Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Pre-Season Games Thus Far, Unreasonable Optimism?

I’ll concede, the Lions have played pretty well two games into the pre-season.   There is a growing optimism surrounding the organization, obviously, following some very preliminary results.

Considering the context, since pre-season games should be viewed as a skeletal, pared down version of what most teams will eventually become,  the Lions have performed well.  That being said, the fatalist in me, demands that Lions fans proceed with caution.  We have been here before.  The Lions have provided glimpses of hope in the past, but routinely  have failed to live up to those increased expectations.

Each step of the way, the Lions can convince us that they are truly legitimate.  This week’s pre-season game against the Browns, for the vaunted and highly coveted (tongue firmly planted in cheek..)Great Lakes Series Trophy, stands as a major test for this team.

This week is also the all-important third pre-season game, which ominously leads towards major roster cut-downs, which is usually stands as a truer barometer of what stage of development a given teams roster currently resides at than the rest of the pre-season games.

The Browns give off the appearance of being a legitimate contender in the AFC North.  They have a fine set of skill players, in spite of starting QB’s Derek Anderson’s concussion, and have tightened up their defense with the addition of behemoth defensive linemen Corey Williams and “Big Baby” Shaun Rogers, whom Detroiter’s are very intimate with.

The important thing for the Lions at this point is continuity.  The Lions have set the precedent that they are going to play a more physical brand of football than recent editions of the team.  Their adherence to the run, and continued improvement in that area of their offense, is very crucial.

As good as their receivers are capable of being,  if the Lions running game perpetually stalls and the success of the offense is more squarely placed upon the shoulders of the offensive line, then the team will ultimately be in big trouble.

Crucial Battles to Watch:

1) Running Back–This situation was supposed to be sewn up by now.  Tatum Bell and Kevin Smith were going to be backs 1 and 1a, with Aveion Cason filling the 3rd down and kick returners role.  Brian Calhoun and Artose Pinner have clearly outplayed Bell and have proven that they deserve legitimate roster consideration.  I have been particularly impressed with the verve of Artose Pinner, a player who clearly understands the treacherous precipice his NFL career currently rests upon.

2) Offensive Tackle–Jeff Backus, begrudgingly, is the incumbent at Left Tackle.  George Foster is likely to provide a stopgap for Gosder Cherilus on the Right Side.  Cherilus is playing both tackle spots, which may render Jonathan Scott expendable.  The play of the Lions tackles must improve significantly this season, so this battle is a crucial one.

3) Lions Secondary–Leigh Bodden, Travis Fisher, Brian Kelly, Daniel Bullocks, Gerald Alexander, Dwight Smith, and Kalvin Pearson are the givens.  Who survives among Greg Blue, Keith Smith, Dovonte Edwards, and Ramzee Robinson, all players who have to make their case to remain.  The secondary should be improved with all of it’s veteran leadership, but will be exploited if the Lions defense is on the field for too long  or if there is not a consistent…

4) Pass Rush–DeWayne White has looked excellent.   Jared DeVries, Corey Smith, Ikaika Alama-Francis, and Cliff Avril need to become consistently productive  if this defense will thrive.

5) Kick Returner–Aveion Cason appears to be the favorite for kickoffs.  Punt Returns are a more wide open competition, though.  Can Cason return punts?  Will the Lions need to retain DeVale Ellis or Kenneth Moore to return punts?

6) Linebacker–The starters: WLB Ernie Sims, MLB Paris Lenon, and SLB Alex Lewis appear set, but their backups, Jordan Dizon, Anthony Cannon, Buster Davis, Gilbert Gardner and Leon Joe will be engaged in a serious battle to sort out who remains.  The improvement of Dizon figures heavily into the equation.  The Lions could shift Dizon to the strong side, or use him to replace Lenon who would shift to the outside.  Wherever the Lions think they will use Dizon should effect who they decide to keep among Joe, Gardner, Cannon and Davis.

Young players like Andre Fluellen, Buster Davis, Brandon Middleton, John Standeford, and Ralph Hardie have exhibited promise.   Can the Lions find the roster spots necessary to prevent them from losing these players?