Detroit to Turn up the Defensive Heat: Do They Have the Personnel?

The Lions’ new defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham recently said he plans on getting much more aggressive on defense. 

“One of the things I’ve always believed in is high blitz,” said Cunningham. “Up to 40 percent in a game, which is off the charts for most people—but that’s what I believe in. I think you have to keep the quarterback nervous all the time.”

Now, blitzing 40 percent of the time isn’t necessarily “off the charts” in the NFL.  Teams like the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Steelers have had great success from constantly bringing the blitz.

Cunningham is a leftover from the Kansas City Chiefs, where he was forced by then head coach Herm Edwards to run a Tampa Two defensive scheme.  The Chiefs had a record-low 10 sacks last season because their personnel didn’t necessarily match the scheme.

In comparison, the Lions racked up 30 sacks while running a similar scheme. 

Now, Cunningham finally has the opportunity to run the kind of defense he wants.  The question is, does Detroit have the proper personnel to effectively blitz? 

Let’s take a look at some of their key defensive players.

Dewayne White—Defensive End—6’2″, 273 pounds

White led the team in sacks last year by compiling 6.5 sacks in only 12 games.  He also forced three fumbles and snatched an interception.

That is the good.  The bad is that White has never started a full season of games for any team he has played on.  In six NFL seasons, he has only racked up 195 tackles, 27 sacks, and two interceptions.

We’re not exactly talking about an Osi Umenyiora or a DeMarcus Ware here, but there seems to be some potential at least.  White has the explosiveness to get to the edge quickly, but he needs to work on his footwork and strength.

 

Cliff Avril—Defensive End—6’3″, 260 pounds

Avril started only four games his rookie season, but still managed to come in second on the team in sacks with five.  He also forced four fumbles. 

Avril is still learning, but he has shown the potential to be a dominant edge rusher for years to come.  With the right defensive scheme, one that utilizes his speed and technique, Avril should flourish.

In Cunningham’s scheme, Avril should have plenty of opportunities to prove himself when he has help from the linebackers and safeties in taking on blocks.

 

Grady Jackson—Defensive Tackle—6’2″, 345 pounds

Heading into his 12th professional year, Jackson joins the Lions after spending last year with the Atlanta Falcons.  His size and athleticism give him an advantage when it comes to stuffing the run, but without talent around him, he has never been the best at pressuring the quarterback.

What Jackson will do for this team is bring a commanding veteran presence to the defensive line, which will help the younger guys (such as Avril) develop. 

Opposing offensive lines will have trouble with Jackson’s size and may double block him in passing downs, which will open up opportunities for the blitzers to get pressure.

 

Julian Peterson—Linebacker—6’3″, 245 pounds

Last year was Peterson’s worst in the past three seasons, and yet he still managed 86 tackles, five sacks, and four forced fumbles. 

Peterson has made a name for himself by being a premier blitz backer, using his dominant speed and downhill power to catch offensive lines off guard and get in the quarterback’s face.

In other words, he’s the perfect player for Cunningham’s system.  Linebackers are the players that are most often called on to blitz due to their close proximity and their speed.  Look for Peterson to notch another seven to 10 sacks next season.

 

Ernie Sims—Linebacker—6’0″, 230 pounds

Sims has been thought to be the best defender on the Lions all three seasons he has been there.  He has been the model of consistently, always able to get at least 100 tackles each season, but he isn’t exactly what I would call a premier blitz backer.

In his defense, he has been called on to do a little too much, which has limited the amount of sacks he could get, but 2.5 in 3 seasons isn’t all that impressive.  His size concerns me a bit as well.

I would say Sims is the wild card on the whole team.  If he is called on to blitz more often, he certainly has the potential, I just question his strength and technique.

 

Daniel Bullocks—Strong Safety—6’0″, 212 pounds

Bullocks got beaten quite a few times in the secondary last season, but a lot of that was because opposing quarterbacks had time to pick him apart and wait until their receivers got open. 

His 94 tackles were probably more of a product of how comfortable teams felt throwing against the Lions then his overall talent.

Sometimes safeties are called on to provide run support, or in certain cases, even blitz.  I think Bullocks does have the speed and finishing ability to burst through gaps and force quarterbacks to the ground or make bad throws.

