Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Free Agents: Unrestricted and Restricted, Browns QB’s

The Lions have 16 upcoming free agents: Unrestricted: RB’s T.J. Duckett, Aveion Cason, Tatum Bell, LB Boss Bailey, TE John Owens, CB Tony Beckham, S Idrees Bashir, CB Keith Smith, CB Travis Fisher, T George Foster, WR/PR Troy Walters, and G/T Damien Woody. Restricted: QB Dan Orlovsky, G Stephen Peterman, DT Langston Moore, CB Stanley Wilson, Jr.

Of these players, I believe that the Lions will make G Stephen Peterman, RB T.J. Duckett, CB Stanley Wilson,Jr., DT Langston Moore, and G/T Damien Woody, and in Woody’s case, I believe against better judgment, their priority as far as players they would like to re-sign for ‘08.

Most of these free agents are itinerant roster-fillers who would likely return due to their familiarity with the Lions coaches, schemes, etc., but are of no organizational priority, especially if Millen can find upgrades at any of their positions.

MLive.com’s “Killer” Kowalski, who I usually agree with about 90% of the time, has been trumpeting that the Lions should trade for Browns QB Derek Anderson, which would likely cost them a first and third round draft pick in ‘08.

I agree with his belief that the Lions may need to make some bold moves to stave off a 2-14, 3-13-type of performance in ‘08, however, has he already forgotten about the disastrous Lions careers of Ty Detmer and Jeff Garcia, both Qb’s who joined the Lions immediately after leaving the Browns?
Anderson had an exciting break out-type of season. The Browns feature a lot more talented, and dependable, skill players than the Lions currently do, along with an offensive line that is on a completely different plain qualitatively than the one the Lions currently possess.

Anderson’s stats and performance were clearly on a downward trajectory as the season wound down. Did opposing defenses uncover something about Anderson as the season progressed, or did he suffer from the added pressure of trying to make the playoffs? We’ll never know.
Given the Lions deficiencies on their O-Line and throughout their defense, how can anyone seriously suggest that they take this kind of risk, when the safer, and smarter, move obviously would be to add a first round left offensive tackle and in the third round the Lions could draft the best available defensive player, regardless of roster position, considering how barren their defensive personnel truly is.

Ultimately, the Lions should probably look at veteran defensive players, who would fit the design of the Tampa-2 defense and possess, at least, a basic familiarity with playing within that defensive system.

Jonathan Vilma and DeWayne Robertson, are two very unhappy former first round draft picks in New York right now. They are stuck in Eric Mangini’s 3-4 defense, which neither of them are particularly suited for, ala Dre Bly. Matt Millen could reverse his fortunes significantly if he could pull a “Denver” on the Jets, and acquire one or both of these players with some of the Lions stiffs, ala George Foster and Tatum Bell.

Reading between the lines, I believe that “Killer” is actually stating, in his unrequited “man crush” for Derek Anderson, that he doesn’t think that Kitna provides a long term answer for the Lions and that he also doesn’t believe that J.T. O’Sullivan, Dan Orlovsky, or Drew Stanton would be able to measure up, if they were called upon, either.

I agree with that thought, but how much of a difference did Matt Schaub ultimately make for the Texans this season?

Anderson’s acquisition would be a desperate Schaub-like move that would likely not pay immediate dividends for a bottom-feeder team like the Lions. Would Derek Anderson, Brian Sipe, Bernie Kosar or Vinny Testaverde thrive with Jeff Backus as their left tackle?

Exercise Your Faith in Democracy

In my opinion, these are particularly bleak times for the state of democracy. In Michigan’s upcoming state primary, for example, before you are allowed to vote, you must declare a party affiliation.

After you have been subsequently pigeon-holed, if you declare Democrat, you have four Democrat candidates to choose from because the Michigan Democrats broke ranks and moved their primary up a few months, against the national party’s wishes. At any rate, as a form of punishment, all of the major candidates, except Hillary Clinton, chose not to campaign in Michigan or allow their names to be included on the primary ballot.

Realistically, your choices are limited to: voting uncommitted, voting for Hillary, or declaring yourself Republican, even though you may ACTUALLY be a Democrat, and voting for a candidate that will hurt the Republicans. Is this democracy?

At any rate, my belief in democracy. although shaken, is not completely ruined. If you are a Lions fan, and you believe, like I do, that in order for real change to occur, Matt Millen must be fired immediately by the Fords. This is an online petition that a Lions fan has created, that he intends to present to the Ford’s and Millen.

