Detroit Lions
2010 record: 6-10
Last playoff appearance: 1999, 8-8, L27-13 WAS
General Manager: Martin Mayhew (December 29, 2008 – current)
Head Coach: Jim Schwartz (2010-current, 8-24 overall record as head coach)
Offensive Coordinator: Scott Linehan
Defensive Coordinator: Gunther Cunningham
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 22.6 PTS (15th) 338.9 YDS (17th) 238.1 PASS (12th) 100.8 RUSH (23rd)
DEF: 23.1 PTS (19th) 343.6 YDS (21st) 218.6 PASS (16th) 124.9 RUSH (24th)
Jeremy’s Outlook: Fear. That is what the Lions’ defensive line wants to put in the mind of every opponent they take on this year. Detroit, the bumbling, stumbling, fumbling franchise since Barry Sanders left now has a new identity and it’s a tough, stingy, and feared defensive line. We’ve all seen what Ndamukong Suh can do and the rest of the defensive line does more than just complement what Suh does. First round pick Nick Fairley will miss some time a left foot injury. The linebackers weren’t upgraded too much with the additions of Justin Durant and Stephen Tulloch, but they’ll be improved over last year’s unit. The secondary still needs some work. Louis Delmas looks good and Eric Wright was brought in from Cleveland to make a slight upgrade in overall talent.
As for the offense, the Lions have playmakers, but it’s a matter of having everything come together for the unit. Matt Stafford MUST be protected better and stay healthy. He’s shown he’s tough (remember TD throw against Browns after he got injured?), but injuries have kept him out of too many games in his young career, unfortunately (missed 19 games). Injuries seem to bite the running backs for Detroit as well. Last year, rookie Jahvid Best had some turf toe issues and this year’s rookie at running back Mikel LeShoure is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. Even with injuries hitting others, Calvin Johnson continues to be the motor of the Lions’ offense. “Megatron” has proved that he can produce no matter who throws him the football.
Prediction: Last year, some were predicting a breakout from Detroit. I thought last year was too early for the Lions to bust out. I wish I would have done more than think that, but nevertheless, I think that this year is when the Lions take another step up the NFL ladder. I think they have a very solid foundation with their defensive line and Matthew Stafford (healthy considered) throwing to Calvin Johnson. I really like Jim Schwartz as a head coach and believe he’s the man to lead them to a playoff berth. I’m predicting a wild-card for Detroit and with the playmakers on offense, you never know, they could get hot towards the end of the year and maybe surprise their opponent in the wild-card round. I think they’ll go 9-7.
Projected Starters:
QB: Matthew Stafford
RB: Jahvid Best
WR: Calvin Johnson
WR: Nate Burleson
WR: Titus Young
TE: Brandon Pettigrew
OT: Jeff Backus
OG: Rob Sims
C: Dominic Raiola
OG: Stephen Peterman
OT: Gosder Cherilus
DE: Cliff Avril
DT: Ndamukong Suh
DT: Corey Williams
DE: Kyle Vanden Bosch
OLB: Justin Durant
MLB: DeAndre Levy
OLB: Stephen Tulloch
CB: Chris Houston
CB: Eric Wright
FS: Louis Delmas
SS: Amari Spievey
K: Jason Hanson
P: Nick Harris
Fantasy Performers:
1. Calvin Johnson WR
2. Jahvid Best RB
3. Matthew Stafford QB
4. Nate Burleson WR
5. Brandon Pettigrew TE
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 at Buccaneers 1:00 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 vs. Chiefs 1:00 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 at Vikings 1:00 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 at Cowboys 1:00 PM Tickets
