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| Andrew Perna & The RGM Detroit Lions Board. 24th April, 2008 - 9:55 pm
 Here at RealGM our hearts beat thanks to the thousands upon thousands of posters that frequent our forums on a daily basis. With the NFL season still months from kicking off, but the ever-important NFL Draft mere hours away, what better time than now to check in with the people who care about football even more than some of the players on the field?
2007 Record: 7-9
Additions: Chuck Darby, DT, Brian Kelly, CB, Dwight Smith S
Subtractions: Boss Bailey, LB (DEN), Fernando Bryant, CB (NE), T.J. Duckett, RB (SEA), Damien Woody, G (NYJ)
Draft Pick: 15th
The Answers
1. What was the best thing(s) that happened in 2007?
hiredgun827: The best thing that happened last season was the Denver game. Seeing Shaun Rodgers on the interception return was great, and I must admit rather funny.
Icness: The strong start that gave Rod Marinelli credibility in the locker room and around the league.
2. What was the worst thing that happened in 2007?
hiredgun827: The worst thing that happened last season was inconsistency, from the coaching staff right down to the practice squad.
Icness: The Arizona game, where Mike Martz single-handedly and single-mindedly lost a very critical game that basically ruined the season.
3. Who had a breakout season?
hiredgun827: I don?t know if you would call them breakout years, I feel they still have more untapped potential, but Gerald Alexander, Ernie Sims and of course Shaun McDonald, who I believe he was a product of the system.
Icness: Dewayne White earned his money last season. How many people really thought he would?
4. Who was the biggest disappointment?
hiredgun827: There was quite a list: Rogers (weight issues), Calvin Johnson (not his fault just the hype), Cory Redding (huge money, but nothing to show for it), George Foster (he must think false starts are good), Kennoy Kennedy (since he became a Lion he lost the fierce hitting prowess he had with Denver), Tatum Bell (in the dog house most of the year), Kalimba Edwards (Mr. Potential and nothing to show for it), Mike Martz (offensive guru, more like hard-headed coach) and Jon Kitna (held onto the ball like it was Jenna Jameson). I could keep going on and on, but for the sake of time and my sanity I?ll stop there.
Icness: I don't want to pile on Martz, but he was just a terrible fit. You simply cannot turn a duck into an eagle; you try and make it the best duck you can. If I had to isolate a player, Redding was a major disappointment.
5. How could the team have been more successful?
hiredgun827: A lot of things would?ve helped, but it would have been nice to see them develop an identity and a more balanced attack. Both of those things will hopefully be coming this fall, but we lived with what he had.
Icness: Having a coherent offensive gameplan with any semblance of balance. A secondary that could cover even the most inept passing attacks would have been nice as well.
6. What do you make of the team?s offseason progress at this point?
hiredgun827: They are trying to go with the Tampa "retreads", but hey go with what you know. It?s better then spending a fortune through the draft, especially with the cap situation.
Icness: Leigh Bodden and Brian Kelly are both upgrades at cornerback, and Dwight Smith over Kennedy is an upgrade as well. The secondary was the weakest point of the team and it got addressed before the draft, so that is a real positive. Letting Woody go at that ridiculous price was smart. I'll miss Rogers, but Marinelli didn't trust him, so he had to go. It looks like Millen has hitched his wagon to Marinelli and is going out of his way to get Rod the kind of guys he wants. That's smart, but it remains to be seen how it will work out.
7. Where are the team?s biggest needs in the draft?
hiredgun827: What isn?t a need at this point. They could use an offensive tackle, running back, middle-linebacker and defensive end.
Icness: The defensive front seven has to be upgraded. In order: middle-linebacker, defensive end, running back, outside-linebacker, right tackle, tight end and cornerback. The team needs to bolster the talent pool at all those spots and cannot afford to bypass a superior talent at any of those spots for any other spots, i.e. if a higher-rated cornerback is there in round three, but they still haven't taken an end or tackle, they need to take the cornerback. Chasing the more immediate need is not working.
8. Who do you hope the team drafts with their first pick?
hiredgun827: Jonathan Stewart or Derrick Harvey, or best available offensive tackle.
Icness: Keith Rivers or Harvey. If they're gone, Philip Merling
9. Which player will be on the hot seat in 2008?
hiredgun827: Jon Kitna and Roy Williams (contract year).
Icness: Calvin Johnson. He was hurt last year, so he gets off the hook for not being awesome. But if he's not an 80-catch, 1,250-yard and 10-plus touchdown guy this season, the offense is not going to work well.
10. What are the realistic expectations for 2008 at this point?
hiredgun827: Anywhere from 2-14 to 9-7, they are just too inconsistent to judge.
Icness: Most people think he's crazy, but I think Kitna is right -- this team can win ten games and make the playoffs. Don't forget they were one play away from beating both Dallas and the Giants down the stretch last year. It will take good health and luck. More realistically, 8-8 or 7-9.
Surf over to RealGM?s NFL forums to weigh in on your favorite team as we continue to hold ?Summit? conversations on each of the league?s thirty-two teams.
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