Detroit Lions Weblog

Tatum Bell, Keith Smith, Kalimba Edwards, Are They For Real?

Since the beginning of training camp, their have been numerous glowing media reports about how players like the team’s recently acquired RB Tatum Bell, or a player like CB Keith Smith, who is attempting to overcome a major sophomore slump, or someone like Kalimba “The Ghost” Edwards, who has never been able to bridge the vast chasm that stands between his immense talent and his weak-assed, inconsistent performance, all could be essential elements in a possible Lions turnaround in ‘07.

I want to be optimistic when I read the recent feature potrayals of players like Bell, Smith, and Edwards.   Unfortunately, reality sets in, and an ever-present sense of impending doom, and I have to acknowledge the obvious, how can a team, that is coming off from a 3 win season, with so many question marks throughout their entire roster, especially on defense, can be expected to potentially reach ten victories, with so few clear roster upgrades?

The pre-season will serve notice as to actually how improved this team is, and whether this team can be a bonafide playoff contender, or not.   The more heated the positional battles, the more unclear it becomes who really deserves to sit atop the team’s depth chart, the better in my book.    I fully realize that the pre-season games are essentially meaningless, however, I also realize that this team needs to immediately show signs that it is an entirely different breed of football team than the one that played so embarassingly throughout the 2006 season.  It needs to begin strong out of the gates, and has to continue to improve and develop as the season progresses in order for it’s fortunes to truly change.

The emergence of players like Edwards, Smith, Bell, Stephen Peterman, Stanley Wilson, Jr., Paris Lenon, and so many others could go along ways in helping to begin a legitimate turnaround for this franchise. I truly want to believe that the Lions have the right to be excited by unknown commodities like DE Ikaika Alama-Francis, LB Johnny Baldwin, and TE Rudy Sylvan, among others.

This is a major season for the Lions front office and coaching staff, too.   In order to interupt the near-ceaseless turmoil and changeover that it has experienced, and establish a longed-for sense of stability and credibility, this season the Lions performance need to exhibit some tangible signs that the franchise is in fact on the right track.   The first exhibition game will be a barometer for which we can begin to measure their performance, too.