There's no hiding the fact that the Detroit Lions' 0-16 record last season was the most embarrassing moment in NFL history for a franchise. In a league where parity is supposedly built into the system, 0-16 is not supposed to happen.
In 1996 the Jets went 1-15, which is close to the Lions' dubious feat of 2008. But in the following year under the guidance of Bill Parcells, with only minimal changes to the roster, the Jets went 9-7. In 2007, the Dolphins got their only win of the season in Week 15 and finished 1-15. Parcells, in the role of vice president of football operations, turned the franchise around and a year later the team finished as champions of the AFC East at 11-5.
Can the Lions make that kind of radical change in one season?
Since Jim Schwartz was hired as coach of the Lions, they have acquired 24 new players via free agency (12), draft (10) and trade (2):Free agents:
CB Phillip Buchanon (from Bucs)
WR Ronald Curry (from Raiders)
LB Larry Foote (from Steelers)
TE Will Heller (from Seahawks)
DT Grady Jackson (from Falcons)
OT Jon Jansen (from Redskins)
WR Bryant Johnson (from 49ers)
OT Daniel Loper (from Titans)
RB Maurice Morris (from Seahawks)
OT Ephraim Salaam (from Texans)
FB Terrelle Smith (from Cardinals)
LB Cody Spencer (from Jets)
Trade:
LB Julian Peterson (from Seahawks)
CB Anthony Henry (from Cowboys)
Draft:
QB Matthew Stafford
TE Brandon Pettigrew
CB Louis Delmas
LB DeAndre Levy
WR Derrick Williams
DT Sammie Lee Hill
RB Aaron Brown
OT Lydon Murtha
LB Zack Follett
TE Dan Gronkowski
» Free agency: Lions' moves
» 2009 draft: Lions' selections
The more I study the Lions since Jim Schwartz came aboard as head coach, the more I see a light at the end of the tunnel. You can make the argument that things can only get better after last year, but unless there is a good leader, competent coordinators, an influx of talent and a change in mentality, there's always the chance of another year of winless football.
Why am I optimistic that the 2009 Lions will be competitive and give their loyal fans some hope that things will turn around in the Motor City? I'll tell you why.
The head coach
Schwartz comes from a winning franchise (Tennessee) and has been heavily influenced by his most recent boss, Jeff Fisher, and former employer Bill Belichick, whom Schwartz worked for while with the Browns. He has witnessed success, been part of developing a program and has the intelligence to develop a plan. I have interviewed him twice this spring, and he has a look in his eye that reminds me of Baltimore's John Harbaugh or Atlanta's Mike Smith -- a confident leader with a plan.
The three words that will drive this franchise are culture, growth and accountability.
Webster's Dictionary defines culture as the "training and refining of the mind." Changing the culture in the locker room is a challenge. Schwartz has to get his team ready to deal with life when the losing starts, and it will start early. This team can't bring the burden of the 0-16 season into 2009 or it will be a case of here-we-go-again. But with all of the new faces in that locker room and Schwartz's style, this team won't fold.
Growth is defined as a "gradual development or progress." Schwartz has to decide if winning a few games now at the expense of developing young talent right away is real growth. He comes to the Lions from the Titans, who put Vince Young back on the bench and had success with Kerry Collins. Time will tell what Schwartz does at quarterback, but we will see immediate growth in the defense and the running game.
Accountability is measured by each member of the organization being counted on to hold up his end of the bargain. According to a few of the Titans players I spoke with about Schwartz, he will deliver on this aspect of program-building as well.
At least five new starters on defense
I wonder what Schwartz thought of the Lions team that his Titans defeated last year, 47-10, on Thanksgiving. The 37-point differential was the largest of all of the Lions' losses in 2008. Schwartz comes from the defensive side of the ball, and so he had to make changes to a defense that ranked last in the league for the second year in a row. Simply put, allowing 32 points and 404 yards per game has to stop.
