchdowns but a serious knee injury that he suffered will hinder his starting status this season. To make the adjustments, the Lions drafted Jahvid Best from California and he will likely be the starter in 2010.
Jerome Felton is the fullback and if healthy, Smith can be a contributor again for the Lions, which managed 101 yards rushing per game last year, which ranked 24th in the league. Maurice Morris (210 yards, 8.1 ypc average) is also ready to go if needed.
Along with Johnson at wideout, Nate Burleson (63 catches for 812 yards and three TD) was signed away from Seattle and will lineup opposite Calvin Johnson. Bryant Johnson (35 catches and three TD grabs) is also on the Lions depth chart for the 2010 season. Tight End Tony Scheffler comes over from Denver and had 31 catches for 416 yards last season.
The offensive line, which allowed 43 quarterback sacks a year ago, features center Dominic Raiola, guards Stephen Peterman and Rob Sims and tackles Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus.
Defense: The Lions used the number two pick in the 2010 NFL draft to snag Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska) for the front line and no dount this rookie will be there come kickoff time in 2010.
Suh will plat tackle and along with Corey Williams should give the Lions some improvement against the run, where Detroit ranked 25th a year ago, allowing an average of 127 yards per game.
The defensive ends will be Jared DeVries and Kyle Vanden Bisch, who signed with the team after playing for the Tennessee Titans the past few seasons. The 10-year veteran wants to show he still has something in the tank and the Lions hope to cash in on the veteran's abilities.
The linebacking corps sees DeAndre Levy in the middle with Zack Follett and Julian Peterson on the outside.
The secondary was awful last year, allowing a league high 266 yards passing per game.
That has got to change if the Lions expect to improve defensively. Having Suh, Williams and the rest of the gang up front applying pressure on opposing quarterbacks will definitely help.
Amari Spievey and Chris Houston will be the cornerbacks and the safeties are Ko Simpson and Louis Delmas.
Detroit picked off just nine passes a year ago and simply have to get better against the pass to have any chance of improving what has been the worst defense in the NFL for two straight years.
OUTLOOK: The Lions won two games in 2009 after going 0-16 in '08 and will look to improve the win-loss percentage again in 2010.
They have to cut back on the turnovers as their minus-18 ratio ranked dead last in the league. Head Coach Jim Schwartz will continue to see the development of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who showed some real promise a year ago. The second year player and last year's top draft choice must cut down on the interceptions.
There are still many questions to be answered with the Lions. If Best can deliver at running back in his rookie season to compliment the passing game, Detroit should see improvement on offense.
Defensively, if rookie Suh and cagey veteran Vanden Bosch can stuff the run and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, that will help bolster the defense.
The Lions are looking up at Chicago, Green Bay and Minnesota in the NFC North and more of the same should be expected in 2010.
Cutting back on the turnovers is a must and if they can improve in that regard, the Lions could perhaps spring a surprise or two on some teams during the 2010 season. Improvement on both sides of the football should be evident, and look for the Lions to finish 4-12 this season.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- at Chicago
Week 2- vs. Philadelphia
Week 3- at Minnesota
Week 4- at Green Bay
Week 5- vs. St. Louis
Week 6- at NY Giants
Week 7- Bye Week
Week 8- vs. Washington
Week 9- vs. NY Jets
Week 10- at Buffalo
Week 11- at Dallas
Week 12- vs. New England
Week 13- vs. Chicago
Week 14- vs. Green Bay
Week 15- at Tampa Bay
Week 16- at Miami
Week 17- vs. Minnesota
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