January

Jan. 1, 2009   

Mayhew, Lewand give vague clues as to how they’ll rebuild Lions

Updated at 9:30 a.m. EST Monday, Jan. 5

There was no surprise when head coach Rod Marinelli was let go, but the retaining and promotion of CEO Tom Lewand and GM Martin Mayhew hardly was met with glowing support from Lions fans and local columnists and other media. They believed that the two men who are now in charge of rebuilding the Lions are just as much a part of forming the club that became the NFL’s first 0-16 team. It’s difficult to spin this move in a positive, new direction as both Lewand and Mayhew have been on board for the past eight seasons — during which the team was 31-97.

The first orders of business are finding a new head coach and staff and also adding an assistant general manager. Although both men were very tight-lipped about the future of the franchise, they did offer a few clues. When asked what personnel improvements needed to be made, Mayhew tipped his hand a bit by indicating that he would like to get bigger on defense.

“I believe (what) we need to be is a physical football team,” Mayhew said. “I think we have to be a faster football team. Defensively, we have to get bigger; we’re small — we’re a small football team. ... We’re not big enough and we’re not physical enough. So that’s going to be part of our plan.”

The team is believed to have interviewed Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Dolphins secondary coach/assistant head coach Todd Bowles and Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray; they have requested to talk with Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who is available talk with the Vikings eliminated; and other potential candidates include Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett took himself out of the running.

It wouldn’t shock anyone if Spagnuolo and Schwartz top the list. Spagnuolo has been a top head-coaching candidate since the flourish of the Giants’ defense late last season, and Schwartz has been considered an up-and-coming coach for a few seasons, and he has a background in scouting, which won’t hurt his cause in Detroit. Both are considered innovative defensive minds who could rebuild the NFL’s 32nd-ranked unit.

December

Dec. 24, 2008   

Even strong points are weak areas for Lions

Updated at 10:25 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 29

The Lions’ team strengths this season weren’t many. Clearly, WR Calvin Johnson emerged as one of the best at his position. RB Kevin Smith was a bright spot, running hard and improving as the year wore on. LB Ernie Sims didn’t have a great season but is entering his prime. The defensive ends are a fairly solid group, and the Lions totaled a solid 30 sacks. And that’s about it. The saddest part about that is that each of these players’ position groups also need serious bolstering heading into 2009. Johnson lost Roy Williams, and there isn’t another receiver on the roster who can be considered a No. 2. Smith probably will have a new backup next season and could use someone to handle a few relief carries. Sims could have two new fellow starting linebackers next season. Although the DE group has depth, there is no real stud in the lot, depending on how high Cliff Avril’s ceiling is.

Dec. 18, 2008   

Lions players trying to put something positive on tape for 2009

It’s not a big surprise that the Lions have been somewhat competitive in recent weeks, despite their continued losing. By all accounts, the roster is made up of some proud veterans and some hungry young players, and all of them know that in a season of despair, there almost certainly will follow with a serious purging for 2009.

That means that whoever is running the team next season, both as head coach and in the front office, those people will look hard at the players who give maximum effort and productivity as the pieces that will remain. Of course, many will not.

“They really don’t have any depth to speak of,” one NFL talent evalulator said. “It's amazing. They are very thin at spots, and some of those areas were ones that they tried to fix last season.”

Those areas include the defense, specifically at linebacker and in the secondary, and also the running game. The defense has been a disaster this season, other than a decent pass rush, and the secondary — which was overhauled in the offseason — has been a major disappointment. So too has the running game, despite some flashes from rookie RB Kevin Smith. It’s not all his fault; he only has started for part of the season, and the offensive line hasn’t opened too many big holes consistently. It also hurts that the team has tended to fall behind, putting the passing game more in play.
But there are some pieces beyond the obvious core of talent — WR Calvin Johnson, LB Ernie Sims and some of the defensive ends — who have a chance to make up for these shortcomings by playing well down the stretch.

One player on that list is OLT Jeff Backus, the eighth-year veteran who at times has been underwhelming, especially for having once been named the team’s franchise player at one of the more important positions on the field. Last season, especially the first half, was a nightmare for Backus. But quietly, he has had a respectable season, allowing nine sacks (compared to 15.5 last season), despite facing some top defensive ends in recent weeks. Backus is the 12th-highest-paid tackle in the game, slated to have a cap figure of $7.3 million, which is not too unwieldy. Given that the O-line is an area of need, expect Backus to stay.

Other more expensive veterans whose late-season performances could keep them around next season include C Dominic Raiola and DT Cory Redding.

Dec. 12, 2008   

Lions' Orlovsky playing for chance at job next season

Updated at 10:00 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 15

With Daunte Culpepper unable to go, QB Dan Orlovsky made his first start last Sunday for the first time since he suffered two fractures and a torn ligament in his right thumb in Week Nine against the Bears. Orlovsky got the Lions closer to a victory in that game than in almost any this season and showed some nice things before getting hurt. Last week vs. the Colts, Orlovsky completed 23-of-34 passes for 233 yards with one TD and no interceptions, finishing the day with a 96.8 passer rating. As a free agent-to-be next season, his situation is interesting. The Lions most definitely will need change at the position next season, but not knowing who the coach or general manager will be clouds the situation. Either way, Orlovsky has a chance — if he plays well down the stretch — to vie for a job elsewhere or perhaps as one of two or three QBs with a chance to start for the Lions next season.

