Detroit Lions:                

2013 RECORD: 7-9  

2012 RECORD: 4-12  

2011 RECORD: 10-6   

2010 RECORD: 6-10   

TEAM OVERVIEW: Thanksgiving night! Detroit settled down to a Turkey dinner after having dismantled a Green Bay team missing Aaron Rodgers 40-10. They led the NFC North, a Division where both Rodgers and Chicago’s Jay Cutler were injured. They were making playoff plans. Amazingly, these same Lions were eliminated before week 17!  They collapsed in the snow at Philly, turned the ball over too much in a 2-point loss hosting Baltimore and then lost in OT hosting the vulnerable NYG. Yes, Stafford threw in excess of 4,600 yards but he also threw 19 interceptions, leading to a -12 turnover ratio. Amazingly, the Lions had the lead in the fourth quarter in each of their last six losses! The undisciplined Lions fired their head coach, and demoted their past his prime DC (Cunningham). The Lions entered ’13 with a + point ratio and a -16 turnover ratio from ’12, plus a 4th place schedule in ‘13. Technically, they did improve their overall record from 4-12 to 7-9, but teams with this triple plus situation are normally capable of much more. Detroit has more than enough talent to compete for the NFC North title. Isn’t it time for these Lions to take the next step, instead of watching Carolina and others pass them by?

KEY STATS: Stafford hit just 54.1% in the 2nd half of the season with a 13-13 TD-int ratio. That’s not good enough. Detroit had a -12 turnover ratio (-8 fumbles) which needs to be corrected.  RB’s lost 10 fumbles, worst by three in the NFL. Reggie Bush lost five of those fumbles. They fumbled 19 times, worst by seven! Despite these #’s, time of possession was +4:15, they had a +60 figure for 1st downs, and the OL allowed just 23 sacks.  Defensively, the only poor figure was a low 33 sacks (28th).  The 3rd down D was quite impressive at a 30% conversion rate.  Now for some amazing news!  For the 1st time since about 1960 (just kidding) the pass D% was under the magic # of 60, at 59.1%. We did not see that coming. Is that sustainable?  It’s an indictment to the previous coaching staff that with all these #’s, (and Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush) the team missed the playoffs!  The kick return D was 30th (26.4).  Spread-wise, the Lions are now a poor 12-26 after playing rival GB, and 3-15 as a road favorite.  They dipped to 17-8 in their last home game and went 1-0 as a road dog off a loss (now 18-8 in that role). 

2013 DRAFT REVIEW: Like Chicago, The Lions used their 1st pick to draft a talented, but lightly used DE.  He was solid, and did not bring the character issues other team members possess.  My “beloved” readers pointed out a CB was drafted.  He was lower rated however, and is clearly a work in progress.  Decently rated OG Warford started all 16 games!  DE Taylor filled a late need and has rotational value.  Teams like Detroit have bigger needs at pick #165, but Punter Martin was solid.  No other drafted players mattered, including LB Hepburn, the president of the Rattlers Association of Chemists who had recently contributed on a project that researched the cancer-fighting properties of cooper.  He also found a way to kill cancer cells in rats during a summer internship.  Undrafted OT Waddle started eight games at RT.  Is that a good thing?  Undrafted TE Fauria has zero speed but became a red zone monster, with seven of his 18 receptions going for TD’s.  The Lions may have lost a bit more than they gained in free agency. Bush was often dynamic, but had too many fumbles.  Safety Quin was their best DB and a bargain.

1-05, DE Ansah: 32-8 stat line for the raw, high character DE

2-36, CB Slay: 34 tackles but as expected, looked lost at times.  There is some upside.

3-65, OG Warford: Graded as a sloppy run blocker but he anchored well in NFL and overperformed 

4-132, DE  D Taylor: 14-2.5 stat line for the try-hard DE who lacks flexibility and strength. 

5-165, P    Martin: Solid rookie season

6-171, WR Fuller: Fast one year starter raw, especially as a route runner.  Did not play as a rookie.

6.199, RB  Riddick: Good 3rd down receiver but isn’t Reggie Bush here?  Saw minimal action.

7-211, TE  M Williams: Non-factor as receiver but great football IQ and a solid blocker.   No action in ’13.

7-245, LB  Hepburn: Not instinctive but can he kill cancer on this team?  If so, he’s a 1st rounder!!!  

2012 DRAFT REVISITED: OT Reiff dropped and filled a critical need.  WR Broyles was someone I liked in college but the Lions needed to address CB, not WR at the time.  Broyles continues to fight serious knee injuries.  CB Bentley went at #85 but had mixed reviews from scouts.  He reminded the Lions of current starter Aaron Berry.  SO WHAT!  He had 29 tackles.  The trio of LB’s taken combined for 15 tackles in ’13.  That’s great.  CB’s Greenwood and Green combined for 15 tackles in ’13.  Ditto! 

TOP STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS PRIOR TO THE DRAFT: Stafford to Calvin Johnson is all readers need to know.  When Calvin was drafted we called him a top three ALL-TIME WR before he ever took a NFL snap.  You know the weakness!

FREE AGENCY ANALYSIS AND STAFF NOTES: The biggest addition was reliable WR Tate from Seattle.  Ryan Broyles could have been their #2 option but devastating knee injuries have hampered his development.  Depth was added along the DL, but not impact.  This area is still one of their deepest even with the loss of emerging DE Young.  Injuries stunted the performances of WR Burleson and safety Delmas and both players were released.  Safety James Ihedigbo was signed.  Detroit lost back-up QB Shaun Hill.  Jim Caldwell is the new Head Coach.  Joe Lombardi (ex-Saints QB coach) is the new Offensive Coordinator.  Teryl Austin is the new Defensive Coordinator.

2014 DRAFT NEEDS: 209 CB’s (finally this number has been reduced!), OL, safety, LB, late WR, return specialist, PK.  My long time readers know all about what I think of the Lion’s not drafting a highly rated CB.  Maybe this will be the year?  Is undrafted rookie RT Waddle good enough to start?  The Lions needs to figure this out.  Maybe Detroit can upgrade at LG, where Rob Sims resides.  Glover Quin needs a partner at safety.  Is Ohedigbo enough?  LB’s Levy and Tulloch are not household names, but it’s Ashlee Palmer and the other LB’s who could be supplanted by better talent.  A number of great options at WR will be available for the Lions.  The Lions have not had much success of late returning kicks.  PK Akers is expendable.