Obviously, given Millen’s 31-81 tenure, and the fact that the Lions have won exactly one playoff game in 50 years, ultimately, little will change while the Ford’s still maintain ownership. That being said, the petition currently has over 700 signatures, and remains one of the few means for Lions fans to voice their desire for change, other than choosing not to watch the team or continuing to purchase tickets.

Offensive Line Enjoys Parting Shots on Martz

The Lions offensive line were as embattled of a unit as any on the entire Lions team in ‘07. Apparently, they were not fans of Mike Martz’s logic-defying, pass first tendencies, or with the intricate design of his offense, since it too often demanded that they be asked to block with little or no assistance from their backs and tight ends.

They have been noticeably vocal with their parting shots for Martz. Jeff Backus’ stated desire for a more clearly-defined offensive identity, with more signature “bread-n-butter” plays added to the playbook, was recently echoed by free agent to be, and converted guard, T Damien Woody.
The Lions offensive line has allowed 117 QB sacks over the past two seasons. Larry Beightol, a previously highly regarded offensive line coach, and apparently now also, Martz’s former protege and new Lions offensive coordinator, Jim Colletto, were both highly dissatisfied with both Martz’s performance as offensive coordinator and with the design of his offense.

This brand of finger-pointing is typical of the Lions organization and should not be tolerated. The performance of Martz, and the terms of his leaving the organization, should be regarded as separate from the performance of the Lions offensive line over the last two seasons. They are professionals who are paid to perform a job, and have failed miserably.

The Lions offensive line has perpetually consisted of a hodge-podge, patchwork bunch during Matt Millen’s tenure. Rather than build the team around legitimate talent at the position, Millen has hung a millstone around the team’s collective neck by filling the offensive line with journeymen veterans (David Loverne, Brendan Stai, Rich DeMulling, Rex Tucker, Ross Verba et al), young projects (Jonathan Scott, Kelly Butler, Manny Ramirez, Frank Davis), and a dogged dependence upon underachievers like Jeff Backus, Stockar McDougle and George Foster.

When Millen had the opportunity this season to add a franchise-solidifying, bonafide left offensive tackle in Joe Thomas, he incorrectly, and embarassingly, decided to grab the “bright and shiny” object, yet again, and draft WR Calvin Johnson, whom the Lions promptly failed to utilize to his full capacity.

Joe Thomas, health providing, is likely a 10-15 year all-pro and potential hall of fame candidate. Johnson may eventually have an equitable resume to Thomas, but the Lions, with all of their many struggles, seemingly never fully grasp what many believe is the most obvious of NFL maxims, that you win most games in the trenches, with sound blocking, and an ability to run with the ball and stop the run.

Joe Thomas may not have become a franchise savior, but he would have given the Lions the luxury of having one less position to shore up amidst their perennial, interminable, rebuilding process. Thomas is a humble midwesterner, a trait Lions fans would have easily identified with, who even went as far as skipping the green room of the NFL Draft, which is reserved for only the highest of draft prospects, to spend the day fishing with his father. The guy would have been a veritable folk hero among Lions fans.

Instead, the Lions the are stuck with the tough, mediocre, but reliable, Jeff Backus, who may be better served playing guard or right tackle. Woody, a free agent, has stated that there is a better chance that he will return, now that Martz is gone.

Which, in a nutshell, is why the Lions front office doesn’t seem to get it. Woody, who spent the off season at a Duke University weight loss camp, has been a disappointing, costly free agent acquisition who had lost his starting job at his natural position, guard. Admittedly, Woody performed well in the team’s last 4-5 games at right tackle. That being said, I can almost guarantee, that the Lions will re-sign Woody to play right tackle, rather than truly commit to upgrading their offensive line.

The Lions will not ever improve, if they refuse to be honest with themselves. Damien Woody is not a tackle, and five games do not a solid, dependable contributor make. Until they make this admission internally, they are likely to continue to make big money commitments to personnel disasters like DAMIEN WOODY, Shaun Rogers, Kalimba Edwards, Cory Redding, Jeff Backus ad infinitum.

Kevin Jones Has Knee Surgery

The details about Kevin Jones’ knee injury have been very scant, beginning from the time of his injury in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Since that point, not much has been mentioned in regards to the severity of the injury, and the team’s expectations about the length of his recovery, etc.