I think he could be a solid option in Cunningham’s aggressive scheme.

 

Louis Delmas—Safety—6’0″, 202 pounds

At the collegiate level, Delmas was known as a hard-hitting, sure tackler.  So far, he has looked dominating in OTAs.  All that sounds great, but we don’t necessarily know anything until he steps on the NFL field in full pads.

If he can be the enforcer in the secondary the Lions are hoping he becomes, he would be a second-round steal. 

In the blitzing game, I think he’d be more productive breaking off into coverage and using the opportunity to snag a couple of wayward passes.  On running downs, he’d be fast enough to come off the edge and wrap up the running back before he had an opportunity to get to the next level.

 

Overall, I think the potential is there for more sacks this season.  The corners the Lions acquired are good enough to cover man-to-man when they choose to blitz.  They added size and depth to their defensive line, but it’s still a question mark heading into next season.

35-40 sacks is realistic, but only if Cunningham properly utilizes the talent he will have on the field. 

Still nothing compared to my Giants though.

The NFL’s Potential 2009 Breakout Players: Defense Edition

Arizona Cardinals—Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Last season, the Cards slowly worked DRC into the starting lineup and he ended the season as their top corner.  His monstrous speed allows him to seemingly always be around the ball and he’s shown the strength and willingness to jump up and fight for the ball.

 

Atlanta Falcons—Curtis Lofton

Lofton was awesome in run support but has below average coverage skills, something he is working on.  If he can continue to drop his weight and improve his understanding of what the offense is trying to do to exploit him, Lofton has what it takes to become a leader of this young defense.

 

Baltimore Ravens—Haloti Ngata

Ngata took a step forward last year, becoming nearly impossible to single-block on running plays and showing an improved ability to penetrate the line and pressure the quarterback.  The big man stepped up and kept the Baltimore defensive line in contention for best in the league even after a few starters went down.  In 2009, he should get the recognition he deserves as one of the top defensive tackles in the league.

 

Buffalo Bills—Paul Posluszny

Posluszny has quietly been a consistent producer for a young Buffalo defense that hasn’t been getting the star treatment because of their location.  Now that TO is in Buffalo, there will be high expectations for the Bills and therefore, their players will get more recognition.  If Paul can take another step forward in his progression he will become great, instead of just consistent.

 

Carolina Panthers—Everette Brown

The Panthers used their first pick in the draft, 43rd overall, on a defensive end that some considered a first round talent.  It remains unclear whether or not they brought him in to replace Julius Peppers or just to compliment him, but for now it seems more likely he will be complimenting the stud pass rusher. 

If Brown can win the starting job opposite of Peppers and use his speed and aggressiveness to rack up at least eight sacks in his rookie season, he will help improve the Panther “D” greatly.  We all know a disruptive defensive line means the secondary has to do less work, which is always good when you’re facing Drew Brees and Matt Ryan twice a year.

 

Chicago Bears—Danieal Manning

Last year, we saw Manning emerge on special teams after Devin Hester’s play declined from being overworked.  We also saw Manning rack up 33 tackles, a sack, four passes defended, and an interception in only 14 games, one of which he was named the starter in.  If Manning can continue his special teams play and take another step forward to help the Bears’ struggling secondary, he could become a household name for Bears fans.

 

Cincinatti Bengals—Rey Maualuga

I went to high school with Rey, so I know first hand how destructive of a force he is on the field.  He plays with a nasty streak that is unrivaled.  If he can keep his off-the-field issues to a minimum, he could become the next great linebacker in the AFC North.  The Bengals defense could use a face, and Rey has the potential to be that.

 

Cleveland Browns—D’Qwell Jackson

Other than Shaun Rogers, this was about the only man on the field that showed up on a week to week basis for the Browns.  154 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions later, Jackson seems poised to have a breakout year in 2009.  He might even earn a trip to the Pro Bowl.

 

Dallas Cowboys—Anthony Spencer

Spencer has flashed potential a couple of different times now.  Injuries and depth at his position have held him down thus far, but I think it’s finally Spencer’s time to shine.  If he can finally get on the field and get healthy, he could form a vicious 1-2 punch with DeMarcus Ware.