Dec. 4, 2008   

Furrey second Lion placed on I.R. who claims to be healthy

The Lions issued a statement from GM Martin Mayhew following the move to place WR Mike Furrey, who had suffered a concussion and missed three straight games, on injured reserve: “Over the past few weeks, Mike made several attempts to participate in practice in hopes of returning to the field, but each time he removed himself from practice when dizziness or nausea, related to the concussion, occurred. I had a lengthy discussion with Mike last Wednesday to explain the thought process behind placing him on IR. We made this move to protect Mike and to do what’s best for this football team.” But now Furrey — like QB Jon Kitna, who earlier believed he could play at some point before being shut down for the season — has said he felt 100 percent before the move was made and was planning to practice this past week. Now, Furrey will turn his attention to getting ready for 2009. It appears the Lions have similar sights in mind.

November

Nov. 28, 2008   

Lions must blow up defense next season

Without knowing who will be the head coach or the general manager for the Lions in 2009, it’s very difficult to predict how the roster will look. But it’s easy to see that the team doesn’t have what it takes to run the Tampa-2 scheme — or any defense, for that matter — with the current personnel.

The Titans were the latest team to roll through the Lions in Week 13, running up 456 yards of offense with little resistance. The Lions knew the Titans wanted to establish the running game it recently had misplaced, and they could do nothing to stop it.

The Lions do have some pieces that likely will carry over and could thrive at some point. The defensive line has some talent in DEs Dewayne White and Jared DeVries (both injured currently), as well as several young players, such as Corey Smith, Cliff Avril and Ikaika Alama-Francis, who are worth looking at. Avril gave the Lions perhaps their only real highlight in the Thanksgiving Day massacre with his strip sack of Titans QB Kerry Collins and return that set up their lone touchdown.

But at linebacker, there might only be one true starting-caliber player. Ernie Sims is not having a great season, and in part it’s because he’s trying to do too much, often overrunning or overpursuing plays because of others’ mistakes. But he’s a battler who is one of the Lions’ best defenders when he has better talent around him. There might not be another player who strongly figures into the future plans of this team, although second-round pick Jordon Dizon could improve with more time.

In the secondary, the team signed CB Leigh Bodden to a long-term deal and will have to make a big decision this offseason on his $8.6 million roster bonus. It’s incredibly steep for a player who has made only one interception and hasn’t covered very well. But if they let Bodden walk, that means they only will have their second third-round pick — reserve DT Andre Fluellen, who hasn’t done much — to show for the Shaun Rogers trade.

To make matters worse, other than at defensive end, the depth is bad. The Lions could have as many as a dozen new defensive players next season, allowing free-agents-to-be such as Shaun Cody and Paris Lenon to walk but needing to replace them with capable alternatives.

Nov. 21, 2008   

Smith makes Lions smile, even amid losing streak

Updated at 10:10 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 24

When you’re 0-11, you look for any positive signs you can find. That’s how the Lions are approaching things these days, and it has been considered a positive that rookie RB Kevin Smith is starting to produce at a level the team had hoped coming into the season. In the past three games, he has rushed 63 times for 294 yards and a TD with another 50 yards receiving. And although the Lions might roll their eyes when he sounds like a rookie — last week he talked about the possibility of making the playoffs this season — they’ll take it as long as he runs hard and doesn’t fumble the ball. Smith has been a bright spot recently, and it has been impressive that he has done so with a new QB and with some OL deficiencies. The team still wants him to clean up his pass-protection technique and be more of a factor in the receiving game, but the coaches have been happy with what they have seen of late.

Nov. 13, 2008   

Marinelli fights uphill battle as Lions try to find answers

Updated at 9:35 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 17

Rod Marinelli

The job of the media is not to bury coaches, especially when the players appear to be giving the kind of effort for which any head coach could ask. But Rod Marinelli’s situation in Detroit bears close watch because his team now has lost 17 of 18 games, including all 10 in 2008.

The Lions’ players have not given up, and it’s evident in watching the games. The team still is playing hard, but its execution has been so poor that the immediate reaction is to question the coaching, the schemes and the team’s lack of adjustments despite such similar themes week in and week out.

Marinelli lamented the fact that the Jaguars essentially ran four basic run plays in the 38-14 loss in Week 10 and that the Lions were unable to adjust or stop them. That kind of admission will get most coaches fired.

Marinelli often uses a digging metaphor when talking about continuing to go to work every week, but when asked metaphorically if it might be time to change shovels, he said: “No, that’s where I totally disagree … because that’s soft. You can blame it on your shovel, you blame it on this. No. You just keep going with belief and expectations. That’s what I do. I don’t do that, what you just did. I disagree 100 percent.”

Team observers respect the fact that Marinelli and his coaches have remained unwavering in their approach, believing that their system can work. But the fact that it hasn’t worked at all to date bears out two clear facts: the Lions simply don’t have a talented or deep roster and the coaches have been unable to do anything about it.

The first fact got GM Matt Millen fired in September. The second could lead to Marinelli’s ouster at season’s end.

The Lions must win multiple games in order to prevent their coach from being fired, it appears, but the list of possible wins shrinks with each harrowing loss. The combined record of the teams left on the schedule (Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Minnesota, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Green Bay) is 38-22.

All of the remaining six opponents either are in first place, tied for first place or are in serious contention for a wild-card spot or their division title.

The Lions have already faced two of their remaining opponents, losing 48-25 to the Packers in Week Two and 12-10 to the Vikings in Week Six.

