Detroit Lions Weblog

Third Pre-Season Game Will Provide of Barometer for Upcoming Lions Season

As everyone hard-core football fan knows, the third pre-season game serves as a “dry run” for the season and a barometric check upon where the team currently resides developmentally, at that point.

Given the fact that the Lions are coming off of an 0-16 season, amidst an improbably infamous 1-22 run, any signs of progress will likely be warmly-received amongst Lions fans, considering the low expectations that are currently held for the team. At this point, many fans initial instinct is to expect a systematic dismantling of the Lions defense at the hands of Colts QB Peyton Manning, and just enough maddeningly embarrassing mistakes to be able to angrily mutter “Same Ol’ Lions” as they dejectedly walk out of Ford Field and cast their lot in the “Greektown” casinos, before journeying to their suburban homes.

If this in fact how things eventually play out Saturday, there is no shame in that, the Lions will remain a work in progress for both the immediate and the foreseeable future. The Lions need to acquit themselves, step by feeble step, despite the likely onslaught of empty Ford Field seats, barrage of media coverage and bevy of loser jokes that await them with each successive loss until they finally win a game during the ‘09 season.

The Lions do have a few things in their favor. With both the incredibly low expectations and assuredly empty stadium to play in front of, any of the ugliness that they experience will likely occur outside of the watchful gaze of a television audience, since most of their games will likely be “blacked out”, too. As long as the Lions front office stays the course, and the team’s coaching staff maintains a semblance of continuity and philosophical agreement, the wins should eventually come.

I am excited by the prospect of an energized, swaggering Lions team who is not likely to take their shortcomings and embarrassments while lying down. The stupid pre-game scuffle between soon-to-be free agent TE Carson Butler and DE DeWayne White, along with the two reported training camp/practice melees, each engineered by rookie S Louis Delmas that have occurred are palpable signs that the team is not willing to remain a submissively convenient NFL doormat anymore.

I really like that Delmas is causing a ripple in the placid Lions training camp. I don’t really want him to unnecessarily cause an injury to a member of the team, but the team, and fans have needed the presence of a player like Delmas for several seasons now. I think that the insanely-intense Lions defensive coordinator, Gunther Cunningham would tend to agree:

There have been more scuffles in this camp than in previous years. Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham loves it, though he doesn’t want anyone to get hurt.

Cunningham is trying to give the Lions an attitude adjustment, and he said he sent a message loud and clear after Saturday’s 27-10 exhibition loss at Cleveland: If you can’t tackle, you won’t play for the Lions.

Even as Cunningham spoke to reporters today, he seemed to get upset about it. He said turning down tackles will not be tolerated. He said four players turned down tackles — not just missed them — on the 81-yard run by the Browns’ James Davis.

The Lions have “turned down” tackles for years and if a pissed off, bitter, German powder keg of a coach can single-handedly change that mere fact, Cunningham will become a sainted figure among the Lions fan base. Hopefully, the Lions defense gets to the point where their aggression is eventually placed upon their opponents and not just against each other in the comfortable confines of the Allen Park training facility.

With the release of former Lions RB T.J. Duckett, the Grand Rapids Press’ Brian Van Ochten believes that the Lions should approach Duckett to help them with an organizational deficiency:

The transaction provides the Lions with a fantastic chance to plug a glaring hole on their roster.

The need for a short-yardage back such as Duckett was all too obvious while watching the Lions suffer a 27-10 lackluster loss to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday night in preseason action. Aveion Cason, called upon to gain 1 yard on fourth down, went backward.

It’s a role that Cason is ill-suited to fill.

Duckett, 28, once a prep star at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, is just the man to reclaim that job for the Lions….In his lone season in Detroit in 2007, the 6-foot, 254-pound Duckett ran 65 times for 335 yards (5.2 per rush) with three touchdowns in a reserve role. He caught four passes for 54 yards and fumbled just once. He also was a breath of fresh air in the locker room.

He has averaged 3.9 yards per carry and scored 44 touchdowns throughout his seven-year NFL career.

Let’s hope Lions general manager Martin Mayhew picks up the phone.

