Detroit Lions Weblog

Training Camp Begins (Yeah!), Will James Signed, Kevin Carter Soon?

The beginning of training camp for the Detroit Lions, even amid an exciting Detroit Tigers pennant chase (or at least until their imminent end of season meltdown), is an exciting and portentous occasion for any Michigan professional football fan. As the Lions enter camp, coming off of a monumentally disastrous 0-16 season, hope springs eternal and the team embarks anew upon it’s seemingly interminable rebuilding process.

The Lions front office has been incredibly busy. Aside from a raft of high draft picks (Matthew Stafford, Louis Delmas, Brandon Pettigrew, etc.), free agent signings, and an improbably high number of off-season trades, the team will take on a very new (hopefully, fresh!) look as the season rapidly approaches. As the media throng swells around nascent franchise savior QB Matthew Stafford, the real story of Lions camp will actually be told by the performance of several less glamorous players.

If the Lions are going to make any sort of legitimate organizational headway, their future success will be predicated upon the contributions of their new additions along the offensive and defensive fronts, who will help put into place the cornerstones of a true, cogent rebuilding process. The performance/continued improvement of players like Gosder Cherilus, Stephen Peterman, Cliff Avril, Andre Fluellen, Ikaika Alama-Francis, and Sammie Hill, along with the “if-needed” steady contributions of players like Jon Jansen, Ephraim Salaam, and Orien Harris, coupled with the expected upgrades provided by off-season additions like Daniel Loper and Grady Jackson, will significantly aid the organizations first teetering steps towards it’s much sought after NFL viability.

In other words, in order for potentially exciting players like Matthew Stafford, Kevin Smith, Brandon Pettigrew, Calvin Johnson and Louis Delmas to ultimately succeed, and not fail miserably like so many of their organizational predecessors, the Lions off-season additions throughout their roster will have to solidify the team’s personnel where their more-often-than-not formless and fetid predecessors have failed. In order to change the circumstances which have so often dogged the organization through the years and caused them to operate from out of a noticeable deficit during recent seasons, they need solid, steady contributions from the players who will not receive the adoring attention of the media and fans.

I will give the Lions front office some measure of credit, they have worked very hard to re-shape and re-organize the team’s roster as a new staff with a new offensive and defensive philosophy works towards establishing a new look for the franchise.
Just this week, the Lions added veteran CB Will James (nee Peterson) who although, not likely to emerge as a Pro Bowler, will continue the team’s process of slowly upgrading the roster and generating competition for playing time where more often than not players earned on-field time by default. James’ signing sends a message loud and clear to players like Keith Smith and Ramzee Robinson that their careers (at least in Detroit) hang tenuously in the balance.

The Lions are still very interested in DE/DT Kevin Carter, especially after the recent signing of veteran DT Hollis Thomas elsewhere. According to MLive.com’s “Killer” Kowalski, the two sides are having some financial disagreements about Carter’s actual worth. Carter would certainly be a valuable contributor but would not significantly alter the course of the team’s season, either. In the meantime, expect Mayhew to diligently scour the waiver wire and to consider among what few remaining free agents of value left can provide the team as the season approaches.

Lions Acquire Much-Needed Defensive Line Help

I will give Martin Mayhew his due. He is not afraid of making a deal. The Lions continued to reinvent their roster this off-season with the acquisition of DT Orien Harris from the Rams today. In exchange, here’s the kicker, they only had to part with WR Ronald Curry, who had basically become expendable upon the addition of WR Dennis Northcutt a few weeks ago.

I am not going to lie and suggest that Harris is last piece of the puzzle necessary to complete the Lions roster, but with their recently being spurned by veteran DT John Thornton, the looming suspension of Grady Jackson, and the presence of numerous “projects” along their defensive front, the Lions could ill-afford to stand pat as the season rapidly approaches.

Harris came to the Rams from the Bengals this off-season, so it appears that he will not likely emerge as a superstar anytime soon. What Harris does do is give the Lions more depth and experienced protection in the middle with a player who possesses some upside as an athletic, big man in the middle of their defense.

With other available options running thin, Lions GM Martin Mayhew was able to address the most needy portion of the team’s roster and hopefully provide them with a pleasant surprise in the process.