Nov. 7, 2008   

Quarterback not Lions’ only concern — center could be problem, too

Updated at 9:40 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 10

A new battery provided few positive results for the Lions. With QB Dan Orlovsky and C Dominic Raiola both suffering thumb injuries, the Lions were forced to turn to Daunte Culpepper (who had been signed five days earlier) and Drew Stanton at QB and 15-year vet Andy McCollum at center. Mostly, the results were predictably poor. Other than a 32-yard run by RB Kevin Smith, the run game did little, and though the two QBs made some plays, both struggled to move the ball consistently. Culpepper’s best work was on a few broken plays, but he didn’t have full command of the offense. And though Stanton completed 6-of-8 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown, he took an unbelievable five sacks on 13 dropbacks. Raiola’s 104-game starting streak came to an end, and it was even more disappointing considering he had been one of the few O-linemen who had played consistently.

October

Oct. 31, 2008   

Stanton appears to be afterthought for Lions

Updated at 9:30 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 3

Despite the clamoring for the team to audition QB Drew Stanton for next season, that plan apparently won’t be executed like that. Head coach Rod Marinelli said this week that he doesn’t plan to play Stanton for the sake of evaluating him and that the only way Stanton will play is if starter Dan Orlovsky gets hurt or if Stanton appears to be the better option.

What that says is that Stanton clearly has work to do. He was having a miserable offseason at one point but improved in the preseason to the point where some thought he could win the backup position behind Jon Kitna. That never happened.

Orlovsky hasn’t been horrible since taking over, but it’s clear — from people close to the team and outsiders — that he’s a backup-level talent.

So what does that say about Stanton? Clearly, he’s lagging behind your typical second-year QB at this point, having had his rookie season wiped out by a knee injury and switching offenses and mechanics this season. He has been receiving only about 20 percent of the team’s snaps in practice to Orlovsky’s 80 percent, so there’s little chance that he’ll get to play significant time unless Orlovsky really tanks.

There were reports at presstime that the team has come to an agreement with free-agent QB Daunte Culpepper on a two-year deal. The Lions ideally would like Culpepper to serve as a bridge from this season to next.

What they would want from Culpepper would be for him to start at some point down the stretch and then go into next season as the favorite to start in the second year — his final year of the deal. With Orlovsky a possibility to leave as a free agent in the offseason, the team could head into next year with Culpepper (or another veteran passer), Stanton and perhaps one more QB obtained through the draft from which to choose.

The danger of signing Culpepper — and one reason why the team didn’t sign him for more than two years — is that he has a serious injury history, and league insiders believe his best days are long behind him. Culpepper also is not regarded as a strong “team guy” who would be willing to mentor a young quarterback who one day could put him out of work.

Oct. 23, 2008   

Marinelli says there will be no shake-up on Lions' coaching staff

Updated at 9:35 a.m. EDT Monday Oct. 27

After an 0-7 start and few positives to hang their hats on, the Lions say they need some serious change to improve. But that change apparently won’t come in terms of reallocating coaching responsibility. That means offensive coordinator Jim Colletto and defensive coordinator Joe Barry will continue to handles their roles, respectively, without any additional or new outside influence. Head coach Rod Marinelli defended both men this week, saying they already worked in tandem with the position coaches and that a change in leadership was not the problem. “In terms of a leadership role like that, I don’t want to start spreading way too many things out there,” he said prior to Week Eight. “I just like what we’re doing. We have to do it better, and it’s just what I believe in.” Marinelli also said that effort was not the problem but that a handful of players have not been on the same page, causing opponents to spring big plays.

Oct. 16, 2008   

As good as Williams trade is, Lions must send winning message

Roy Williams and Jon Kitna

First, the Lions got rid of GM Matt Millen. Then they waved goodbye to two players he invested heavily in. The Lions traded WR Roy Williams to Dallas and placed QB Jon Kitna on injured reserve, essentially ending the careers of both in Detroit. Both were brought in by Millen and were sent packing by new GM Martin Mayhew, who is hoping to turn an interim title into a full-time one.

Now the 0-5 Lions must sell a message to the fans that they are competitive and able to win games without two of their more productive players. Mayhew, perhaps making a verbal slip the day before pulling off what most league officials think was a very good deal, said, “I’m not interested in getting rid of our best players.”

And then he went out and traded Williams and helped make the decision to shut down Kitna for the season.

The question that must be asked is how much connection there is between removing two talented players from the roster and the fact that both were among the more outspoken doubters of the new offense that favored balance over throwing the ball, as the Lions did successfully in 2006 and for part of the ’07 season. There is no question that head coach Rod Marinelli strongly endorses solidarity, and it appears that Mayhew and COO Tom Lewand agreed with him.

But ultimately, the team that has one playoff win since 1958 will be falling back into a familiar role: that of a rebuilding franchise. The team promises to look drastically different from top to bottom next season, but fans must wait — again.

“With that team, you can’t try to win a [public relations] war,” a league source said. “They made the right move. Williams was showing up his QB [Dan Orlovsky in the Bears game] and was complaining off the field. He was either going now or in the offseason, so why not trade him — especially if Dallas is going to offer what they did?

“Kitna’s 36. He wasn’t helping anymore. [The Lions] let it be known to about anyone that they were going to put him on I.R., hoping that some team like the 49ers would step up and offer them something before the deadline.”

Kitna could have some trade value this offseason, although it might be minimal.

“I’d say a [sixth-round pick] or seventh,” one front-office figure said. “Maybe not even that, though there won’t be a lot of quarterbacks [available] next year.”

Oct. 10, 2008   

Could Bodden be one-and-done for Lions?