I like T.J. Duckett, his last second touchdown catch against the Michigan Wolverines a few years ago, remains among the most joyous sports moments I have personally experienced in my life. He has been a capable NFL back. I would actually prefer him over Aveion Cason, especially with the hoped for continued development of rookie RB Aaron Brown as a third down, change-of-pace back.

That being said, the Lions are likely to believe that they have the personnel on hand to perform Duckett’s responsibilities, after reading this Detroit Free Press article.

Terrelle Smith opened some holes for Jerome Felton, and fullback tandem opened some eyes when the Lions showed off their power-run package Saturday against Cleveland.

The Lions took advantage of the 3-4 defensive scheme, which creates more holes at the line because of the defense’s use of only three linemen. With Smith leading the way, Felton carried seven times for 34 yards. That included a gain of 14 yards and a string of three consecutive runs that the Browns were helpless to stop late the second quarter.

It was a good sign for the Lions, especially because they will play seven games this season against teams with a 3-4 defense.

“I think it’s going to be productive package for us,” coach Jim Schwartz said Tuesday.

Schwartz explained that the gaps in a 3-4 defense push defenders to the side, forcing them to tackle at an angle.

“And when guys are making side tackles, you need north-south running backs that can run through arm tackles, real strong guys like that,” he said. “And I think that package fits us real well in that circumstance.

“We really haven’t broken it out in any short-yardage situations, but it’s available to use there. We could use it in a lot of different plays: goal-line, short-yardage and also some attitude-type plays.”

Last Saturday was not the only time that the Lions will face a 3-4 defense and Felton’s utility was one of the boasting points made upon his selection last season. Felton is kind of a younger version of Duckett, except trading Duckett’s rushing ability for Felton’s blocking ability while backing up veteran Terrelle Smith makes a lot of sense for the Lions offense down the road. I would not be disappointed by an eventual signing of Duckett either, but clearly, and likely infinitely more so after this upcoming Saturday’s pre-season game, the Lions have much higher priorities for an upgrade than exchanging T.J. Duckett for Aveion Cason.

Daniel Bullocks/Secondary, Schwartzingham, and Daunte Culpepper

The Lions placed embattled safety, and former second round pick, Daniel Bullocks on the waiver/injured reserve list, ending his season, and more likely his career as a Lion. If Bullocks passes through waivers unclaimed, he can be placed on the team’s injured reserve list. The Lions safeties, once considered a position of relative luxury on the thin Lions roster, are now a little strapped, considering the trade of Gerald Alexander and the fact that Bullocks will be unavailable to the team for at least, one season.

Beyond rookie Louis Delmas, veteran backups Marquand Manuel, Kalvin Pearson and Stuart Schweigert, the Lions are likely going to be featuring mostly inexperienced players at those positions, unless another unexpectedly dependable corner emerges and Anthony Henry can shift back to safety?

One thing is for certain, the Lions second round draft picks have become analogous to Spinal Tap drummers or Grateful Dead keyboardists, they are an endangered species:

Lions Second Round Draft Picks 2000-2008
2000 LB Barrett Green
2001 Dominic Raiola/Shaun Rogers
2002 Kalimba “The Ghost” Edwards
2003 Boss Bailey
2004 Teddy “China Doll” Lehman
2005 Shaun Cody
2006 Daniel Bullocks
2007 Gerald Alexander/Ikaika Alama-Francis/Drew Stanton
2008 Jordan Dizon

Alex, the answer is, What are perennial draft busts for $300! Hopefully, Martin Mayhew can stem this tide of horrible failures, and has potentially found a valuable player in S Louis Delmas, who already has garnered a lot of early praise for his aggressive and fearless play, which need to be reined in yesterday after blowing up his Lions rookie teammate, RB Aaron Brown:

“I’ve been out for a week and a half,” said Delmas, who also missed the exhibition opener last weekend, “so putting on the pads and going full speed out there, I just wanted to hit anybody, just to get back in game-type situations.”