The veil of secrecy surrounding Jones’ injury, and the fact that he eventually had surgery, does not bode well for the Lions running game in ‘08, especially considering that the promotion of Jim Colletto likely means that the Lions intend to feature a more visible commitment to their running game, in an attempt to feature a more balanced offensive attack.

Fast forward a bit here, the Lions could find themselves featuring a backfield of Brian Calhoun and Aveion Cason as their running backs, in an offense with a supposed newfound commitment to the running game. Calhoun and Cason have many skills to offer the team, but pounding the rock in a more controlled, conventional-style running attack would not figure among them. I believe that re-signing T.J. Duckett will, of necessity, become a major priority for the Lions. However, Duckett may have seen enough of the Lions offense last season, even with his limited role within it, to already know that he doesn’t want to return.

At this point, the Lions may actually be forced, with all of their many pressing personnel needs, to consider adding another running back in the draft or free agency, at a time when their defense is almost assuredly going to have a near complete personnel turnover this off season. I am quite certain, in spite of Matt Millen’s failings as a team executive, that he is very empathetic to what George Armstrong Custer must have been feeling during his “last stand”.

Press Conference provides More Clarity in Lions Coaching Situation

After the dust settled, the Lions have cleared up exactly whom will serve in which roles in charge of offensive personnel in 2008. Jim Colletto, will remain offensive line coach, and will have the added responsibility of play calling duties, as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Kippy Brown, formerly receivers coach, will serve as assistant head coach and passing game coordinator. Shawn Jefferson, once an offensive assistant, will be promoted to wide receivers coach. Defensive assistant Fred Reed and offensive assistant Tim Martz will not return. The one remaining question mark is, what happens with running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery?

The other mystery is what exactly happened with Martz? He wasn’t officially fired, according to the Lions press conference, he is just not going to return.

In lieu of Martz’s departure, more details have emerged about the Lions offense. They will retain Martz’s basic system and terminology, but will simplify it and utilize more balance in their play calling. Apparently, Colletto designed the running plays as the season drew to a close. In the Cowboys game, Colletto’s running game plan was more successful than in most games throughout the ‘07 season.

Colletto’s approach, is similar to one of Vince Lombardi’s most basic tenets, keep the plays simple so that the offensive unit can feel comfortable and focus on the few plays that they have been given. The impetus is placed upon the players to execute the plays to near-perfection, ala the “Packers sweep” play, since they will have fewer plays to utilize.

Jeff Backus, for one, mentioned that the team was lacking “bread and butter” plays with which they could rely upon as an offense. In regards to Backus, please provide less talk about “bread and butter” plays and exponentially more talk about improving upon your 17 sacks allowed in ‘07!!

This whole concept is antithetical to Mike Martz’s approach, since a large part of the design and philosophy of his offense was to confound, and make uncomfotable, opposing defenses.

The new Lions approach, will be to utilize less plays and formations, but execute them well enough that there is little their opponents can do to stop it. It remains to be seen how successfully this will all apply, but hopefully it will allow them to shore up their situational offensive efficiency in the red zone, short yardage, and 3rd downs, all scenarios where they have languished under Martz.

The Ford’s and Millen are Convenient Bedfellows in the Latest Lions Disaster

Drew Sharp, the high profile, acerbic Detroit Free Press columnist, may have coined it best when he stated that “mediocrity is a virtue”within the dysfunctional Lions organization.

The Lions, with all of their well-documented organizational struggles, have routinely accepted mediocrity in their many vain attempts to establish an organizational foothold, or establish a more solid foundation, with which they can build some respectability upon. Unfortunately, without sound organizational principles, and the ability to evaluate what constitutes qualified personnel, they have swung and miss, time and time again, in their decision-making.

The decision to promote Jim Colletto and Kippy Brown on the surface may make sense, but it rings of the Ford’s inability to act swiftly and disturb the organizational status quo, which all too often has been more of an exercise in settling for, rather than demanding, the very best from all of their employees throughout the organization.

It is well past the time where the Ford’s should begin issuing public edicts about the state of the franchise and it’s future direction. With Matt Millen’s 31-81 tenure staring them in the face, where have the Ford’s been in enacting change in this matter? As for the Lions, and Millen, who continue to flounder horribly, where is the necessary accountability being placed?

Unfortunately, the Ford’s, due to their close (and admittedly creepy) relationship with Millen, have been all too willing to allow parties who are only partially responsible for the team’s failings to serve as convenient, public targets for the failure of the entire franchise.

