By Jerry Green / The Detroit News Q. Every NFL team is optimistic in training camp. But the optimism in Detroit seems unbridled. Is it warranted? A. Yes. Matt Millen?s draft has been graded ?A? by other football men, those who know the sport best. The addition of first-round picks Roy Williams and Kevin Jones, and second-rounder Teddy Lehman, should improve the Lions immediately. The addition of free agents Stephen Alexander and Tai Streets, plus the expected maturation of Joey Harrington and the return of Charles Rogers, should make the Lions potent on offense. Q. What about the defense? A. There?s the problem. The Lions could be vulnerable on defense ? especially on pass defense. If Chris Cash and Andre Goodman return in fine fettle after last year?s injuries, the secondary would be well upgraded. Q. The record should be ? what? A. This is always a wild guess. The Lions should be better. That?s not a guess. If they make it to 8-8, that would be decent improvement. They should do no worse. And they could be somewhat better. No cheerleading here, but frequent visitations into history. Q. History? What is the lesson? A. Recent history. Pete Rozelle always used to quest for parity when he was NFL commissioner. Now under Paul Tagliabue, the NFL has parity, but not much prolonged team excellence. No longer are there teams such as the Steelers, 49ers or Cowboys playing in Super Bowls season after season. The Panthers, Rams, Falcons and Patriots all played in Super Bowls one season after finishing with losing records. And the Titans and Chargers made it the season after finishing 8-8. Q. So you?re saying the Lions can expect to play in Super Bowl XL ? that?s 40 ? in their own Ford Field in 2006? A. Sure, if they are able to finish 8-8 this season. But, certainly if all their additional players perform as expected and if Rogers can play an entire season and if Harrington really does become the star quarterback, that could happen. And if all that does happen, the Lions could reach the playoffs this season. Q. If ... A. Yep. But things never go quite as expected in preseason attempts to guess about the future. The Lions could make it to the playoffs. The Panthers did and reached the last Super Bowl ? and whoever thought the Lions could look at some NFL expansion team as an inspiration?
The Lions are definitely 2 season's away, but with all that youth they could be great after 2 season's. There will always be "ifs", but it looks like their potential is unlimited. The only negative I can see is that paying all of those players in 3 seasons will be a bear. If they live up to their potential, it's going to get expensive very quickly.
Lions are two seasons away from blowing it up and starting all over again. On the plus side they will have won 6 games in those two seasons and played the 2 time super bowl champion bears twice at home(that should boost attendance) plus they will get ti watch the bears hoist the lombardi trophy in ford field.
The X factor is Harrington. Will he thrive w/ all the weapons? This is his third season which is the make or break season in the WCO according to "experts". If you have a high profile offense or killer D then an average O or D along w/ a proficient special teams that seems to be the formula in today's NFL.
Harrington is doing great this year, i wouldnt be surpised for a great season next year/two years from now. 4-3 aint bad at all!
