Detroit Lions Weblog

Rod Gets His “Men”–No, This is NOT a Pornographic Film Title!

Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli has worked very hard this off-season to change the losing culture of the Lions locker room, by adding players who will give the team a much stronger character and a more intimate knowledge of what Marinelli, and his ex-Tampa proteges on the current Lions coaching staff, believe are the key elements to building a winning franchise.

The signings of veteran, physical CB Brian Kelly and (gulp, barf) OT George Foster signify, at least on some level, what Marinelli is shooting for.

I hail the Kelly signing. Kelly, along with the recently acquired CB Leigh Bodden, are better than any combo they put on the field, at any time, during last season’s full scale pass coverage evisceration.

They possess greater depth with the additions of CB Travis Fisher and S Dwight Smith to work the slot in nickel coverages. They have a couple of developmental players in Keith Smith and Stanley Wilson, Jr., who may benefit immediately from the respective influences of Kelly and Bodden.

The Lions can still address their secondary in the draft, meanwhile having the luxury of knowing that a newly-drafted prospect will not be immediately thrust into the playing group, giving that player some valuable developmental time.

The re-signing of George Foster is perplexing. It indicates that Damien Woody was a major free agent target for them, and once Woody signed with the Jets, they were left scrambling. Bringing Foster back also tells me that they will be moving offensive line up their list of priorities significantly entering April’s draft.

Let’s face it, George Foster sucks. He absolutely can’t be their starting right offensive tackle entering the season. Look for the Lions to seriously consider Ryan Clady, Jeff Otah , and Gosder Cherilus as selections during the first two rounds.

Here is a projected Lions depth chart:

QB: Kitna-Stanton-Orlovsky
FB ?-Bradley(?)

RB: Jones-Calhoun-Cason

TE: Campbell-Gaines-Owens-FitzSimmons

LT: Backus

LG: Mulitalo-Ramirez

C: Raiola

RG: Peterman-Davis

RT: ?-Foster-Scott

WR: Johnson, Williams, McDonald, Furrey

DE: White-

DT: Redding-Cody

NT: Darby-Moore

DE: Alama-Francis-DeVries

WLB: Sims-Cannon

MLB: ?-Davis-Lenon

SLB: Lenon-Lewis

CB: Bodden-Wilson, Jr.

CB: Kelly-Smith-Fisher

S: Alexander-Bullocks-Smith-Pearson-Kennedy
LS: Muhlbach

K: Hanson

P: Harris

By my accounts, the Lions still need help at: MLB, DE, RB, OT, and DT.  The free agency market has pretty much run it’s course, but I still expect the Lions to potentially trade a wide receiver, especially if they can plug another one of these holes, or garner a draft pick in return.

The upcoming draft is full of quality players and considered “deep” for talented offensive tackles and running backs, which at least gives us a slight indication their is a direction to how the team is being assembled this off-season.