 

Denver Broncos—The Entire “D”

The presence of Brian Dawkins, along with new coordinator Mike Nolan, could take 1-2 years before they have any sort of a profound effect.  Or, the entire defense could respond immediately and have a breakout year.  They have talent all over the field, especially in the secondary.  It’s all in whether or not they gel quickly.

 

Detroit Lions—Cliff Avril

In limited play last season, Avril still managed to rack up five sacks and four forced fumbles.  If he is named the week one starter, I think he could become a premier edge rusher in only his second season.  If he can consistently make plays from the line, that secondary will improve as well.  Suddenly that Detroit defense seems pretty well rounded.

 

Green Bay Packers—B.J. Raji

Raji has the size and versatility to play either nose tackle or defensive end in Green Bay’s new 3-4 defense.  He has a motor and can be disruptive after breaking through his blocks.  He reminds me a lot of Shaun Rogers when I watch him play.  Those are some big shoes to fill, literally.

 

Houston Texans—Amobi Okoye

The Texans are tweaking their approach to take more advantage of Okoye’s skill set.  With Mario Williams to help draw blocks, Okoye has the potential to beat single blocks and become much more disruptive in the backfield.  Maybe this next Pro Bowl he won’t have to watch Williams just from the stands.

 

Indianapolis Colts—Melvin Bullitt

Bullitt started nine games last season because of injuries at his position and racked up 72 tackles, one forced fumble, and four interceptions.  If he could win the starting job, Bullitt could team up with Bob Sanders to form a fearsome secondary.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars—Quentin Groves

With the departure of Paul Spicer, Groves will be forced into the starting line up.  He showed the potential for greatness last season by getting 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble without starting a single game.  With a depleted secondary that needs help, the Jags will be looking for their D-line to once again dominate.

 

Kansas City Chiefs—Glenn Dorsey

The big guy was average in his first year and will change positions now in his second.  But he wasn’t a first-round talent for nothing.  Dorsey has the size and athleticism to overpower blockers and get into the backfield.  If he can improve his footwork and overall speed, he could become a devastating DE in that 3-4 defense.

 

Miami Dolphins—Vontae Davis

This ultra-talented cover corner seems to have all the tools to make an impact in his rookie year.  If he can win the starting job opposite Will Allen, Miami might have the most talented secondary in the league next year.  The presence of Joey Porter and Jason Taylor will mean Davis should have more opportunities to make plays.

 

Minnesota Vikings—Chad Greenway

Greenway will be starting for the Vikes for the third consecutive season now and he has done nothing but improve since he stepped on the field.  115 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season were impressive, but he’ll need to force a few fumbles or rack up an interception before anyone will see him as more than a consistent tackler.

 

New England Patriots—Brandon Meriweather

A speedster with big hit ability, Meriweather has all the tools to become the next great safety for New England.  He has served his time as Rodney Harrison’s apprentice, now he needs to take the reigns and lead a suddenly stacked New England secondary.

 

New Orleans Saints—Tracy Porter

Injuries limited him to only five games last season, but Porter looked pretty solid when he was playing.  Lined up opposite of Jabari Greer with Darren Sharper at safety, Porter will certainly have the talent around to help him succeed.  He has shown great instincts and speed, so if he can stay healthy I think this is his year to shine.

 

New York Giants—Chase Blackburn

A special team standout, Blackburn is fast for his size and plays with great vision and anticipation.  As a Giants fan, this is a guy I think is really underrated.  When he’s on the field, he’s making plays as evident by his forced fumble and the interception last year to go along with 61 tackles.  With Michael Boley being out the first few games, I think Blackburn will have a great opportunity to step up and show us what he’s really made out of.  The talent is there.

 

New York Jets—David Harris

In his second year, Harris was plagued by injuries.  He goes into the 2009 season completely healthy and his versatility will be maximized by new head coach Rex Ryan’s complex defensive schemes.  Harris has shown ability to stop the run, cover in space, and is a sure tackler.  I think he’ll surprise a few people next year.

 

Oakland Raiders—Chris Johnson

Johnson flashed some real talent last year, even when he had to start opposite the best corner in the league.  With 35 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and 12 passes defended, Johnson sure looks like a play maker.  Pretty soon no one is going to dare throw down the field against Oakland.  Hopefully that doesn’t expose the rest of the defense too much.

