Players signed DE James Hall (re-signed) OL Damien Woody (Patriots) CB Fernando Bryant (Jaguars) DT Kelvin Pritchett (re-signed) CB Dainon Sidney (Bills) WR Tai Streets (49ers) RB Shawn Bryson (re-signed) OG David Loverne (Rams) FS Brock Marion (Dolphins) QB Mike McMahon (re-signed) QB Rick Mirer (Raiders) R Scotty Anderson (re-signed) WR Reggie Swinton (re-signed) LB Donte' Curry (re-signed) TE Stephen Alexander (Chargers) Player Drafted WR Roy Williams RB Kevin Jones LB Teddy Lehman CB Keith Smith LB Alex Lewis OT Kelly Butler I?m going to break down why I think the Lions had the best offseason of any team in the NFL. Wide Receivers: Tai Streets ? a veteran add depth in Detroit Roy Williams ? A star in the making When the Lions picked up Tai Streets before the draft, I was pleased. Mix that with Roy Williams, the great WR out of Texas, and I was very happy. What a great offseason for receivers in Detroit. Finally, Joey Harrington will have somewhere to throw the ball. Tai Streets is really along for the ride in case Williams or Rogers have trouble adjusting to their new league. Running Backs: Kevin Jones ? A brilliant back in college This guy was dazzling at VTech, and I?ll bet he?ll dazzle us in the NFL just as much. He makes games exciting, and his level of play as a rookie will help take some pressure off the passing game. While no Barry Sanders, he?s a great back and a relentless worker with many years of greatness to come. Offensive Line: Damien Woody ? A proven Pro-Bowl Lineman with many years left in him David Loverne - Starter Kelly Butler ? A cocky rookie with incredible size and talent Many people had Kelly Butler ranked as their #2 Offensive lineman in the draft next to Gallery, but off-field issues made his stock drop very badly. He does have the raw talent able to be a playmaker. We just need to see if he can handle the NFL. Damien Woody is a great pickup from the Pats, since he is certainly going to help the O-Line that provided the least help for a running game last year. Loverne will have the job for Butler to replace when ready. Linebackers: Teddy Lehman ? A beast in college Alex Lewis ? A backup Lehman won the Butkus Award for best linebacker and the Bednarik Award for best defensive player. He will most certainly play, since he will be an upgrade at the LB position. Look for Lehman and Boss Bailey to maul running backs and QBs. Alex Lewis will not be starting, but provides a solid backup at a crucial position. Secondary: CB Fernando Bryant ? A great young player picked up from the Jags CB Keith Smith ? A rookie CB Dainon Sidney ? A CB with Potential FS Brock Marion ? A Pro Bowler picked up from Miami Bryant will help an already stellar secondary with Dre? Bly and Brock Marion. Keith Smith will be a project that has the ability to turn into a starter, but will have to work very hard to do so. Marion will of course contribute if he doesn?t wind up in jail from false insurance claims. He is a great player who knows how to invigorate a secondary. Dainon Sidney is a Nickel Back who has had an injury plagued career, but has shown flashes of brilliance. Signing him to a league minimum one-year deal gives the Lions a chance to see whether or not injuries will plague him this season as well. Looks like the Lions could actually turn things around and make a playoff run as early as this year. Most likely, it will take the rookies at least a year to get accustomed, but look for the Lions to be tearing throats in the NFC in 2005-2006. With these improvements, it?s gonna be tough to stop the Lion Pride.
I agree with you that you are the most improved team in the league (on paper) but that can be easy to be when you are one of the teams with the most to improve. First Harrington has to prove he is the real deal because weapons or no weapons he has yet to do so. He now has possibly the deepest Receiving core in the league in terms of talant providing that Rogers comes back and plays at the leve he did last year and Williams matches Rogers per game output as a rookie and stays healthy. I do like the way the future looks though provided you don't have a set back at the QB position. Also Marion may have been a Pro Bowler last year but he hardly deserved it. He does bring much needed leadership and experience to your defernse while still being a very solid player. Not trying to saybhe wasn't a great pick up just still ticked my boy Harrison didn't get in. I hope Woody stays healthy and keeps his weight down because with that under control he can be an animal for your run game and is one of more athletic guards in the game to go along with great strength. Even when hurt and overweight he still is a top notch gaurd but I think his center days should be over. No shotgun, no center is the way I see it. I liked your draft as well and kinda wish we had drafted Lehman because of our aging LB's but as it's said out here "In Bill We Trust". Another guy that could be a nice addition which you didn't mention could be Stephan Alexander. He has had couple 40 catch seasons and with all those receivers he could find himself open an awful lot this season. I like him as a sleeper TE Fantasy wise this year if your not big on drafting a TE. Though never been a big TD guy but look at Fauria once he got on a team who new how to use him. It will be very intresting to see how much your team imporves from last season to this. Another little race to watch will be which QB leads his team to the playoffs first Harrington or Carr.
I think we agree on the Lions. Harrington could be the fly in the ointment so to speak. He's shown flashes but overall has been a failure in his first two years. IF he does have a breakout year we could see a turnaround much like the Pats from 2001 to 2002. I did catch my Stephen Alexander mistake before you made your post. I agree that with the Lions speed at WR he might find himself back in the Pro Bowl in 2005. Mariucci is very big on high % completion ratio and in the WCO the TE can be a real weapon. If I were Alexander I'd be excited.
I agree on all but Brock Marion. He got into the pro bowl last year strictly on prior history. He has lost a step. I will say the experience factor will be important. What is it w/ former phins DB's going to Motown? Does this mean Madison will be wearing honolulu blue & silver in 2006? Unless I'm out of it, Brian Walker was just such a stellar acquisition. If McMahon doesn't remain in Detroit, he will be the next Delhomme. All of Detroit personnel moves should make the NFC North more exciting.