Swept under the rug of all the suspect moves that former GM Matt Millen green-lit was the preseason extension given to CB Leigh Bodden, who was one of the key pieces acquired in the Shaun Rogers trade to Cleveland. Bodden received a four-year extension this offseason — before he had won a starting spot — that included an $8.6 million roster bonus due prior to the 2009 season. The Lions viewed him as a rising player, and they believed his six interceptions last season showed he has a knack for making plays. Bodden eventually won a starting nod, starting three of the first four games, but he’s struggling — to the point where the team might have to cut him in the offseason to avoid such a big investment in a player who might not get better. He appears a bad fit in the Lions’ predominantly zone-coverage scheme and is allowing quite a few passes completed in his direction.

Oct. 6, 2008   

Marinelli says players won’t quit

Head coach Rod Marinelli has seen his team lose four games by a combined 147-66, and with the firing of GM Matt Millen, every one of the team’s employees knows that they are playing for their jobs for next season. The media hammered Marinelli on whether he thought he would continue to be the coach, and he never wavered in his answers, saying, “I’m going to get up in the morning and go to work.” Marinelli also said he didn’t think that the players had quit on the coaches, saying, “The type of people we have, I wouldn’t sense that they’re going to quit. I sense they’ll keep fighting.” Marinelli is in the tough spot of needing to make personnel changes but being handcuffed by the team’s lack of depth. There’s no more symbolic position to change than quarterback, so it would surprise no one if Jon Kitna — who was pulled in Week Five with back spasms — gets benched for good, even if others are more to blame.

Oct. 2, 2008   

Lions’ Smith might have to get used to being second fiddle

Rookie RB Kevin Smith has said he is not happy that he has been replaced as the starter by Rudi Johnson, and we hear that this is the way the team could use the two backs for the foreseeable future. Johnson ran well in part of the 49ers game in Week Three, rushing 14 times for 83 yards. Smith has been ineffective, but it’s not as if he has been put in a great position to run. The team has fallen behind by a large margin in every game, and the opponents have keyed in on the run early in games to take it away. In this post-Matt Millen era, the Lions are trying their best to win as many games as quickly as they can. The jobs of nearly every player, coach and executive hang in the balance over the next 13 games, and the team is taking the approach that the veteran Johnson is a better option until proven otherwise. That said, the coaches remain high on Smith down the road and expect him to get carries along the way.

September

Sept. 26, 2008   

Expect Lions to undergo extensive evaluation of team structure after season

Lions head coach Rod Marinelli and vice chairman William Clay Ford Jr.

William Clay Ford’s decision to fire Lions president Matt Millen has led him to vow that the organization will undergo a “comprehensive evaluation” once the season is over. For now, executive vice president/COO Tom Lewand will assume most of Millen’s duties as team president, and assistant GM Martin Mayhew will handle personnel matters and other GM duties. In addition, Cedric Saunders was bumped up to the position of vice president of football operations.

None of those positions is set in stone following the 2008 season, nor is the job of head coach Rod Marinelli.

The Lions have started 0-3 this season and had a 31-84 record in Millen’s tenure, and although the team has almost uniformly supported Marinelli through his 10-25 mark as coach, the team will use the next 13 weeks as an audition of sorts for next season.

NFL anti-tampering rules prohibit the Lions from interviewing potential GM candidates from executives who currently are employed by rival teams. After the season interview restrictions are lifted, but the Lions would need permission from respective teams to interview potential candidates who hold full say over personnel matters or for whom the Lions’ GM job would be considered a promotion.

Although the timing of Millen’s firing appears to be strange to some outside the team, we hear that problems had been brewing all along, and the timing of the bye week had as much to do with Millen's ouster as did the foreboding comments of Bill Ford Jr. two days earlier that he would have gotten rid of Millen had he possessed the authority.

We hear that there had been some internal strife within the front office, but it’s not clear who was having the most trouble. Expect Lewand and Mayhew to be very active over the next few months to try to revamp the roster and make decisions that get the team into a competitive position quickly.

The season likely will be judged on a 13-game basis, from here on out. If the Lions were able to turn things around and come close to a .500 mark from this point, we hear that Marinelli — who remains well liked in the building — very well could keep his job.

Sept. 19, 2008   

Cherilus appears poised to take over Lions’ ORT spot

Updated at 9:32 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 22

It’s looking more likely that first-round pick Gosder Cherilus will take over full time at right tackle for George Foster, who started the first two games there. Cherilus got the first start of his young career in Week Three. In the first half of the loss against the Packers in Week Two, Foster struggled against Packers DE Aaron Kampman and was replaced by Cherilus in the second half, who appeared to hold up fairly well, not allowing any sacks. The Lions had wanted to bring Cherilus along slowly after believing he wasn’t ready to start following the preseason. But Foster’s play coupled with the team’s struggles to run the ball apparently have changed the coaches’ minds about their rookie tackle. Cherilus likely would be the first option at left tackle, too, so if OLT Jeff Backus were to get hurt, Cherilus probably would replace him and Foster would go back to right tackle.

Sept. 11, 2008   

Lions set to make lineup changes in Week Two

Updated at 8:55 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 15

The Lions made two key changes in the secondary, replacing Travis Fisher with Leigh Bodden at right corner (Fisher started the game as the nickel back, and he rotated in at both outside CB spots) and reinserting Daniel Bullocks as the starting free safety after Gerald Alexander started the opener. It’s hard to tell if either move made much of a difference. The Lions fell behind big early, allowing Packers QB Aaron Rodgers to throw for 328 yards on 24-of-38 passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions in his second career start. Bullocks was active, getting in on 12 tackles, but he was out of position on a couple of big pass plays. Bodden fared better, deflecting two passes and only allowing a couple of passes on his coverage.

