LIONS FANTASY NEWS

February 21, 2006 11:00 AM ET

Ford Field hosted Super Bowl XL in early February, and it was the first time that two quality NFL teams occupied that arena since 2000. The Matt Millen era (est. January 2001) churned out another sub-par product in 2005, and the lowly Lions finished 5-11. The poor record cost head coach Steve Mariucci his job in late November, and defensive coordinator Dick Jauron wrapped up the campaign before moving to Buffalo.

This offseason, Millen flipped to the "M" section of his phonebook for the third time and hired Rod Marinelli, who had been serving as the assistant head coach/defensive line in Tampa. Marinelli then added former Rams head coach Mike Martz as the offensive coordinator and asked former Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson to make a lateral move.

On offense, Martz will throw out Mariucci's West Coast structure and install his "Greatest Show on Turf" style that played so well in St. Louis. On defense, Marinelli and Henderson will implement the Cover-2 scheme. Now, the Lions just need to find a whole bunch of players to fit their new systems.

Needs
Yes. With an extensive list of free agents and a new staff on board, the Lions need help at pretty much every position save kicker and punter.

Marinelli and Martz have talked about giving Joey Harrington a clean slate, which assumes that the team keeps him despite a $4 million roster bonus due on June 15. At the least, they'll bring in a veteran free agent not named Jeff Garcia to provide stability and possibly challenge for the starting gig.

Along with Harrington, the staff needs to figure out the fate of wide receiver Charles Rogers. Two collarbone injuries and a four-game drug suspension have marred the former first-round pick's short career, and the Lions need to decide if he's worth holding onto. Roy Williams, Mike Williams, and Scottie Vines are all ahead of Rogers on the depth chart at this point, and even with a bunch of backup receivers heading to free agency, the Lions may release Charles and add a speed receiver that better suits Martz's offense.

Speaking of Jones, he may have some new running mates in 2006. Fullback Cory Schlesinger is under contract, but Shawn Bryson, Artose Pinner, and Paul Smith are all free agents. Given that Jones has missed action in each of his first two seasons, the Lions backfield needs to be well-stocked.

However, the major need on the offensive side of the ball lies in the big boys who are supposed to protect Harrington and open lanes for Kevin Jones. Left tackle Jeff Backus has started all 80 games since being drafted in 2001 but is a free agent. The Lions will look to re-sign or tag him and then address their issues at right tackle and left guard, where Kelly Butler and Kyle Kosier/Rick DeMulling were often clueless and clawless last season.

All three levels of the defense could use assistance, although there is talent throughout with players like Shaun Rogers, Dre Bly, and Teddy Lehman. Defensive end is a notable need, even if the Lions re-sign backup Kalimba Edwards. The club managed only 31 sacks in 2005 and could use a speed rusher.

Injuries to linebackers Lehman, Boss Bailey, Earl Holmes, and Alex Lewis tore apart the middle of this defense last season, and the Lions will want to add depth and talent to this crew. The same goes for the secondary, where starting cornerbacks Bly (12 games) and Fernando Bryant (two) and safety Terrence Holt (10) failed to stay healthy. The Lions may seek a starting safety and will certainly need to add warm bodies, even if they re-sign cornerbacks Andre Goodman and R.W. McQuarters and safety Bracy Walker.

Salary Cap Situation
The Lions are roughly $9 million under the salary cap, according to NFL.com.

Unrestricted Free Agents
QB Jeff Garcia, RB Shawn Bryson, RB Paul Smith, WR Kevin Johnson, WR Eddie Drummond, WR Troy Edwards, WR David Kircus, T Jeff Backus, T Victor Rogers, T/G Kyle Kosier, G Tyrone Hopson, G Brock Gutierrez, DE Kalimba Edwards, DE Jason DeVries, LB Wali Rainer, LB Nate Wayne, LB LeVar Woods, CB R.W. McQuarters, CB Andre Goodman, S Vernon Fox, S Bracy Walker.

Restricted Free Agents
RB Artose Pinner, TE Casey FitzSimmons, LB James Davis, S Terrence Holt.

The Draft
With the ninth overall selection in the 2006 draft, the Lions select…another wide receiver! Just kidding. Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler, USC offensive tackle Winston Justice, Texas safety Michael Huff, Virginia Tech cornerback Jimmy Williams, Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway, and Penn State defensive end Tamba Kali all make sense in that slot. Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk and North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams are expected to be off the board.

The Lions will give their fourth-round pick to the Patriots (2005 draft-day trade) and their seventh-round selection to the Jets (safety Jon McGraw).

Injury Watch
Bailey (ankle), Lehman (knee), Lewis (ankle), Bryant (shoulder), and Holt (elbow) should all be at full health come training camp, which will make this defense look a lot better than it did at the end of last season. Free agent receiver Kevin Johnson ruptured his right Achilles tendon in week seven and might not be ready for the start of next season.

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