5 Oct 10 vs. Bears 8:30 PM Tickets
6 Oct 16 vs. 49ers 1:00 PM Tickets
7 Oct 23 vs. Falcons 1:00 PM Tickets
8 Oct 30 at Broncos 4:05 PM Tickets
9 Bye
10 Nov 13 at Bears 1:00 PM Tickets
11 Nov 20 vs. Panthers 1:00 PM Tickets
12 Nov 24 vs. Packers 12:30 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 at Saints 1:00 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 vs. Vikings 1:00 PM Tickets
15 Dec 18 at Raiders 4:05 PM Tickets
16 Dec 24 vs. Chargers 4:05 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 at Packers 1:00 PM Tickets
Re-signed:
Drew Stanton QB – 1 yr
Brian Clark WR – 1 yr, 535,000
Dylan Gandy C – 2 yrs
Landon Johnson OLB – 1 yr, 4 million
Bobby Carpenter OLB
Chris Houston CB – 2 yrs
Brandon McDonald CB – 4 yrs, 1.858 million
Nathan Vasher CB – 1 yr
John Wendling FS – 3 yrs, 3 million
CC Brown SS – 1 yr, 1.6 million
Free agent acquisitions:
Jerome Harrison RB (Eagles) – 1 yr
Rashied Davis WR (Bears) – 1 yr
Maurice Stovall WR (Buccaneers) – 1 yr
Justin Durant OLB (Jaguars) – 2 yrs
Stephen Tulloch MLB (Lions) – 1yr, 3.25 million
Eric Wright CB (Browns) -
Erik Coleman S (Falcons) – 1 yr, 765,000
Free agent losses:
Turk McBride DE – Signed with Saints
Julian Peterson OLB
Jordan Dizon OLB
Picks in 2011 Draft: (overall draft grade: B): The Lions 2011 draft class will be remembered for how Nick Fairley and Mikel LeShoure fell in the draft to them. Fairley and Ndamukong Suh in the middle of their defensive line are already creating fear for their opponents. I just feel sorry for Jay Cutler when he plays the Lions two times next season. I wasn’t exactly impressed by the rest of Detroit’s draft, however. Titus Young went a bit early and ahead of other better wideouts, but he’s proven he’s got very good speed and may be able to take some coverage off of Calvin Johnson. Of course, only having five picks doesn’t make it look like they did very well, but I still think this draft turns out amazing if just Nick Fairley turns into a star.
(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
*The Detroit Lions were the only team who had all of their picks be players that reportedly received interest from the Lions prior to the draft.
Rd 1, Pick 13 (13) Nick Fairley DT, Auburn! – Suh and Fairley in the middle are going to dominate the league for years to come. Astonishing that Fairley fell so far.
Grade: A+ Rated: 5
Rd 2, Pick 12 (44) Titus Young WR, Boise State! – I thought this was a reach, there were better receivers on the board. Lions get a receiver who can take some pressure off Megatron.
Grade: C+ Rated: 74
Rd 2, Pick 25 (57) Mikel Leshoure RB, Illinois! – love this pick for the Lions. They wanted a bigger back to compliment last year’s second first rounder Javhid Best. And to get him this late is a real nice value.
Grade: A Rated: 39
Rd 5, Pick 26 (157) Douglas Hogue LB, Syracuse! – athletic linebacker can help improve the competition at outside linebacker.
Grade: C+ Rated: 196
Rd 7, Pick 6 (209) Johnny Culbreath OT, South Carolina State! – This pick gives the Lions some developmental talent behind Jeff Backus.
Grade: C Rated: NR
2010 Stat Leaders
Shaun Hill 257-416 61.8% 2686 YDS 6.5 YPA 16 TD 12 INT 81.3 RTG
Jahvid Best 171 ATT 555 YDS 3.2 YPA 4 TD
Calvin Johnson 77 REC 1120 YDS 14.5 YPC 87 LNG 12 TD
Dave Rayner 13-16 81.3% 55 LNG
Louis Delmas 84 TCK
Ndamukong Suh 10 SCK
Alphonso Smith 5 INT
Out of Season Storylines
Can Matt Stafford Stay Healthy for a Full Season?
Injuries hit 2011 Lions’ draft class
Many are picking Lions to take next step and possibly a playoff berth.