Sept. 4, 2008   

Lions should be vastly improved in secondary

In the past, the Lions have been forced to play unexpected starters in the secondary because of injuries or poor play. This season, the team is starting two defensive backs because, at least as of now, they have held off the expected starters with their strong play. The Lions traded for CB Leigh Bodden and signed him to a four-year, $27 million extension this summer. So far, he’s running with the second team behind Travis Fisher, who has played well. Bodden has had time to learn the defense but just hasn’t beaten out Fisher for the job. At safety, Gerald Alexander, who was forced to start as a rookie in place of starter Daniel Bullocks, has remained in the starting lineup ahead of Bullocks, who continues to work back into top shape following last season’s torn ACL. Again, the coaches feel comfortable enough with Alexander being ahead of Bullocks for now, in order to get the best lineup on the field.

August

Aug. 20, 2008   

Injury delays Stanton's challenge for Lions' backup QB job

Updated at 12:30 p.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 2

An intriguing battle had been developing at the backup QB spot in Detroit between steady Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton. But that was undercut for now following Stanton’s bruised and sprained thumb that is expected to leave him out of action for four weeks, which would force him to miss the first two regular-season games. That means the Lions are likely to keep Jon Kitna, Orlovsky and Stanton on the roster, and if they sign another quarterback, he’s not likely to make the 53-man roster. Stanton’s strong performance in the preseason win over the Bengals displayed his good athleticism and some precision in the passing game. Orlovsky has been pretty steady this preseason, but he struggled against the Bengals. At the beginning of camp, the idea of Stanton pushing for the backup spot appeared unimaginable. He struggled mightily, and offensive coordinator Jim Colletto wasn’t afraid to say so. Despite the injury, we hear team officials are excited about the way Stanton has improved, and his good mobility appears to be a nice match for an offense that is using more quick throws, rollouts and bootlegs.

Aug. 13, 2008   

Run game has work to do, but Lions' plan for balance is undeterred

Head coach Rod Marinelli’s postgame assessment of the Lions’ rushing effort in the exhibition opener spoke volumes. When asked what was the problem, Marinelli responded, “Didn’t get enough yards.” That was true. But it has been clear to observers of camp that the newfound emphasis on running the football is a commitment, not just an attempt. Offensive coordinator Jim Colletto reminded his players that running the football is not easy but that the team would not back down from doing it this season, even if the early returns are not pretty. Up front, the Lions are trying to establish more of a defensive mentality on the line, attacking as opposed to letting blocks come to them. It has been a slow process. And although it has held back the production of the running backs thus far, the team has made an interesting statement — despite Marinelli imploring the media not to read too much into it — by having rookie Kevin Smith lining up with the first team and veteran Tatum Bell with the second. Marinelli rarely puts rookies atop the depth chart this early, but sources in Detroit say the team believes it has something special in Smith and that it’s only a matter of time before he works well in this system.

Aug. 2, 2008   

Offensive line undergoes changes in Detroit

Much of the offensive changes the team has undergone this season start with the offensive line. The Lions have installed a zone blocking scheme, and the reports thus far have been positive. The passing game appears to have more quick-rhythm throws and three-step drops, and the running game is expected to be featured far more this season. But there are still some personnel issues to figure out. George Foster is lining up with the first team at right tackle so far, but first-round rookie OT Gosder Cherilus has looked solid so far. He actually has played both OT spots in practice, as has Jonathan Scott. One of the reasons is that the Lions are trying to develop some depth and versatility up front. Last season, the team dressed only seven O-linemen on game days, which meant that players such as ex-Lion Blaine Saipaia were forced into action at right tackle, having to play out of position, which became a symbol of the team’s season-long struggles there.

July

July 26, 2008   

Lions have lots of questions at linebacker

Ernie Sims is one of the Lions’ few sure things. Otherwise, linebacker represents a position that could look a lot different at the end of the preseason than it does right now. With LB Jordon Dizon missing the first few practices of training camp while waiting to sign a contract and the team looking at free agent Takeo Spikes possibly to add to the mix, there are some faces who could be added to the starting lineup. As it stands now, Sims starts on the weak side, Paris Lenon is in the middle and possibly Alex Lewis on the strong side. But Dizon’s arrival and emergence could mean Lenon — or Spikes, if he’s offered a contract — may end up occupying the “Sam” position. Lewis is considered more of a special-teamer than a two-down linebacker. The “Sam” ’backer typically comes off the field in the Lions’ nickel defense, so finding a more sturdy, run-stopping player would appear to be the coaches’ biggest aim.

July 16, 2008   

Tight end expected to be more important position for Lions

The new design of the Lions’ offense should have the TE position contributing more than it did last season, when it was an afterthought in the passing game (a league-low 19 receptions by true tight ends) and little-used in run blocking because the Lions chose to throw so often. The return of Dan Campbell should be a big boost. He’s a first-class run blocker, and though he’s coming off elbow surgery, he’s expected to be ready to go at the start of camp. Free-agent addition Michael Gaines arrives with a reputation as a good blocker, but he has spoken often about his ability to catch the ball and should get a chance to do so in a scheme that will involve more passing routes than former coordinator Mike Martz chose to utilize. Casey FitzSimmons and Sean McHugh are more H-back types (they played fullback in Martz’s offense but are considered tight ends now), and neither is an outstanding blocker, but they can catch the ball. Also in the mix is John Owens, but the team is not likely to keep more than four at this position.