And while the defense roared its approval after Delmas separated a stunned Brown from the football — knocking his facemask askew — coach Jim Schwartz immediately scolded his second-round pick for an “unnecessary” hit.

“He was motoring to get there,” Schwartz said. “And I appreciate the effort, but we need to be smarter about that. We’re all on the same team. I respect him for how much he’s been itching to get out there to practice. But I thought that one crossed the line.

“I know that he could’ve made that play, and he had a couple (Tuesday) that he really did a good job of flying by. Our rule is, first level we want to make contact. But if we ever have a hit on an unprotected player, we want to pass that one by. … When a guy’s not expecting it, when a guy’s in a vulnerable position, we’ve gotta just be smarter than that.”

I think it is interesting that Schwartz can even keep a straight face while providing his comments to the press. Given Schwartz’s experience as a defensive coorrdinator, where players gain a significant edge in performance through their unchecked aggressiveness, he had to be filled with joy to see his rookie’s abandon, despite it’s potential negative outcome. Gunther Cunningham certainly was:

Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, however, couldn’t hide his glee.

“We’ve really been working hard to become a physical team,” Cunningham said. “And having Louis Delmas back out (there) — he shouldn’t do that in practice — but I turned around, smiled, and I loved every second of it, boy. He blew him up, and that’s the type of tackling we hope to get out of him.”

Amen brother. The Lions have missed having some bravado and chippiness during recent seasons, in my opinion. If Ernie Sims and Louis Delmas can fly around and find the ball like they are seemingly capable, the Lions may be on the verge of establishing a defense worthy of some respect from their NFL peers.

Gunther Cunningham is a particularly interesting variable to the Lions season. He is an energy-charged, rah-rah kind of guy, while Schwartz seems to be more mild-mannered and subdued, it remains to be seen if Cunningham’s volatility is a seamless match with Schwartz’s style, or not. As a Lions fan, I want to see an energized, aggressive defense in Cunningham’s image, not a placid, beaten-down bunch like they have been during recent seasons.

The Lions are clearly still attempting to find their way with their defensive line after the injury sustained by Jared DeVries, and roles are still being sorted out:

While the Lions might not be in desperation mode yet, the defensive line is a work in progress — and progress has been slow.

“It’s getting a little better,” Cunningham said.” We’re going to go into (the regular) season with things we’re probably not going to ever use in preseason.

“They got a little confused (Tuesday), so (defensive line coach Bob Karmelowicz) kept them out and they ran gassers. … He ran them pretty hard, and they got the message.”

Cunningham is expected to have the defense blitz a lot during the regular season to help manufacture a pass rush. He had the defense blitz only 19 times (during Atlanta’s 55 offensive plays) and said the Lions played it safe down the stretch when they knew they had a chance to win the game with zone coverages, which are less prone to big plays.

Another interesting element to the Lions season will be how the quarterback situation sorts itself out and whether Stafford or Culpepper eventually wins the starting job? I actually believe that the Lions are now in a win-win scenario with this situation, since if Culpepper starts and plays well, and if the team still loses, they may actually be able to trade Culpepper to another team, especially if a playoff contender suffers a significant injury at the position. The Lions will turn to Stafford during the bye week, regardless, unless somehow they are improbably winning games with Culpepper.

In some ways, I think it is to their benefit if Culpepper starts and plays well, even if it means delaying handing the team over to Stafford for a few weeks. With the ridiculous rumors that the Lions could eventually be players in the acquisition of Tavaris Jackson, according to Charley Walters from the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Lions might actually benefit (acquiring picks/players) from using Culpepper as a stop-gap, and are clearly not as bad off at the Qb position as it is still commonly believed, at least by one idiot sports writer.

Injury Bug Becoming the Lions Undoing, Impressions of 1st Pre-Season Game

The Lions are becoming increasingly dogged by injuries, at a very early stage of the team’s development, with the ‘09 NFL season rapidly approaching. Backup linebacker and special teams ace Cody Spencer is done for the year with a knee injury, the Lions receiving corps have hardly played and the team has had to release players (Kirk Barton, Curtis Gatewood) that it might consider retaining, or at least wanted to take a look at, due to the depth issues created by the team’s litany of injuries, according to the Detroit News.