Are we supposed to continue to buy into, and accept, that the annual coaching and personnel turnover will serve as a quick remedy for the organization’s many ills? How many coaches and players will pass through before the Ford’s look into a mirror and realize that they are ultimately responsible for the demise of their franchise?

Matt Millen is easily the worst executive in all of professional sports and serves as the leader of the worst franchise in all of professional sports. His failure is indefensible and unless the Ford’s are willing to put his job on the line, the situation will continue to get worse before it gets better.

In regards to Sharp’s article, I agree that Jon Kitna is no long term answer for the Lions at Qb. That being said, I think he lays too much blame upon Kitna.

He says:

In the Lions last five wins Kitna averaged 25 passes thrown with 4 TD’s and 1 INT in those games. In the last seven losses, Kitna averaged 42 throws and threw 8 TD’s and 13 INT’s.

In this regard, as the Lions season unraveled, and Kitna’s preseason prediction of 10 wins came into question, it stands to reason that Kitna likely attempted to do too much, and was asked to shoulder too much of the load, in the failing Lions offense.

Still, I believe that is a little unfair to Kitna. When you consider that Jeff Backus and George Foster alone allowed a combined 31 sacks, and with the season long demise of the Lions defense, Kitna operated in a near constant stage of crisis, within an offense that was helmed by a megalomaniac who routinely allowed the team to become one dimensional, against all common sense.

Kitna is far from perfect, but he is far from the team’s biggest issue, too. I don’t believe that a better offensive line will make Kitna transform into Peyton Manning-quality of performer, but I do believe that the Lions fortunes would have been different with better offensive line play. The defense generally backed the Lions offense into a corner, too.

There will be a lot of turnover this off season. I expect that Kalimba Edwards and Shaun Cody will be released and Boss Bailey will not be re-signed. These all constitute major draft busts for Millen. It would not surprise me to see Jeff Backus and Shaun Rogers also eventually removed from the roster. Both are expensive, and have not provided the consistency or quality of play to match their contract dollars.

In regards to Rogers, who has become the face of the organization of sorts, the Lions may be so bereft of talent on defense that they may need to retain him, and his 5-6 quality games a season, because they will have far too many holes to fill on that side of the ball.

Many have wondered publicly if it would be worthwhile for the Lions to invest a 1st and 3rd rounder to acquire Browns QB Derek Anderson, who is coming off of a break out performance this season. The very thought scares me, because it reeks of the type of move Millen may try to make. Anderson hasn’t proven that he could be much better than Kitna, when you consider the quality of the Browns O-Line, and the playmakers he has been surrounded with.

The more cogent move, in my eyes, would be start talks with the New York Jets. The Lions have two valuable pieces that they could utilize, Shaun Rogers would make an excellent 3-4 NT, and Roy Williams would provide Kellen Clemens with a valuable playmaker. The Jets have MLB Jonathan Vilma and DT DeWayne Robertson, who are both unhappy and ill-fitting in the Jets 3-4 defense and would upgrade the Lions defense immediately.

In regards to the QB position, Todd Collins, of Walpole, MA and University of Michigan fame, is a free agent, who has enjoyed a remarkable season in Washington, in limited playing time, who would provide an experienced backup who might eventually compete with Jon Kitna, providing Drew Stanton with some more valuable developmental time, which may eventually prove dubious, anyhow, if initial reports on Stanton’s time thus far with the Lions holds true.
Then the Lions could place an organizational focus upon upgrading left offensive tackle, in a draft rich with prospective talent at that position, and either release Jeff Backus or move him to guard or right tackle, where he could serve as a steady presence and inflict less damage. One thing is for certain, Matt Millen is going to have find immediate help in the ‘08 draft and not select so many high-ceiling projects, because the Lions have struggled to develop this type of talent and have received little payoff from this practice.

More on Martz, Marinelli has “Wegged” Himself!!

The Lions had to pick a fall guy(s) for their 1-7, end of season slide. Matt Millen has clearly established during his tenure that he is not afraid to remove a finger to save his limb, so to speak. Ultimately, the question still remains, how exactly is retaining the same offensive system, with predominantly the same players, going to alter their glaring failures on offense?