 

Philadelphia Eagles—Quintin Demps

The departure of Brian Dawkins means the Eagles will need one of their younger safeties to step up.  Demps looked solid in very limited play last season and has a year of experience in the complicated scheme that is the Eagle “D”.  He won’t replace Brian’s leadership, but he has the potential to replace his production.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers—Lawrence Timmons

Letting Larry Foote slip away and sign with Detroit shows how much faith this team has in the play of Timmons.  Timmons has the speed, coverage skills, and explosiveness to become the next great Steeler linebacker.  As much as I would love to see any Steeler crash and burn, it’s hard to bet against him.

 

San Diego Chargers—Eric Weddle

Weddle has shown a knack for always being around the football and has great speed and coverage skills.  In the aggressive 3-4 defense Ron Rivera runs, Weddle will be placed more in the center of the field then down in the box, which will give him the freedom to make more plays in the secondary, which was SD’s weakness last year.

 

San Francisco 49ers—Parys Haralson

It’s hard to look good when you’re lined up next to Patrick Willis all day, but Haralson managed to rack up a career high eight sacks last season in only 10 games.  That made him the best sack artist on the team in 2008.  If he can improve on his tackle numbers, he might become more then just an edge rushing specialist.

 

Seattle Seahawks—Aaron Curry

Big surprise here, I am aware.  I have to throw a curve ball at you somewhere, don’t I?  Curry looked like the most polished defender in this year’s draft and has done nothing but impress on the practice field so far.  Teammates think his ability to rush the passer is very underrated and he has already shown immaculate coverage skills.

 

St. Louis Rams—James Butler

Butler played well for the Giants last season and followed his old defensive coordinator to the Rams, where I think he will excel.  Being opposite a player like Oshiomogho Atogwe means he will ample opportunites to prove he belongs.  Butler is entering his fifth season and will have an opportunity to become a leader on a struggling Rams defense as he is already familiar with Spags’ aggressive defensive schemes.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Aqib Talib

Yes he has off the field issues, but that doesn’t downplay his talent.  As a backup cornerback last season, Talib still managed to snag four picks.  Now he will enter his second season entrenched as the starter and as long as he can avoid hitting his teammates while on the field, he should improve on his 2008 numbers.

 

Tennessee Titans—Jason Jones

Jones will have the opportunity to fill the massive shoes left behind by past starter Albert Haynesworth.  Starting only three games last season, Jones notched five sacks and three forced fumbles.  He’s got playmaker written all over him.  Tennessee looks to be fine without the departure of their “most talented” lineman.

 

Washington Redskins—Chris Horton

Last year’s Mr. Irrelevant came out of the gates swinging last season.  Horton got  three picks, a sack and 76 tackles in his rookie season.  If he can play well in practice and win the starting job, I think he can become a dominating force in the Washington secondary for years to come.

NFL’s Potential 2009 Breakout Players: Offensive Edition

Arizona Cardinals – Chris “Beanie” Wells

Yeah, shocker pick here, I know.  But on an offense as stacked as the Cards’, I had to pick somebody. Wells was brought in to replace Edgerrin James as the feature back and I think he has the potential to fill that role quite well. 

He is an excellent receiver out of the backfield and can run it up the gut with a great combination of speed and power.  The only thing holding him back from being a statistical juggernaut is possibly having to split the carries with fellow RB Tim Hightower.

 

Atlanta Falcons – Jerious Norwood

Norwood was impressive in relief on Michael Turner in the run game, as well as on special teams.  The Falcons have been talking about getting him more involved to help spell Turner and keep him around for longer. 

We could very well see Norwood become the Derrick Ward to Michael Turner’s Brandon Jacobs.  If he can make enough plays early, we should see a lot more out of the elusive speedster.

 

Baltimore Ravens: Ray Rice

Rice did well in limited play last year as part of the three-headed monster that was Baltimore’s running game.  So far in OTAs he’s been lining up with the first-team offense and has been drawing rave reviews. 

I have often compared him to Philly’s Brian Westbrook because of his versatility and he has been bulking up to further prepare for the feature back role.

 

Buffalo Bills – Trent Edwards

In his third year as the starter, Edwards looks to build on the momentum he had going into week seven of last season.  The addition of Terrell Owens gives him a nice compliment to Lee Evans and helps take the pressure off the running game. 