The Lions are trying to rebound from the worst season in professional sports history and they can ill-afford to squander crucial developmental time in their attempt to establish some much-needed continuity and credibility while awaiting the returns of players whose presence would only serve as a complement, rather than an essential component of the final 53-man roster when they break camp. If that reality necessitates them making cold, hard decisions regarding a veteran like Casey FitzSimmons or Daniel Bullocks, unfortunately, well, so be it.

Every team has to overcome the injuries which inevitably occur throughout the course of every NFL season. The Lions are no different. At this early juncture, the one injury that stands as most painful, in my eyes, is the one sustained by rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew.

Pettigrew was a 1st round draft pick who would seemingly comprise an elemental piece of new Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan’s offense, provide a valuable safety-valve for both Daunte Culpepper and Matthew Stafford, as well as giving the team an additional capable blocker when the situation warrants it. Adding the painful fact that the pick of Pettigrew seemed frivolous to me at the time it was made, and considering the team’s voluminous personnel concerns, my Lions fatalism is shifting to high alert in regards to the selection of Pettigrew. They absolutely need to justify his selection with his becoming a productive member of the roster, immediately.

The Lions could have utilized the pick that they used to add Pettigrew by addressing other glaring personnel needs with players at positions whose value could provide a more immediate, if less glamorous impact than a “skilled” player. The Lions are now facing some increasingly difficult realities, in regards to their roster.

The Lions did add some additional veteran roster help by signing both WR Dane Looker and OL Terrence Metcalf. Looker would seemingly possess some familiarity with the Linehan offense, in it’s post-Martz Rams configuration and provide the Lions with some more competition at the slot receiver position, given the rash of dropped passes by WR Keary Colbert during the team’s first pre-season game.

Metcalf’s presence could eventually endanger a player like Manny Ramirez or another interior lineman, since he has survived hard-fought roster battles before in the past. In any case, I believe that the Lions continued roster tweaking is both ominous, since there offensive line is far from settled nor can be construed as anything approaching stellar, and beneficial, since, in the end, the team’s players will have to have staved off numerous viable competitors for the team’s few available roster spots in order to make the team.

Other than the overwhelmingly vast emptiness of the Ford Field seats last Saturday, and the incredibly shameless and unmitigated audacity of the entire Lions organization for demanding full-price on tickets for a pre-season game featuring a team coming off of an 0-16 season, the Lions initial pre-season game was exactly what it would seem to be to both the die-hards and casual observers, a mixture of exciting promise and the overwhelmingly fatalistic woe-is-me, the “Same Ol’ Lions have returned, yet again” hand-wringing which is a familiarly shared sentiment among many Lions fans every fall.

That being said, Matthew Stafford appears to possess all of the raw talent and leadership ability that he has been touted for, and his unveiling should melt even the most implacable of Lions naysayers since, plain and simple, his arm will eventually be a difference-maker for this franchise.

I experienced a heightened sense of anticipation as the untapped potential of Stafford was finally unveiled. The entire Lions game, pre-Stafford, appeared to be like the often boring, but crucial setting and plot development aspects of a movie. Although providing necessary context, it is hard to contain the urge to skip forward to the “big payoff”, in this case, Stafford trotting onto the field turf to a loud and resounding, given the few game attendees, applause.

The difficult part was, as Stafford received his first NFL snap, dropped into the pocket and zipped among the prettiest and most on-target passes seen by Lions fans in years, was fighting the sense of anger and frustration over the familiarity of seeing Stafford’s pass sail to his intended target, Keary Colbert, who is desperately clinging to his limited NFL life by a thread, and watch the ball fall to the turf, out of Colbert’s hands. Hopefully, that moment doesn’t hold any portent about Stafford’s future in Detroit.

Stafford’s game was still flawed and he made some costly errors. His touch wasn’t entirely great on passes which he should have feathered into his receiver rather than darted, and his interception on an ill-advised pass into coverage which was returned for a touchdown should serve as a valuable “teaching moment” as well as a stern reminder that his margin for error is significantly smaller than it was playing on Saturday’s in the SEC.