The Church Of Schwartz roundtable discussion, Supplemental Draft

The Church of Schwartz has routinely held a “coffee klatch”-style roundtable discussion among some like-minded, internet-addicted Lions bloggers who muse eloquently upon several Lions topics. I have learned a lot through this process and have had fun participating in the collaborative discussions. Unfortunately, I missed the most recent one and decided to weigh in here:

Here’s are the questions for this week’s Roster Crunch edition:

1. Which safeties will make the squad?
2. Which wide receivers will make the squad?
3. Which offensive linemen will make the squad?

The Lions safety situation is relatively healthy, despite the fact that it is loaded with question marks, like nearly every other Lions personnel group. The Lions have a lot of their stakes defensively invested in the idea that Louis Delmas will start and contribute from day one. They also made the same commitment to Josh Bullocks and Gerald Alexander during recent drafts and each suffered from both injuries and general inconsistency.

In this case, I believe that Delmas and Bullocks will be the starters, with Marquand Manuel and Kalvin Pearson providing backup. Anthony Henry will likely fill both safety and corner roles as needed, and could emerge as the starter should Bullocks falter. I actually hope that Henry becomes the “slot guy”, who plays in nickel and dime coverage packages. If Stuart Schweigert proves of use on the special teams, he could eventually sneak onto the roster.

In regards to the receivers, obviously, the conversation begins with the prodigious Calvin Johnson and then, everybody else. I am gleefully beginning to allow the shadowy, unformed edges of my imagination to picture what a Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson passing combo could actually produce. I will try not to get too carried away, since Johnson’s future success depends heavily upon the performance of his receiving mates.

Personally, I think that the remaining receivers will be Bryant Johnson, Ronald Curry, Dennis Northcutt and Derrick Williams. Adam Jennings may find himself on the roster as a special teams ace, especially in kick coverage, if no one else emerges to take that role from him. I believe that Williams will cover most of the return duties, guaranteeing him a roster spot, unless (when?) injuries become a factor.

In regards to the O-Line, I believe that the starters will be: LT Jeff Backus, LG? ,C Dominic Raiola, RG Stephen Peterman, and RT Gosder Cherilus. The starting left guard will cause a ripple effect in this group, since I am not sold on either Manny “Not That One” Ramirez and Damion Cook successfully holding a tenuous grip upon the position. I believe that the starter will emerge from either Daniel Loper or Ephraim Salaam, unless either Backus or Cherilus falters, which could force Salaam or Loper into a starting role.

A large part of Loper’s value to the Lions is in his versatility so he definitely will make the roster. I also believe that Jon Jansen and Salaam will weather the storm and provide ample pressure upon Backus and Cherilus to continue to fight to retain their jobs. I believe that Damion Cook can also play center, which would garner him a spot as a backup. The last player will Tonio Fonoti, given he finally achieves a measure of his once huge potential.

The fact that we can discuss each of these playing groups and there is some room for questioning whom might survive these position battles can only be regarded as positive for the Lions future outlook.

The Lions were hoping to enhance their future outlook by adding a defensive line prospect during yesterday’s supplemental draft. They were very interested in DE Jeremy Jarmon and were willing to part with a 2010 fourth rounder, widely considered to be a deep and richly talented draft pool, in order to acquire Jermon with their fourth round supplemental draft pick. I like the calculated risk the Lions were going to make in an attempt to address a personnel group that desperately needs attention. Unfortunately, Dan Snyder and the dreaded Redskins, who toss around draft picks as if they were completely value-less, beat the Lions to the punch and selected Jarmon a round earlier.

Some Experts are Taking Note of Lions Off-Season

As convenient as it is to “pile on” the Lions coming off of an 0-16 season, given their recent struggles, some analysts have taken note that they could actually be moving in the right direction. Here are some thoughts from Pro Football Weekly’s Eric Edholm:

It’s easy to dismiss the Lions’ trade of Gerald Alexander for Dennis Northcutt as a minor deal, but they are slowly building depth on a team that seriously lacked it last season.

Northcutt will battle for the slot position and can return punts. Both spots needed depth. Now you have Northcutt competing with rookie Derrick Williams, Ronald Curry and others for the third and fourth WR spots, and Northcutt, Williams, Aveion Cason and rookie Aaron Brown could be your returners.

I’ll take Edholm’s thoughts a step further, I think that Northcutt could both provide a boost in the returns game and ultimately become the team’s second best receiver, despite his lack of production for both Jacksonville and Cleveland during recent seasons.

