Detroit Lions #28

Team: Detroit Lions

Division: NFC North

Last Year's Record: 7-9

Head Coach: Rod Marinelli

Offensive Coordinator: Jim Coletto

Defensive Coordinator: Joe Barry



Schedule: Sept. 7 @Atlanta (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Sept. 14 Green Bay (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Sept. 21 @ San Francisco 4:05 p.m.

Sept. 28 Open Date

Oct. 5 Chicago (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Oct. 12 @Minnesota (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Oct. 19 @ Houston (Fox) 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 26 Washington (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 2 @Chicago (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 9 Jacksonville (CBS) 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 16 @ Carolina (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 23 Tampa Bay (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 27 Tennessee (CBS) 12:30 p.m.

Dec. 7 Minnesota (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Dec. 14 @ Indianapolis (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Dec. 21 New Orleans (Fox) 1:00 p.m.

Dec. 28 @ Green Bay (Fox) 1:00 p.m.



Key Losses: Fernando Bryant

Damien Woody

Boss Bailey

Kalimba Edwards

Kevin Jones

Kenoy Kennedy

Shaun Rogers



Key Additions: Dwight Smith

Leigh Bodden

Chartric Darby

Brian Kelly

Michael Gaines



Offensive Breakdown: God's QB Jon Kitna has been making guarantees and not backing them up, as he threw only 18 TD's to go with 20 Int's in Mad-Scientist Mike Martz's pass-friendly offesnsive system. His leash will be shorter this season, with new coordinator Jim Coletto in the fold. Backups Drew Stanton and Dan Orlovsky have potential, but are largely unproven.

Third-Round pick Kevin Smith turned heads at Central Florida last season, putting up monster stats that will be hard to duplicate at this level. Tatum Bell is still Tatum Bell, but he could be an effective 3rd-down back.

Wide Reciever is probably the stongest part of the offense. The 1-2 punch of Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson should give DB's headaches. If Johnson stays healthy, he could be a star. Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey are very good third and fourth receivers. Michael Gaines was signed from Buffalo to start at Tight End, mostly to block.

The offensive line looks like another weak spot. Former Raven Edwin Mulitalo, and LT Jeff Backus anchor the left side, with First-Rounder Gosder Cherlius adding size at RT.



Defensive Breakdown: Marinelli is a former Defensive Coordinator, yet this unit finished last in the NFL in total defense and 31st against the pass. The D-Line picked up Chartric Darby from Seattleto fill a Defensive Tackle spot, with holdovers Cory Redding, Jared DeVries, and DeWayne White penciled in to start. DeVries had 7 sacks last year, and they need more production out of former high pick Redding.

The Linebackers look like the bright spot of the defense. Ernie Sims enters his third season coming off a 96 tackle year, with Rookie Jordan Dizon slated to start at MLB. Paris Lenon has good size and a nose for the ball as he had 86 tackles last season.

Luckily for the Lions, the NFC Norris doesn't exactly have the greatest WR's, because there are some question marks in the Defensive Backfield. Leigh Bodden is a good addition at Corner, but Brian Kelly enters his 11th season looking very slow in Tampa last year. He does know the system however. Dwight Smith can still produce when he isn't catching head in a stairway and getting arrested, and youngsters Daniels Bullocks and Gerald Alexander will split time at Strong Safety.

Special Teams: Jason Hanson has been around forever, but is still a pretty good kicker indoors. He hit 29-35 of his Field Goals last season. Nick Harris does a good job pinning teams deep, and Rookie Kenneth Moorewill handle some of the return duties. I liked him and his versatility at Wake last year, and he's friends with Chris Paul, so that has to count for something.



Position Grades: QB (C+) Kitna pretty much sucks in my book and the lack of a running game will hurt.



RB: (C-) Kevin Smith makes good movies , but this Kevin Smith has to be considered a question mark. Maybe this year will be his breakout season a la Clerks, but I doubt it.



WR: (A-) Out of any aspect of this team, I like this unit the best. Shaun McDonald had 941 yards and 6 Td's last year, and he isn't even expected to start. I still think Calvin Johnson is a stud, and the kama gods will be on Roy Williams' side now that he tips pizza delivery people. Mike Furrey resumes his battle with Kevin Curtis for the title of Best NFC White Wide Reciever.



OL: (D): I honestly have only heard of 3/5 of their projected starters. Mulitalo , Dominc Raola, and Backus are decent, the rest suck balls.



DL: (C-): I don't really see any playmakers here who will get to the quarterback.



LB: (B): Sims and Lenon make plays, and I also like another product of Free Shoes University (Buster Davis) that they have. The question mark will be Dizon in the middle.



DB: (C+): Dwight Smith and Leigh Bodden might be good, but I really don't like Kelly at the other corner spot.



Special Teams: (C+): The return game and coverage units leave somthing to be desired. Maybe they can get Rasheed Wallace to block field goals.



Season Outlook: The Lions will battle it out with the Bears for last in the Division, and depite Kitna's beliefs to the contrary, will struggle to win more than 6 games. There are simply too many holes and question marks.



Langston's Take: Kitna says it's a disappointment if the Lions don't win 10 games, well Lions fans I hope you like disappointment.