Besides Stafford, and the reality that Aaron Brown will make the Lions 53-man roster after his two touchdown performance, the Lions first pre-season game was an unremarkable and by-the-numbers affair. They were lucky to sustain few additional serious injuries and hopefully, the game will serve as a springboard to additional steps forward this weekend.

Enter G Milford Brown and S Calvin Lowry With Cook Out and Bullocks Next?

The Lions picked up some insurance at two positions that have been hit hard by injury during training camp by signing G Milford Brown and S Calvin Lowry. The Lowry signing is of particular interest, since the Lions have recently traded Gerald Alexander for Dennis Northcutt and are facing injuries to second round draft pick Louis Delmas and veteran Daniel Bullocks. In my eyes, Lowry’s signing is an indication of concern at a position whose depth is becoming a growing question as the season approaches.

The Free Press has an interesting article about the Lions defensive line, which has begun the process of a 180 degree philosophical change from the previous coaching regime, and is clearly a work in progress. Here are some points of emphasis regarding it’s taking shape:

The Lions’ defense is designed with ends lining up wide and funneling run games to the wider bodies inside.

“I want you at the heaviest you can weigh that you can play the fastest,” Schwartz said. “Anytime that weight slows you down, then we don’t need to weigh any more.”

The offseason roster moves made that philosophy clear:

• The Lions signed 340-pound Jackson in early March;

• They drafted Sammie Hill, a 330-pound tackle, in April.; and

• This week, they signed another 325-pound veteran tackle, Shaun Smith, who was cut by the Browns and figures to move into the regular rotation fairly soon.

Assuming the Lions keep a handful of tackles on the roster — they’re still waiting for a verdict on Jackson’s possible drug suspension to start the season — that leaves little room for others. Less than two weeks into camp, Cohen might have jumped ahead of veteran Chuck Darby and Andre Fluellen, though the latter has been getting first-team reps in nickel-defense situations.

“They’re all working really hard,” defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said. “They’re showing a lot more toughness than I saw on tape.”

Still, those three — along with Orien Harris, acquired from St. Louis in the Ronald Curry trade last month — figure to be fighting for two roster spots at most.

In my view, with the exit of Jared DeVries due to injury, and excepting any potential unforeseen future defensive line additions, these players will likely make the 53-man roster: DE’s Cliff Avril and DeWayne White are clearly in. As well as DT Grady Jackson, even if he is eventually suspended. DT Sammie Lee Hill, even if he is the farthest from being a regular contributor, would also seem to be safe as a future projected starter. I believe that Fluellen and Alama-Francis could eventually survive due to their possessing versatility. Jason Hunter, the current starter at left end, would also seem to be safe. This configuration would likely leave Chuck Darby, Landon Cohen and Orien Harris all on the outside looking in, so eventually exchanging one of them for Alama-Francis is not out of the question.

With Mayhew’s growing acumen as a consummate wheeler and dealer, I would not be shocked to see him flip a player like Chuck Darby to another team(Chicago?), or see Darby released outright, since he is the player who has the most limited upside and was most clearly brought in as a natural and familiar fit within the failed Marinelli Tampa-2 defensive scheme.

If Jon Jansen can provide additional organizational value, either as a backup or a starter, by also serving as a mentor for big Gosder Cherilus, then Jansen’s signing will serve as among the shrewdest and wisest made this off-season by Martin Mayhew. Hopefully, Jansen’s professionalism and tutoring, as mentioned by Cherilus, is actually more than lip service:

Jansen’s take:”I’m here to compete,” Jansen said. “I want to earn a starting job just like anybody else does. But I also want to make sure that we’re prepared to win.”

Jansen, a 10-year vet who played at Clawson High and Michigan, signed with the Lions to prove he’s still got it. Cherilus, a talented 2008 first-round pick, still has much to learn. Jansen pulled Cherilus aside recently to give him a pointer on a particular play.

Cherilus’ view:”And when I used it, you know, it was better,” Cherilus said. “That’s the kind of guy he is, and that’s who we are as a group.