By now, Edwards should have a grasp on the offensive system he plays in and if he can continues to be an accurate passer that protects the ball, he will have a big year.

 

Carolina Panthers – Jeff Otah

As a rookie, Otah was nothing short of spectacular when he was on the field.  His overwhelming power and quick feet made him a force in the running game and better then expected in pass protection. 

Carolina already has a few standouts on their O-line to help him out so this should be the year we really see him step up and play to his full potential.

 

Chicago Bears – Greg Olsen

In his second season, Olsen led the team with five touchdown receptions and showed great speed and ability to stretch the field.  His penchant for getting open will help new quarterback Jay Cutler adjust to the offensive scheme Ron Turner runs, which focuses more on the running game and tight ends and less on taking shots down the field.

 

Cincinatti Bengals – Chris Henry

All the talk about how Chad Ochocinco will play this year has really overshadowed the steps Chris Henry has been taking to become a better overall player.  He and quarterback Carson Palmer have been developing good chemistry in the offseason and that should translate well during the regular season.

 

Cleveland Browns – Mohamed Massaquoi

Massaquoi has been touted as the best route-runner coming out of this year’s draft and with all the drama at the position he could very well develop into a consistent threat for this stagnant offense.  The departure of TE Kellen Winslow will also help increase the amount of balls thrown in Mohamed’s direction.

 

Dallas Cowboys – Patrick Crayton

Crayton has quietly been an effective piece of the Dallas offense for a few seasons now.  I would go as far to say that he has been the third most consistent player on that side of the football.  If Roy Williams and quarterback Tony Romo can’t develop chemistry early, he may turn to Crayton more often since they have played together longer.

 

Denver Broncos – Jabar Gaffney

Always hiding behind the shadow of players like Randy Moss and Wes Welker, Gaffney has never been super productive statistically.  However, he followed his old offensive coordinator to the Broncos and is already well immersed in the system, while his new teammates will take time to learn it.  Also, he has been lining up as the No. 1 wide receiver in Brandon Marshall’s absence.

 

Detroit Lions – Brandon Pettigrew

It is nice to finally see the tight end position get the respect it deserves.  Detroit hasn’t had a solid player at tight end in I don’t know how long.  Pettigrew is a great blocker and has ever improving hands.  If Matthew Stafford gets the nod to start at some point next season, we should see the chemistry these two have developed in the offseason translate into production at the next level.

 

Green Bay Packers – Brandon Jackson

Quietly, Jackson looked solid in relief of Ryan Grant last year and the emergence of quarterback Aaron Rodgers will help open up running lanes for the No. 2 running back.  On an already explosive offense, his emergence would push them from good to great, and could very well propel them to an Arizona Cardinal-like rise in the standings.

 

Indianapolis Colts – Pierre Garcon

Most people would be inclined to put first year running back Donald Brown here but I think if Joseph Addai can stay healthy, Brown won’t see the field as much as we think. 

Garcon appears to be the leader in the race for the No. 3 wide receiver spot and was productive the times he was on the field.  It always helps to have a legend throwing to you as well.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars – Maurice Jones-Drew

How could I not put this guy here, honestly?  MJD has been a beast ever since he was drafted and learned well from stud Fred Taylor.  A healthy O-line will rejuvenate David Garrard, which will give him time to pass to Torry Holt, which will open up running lanes for Jones-Drew.  The domino effect should translate to a breakout year for the “little” guy.

 

Kansas City Chiefs – Jamaal Charles

Charles averaged 5.3 yards per carry last year only less then 70 carries.  Larry Johnson seems less and less inclined to play for Kansas City as the years go by.  They should consider working Charles into the offense a bit more.  If Matt Cassel can continue his above-average play, more running lanes will be open and Jamaal is the type of player that has enough all around game to take advantage.

 

Miami Dolphins – Davone Bess

I loved watching this guy play in Hawaii and he had one of the greatest first seasons ever by an undrafted wide receiver last year.  With no true No. 1 wide receiver emerging just yet, Bess will get his fair share of looks as long as he keeps making plays when the ball is in his hand.

 

Minnesota Vikings – Bernard Berrian

Berrian has never broken the 1,000 yard mark in a season, but he has made steady improvement throughout his career.  Last season he quietly averaged over 20 yards per reception and showed elite speed and ability to get open.  If he can continue his progression, the natural next step is to finally get over the 1,000 yard hump.  It could help to have a future Hall of Famer throwing to him.