Colletto and Brown are both very experienced and should be more malleable to Rod Marinelli’s input than the eccentric Martz was. That being said, are we supposed to actually believe that the Brow/letto combo will be able to utilize Martz’s offensive design, and the supposed genius that went behind the design, and actually improve upon it, when no one in NFL circles would qualify either of them as possessing the same abilities as Martz. In example, I give you Cris Collinsworth:

“Martz is criticized all the time for not running the ball enough. But the more I watch tape of the Lions, the more I honestly believe that if he weren’t with Detroit, they’d only win three or four games a year. I always thought he was brilliant, the way he designed things.”

Furthermore, wasn’t featuring a specialized division of responsibilities(i.e. Martz being offensive head coach and Marinelli being in charge of the defense) a large part of what lead to Martz’s eventual unseating, anyhow? Won’t featuring two heads of offensive personnel likely lead to the same internal division and power struggles that the Lions have been rife with so often through the years?

In my eyes, this move, at least on the surface, is analogous to Steve Mariucci replacing Sherm Lewis with Ted Tollner as his offensive coordinator during his last season as Lions Head Coach. Marinelli, with the tacit approval of the front office staff in his decision to promote from within, when clearly, their may be better options available (Cam Cameron, Chan Gailey), has essentially sealed his fate as a Lions coach. Sadly, I am willing to lay stakes that Marinelli will not survive any longer than one more season as the Lions Head Coach.

Marinelli’s hands were tied to a certain degree, though. Martz wielded a heavy impact on the Lions personnel decision- making process, especially in free agency and the draft. The lasting remnants of Martz’s influence are woven throughout their entire offense. Will players like Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey, whose careers have been inextricably linked with Martz, perform at the same high level without him? Their past track records would indicate that they will not.

Would the Lions have selected Calvin Johnson and Drew Stanton in the ‘07 draft without Martz’s input? How does his removal impact their place within the organization?

The irony is, everyone was initially so concerned about Martz’s desirability to other organizations upon his hiring, that no one, that I am aware of, honestly ventured the possibility that Martz and his “chuck and duck” offense might not actually work in Detroit.

Marinelli has officially “-wegged” himself. If you have been reading this blog for awhile, you may remember that I have held the belief that the eventually, due to the internal dysfunction of the Lions organization, every Lions coach essentially becomes Marty Mornihnweg. The Lions have featured Wayne Fontesweg, Bobby Rossenweg, Marty Mornihnweg, Steve Mariucciweg, and now, without further ado, Rod Marinelliweg.

The “Wegs” all enter the organization with high-falutin’ ideals and big talk about how they will rapidly, and thoroughly, transform the moribund Lions franchise. They usually bring an Elmer Gantry-styled zeal, and the latest and greatest, fool-proof paradigm of NFL success along with them.

In many ways, the Tampa-2 defense, much like the “West Coast” offense and the “Run and Shoot” offense before it, constitutes the latest in a long line of one of the Lions primary problems—-personnel. If you don’t possess the correct personnel, or don’t stress the foundations with which these philosophies need to be built upon, the grandest of designs will not be successful.

What will be interesting next season, given Marinelliweg’s firing of two coordinators during his two seasons, is when he is backed into a corner, and the Lions continue to fail, what will there be left for him to direct responsibility towards, other than himself? In which case, when the walls are caving in around him, will he still talk about “breaking down tape” and “getting the right fits” and all the other coach-isms he has relied upon so heavily throughout his brief career?

Martz Fired, Colletto and Brown Promoted

Finally, and not too surprisingly, Lions Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz was terminated today. The Lions Offensive Line coach Jim Colletto and Wide Receivers coach Kippy Brown were promoted to co-offensive coordinators.

In regards to this move, Brown and Colletto are seasoned coaches, however, it remains to be seen just how much of Martz’s system will be retained, and how many changes will eventually be implemented. It stands to reason, that they will be utilizing more running plays than Martz chose to use.

Colletto, with his close alliance to the offensive line personnel, will have a major impact on any changes that are eventually made to the offense. The offensive linemen have been the most dissatisfied offensive personnel group under Martz, because they were unhappy with the design of their blocking schemes and Martz’s heavy emphasis on passing the ball.

I am happy the Lions were decisive and moved quickly with this situation, however, I believe that should the Dolphins decide to fire Head Coach Cam Cameron, that he would have made an excellent candidate to replace Martz.

The bigger issue remains, how do you resuscitate the team’s faith in the offense, given it’s failings, to the point where they will not look askance at the system when they are presented with it entering the ‘08 season. The Lions offense plain stunk as the season wound down, and everyone other than Kitna, who was loyal to Martz until the very end, would have good reason to question the efficacy of the offensive design.