Apparently, the Jansen/Cherilus tandem is not the only signs of tutelage upon the Lions roster, according to this Detroit Free Press article. Terrelle Smith is helping second-year player, Jerome Felton, Julian Peterson has helped Ernie Sims, and Grady Jackson has helped Sammie Lee Hill:

Jackson said he is helping Hill adjust to the speed of the NFL the way veterans helped him as a rookie in Oakland.

“I work with him after practice sometimes, or we’ll go indoors and I’ll help him with the blocking schemes and tell him what play’s coming,” Jackson said. “It’s just a fast, fast thing for him to come from Stillman College, because I was once in that situation.

“By me having Russell Maryland, Chester McGlockton and all them guys teaching me, I think that it’s fair that I help him and teach him a whole lot.”

The value of an improved Lions offensive line, with any tangible gains in credibility and enhanced performance, is inestimable. If Cherilus can become a bedrock, sterling performer, the process of vetting Matthew Stafford can assume a quicker pace, since the Lions would be able to utilize Stafford with out inflicting the high level of psychic damage or significant injury which has terminated so many promising, gestating NFL QB’s careers in the past, which has obviously occurred at an even higher frequency within the Lions organization.

Speaking of Stafford, his Saturday debut, thus far shrouded in subterfuge and organizational mystery, is easily among the most anticipated in Lions history and clearly the most significant since either of two #20’s put on the pads for the franchise. Here are Stafford’s thoughts from the Detroit News:

Stafford, whose last game as a non-starter came as a freshman in college, admits it’ll be a strange feeling, no matter who gets the nod in the first quarter Saturday.

“It’s just to go out there and get used to playing in the NFL, I guess,” Stafford said. “Have some fun, and try to get better. Just getting out there and getting used to playing live football again, that’s the biggest thing. I haven’t played since the bowl game, and when I’m live and everybody else is live and we’re playing against somebody else, it’ll be fun. …

“But the mindset you’ve gotta have is not to try to do too much. Just go in there and execute, not try to make things happen when they’re not there.”

That being said, a rabid and fatalistic fan base definitely wants to see what Stafford might have to offer and certainly would like to see his top-of-the-line, cannon of a right arm put on a show on Saturday, especially if it includes airing out some deep balls to Calvin Johnson. That my friends, if even marginally successfully, would prove worth whatever the marginal price of admission any spectators may pay to view the team on Saturday.

Training Camp, Shaun Smith, Millen as an UFL Executive?

Upon hearing the news that several former Lions (David Kircus, Teddy “China Doll” Lehman, and Frank Davis) were recently signed to contracts to play in the burgeoning United Football League, I was left to wonder, Matt Millen is highly-regarded as the worst personnel executive in the entire history of professional sports, what if, it turns out that he was ACTUALLY the greatest executive in the history of the UFL? I can totally envision over the course of the next few seasons a plethora of former Lions (Mike Williams, Charles Rogers, Joseph Harrington, etc.) making appearances as valuable participants in the nascent league.

So the Lions have already suffered from the attrition of both Damien Cook and Jared DeVries, with more likely to come before they break camp. That is the most difficult aspect of the NFL season, in my eyes. Neither player was slated to be a starter and could be construed as even being indispensable, but who can you quickly usher into their place and receive the same level of performance from? DeVries has been a versatile, hard worker whose presence will certainly be sorely missed.

Even more painfully, Daniel Bullocks continues to miss valuable practice time while languishing with his knee injury. Bullocks’ continued development was a hoped for enhancement to an already weak Lions defense. At one time, the safety position appeared to be a roster strength, but if Bullocks misses much more time, that perception would be in jeopardy for me.