July 12, 2008   

Lions do homework on Raiders’ Jordan

The Raiders gladly allowed their persona non grata running back, LaMont Jordan, who was told earlier this offseason by head coach Lane Kiffin he no longer fits into the team’s plans, to visit the Lions, a possible trade partner. The potential move makes some sense for Detroit, which lacks a bigger back to complement outside runner Tatum Bell and rookie Kevin Smith, who might do his best work off tackle, we are told. But there are some obstacles to a trade. First, knowing he’s not in Oakland’s future, the Lions likely aren’t willing to part with anything more than a seventh-round draft choice, and with little competition for Jordan's services, they could sit tight and wait until the Raiders inevitably release him. Either way, it would be a low-risk move, assuming the Lions can pare down the unwieldy $4.7 million base salary that Jordan is due to make. If he’s released, the Lions could sign him to a new contract. We hear the Lions are in no rush to make a move and merely are looking out for all their RB possibilities should Bell, Smith or any of the other backs disappoint. But we also hear that Jordan would sit above free-agent RB Najeh Davenport, another big back who thinks the Lions might be a good landing spot.

July 4, 2008   

Lions, Davenport might make good match

The Lions have not said they are in the market to add a running back, but they might be interested in adding one more veteran at the position before or during training camp. Most recently, free-agent RB Najeh Davenport, late of the Steelers, reportedly has said he favors the Lions and Cardinals as possible landing spots. The Lions’ potential interest is not for a lack of bodies there — the team is, in theory, stocked with Tatum Bell, rookie Kevin Smith, Brian Calhoun, Aveion Cason and Artose Pinner. The problem is that none of those players, other than Bell, has proven himself as a starting running back for a full season, and Bell was mostly an afterthought during a disastrous first season in Detroit. Smith holds promise but never has taken an NFL snap and might have to overcome some maturity issues to become a dependable full-time back. Davenport may not have the résumé of a starting back, but he has shown flashes of ability and would add size to a smaller group of backs. He also has kick-return experience, something the Lions need to shore up.

June

June 27, 2008   

Lions concerned about their rookies’ behavior

It was reported Thursday that ORT Gosder Cherilus must pay a fine of $52,000 and serve a year of probation stemming from a 2007 incident with former Boston College teammate DeJuan Tribble, in which the two players were charged with assault and battery during a bar brawl. Although the Lions were aware of the situation and are not concerned with the outcome, they have to be worried about the behavior of their rookie class to date. It turns out that second-round LB Jordon Dizon was arrested six days before the NFL draft on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, a charge that only recently was reported. And even though RB Kevin Smith, the team’s third-rounder, has not been involved in any shenanigans, to our knowledge, he told PFW that head coach Rod Marinelli had stressed to him numerous times following the draft and during rookie minicamps that he must stay out of trouble. Some teams red-flagged Smith as having a character question during the draft-evaluation process after Smith reportedly missed or chose to skip one team’s scheduled private workout with him. Expect Marinelli’s message for his rookies — to stay out of trouble — to be echoed throughout training camp.

June 6, 2008   

Marinelli thinks Lions have speed to burn

Head coach Rod Marinelli spent a good part of a media session this week talking about his team’s improved speed and how that might affect the results on the field. He thinks his team not only can play fast but also think quickly, which is imperative to be the kind of club that can make major improvements after losing seven of eight games down the stretch. The area where the improvement is most evident is probably in the secondary. CB Brian Kelly is not a burner at 32, but his instincts allow him to play faster. S Dwight Smith is another player whose mind probably works faster than his legs at this stage of his career, but the idea is that veteran players who play fast are probably just as important as young players who can run but haven’t yet caught up to the speed of the NFL game.

May

May 28, 2008   

Many feel Johnson is on verge of big season

Calvin Johnson

WR Calvin Johnson was shy with the media as a rookie, but he also was a bit overwhelmed by a voluminous playbook and hindered by an early back injury that never really went away. And Johnson admitted recently that he was unprepared to deal with the sheer length of the NFL season, which grinds away with little offseason in the summer all the way through January. But many feel that the second-year receiver is in a good position to break out after what Johnson termed as a “just OK” rookie season in which he caught 48 passes, averaged 15.8 yards and caught four TD passes. They say his demeanor in practice is more professional and focused, there appear to be no ill effects from the back injury and that he will be featured prominently in the new design of the offense. In Mike Martz’s system, Johnson and Roy Williams often were double-teamed or bracketed by safeties, forcing QB Jon Kitna to throw underneath to slot WRs Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey. However, the strong emphasis on the run game in the new scheme should open things up outside, assuming opponents respect the run game with a safety playing down in the box sometimes.

May 23, 2008   

Smith says Lions are perfect fit for his skills

Kevin Smith

Despite the team's recent struggles, there's no hiding the excitement felt by Lions rookie RB Kevin Smith about the prospect of playing in the Motor City: “Detroit was my favorite going into the draft. I thought they were going to get me a little earlier, so it made me panic. But they never left. They came and got me (with the 64th pick, at the top of Round Three). I am happy where I landed.” Smith joins an offensive backfield that likely will feature him and Tatum Bell, but team sources feel that Smith is a perfect fit for an offense he knows very well. “Basically, the Lions’ offense is just like the offense that I ran (at Central Florida),” Smith told PFW. “My offensive coordinator in college (Tim Salem) and Coach Colletto (Lions O-coordinator Jim Colletto) worked together at Purdue. The terminology is almost exactly the same, and the (zone) blocking scheme is exactly the same — outside zone, inside zone scheme. Maybe 85 percent of the playbook is the same.” In an offense that Colletto pledges will be far more balanced, Smith could earn quite a few carries; at UCF, he was a workhorse, carrying the ball 450 times in 14 games (32.1 carries per game), and Bell historically has seen his effectiveness be at its highest when his touches are capped at around 10-12 per game. Said Smith: “If I have to carry it 46 times against UTEP, I will. If I have to carry it 20 times against Memphis to get the win, that’s what I have to do. So whatever my job is that game, I’ll do it.”

