Detroit Lions Season Preview

(Courtesy of My Sportsbook) - The Detroit Lions are one of two.

Of the 23 teams that have been in operation during every year of the Super Bowl era, only the Lions and Cardinals have never appeared on the final Sunday of the NFL season. In fact, the 1991 team, which reached the NFC Championship before losing to the Redskins, is the only Lions club since 1957 to win so much as a playoff game. Rivaled only by their contemporaries in Cleveland, Detroit football fans are the definition of "long-suffering." There is evidence to suggest that the seemingly eternal struggle may be over some time in the near future. Lions team president Matt Millen and head coach Steve Mariucci have built their team to win now, using the offseason to acquire a couple of well-heeled skill players (wideout Mike Williams and tight end Marcus Pollard), while upgrading an already-promising defensive corps to include playmakers Kenoy Kennedy and Shaun Cody. If quarterback Joey Harrington can deliver on the promise that he has hinted at during his first three years in the league, the Lions could find their way into the postseason and out of a difficult period in team history that has seen them win just 16 games in four campaigns.

Regardless of the exploits of the home team, there will be Super Bowl talk in the Motor City this season. Detroit's Ford Field will be the site of Super Bowl XL on Feb. 5, and while the Lions are unlikely to take the field that night, the prospect of the team soon taking their first steps on the Super Sunday stage could be more than just a daydream to the club's starving fan base beginning in 2005. Below we take a capsule look at the 2005 edition of the Detroit Lions, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

RB: Kevin Jones (1133 rushing yards, 28 receptions, 6 TD) was slowed by ankle problems early in his rookie campaign of 2004, but came on strong during the second half of the season to give the Lions the ground presence they desperately needed. Now fully healthy and playing in a system with a number of receiving weapons to take the pressure off of him, Jones is expected to have a huge sophomore year. Shawn Bryson (264 rushing yards, 44 receptions) was a reliable third-down back last season, and should re-assume that role in 2005. Artose Pinner (174 rushing yards, 2 TD, 11 receptions) struggled in Jones' absence last year (3.1 yards per rush), but should stick as a third running back. At fullback, Cory Schlesinger (10 receptions, 3 TD) is expected to be out until at least early October with a broken fibula suffered in the preseason, meaning the 230-pound Bryson could switch to fullback in the interim. Paul Smith, who played in seven games with Detroit during the 2003 season but missed all of last year with a shoulder injury, was attempting to beat out undrafted rookie Will Matthews (Texas) for the backup fullback job during camp.

WR/TE: Much of the optimism about the Lions' 2005 prospects is due to their embarrassment of riches at the receiver position, with 2003 first-round pick Charles Rogers, 2004 first-round pick Roy Williams (54 receptions, 8 TD) and 2005 first-round pick Mike Williams (USC) all expected to take the field at the same time. Rogers has missed 26 of a possible 32 games during his first two pro seasons due to broken collarbones, and will have to prove that he is capable of making an impact and staying healthy. Roy Williams was dazzling at times in 2004, but also struggled with injuries. And Mike Williams missed all of last season after surrendering his final two seasons of college eligibility in an ultimately fruitless attempt to test the NFL's early-entry policy. The most proven wideout on the roster is former Browns star Kevin Johnson (35 receptions, 1 TD with Baltimore), who has struggled in stints with the Jaguars and Ravens over the past two seasons. Kick returner Eddie Drummond, who has just two catches in three pro seasons, is virtually assured of a roster spot. Holdovers David Kircus (3 receptions) and Scottie Vines (3 receptions) were vying for the final receiver slot during camp. The Lions have also upgraded at tight end, where longtime Colts starter Marcus Pollard (29 receptions, 6 TD with Indianapolis) should be a more significant presence over the middle than the departed Stephen Alexander (41 receptions, 1 TD). Casey FitzSimmons (10 receptions) will back Pollard, and former 49er Justin Swift, who last played in an NFL game in 2002, was looking to make the team as a third tight end.