Meanwhile, the Lions front office has remained busy. They have signed DT Shaun Smith, who is considered to be the type of talented-but-disappointing “bad egg” that Jim Schwartz has proven that he is capable of managing, at least based upon his success with handling Albert Haynesworth in Tennessee. Smith apparently had a disagreement with one of the members of the Browns coaching staff (which lead to his eventual dismissal) and is guilty by association (among Lions fans) for being close friends with Shaun Rogers. Smith even bizarrely intimated that Rogers would like to return to Detroit, where he had been recently ushered out as a locker room pestilence, at least according to these statements:

“That’s my best friend, and he wishes he could come back here now. He misses it,” Smith said after the Lions’ morning workout. “You’ve been somewhere your whole career and you have some good times and you see the talent they’re bringing in — (Larry) Foote, (Julian) Peterson and (Phillip) Buchanon — the defense is better now. They’ve got some quality veterans who can play and there are some young guys with potential.

“He said the people in the building were good and the people in the locker room were good. Just happy to be in the NFC and play ball. It’s fun playing in the NFC.”

The Lions are still thought to be looking at veteran DL Kevin Carter and will consider other available possibilities, as they arise. In the meantime, they will utilize Jason Hunter as their starter at left end, with Cliff Avril playing in passing situations. Here are some more interesting details regarding that situation:

It’s too early,” Schwartz said. “That’s one of the reasons we are moving them around. We need to put them in a lot of different positions and let it shake itself out.”

Hunter spent the past three years in Green Bay as a reserve defensive end and special-teams standout. He said he can play either side but feels most comfortable on the left. At 6-foot-4, 272 pounds, he can make an impact there.

“He goes hard (Hunter),” White said. “That’s one thing that I think Coach Schwartz wants off the edge. Just go. And being that big, when you hit the tackle, he’s pushing his gap, closing the run lanes, and that’s basically what you want on rundowns.”

Alama-Francis, a second-round pick in 2007, started out as a left end who could play tackle on passing downs. He bulked up in the off-season to play more tackle, gaining about 10 pounds, taking him to 292. But the Lions started experimenting with him in recent days, and now that DeVries is out, he seems cast in his original role.

“Back to square one again,” Alama-Francis said, laughing. “No. Things happen. We know injuries happen. It’s unfortunate that we lost Jared, but we’ve got to work with what we’ve got. I still think we’re a damn good defensive line, and if they want me to play end, I’m going to play end.”

That’s my boy, “Kalimba 2.0″ Alama-Francis! Talk up the D-Line, remain an enigma, and prove to be a player without a genuinely defined role or position. You are shaping up to be another in a long line of prototypical Lions. Failure is clearly within your grasp!

“Killer” Kowalski has some commented on some interesting developments along the Lions offensive line that bear watching, especially with the eventual coronation of Matthew Stafford as the starting QB looming:

The Lions are expected to keep three backups on the offensive line and you’ve got to figure that Jon Jansen would fill one of those roles and that Ephraim Salaam would fill another. Both Jansen and Salaam have long careers at playing tackle - Jansen on the right and Salaam on the left — but Jansen could also move and play guard. It’s interesting to note, though, that Jansen hasn’t played guard yet in camp.

The three players fighting for the final backup spot are interior players: Gandy, Ramirez and Dan Gerberry. Gandy would seem to have the most versatility because he can play center and both guard positions while Gerberry has played center and right guard. Ramirez has had time at both guard spots.

I find it interesting that Kowalski later proposes that one of the interior lineman could perform well enough to eventually bounce either Jansen or Salaam off of the roster. The Lions will need to figure out who is capable of backing up durable Dom Raiola, in the event he become injured. The other thing to watch, in my opinion, is the team beginning the season with two QB’s to jigger another roster spot open for another valuable player like an offensive lineman.

Will Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus Stave Off Veterans Jon Jansen and Ephraim Salaam?

As the Lions season edges closer, one cause for ample concern, and something to ponder, is whether incumbent offensive tackles Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus will be able to hold onto their jobs and stave off veterans Ephraim Salaam and Jon Jansen, respectively. If they don’t, what impact will that have on their offense?

I fully support Martin Mayhew bringing in two veterans to put the heat on both Backus and Cherilus. I am also concerned, since Salaam and Jansen have extensive injury histories and are nearing the end of their careers, if they actually each depose of Backus and Cherilus, how much of a setback is it for the Lions offense with their newly-minted franchise savior, Matthew Stafford? How much of a setback is it that Cherilus could become the next in the line of succession of embarrassments like Stockar McDougle and Aaron Gibson?