Furthermore, if the Lions defense falters (or when?), the more formidable the team’s passing options the better. Otherwise, teams could devote all of their resources towards limiting Calvin Johnson. As much as it pains me, Northcutt is the most proven commodity at receiver the Lions possess after Johnson, too. I can definitely envision a scenario where he outplays Bryant Johnson, Ronald Curry and Derrick Williams, without hesitation. Edholm continues…

Look at the variety of moves they have made this offseason:

* Swapped CBs Leigh Bodden and Travis Fisher for Anthony Henry, Phillip Buchanon and Eric King. That’s an improvement.

This is harder for me to stomach. The Lions have proven mostly fruitless when attempting to upgrade their secondary with “proven” veterans. There is also some question whether the Lions have devoted enough energy towards improving their pass rush, which could help significantly to protect any coverage deficiencies that may arise.

# Exchanged Dan Campbell and Michael Gaines for Brandon Pettigrew, Will Heller and Dan Gronkowski. Upgrade.
# Special teams should be better with the additions of the return guys we mentioned, professional coverage guys such as Cody Spencer, King and Terrelle Smith.
# There’s more depth on the offensive line with Jon Jansen, Daniel Loper, Toniu Fonoti, Dylan Gandy, Kirk Barton and Lydon Murtha. None are great, but again, they add depth and competition.
# Made a big improvement by ditching Mike Furrey and signing Bryant Johnson and Curry, drafting Williams and trading for Northcutt.

I’ll give Edholm credit and agree with him that the tight end position should be improved, and it had better be, given the importance of that position within new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan’s offense. I still don’t understand a first round selection of a tight end, and likely never will, unless Pettigrew emerges as a perennial all-pro.

At the very least, Pettigrew and Heller will help the team’s blocking significantly, especially in the red zone.

In regards to the offensive line, this may be the most depth the Lions have possessed there in years, which hopefully will mean that the team will have a competent enough offensive line to protect potential franchise savior Matthew Stafford, when the time eventually comes that he will take the reins mid-season. I am also glad that this situation places some accountability upon the shoulders of the incumbent offensive tackles(Jeff Backus and Gos Cherilus), who have faced little legitimate threat for playing time in the past.

* And without question, the position they improved the most was at linebacker, also easily the worst position on the field in ‘08. Larry Foote, Julian Peterson, DeAndre Levy and Cody Spencer could make up four of their top five linebackers along with Ernie Sims. Huge improvement over last year’s lot.

Lots of depth. It’s a big upgrade. The easiest bet in Vegas is that the Lions will win at least 3-4 games this season, even though it might take them a few weeks to get on track.

The linebackers should be better, but even Edholm later acknowledges a huge problem which could directly impact them:

The one position I would like to see more help is at defensive tackle. They might have to wait until next offseason to get any real assistance there, but it would not surprise me at all if they scour the wires — as they have done all season, with the first crack at unvested veterans — to add a D-tackle to their rotation.

Very intriguing team down the road, these Lions.

With Grady Jackson’s likely suspension of four games, the team WILL need to address this position, in some manner, before the season begins, as Alex Marvez suggests:

Detroit: Defensive tackle

After an 0-16 season, the Lions couldn’t upgrade every unit in one offseason. Defensive tackle remains problematic after Detroit lost Shawn Cody to Houston in free agency and traded Cory Redding to Seattle. Ex-Atlanta starter Grady Jackson was signed but the 36-year-old is coming off knee surgery and may face a four-game suspension for taking a banned diuretic.

Possible solution: John Thornton. A Cincinnati starter the past six years, the Bengals didn’t re-sign Thornton after adding Tank Johnson earlier this offseason. Thornton, 32, is the best of a free-agent group of defensive tackles

If the Lions don’t upgrade the middle of their defensive line, their linebackers and secondary will suffer for it. As much as I want to subscribe to the idea that Foote and Sims will be effective, they won’t be if they are constantly facing lineman who breeze to the next level of the Lions defense unimpeded by a weak and ineffective front four.

In regards to the team’s depth at linebacker, I am also not sold on players like DeAndre Levy, Jordan Dizon, and Cody Spencer being able to be productive, especially without serious help up front. Jackson will be limited in playing time, by his gargantuan size alone, so beefing up their rotation will help the team both with and without him, in the long run.

Still, given how bad the Lions have been, it is a positive sign to know that we aren’t drinking too much off-season “Honolulu Blue Kool Aid” and there is some cause to think that the team’s fortunes could eventually improve. They certainly couldn’t be any worse!