May 16, 2008   

Kitna believes new freedom could allow him to have better grasp on offense

QB Jon Kitna didn’t join the ranks of Lions players who got in line to bash former offensive coordinator Mike Martz, but team sources say Kitna appears more content with the idea of having a more balanced and two-dimensional offense. However, it’s another important deviation from the old scheme that the quarterback likes most. It appears that coordinator Jim Colletto will allow Kitna more freedom at the line of scrimmage to make calls and reads, change plays or alter routes or blocking schemes depending on what the defense offered. Martz believed his offense was tailored toward always having a safety valve no matter what the defense was running, and thus he afforded Kitna very little leeway at the line to make changes. Word is, Kitna believes this new flexibility will allow him to communicate better with his receivers, backs and offensive linemen and come up with a better play option in any given situation.

May 9, 2008   

Smith making big first impression on Lions

So far, Lions coaches are tickled with rookie RB Kevin Smith, who not only could start as a rookie from Day One but could be the first-year player who makes the biggest immediate impact. Yes, first-round OT Gosder Cherilus figures to get every chance to start at right tackle, and second-round LB Jordon Dizon will get the same crack to earn the starting “Mike” LB spot. But Smith appears a great fit in the Lions’ new zone-blocking scheme, and with a serious need at the position — only Tatum Bell figures to challenge Smith for a starting role — there are many who feel he could put up very strong numbers as a rookie. New coordinator Jim Colletto figures to run the ball more as he has said he wants better balance in an offense that was way too slanted toward the pass under former coordinator Mike Martz. The biggest adjustments for Smith likely will be third-down duty; whether or not he can learn to catch the ball and pass-protect likely will determine whether the coaches will give him full-time duty or have him split time with Bell or others.

April

April 25, 2008   

Several reasons why Lions are unlikely to trade Williams

Roy Williams

It might have earned them a draft pick or two, and perhaps some good ones, but the Lions say they have decided to hang on to WR Roy Williams. The potential trading chip also happens to be a good and established football player, which the Lions currently have too few of. They are young at several spots, painfully thin at others, and head coach Rod Marinelli knows he needs as much offensive punch — especially in the passing game — with a defense that remains a work in progress. And there might be another, more subtle reason. Though Calvin Johnson should improve in his second year, we hear there is very quiet concern about the Lions thinking he is not quite ready to take the reins as a go-to receiver. That said, they expect bigger things to come out of their second-year wideout.

April 11, 2008   

Is Martz’s criticism of Lions' O-line fair?

After saying he wanted to close the door on his Detroit days, 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz continues to talk about how bad his old employer was. Martz told 49ers.com, initially speaking about his new team’s QB situation: “In Detroit we were not a good football team. We were last in the NFL on defense, and when you have to throw the football to win, that’s not a good thing. We weren’t good enough on the offensive line to protect (the quarterback) and throw the ball like we did.” The specific criticism of the line is the most pointed attack in the entire quotation, but it must be noted that Martz’s overreliance on throwing the ball and his insistence on five-man pass protections left the line quite vulnerable. That said, the team’s right tackles were less than adequate last season, and team sources indicate that tackle is a position that almost assuredly will be addressed in one of the team’s first few draft picks.

April 4, 2008   

Marinelli allowed to put more of his stamp on Lions

There is a certain line of thinking, leaguewide, that an NFL coach has three years to prove himself, and even that idea might need revisiting with some recent head coaches lasting shorter than that. But it appears that Rod Marinelli has been given a major sign of endorsement from both vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. and GM Matt Millen — a man who knows a thing or two about living on the edge in this league — from this week’s owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. Both men enunciated their support for the head coach, despite his record of 10-22 since taking over, and spoke of how much more of an influence Marinelli has and has had recently over the shaping of the roster. That sentiment appears to fall in line with the Shaun Rogers deal, which sent the underachieving defensive lineman packing in a trade to Cleveland. Rogers was a Millen pick, and those two were said to have a good working relationship. But even Millen had to agree with Marinelli’s assessment that Rogers never was going to meet his expectations with Lions. So, with the head coach’s stamp on the matter, he was traded. Now only 13 players remain on the roster Marinelli inherited when he became coach in 2006. Expect his influence to carry a big effect on what the Lions do in the draft in a few weeks.

March

March 26, 2008   

Lions’ Williams not planning on going anywhere

The rumors had been mostly shut down, but for those who still wondered if the Lions and GM Matt Millen perhaps were willing to deal from a position of strength and maybe trade WR Roy Williams, the player’s comments on Tuesday appear to quash that notion fairly thoroughly. He told local media that he planned to remain a Lion, wanted to continue playing with the team and that head coach Rod Marinelli called him earlier this offseason when the trade talk started heating up and told Williams that he was going to have his best season to date — in Detroit. It makes sense. As much as the Lions could afford to deal Williams and help out one of their other areas of need, they are not in the necessary cap shape or have so much of a wealth of talent that they could let one of their best players go — likely in exchange for draft picks. The team has four picks in the first three rounds of the draft already, having picked up an extra third-rounder from the Browns in the Shaun Rogers deal, and likely is too cap-tight to add many more picks that require large signing bonuses.