OL: There is turnover here, as starting right tackle Stockar McDougle departed via free agency and free agents in center Brock Gutierrez (15 starts with the 49ers last season), tackle Kyle Kosier (16 starts with the 49ers) and guard Rick DeMulling (11 starts with the Colts) were brought in to prop up a unit that needs to be stronger in 2005. DeMulling is the only member of the incoming trio that is guaranteed a starting job, and will take over at left guard. The other new member of the first-team line will likely be Kelly Butler, who did not play a snap in 2004 after being selected in the sixth round out of Purdue, but has been pencilled in at right tackle. Holdovers up front include center Dominic Raiola, right guard Damien Woody, and left tackle Jeff Backus. each of whom started all 16 games last season. Guard David Loverne, who started 13 contests last season, will be in the backup mix along with Kosier, Gutierrez, and another former 49er, center/guard Rob Murphy.

DL: The Lions bypassed the end help they needed in the draft in order to select Mike Williams, meaning last year's rotation at that position remains basically the same. James Hall (48 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 1 INT) had a breakout season at left end, but right end Cory Redding (40 tackles, 3 sacks) is seen as something less than a first-rate talent on the other side. The team is better at defensive tackle, where second-round draft choice Shaun Cody (USC) has been added to a rotation that already included 2004 Pro Bowler Shaun Rogers (68 tackles, 4 sacks) and veteran Dan Wilkinson (22 tackles, 1.5 sacks). The backups at end should be 2004 holdovers Jared DeVries (25 tackles, 3 sacks) and Kalimba Edwards (22 tackles, 4.5 sacks), while Marcus Bell (26 tackles, 2 sacks) figures to be fourth on the tackle depth chart.

LB: Detroit is deep at linebacker, where Boss Bailey returns to a group that includes all three starters from last season. Bailey, who missed all of 2004 with a knee injury, is expected to start on the strong side, bumping Teddy Lehman (102 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) into a backup role. Lehman could eventually unseat incumbent middle linebacker Earl Holmes (111 tackles), who led the Lions in stops last year but turned 32 in the offseason. The weak side will again be occupied by James Davis (83 tackles, 3.5 sacks), who played well in his first season as a starter. Alex Lewis (59 tackles, 2 sacks), Wali Rainer (20 tackles) and Donte' Curry (22 tackles) were all contributors as backups last year, but the return of Bailey could mean one is excised at the final cut.

DB: The safety position has undergone some changes, as former Pro Bowler Brock Marion (88 tackles, 3 INT) was cut loose after starting all 16 games at free safety and 2004 starting strong safety Bracy Walker (78 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) was demoted to make room for former Bronco Kenoy Kennedy (82 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT with Denver). Terrence Holt (27 tackles) is being tabbed to fill the free safety role vacated by Marion. At cornerback, Dre' Bly (38 tackles, 4 INT) and Fernando Bryant (51 tackles) are capable but unspectacular. The Lions are deep at the position, as Chris Cash (30 tackles, 1 INT), Keith Smith (38 tackles, 1 INT), and Andre' Goodman (28 tackles, 1 INT) all started games last season, former Bear R.W. McQuarters (67 tackles, 2 INT) has been added to the mix, and third-round draft choice Stanley Wilson (Stanford) has a chance to contribute as well. Former Jet Jon McGraw (28 tackles, 2 INT) and holdover Vernon Fox (7 tackles) will join Walker as backup safeties.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Jason Hanson (24-28 FG, 28-28 XP) begins his 14th season as the Lions' kicker this season, and remains reliable on both field goals and kickoffs. Nick Harris (40.9 avg.) had his best year as a pro last season, and will continue to handle punts. Eddie Drummond (26.6 kickoff return avg., 2 TD, 13.2 punt return avg., 2 TD) scored four touchdowns in the Lions' first 11 games, and made the Pro Bowl despite missing his final five contests with a shoulder injury. R.W. McQuarters (9.9 punt return avg., 1 TD with the Bears), who has three career touchdowns on returns, can spell Drummond.

PROGNOSIS: With the Bears' quarterback situation already in peril and the Packers seemingly on the way down, the Lions have a real chance to make a leap in the NFC North during 2005. Provided the three first-round receivers and Kevin Jones are healthy, the offense should score points at a furious pace. Defensively, there are few bona fide studs, but Mariucci and company have solid depth throughout the two-deep and that unit shouldn't be a liability. Learning how to win games in the fourth quarter will be the real test for this team, which has averaged four wins a season for the past four years. They're a notch below the Vikings, but if the Lions can win enough close ones, they should compete with the likes of the Cowboys and Panthers for one of the wild card berths out of the NFC.