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Football's Future
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Team Needs: Detriot Lions
The coming year will define the management career of Lions President and CEO Matt Millen (16-48) and perhaps the coaching career of Steve Mariucci (11-21). After three years of low draft picks—which netted playmakers like WRs Charles Rogers and Roy Williams, RB Kevin Jones, and LBs Boss Bailey and Teddy Lehman—the Lions must prove themselves competitive in the weak North Division. Should the Lions fail to make the playoffs, then Millen and Mariucci may find themselves looking for work.
Millen and Mariucci have clashed over QB Joey Harrington, the third pick in the 2003 draft. Harrington has proved resilient, starting 44 games in three years, but has yet to flash any signs that he is a franchise quarterback. Mariucci longs to start Mike McMahon, a fifth-round pick in 2001 whose athleticism reminds West Coasters of Steve Young. But Millen remains committed to Harrington. It is unlikely that McMahon, a free agent, will return for a fifth year. If Harrington fails to break through, the Lions have no one waiting in the wings capable of winning ballgames. The Lions will look for a veteran QB in free agency even though Mariucci has said he likes McMahon as much as anyone on the market.
Mariucci has hired Ted Tollner from the 49ers to fill the offensive coordinator slot vacated by Sherm Lewis. Mariucci handled the play calling until the final three games of the season. He will let Tollner call the plays this season, which many hope will lead to a less conservative offense. The Lions were 24th in the league in yards per play.
With the exception of the big question mark at QB, the Lions have the skill position players to be explosive next year. In the second half of 2005, no one had a better running back than Kevin Jones, who finished the season with 1,133 yards. After he recovered from an early season ankle injury and gained the trust of Mariucci, Jones established himself as the first legitimate Lions backfield threat since Barry Sanders retired. Pinner, who shared the job with Jones early in the year, played very little in the second half of the season, but remains a capable change-of-pace back. Third-down back Shawn Bryson had his second solid season for the Lions, who relied on him to protect Harrington and used him effectively on screen passes. Don’t expect the Lions to look at a running back in this year’s draft.
The scary wide receiver tandem of Charles Rogers and Roy Williams returns for the Lions, barring injury. Rogers, who looked tremendous in preseason, was lost for the year after he broke his collarbone in the first game. Rogers has played just six games in two years, but is only 23 and has outrageous potential. Roy Williams made a push for Rookie of the Year early, but an ankle injury limited him in the second half of the season. If the two young receivers stay healthy, the Lions may have one of the best WR combos in the league. Az Hakim and Tai Streets backup the hot young rookies. While both are capable veterans, nagging injuries limited their effectiveness last year and they never provided Harrington a dependable target. Hakim’s cap number is enormous and the Lions may choose to head another direction. Streets is a free agent, but at 27 he remains a good investment despite his disappointing year, only 28 catches for 260 yards.
Behind the veterans, the Lions have two unproven young players, Scotty Vines and David Kirkus. Both could be solid wide receivers some day. Vines is the better special teams player but Kirkus remains a fan favorite due to his outstanding local college career. (4,523 yards and 80 touchdowns for Division II Champs GVSU). Do not be surprised if the Lions look for help at wide receiver in free agency or the middle rounds of the draft. A sure-handed possession receiver—a role the Lions had hoped Tai Streets could fill—would nicely complement playmakers Rogers and Williams. All Pro Eddie Drummond will handle return duties.
The Lions may allow free agent tackle Stockar McDougal to test the market, but can’t afford to let him go. They have spent years grooming first-round picks McDougal (2000) and left tackle Jeff Backus (2001). Both could turn the corner this year. The emergence of Kevin Jones proved the competency of the OL, which is young and full of potential. Center Dominic Raiola, also a free agent but a lock to return, continues to develop physically and has always had the smarts to play the position. Former Patriot Damien Woody, who moved from center to right guard after signing with the Lions last year, brings leadership to a team that is sorely lacking in leaders. The only weak spot on the line is left guard, where David Loverne was splitting time with Matt Joyce by the end of the season. The Lions will look to free agency first to fill the position as they groom second year T/G Kelly Butler for the job. If the Lions fail to keep McDougal, the OL may become a priority in the draft.
On defense, Dick Jauron returns for a second year as coordinator. Jauron could care less about the numbers, but his defense failed to deliver when it counted the most--in the second half of games when the Lions had a lead.
Despite the emergence of fifth year undrafted free agent James Hall as a pass rusher, the Lions lack talent at the ends to match the inside pairing of All Pro Shaun Rogers and veteran Dan Wilkinson at tackle. DE Kalimba Edwards has yet to live up to his second round status and DE Corey Redding, a college tackle who is steady against the run and as energetic as any Lion, is unlikely to develop into a threat as a pass rusher. Usually dependable backup Jared Devries is coming off a sports hernia surgery. Defensive end is a position where a rookie can make an impact and the Lions will pick a defensive end in the early rounds of this year’s draft.
As a group, the Lions linebackers are as fast as any in the league. Third year OLB Boss Bailey, who had 109 tackles in his rookie season, did not play a down last year as he rehabbed a knee. His position was taken by rookie Teddy Lehman, who played more snaps than anyone on the team and had 121 tackles. Jauron must find room for both players on the field, which may mean bumping developing starters, Alex Lewis and James Davis, who both have speed and a nose for the ball. The Lions experimented with Lehman in the middle during preseason, but moved him to the strong side to fill Bailey’s spot. Lehman is fast and smart. His sometimes spotty tackling last year will improve as he matures mentally. Earl Holmes returns at MLB after leading the team in tackles the last two years. But he may find himself in a position battle with Lehman.
At cornerback, the Lions have two solid starters in Dre Bly and Fernando Bryant. Backups Andre Goodman and Chis Cash will return for their fourth years. Both have the potential to be starters in the league. Cash was never 100-percent last year as he recovered from a devastating knee injury suffered in the preseason of his sophomore year. He had a promising rookie season, but last year lacked the swagger that had made him a crowd favorite. Keith Smith, a third round pick last year, showed promise but remains a project. The Lions have no reason to use a pick on a corner unless they find an athlete with speed and special teams skills in the late rounds.
Last year, the Lions thought they had solved their safety problems by signing free agent Brock Marion. However, Marion, 34, let too many big plays get by him and may have lost a step or two. Third-year free safety Terrence Holt returns, but has never been a favorite of Mariucci, despite the fact that he always seems to be around the ball. Aging safeties Bracy Walker and Brian Walker are also back, but probably wouldn’t start for anybody but the Lions. The Lions will most likely take Georgia safety Thomas Davis with their tenth pick, barring any negative developments before April. With Marion as a tutor, Davis could quickly become the best safety the Lions have had since Bennie Blades, a first round pick out of Miami in 1988.
On the first day of the draft, the Lions will take a safety and a defensive end. If Millen thinks Jamall Brimmer (UNLV) or Ernest Shazor (Michigan) can fill the safety spot, then he may trade down and take a defensive end first. The tenth pick might be a reach for Jason Tuck (Notre Dame), Shaun Cody (USC), or Marcus Spears(LSU) as all could be available later in the round. Both Brimmer and Shazor will be around when the Lions pick in the second round. If trading down gets the Lions another second round pick, Millen will take a wide receiver or an offensive lineman, the latter more likely if the Lions lose Stockar McDougal. At wide receiver, Troy Williamson (SC), Roddy White (UAB), or dark horse, Chris Henry (W.Va.) are likely second rounders. On the OL, it would be hard to pass up Michigan’s David Baas if he was still available.
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