March 21, 2008   

Lions’ tight ends could be critical to success

The talk of the offseason has centered around the departure of Mike Martz and the expected transition to more of a run-based attack. With the departure of T.J. Duckett and the release of Kevin Jones, the RB position is very much up in the air with only Tatum Bell, Aveion Cason and Brian Calhoun manning the spot as of now. The offensive line, which will be critical to the running success, also stands some changes, mostly at right tackle. But don’t overlook the role of the tight ends. Dan Campbell, one of the league’s best blockers at the position, was hurt last training camp, and it damaged the run blocking. He re-enters the picture this season and projects to man the position along with Michael Gaines, a free-agent pickup from Buffalo who also has a reputation as a good run blocker. We hear it won't be a surprise if tight end — a position Martz rarely highlighted in either the pass or run game — becomes a crucial spot in 2008.

March 14, 2008   

Lions may be turning major focus to right tackle

Two moves the Lions made on Wednesday appear to indicate how the offseason plan is going. The team re-signed CB Travis Fisher and let reserve OL Blaine Saipaia go. Fisher stands to battle for the nickel CB job with Keith Smith following the additions of Leigh Bodden by trade and Brian Kelly through free agency. Though many suggest the Lions will seek a cornerback with their first-round pick (15th overall), team sources indicated that the offensive line is the bigger, more immediate area of concern. Saipaia had only provided depth, but with Damien Woody gone and Jonathan Scott still rehabbing, now only the recently re-signed George Foster — who lost the starting job last season — can be counted on to start at right tackle. The draft appears to be strong at tackle, with six possible first-round picks, but the talent level drops off after that. The Lions haven’t drafted an offensive lineman in the first three rounds of the draft since 2001, when they selected OT Jeff Backus and C Dominic Raiola with their first two picks.

March 7, 2008   

Running back becomes big concern for Lions

Updated 9 a.m. ET, Saturday, March 8

The Lions didn’t put up a major fight to keep T.J. Duckett and might watch Tatum Bell go to another team, making running back an area of concern this offseason — especially with a commitment to a more run-based attack under new coordinator Jim Colletto. Kevin Jones and Brian Calhoun, the two backs currently on the roster, are coming off injuries and could be PUP list candidates. Will the Lions sign a free agent or will they take care of the position through the draft? The answer might be both. Ideally, the team would convince Bell to return — even though he rode the pine the final 11 games last season — and sign a veteran back. The team visited with Julius Jones, but he decided to sign with Seattle. If those two plans fall through, the team could add a lower-level free agent and go for a running back — this is considered a fairly deep draft class — in the middle rounds. There likely are too many other needs to consider using a high pick on a runner.

February

Feb. 27, 2008   

Don’t lock Rogers in with trade to Broncos — yet

Although the Broncos are among the DT-needy teams that have contacted the Lions about a trade for Shaun Rogers, don’t expect a deal to happen in the next couple of days as many media outlets are reporting. We hear the Lions suddenly have found themselves in the catbird seat, discovering a healthy market for their defensive tackle. Although they are almost certain to part with him — we hear the team thinks he’ll never reach his full potential in Detroit — they’ll be content to sit back and let teams up the ante. The Lions will shoot for getting a second-round pick in return but may accept a high third-rounder, something in the first 75 picks, for Rogers, we hear. The irony of the situation is that team president Matt Millen probably would prefer to keep Rogers — Millen drafted him, and the two get along — but the relationship between Rogers and head coach Rod Marinelli is so broken down that it’s clear that Rogers has played his final snap as a Lion. There is a bit of urgency to do a deal by this weekend, considering that Rogers is due a $1 million roster bonus on Saturday, but it’s possible that the team may pay the bonus if the right deal isn’t available to them yet and then wait for a better offer.

Feb. 20, 2008   

Lions remain interested in Wilson, but other priorities exist

We’re told that the Lions haven’t ruled out signing former Broncos MLB Al Wilson, who made his first free-agent stop in Detroit, but he isn’t high on the team’s priority list. Expect Wilson to make other visits after the NFL Scouting Combine concludes next week, and then the Lions might re-evaluate their interest. At this point, though, despite the positive words from head coach Rod Marinelli — he said the team had “high interest” in Wilson — and the team’s need for improvement at linebacker, especially in the middle, don’t expect a match any day now. We also hear that the team might have had a little concern about Wilson’s physical, the results of which it did not release.

Feb. 13, 2008   

Lions look to fill middle of defense; Wilson visits

Of the several needs the Lions have on defense, middle linebacker wouldn’t appear on the surface to be a major one. But the team views Paris Lenon, as acceptably as he played last season, as more of a placeholder at the “Mike” spot than anything else. He might be a better fit in this system on the strong side, where Boss Bailey isn’t likely to return. And backup and former starter Teddy Lehman perhaps fits best on the bench. That’s why the team is getting a jump on filling this need, having met with unemployed LB Al Wilson on Tuesday, even if he needs to pass a very thorough physical for the Lions to make a move in his direction. Wilson would give the defense toughness, and he would pair nicely with WLB Ernie Sims, the only consistent playmaker on that level of the defense last season. The unit also was sorely short of leadership, an area in which Wilson specializes.

Feb. 1, 2008   

On offense, Lions plan to 'keep it simple, stupid'

All the rhetoric from new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto seems to suggest a vast departure from the four- and five-wide, minimum-protection days of former playcaller Mike Martz. Team sources have honed in on several things Colletto has said recently to the media — such as “it’s not rocket science” and “you don’t have to be a genius to figure these things out” — when it comes to how he plans to run a balanced attack. It also includes other simplicities, such as a pared-down playbook, less motion and shifting before the snap and simpler terminology. Colletto hinted that the team would like to develop some signature go-to plays a season after the team really didn’t have any to hang its hat on. One expected beneficiary of this new offense, besides the running backs, is WR Calvin Johnson, who was said at times to have had trouble picking up the nuances of Martz’s voluminous offense.