Due to advance billing, I am prone to thinking that the Lions could be establishing the rough nucleus for a potential playoff performer within two to three seasons (Matthew Stafford, Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson), but can that become an eventuality if the Lions offensive line situation continues to flounder, and the Lions eventually prove to have whiffed on Cherilus?

I hate to be fatalistic, but for the Lions, it seems to be one step forward and two back. All reports indicate that Stafford could potentially be even better than advertised and possesses more ability and leadership skill than we could have expected at this early juncture. If the offensive line falters, can Stafford overcome that adversity?

I am beginning to believe, due to early reports, that the Lions should move Cherilus to guard and force him to earn the offensive tackle job back. Cherilus is massive, but indications are that his footwork and apparently his focus, which is more troublesome, are proving to be increasingly lacking.

The Lions should be absolutely ruthless and unflinching in their handling of their offensive line. If Backus and Cherilus fail, I want their asses parked on the bench, without thinking twice. But would an offensive line with Salaam and Jansen actually perform any better? That remains to be seen.

One thing I do know, if the offensive line proves to be a continued weakness, the Lions playoff aspirations are likely to be delayed another precious year or two, which doesn’t bode well for the team, since the half-life of players like Johnson and Smith will not go on forever.

Is Kevin Smith the Lions Most Indispensable Commodity?

As the Lions season rapidly approaches, I have been thinking about their roster and it’s strengths, which are obviously few, and it’s many weaknesses, too. In my opinion, the Lions front office has done a pretty good job of building more depth and generating competition for playing time throughout their roster, except for running back.

At a position that clearly requires depth, due to the high incidence of both major and minor injury, I feel that the Lions are sorely lacking. Kevin Smith seems on the verge of an exciting break-out kind of season, as long as he remains healthy.

“I ran the hills a lot more in the offseason. I wanted more lower-body explosion. I have to break more arm tackles — I left a lot of yards out there last season,” Smith said.

While Aveion Cason is the most experienced pass protector of the backs, Smith quickly is showing he is the most effective.

Smith has been solid in attacking and engaging the linebacker with power — without lunging and losing his leverage. He wants to carry that attitude into his running game as well.

“I want to be more like DeAngelo Williams in Carolina, with those short, powerful bursts that break tackles,” Smith said.

The Lions remaining options, after Smith should he unfortunately become injured, are not threatening. Maurice Morris and Aveion Cason are versatile and experienced, but will be unable to pick up the slack if Smith gets injured and misses any significant playing time. Aaron Brown and Jerome Felton provide some unproven potential, but neither would prevent the team from becoming one-dimensional in the event that Smith become injured.

“I want to improve those short bursts, run with power and break through those tackles that shouldn’t bring me down,” Smith said.

Smith certainly has a lot of the necessary heart and desire to become a productive force. I envision him to be the next in the line of succession from James Stewart to even Kevin Jones, an inspiring, unglamorous performer who faces daunting odds behind and incompetent Lions offensive line. Smith’s very aggressiveness may also become the source of his undoing, much like Kevin Jones’ injuries prematurely ended his career in Detroit.

After an off-season of rumors which indicated that Smith may not have as a large of a role as originally expected, due to the offensive changes that would come with switching to Scott Linehan as the team’s offensive coordinator, Smith has seemingly been the recipient of a new respect and acclaim as the season approaches, given Martin Mayhew’s recent statements:

“I think he’s a good back, no matter what scheme you’re in,” Mayhew said. “I think he showed that last year. I mean, with the offense that we had last year and for him to almost get a thousand yards is pretty impressive. He has a competitive spirit that’s unlike anybody I’ve been around in a long time. He’s ready to go. We plan on using him and I’m excited about seeing him work.”

It will be interesting to see how economically Smith is eventually utilized and whether he will be provided all of the chances necessary for success, healthy or not. One thing I am sure of, the Lions will be desperately trolling the waiver wire should anything happen to Smith, which should give us all cause for concern.