 

New England Patriots – Brandon Tate

The rookie out of Northern Carolina played second fiddle to Hakeem Nicks because of injuries, but when he was healthy he was clearly the best receiver on that team.  If he can stay in good health he could make some big plays and perhaps steal some catches from journeyman Joey Galloway this year.

 

New Orleans Saints – Pierre Thomas

By now we all know the story of Thomas.  He stepped up and finished the year strong as the Saints slowly worked vet Deuce McAllister out of the lineup.  The league’s No. 1 offense should continue rolling this year, especially if Thomas can keep playing like a true feature back.

 

New York Giants – Kevin Boss

“The Boss” has been my favorite offensive player on New York’s roster since he took over for an injured Jeremy Shockey.  He has been a great blocker in the run game and has shown a penchant for coming up big when it mattered most.  With all the attention focused on how the inexperienced WR corp will do, I think Boss will emerge as Eli Manning’s most trusted target next year.

 

New York Jets – David Clowney

I believe Clowney has what it takes to win the No. 2 role over his competition.  Whether or not that is saying a lot I’m not so sure.  Clowney only had one catch last season, but it was for 26 yards so he at least made the most of it.  I think the raw potential he has, combined with the opportunity to shine he will be given should help him emerge.

 

Oakland Raiders – Johnnie Lee Higgins

Higgins showed amazing speed and elusiveness in the return game and great hands when catching the deep bomb from J-Marc last year.  If new coach Tom Cable can continue working Higgins into the offense, especially with opposing teams focusing on the run game, the wide receiver should emerge as a legit No. 1 this year.

 

Philadelphia Eagles – DeSean Jackson

Jackson had an impressive rookie season and built chemistry with McNabb early.  His speed and jumping ability is what helps separate him from the crowded WR corp of the Eagles.  It’s not a stretch to think Jackson will break the 1,000 yard receiving mark in only his second year.  Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy will help keep opposing defenses honest.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers – Rashard Mendenhall

A brutal blow by Ray Lewis KOed Mendenhall for the rest of the season after the rookie had been talking so much trash heading into the game.  I’m not going to lie, I liked it.  This year, Mendenhall should pick up where he left off and live up to his impressive potential as long as he doesn’t run his mouth anymore.

 

San Diego Chargers – Darren Sproles

A lot of people would argue that Sproles already emerged last year, but a little over 600 total yards doesn’t really jump out at me.  If LT can’t stay healthy or doesn’t return to form, Sproles could easily seize the feature role and come up with some more signature big plays.  San Diego seems to be a regular backfield superstar breeding ground at this point.

 

San Francisco 49ers – Josh Morgan

Morgan played exceptionally well when he was on the field last season and with defenses more focused on stopping Frank Gore, Isaac Bruce, and Michael Crabtree, he should have favorable coverage.  Even though San Francisco seems suddenly stacked at the position, Morgan has the talent to stand out and earn himself a starting spot.

 

Seattle Seahawks – Max Unger

His ability to play multiple positions on the line will mean he should see plenty of playing time.  Even though line play isn’t the most exciting or glamorous, I believe Unger has the strength and awareness to stand out in his first professional year.  Matt Hasselbeck better hope so anyway.

 

St. Louis Rams – Donnie Avery

Heading into the season as the default No. 1, Avery should be able to carry over the relative success of his rookie season and become a solid contributor.  Having Steven Jackson in the back field to draw eight men in the box does nothing but help the young speedster.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Derrick Ward

This will be his first year as the No. 1 back and he will be playing behind a pretty solid run-blocking line similar to the one he had in New York.  As long as he has someone to split the carries with so he doesn’t wear down too quickly, I think Ward could have a big season. I wish him the best of luck.

 

Tennessee Titans – Justin Gage

Even though he suddenly has a bit of competition, Gage has all the tools to take the next step this year.  Last season, he amassed 651 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 19.1 yards per catch.  We should see those numbers increase as he and quarterback Kerry Collins continue developing chemistry.

 

Washington Redskins – Jason Campbell

In his third year as the starter, it is do or die time for Campbell.  He showed glimpses of greatness early last year, but he will have to learn to be more consistent both as a player and as a leader.  If he can do that, maybe he will change some front office minds and keep his job.