Schwartz told me that getting bigger was critical, and they got significantly bigger. When you look at the addition of linebackers Julian Peterson and Larry Foote to go along with Ernie Sims, all of a sudden the Lions' linebackers physically look like the Titans' group. Here's how they compare: Peterson is 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, while his Titans counterpart Keith Bulluck is 6-3, 235. Foote is 6-1 and 239 pounds and Tennessee's David Thornton is 6-2, 225. Sims is 6-foot and 225 pounds while Stephen Tulloch stands 5-11, 235. Pretty similar.
| ||||||
| Year | Team | Record | Next year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | New Orleans Saints | 1-15 | 4-12 | |||
| 1989 | Dallas Cowboys | 1-15 | 7-9 | |||
| 1990 | New England Patriots | 1-15 | 6-10 | |||
| 1991 | Indianapolis Colts | 1-15 | 9-7 | |||
| 1996 | New York Jets | 1-15 | 9-7 | |||
| 2000 | San Diego Chargers | 1-15 | 5-11 | |||
| 2001 | Carolina Panthers | 1-15 | 7-9 | |||
| 2007 | Miami Dolphins | 1-15 | 11-5 | |||
| 2008 | Detroit Lions | 0-16 | ??? | |||
The addition of Grady Jackson to clog up the middle and force the run outside will help on running downs. Cornerbacks Anthony Henry and Phillip Buchanon started 31 games between them last year, and they'll help stabilize a pass defense that gave up 232 yards per game in'08.
The decision to draft safety Louis Delmas in the second round, when Rey Maualuga and James Laurinaitis were still on the board, made a few people scratch their heads. But when Foote was released by the Steelers and was quickly picked up by Schwartz, it made the Delmas selection look good.
Said former Steelers coach Bill Cowher: "I love Larry Foote. He's a good football player who really prepares and will be a big help to the Lions."
There is still work to be done, and a player like Greg Ellis would help even more as the Lions build a new defense.
Young player potential
Two young players on the Lions' roster finished strong last season, and I would expect both of them to continue their growth in '09.
Running back Kevin Smith had a fine second half of the season. In his last eight games, he averaged 84 yards per game on the ground. If he can do that for a whole season, he would be a 1,300-yard back. If I'm the Lions, I would settle for anything over 1,000 yards.
Pass rusher Cliff Avril really came on in the last six games of the season, recording 12 tackles, four sacks, seven quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four tackles for a loss. It wouldn't surprise me if Avril put up 10 sacks in 2009.
Power running side
Schwartz comes from a Titans team that liked to run the ball. If you look at the potential to use one side of the offensive line for a power running attack in Detroit, there is reason for optimism.
If Jon Jansen plays right tackle (6-6, 306) and Gosder Cherilus moves to right guard (6-7, 319), Smith and the running game have a good chance with solid run-blocking tight end Brandon Pettigrew (6-5, 263) and recent fullback addition Terrelle Smith (6-0, 250).
Work the waiver wire, free-agent market
I like that the Lions didn't stop with the draft. They kept working all avenues to get competitive at every position. Since the draft, Detroit has signed Foote, Jansen, Ephraim Salaam, Eric Hicks and Toniu Fonoti and claimed three players off waivers -- Brian Johnson, Tra Battle and Kirk Barton.
It's important to keep bringing in players and pushing the starters. I expect the Lions to claim a few more players and sign a few veterans, even after the late August cuts.
Keeping it close
The Lions lost six games last year by nine points or less, and there's no reason not to think that they can win a few of those games this year with the new program up and running.
Protect your investment
The Lions gave up a sack every 9.7 pass attempts last year. Unless they build a better protection scheme, it would not be wise to throw rookie Matthew Stafford to the wolves.
Detroit has brought in nine new offensive linemen who were not on the roster in 2008 to create competition and improve pass blocking.
I would like to see them add another wide receiver who can take advantage of having Calvin Johnson on the other side and the rookie Pettigrew splitting the safeties.
The coordinators
Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan have both been head coaches in the NFL, so they can really help Schwartz with the learning curve. Both coordinators are already up and running, so expect there to be some good decision-making and adjustments during games.
The Megatron factor
Finally, there will be 11-12 new starters on the field for the first Lions game in 2009 from the last game of 2008. But one starter who is definitely going to be back on the field is Calvin "Megatron" Johnson.
Two years ago as a rookie, he caught 48 passes and four touchdowns. Last year he had 78 catches and 12 touchdowns. In the last three games of the season, with Roy Williams long gone and a backup quarterback on the field, Johnson caught 22 passes. He's ready for a 90-reception season.
I don't think the Lions are ready to turn 0-16 into 9-7, but I do think there is enough in place to win four or five games and give Lions fans hope for the future.
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