The Matthew Stafford Experiment: Side Effects May Vary

As I’m sure we all know by now, the Lions have officially chosen Matthew Stafford as their No. 1 overall pick in the draft.  He is guaranteed $41.7 million, but beyond that, his contract gets murky.  Multiple sites, including SI.com and ESPN.com, seem to have multiple opinions on his contract’s overall worth.

However, this article is not about the amount of money Matt Stafford is due.  This article is about the effects the signing will have, both on the Lions and the rest of the league.

1. The Lions Now Have a Face of the Franchise

Last year, the 0-16 Lions were a mess, to say the very least.  They were in desperate need of someone to represent all the franchise stood for.  This year, they will enter the season with a new head coach, general manager and now a new franchise quarterback. 

Even though Jim Scwhartz has essentially earned a rockstar status as the new head coach, make no mistake, Stafford is the face of this organization now.

Like the Atlanta Falcons of last year, Detroit desperately needed an identity and I believe they found one in Matthew Stafford.  Don’t misunderstand me, he is NOT the next Matt Ryan and I feel very strongly about that. A quarterback like that only comes about once in a great while.

Statistically, Matt Stafford is more likely to be a Joey Harrington clone then a Matt Ryan, or even Joe Flacco one.  I believe he needs one to two years on the bench behind a rejuvenated Daunte Culpepper before he stands a chance at becoming the franchise savior.  I just hope Detroit doesn’t bend to public pressure and put him in too soon.

2. Mark Sanchez’s Stock Just Rose…A Lot

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez is the next great thing in the draft now that Stafford is unavailable.  As quickly as Stafford was taken, he will be forgotten, at least until Sanchez is signed.

With quarterback holes in multiple teams, Sanchez is a hot commodity.  Not to mention, several analysts had Sanchez rated higher then Stafford before the signing.  St. Louis seems poised to take him and use him as trade bait.  Seattle’s No. 4 spot just became a whole lot sexier as well, that is, assuming St. Louis doesn’t work something out first.

I think the wild card in this situation is Kansas City at No. 3.  Scott Pioli is a genius and has worked wonders for the floundering franchise in a short time.  I would not be surprised if right now he was aggressively flaunting his third pick to teams like New York, Tampa Bay, Washington and maybe even Denver.

3. The Lion’s No. 20 Pick Just Became a Whole Lot More Interesting

Now that Stafford is “the pick”, the Lions need to turn their attention to their second first-round selection.  You don’t go 0-16 because of a few glaring holes.  It takes a slough of issues before that happens.

A franchise tackle would certainly be helpful, but will any premier players be left at 20 when so many other teams lack talent at that position?  Michael Oher, Andre Smith, and even Eben Britton may all be gone by 20. 

That’s without even mentioning Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe.  After them, the talent level begins to look more like second round material.

Now we turn to the defensive needs the Lions have.  Certainly DT B.J. Raji will be gone by No. 20, but players like Peria Jerry, Evander Hood, and Fili Moala may still be around.  Any of these three would be an instant upgrade to the Lion’s defensive line.  They might even give DEs Larry English or Connor Barwin a look, depending on who’s available.

Bottom line is this: it all starts in the trenches.  Both the O Line and D Line could use upgrades.  Whether it’s protecting or pressuring the quarterback, the Lions need to be conservative and intelligent with their second pick.  Draft for need when you’re rebuilding, and for God’s sake, don’t take another receiver.

4. Whatever Need Isn’t Addressed With the No. 20 Overall Pick MUST be Addressed with the 33rd Overall Pick

Having the first pick in the second round is a powerful tool.  The talent level won’t drop off very significantly from 20 to 33, which means the Lions can address whichever side of the ball they chose not to with No. 20.

Players like Eric Wood or William Beatty could still be lingering in the second round and could provide upgrades to the offensive line. 

On the other side, DT Ron Brace or S Louis Delmas will probably still be floating around and could step in to contribute immediately to last year’s worst defense.

The Lions need to look for as many instant upgrades as they can if they want to “restore the roar.”  By taking Stafford at No. 1, the Lions ensured defensive and offensive issues still need to be addressed at this crucial pick.

What do you guys think?

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