Ask a Lions' Fan Preseason Edition

1: The O-line gets a bad rap for protecting Stafford, but we were actually 6th in the league in pass protection last year. It’s our run blocking that was terrible, but our best run blocker was hurt for most of the season as well, so that should help us out. We do know that Backus is on his way down and Riola needs to be replaced, but it’s not a panic area this season.

2: A lot of us think we’ll be better than 8-8 if Staff stays healthy. A few are obviously drunk and predict a 14-2 or 12-4 season, but I think, baring any major injuries to the whole team, we could end up 10-6.

3: CB is our biggest weakness still, especially since we upgraded our LB’s tenfold this offseason. We signed Tulloch and Durant, and we have Levy still, so our starting 3 are solid. We added Eric Wright from the Browns in the offseason, but he’s not going to be anything better than our re-signed F.A. Chris Houston, at least in my opinion. We’re kind of loaded with # 2’s now, and we need someone to step up in a big way, or we need to upgrade next offseason.

1. If all we’re talking about is the ability to pass protect, I’d put this offensive line up against any d-line… except maybe our own. Run blocking is still suspect, but since we’re a pass first offense I’m not too worried about our ability to put up points.

2. To be honest, I can see us going 8-8 without Stafford remaining healthy, both of our backup QBs are really capable (as was shown last year). I’ve got us capped at 12 wins (at max) but I see us around a 9-7 team this year.

3. If I had to pick a weakness, I’d say pretty much everything but the defensive line. Our CBs have been revamped and look hella better, out LBs are revamped and look hella better, and our safeties are really coming into their own but have yet to truly establish themselves with long term continuity. We’ll see how things play out over the season, but I’m glad to say there’s no portion of the defense that really scares me anymore; it’s just not quite “up to par” on the whole.

1: Stafford has looked sharp in preseason so far. 3td’s no int’s.
2: Defensive standouts would be Suh(of course) and Delmas, breakouts will hopefully be Fairley and Tulloch, and maybe a CB like Aaron Berry or Eric Wright.
3: Our secondary is mostly composed of #2 CB’s, and our front 7 is one of the best in the leagues, we have so much depth there.
4: B Johnson was cut awhile back, he was absolutely terrible last year, I think he dropped more passes than he caught. Titus Young (the rookie from Boise State) will probably occupy the 3rd WR spot.
5: Jahvid Best should have a decent breakout year and LeShoure will be out the whole season with an achilles tear.
6: Our O-line should be average again with the run and solid with pass protection.
7: Pettigrew this year should solidify himself as a top 10 TE this year baring Stafford staying healthy.

1. Stafford’s looking as amazing as he ever has. As far as his ability to stay healthy, that remains to be seen, but if he stays healthy he’s looking like a really good QB in what is essentially his second season.

2. Amari Spievey, no doubt. He made the transition from CB to S last year and has really started to own the position, I expect big strides from him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s better than Delmas at the end of the year

3. Our first team defense is pretty much locked down for the first time in a long time. At safeties we’ve got starters Amari Spievey and Louis Delmas; at CB we’ve got Eric Wright and Chris Houston; at LB we’ve got Durant, Tulloch, and Levy; at DE we’ve got Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch; and at DT we’ve got a rotation of Suh, Fairley, Corey Williams, and Sammie Hill. Every position has a lot of depth (including safety, with Erik Coleman being our backup S). Every position on our defense is swappable; we’ve got three linebacker positions that all get switched around, we’ve got RCB and LCB (instead of CB1 and CB2), and LS and RS (instead of FS and SS). Basically, everyone does everything; we like it this way. Versatile players are at a premium.

4. Bryant Johnson was cut some time ago, and we’re very thankful of this fact. Plainly, the man can’t catch a football if his life depended on it. The slot guy is looking to be Titus Young, but with the number of receiving targets in Heller, Pettigrew, Best, Brown, etc, we’ll see all sorts of positions lining up wide and slot throughout the year.

5. Jahvid Best is probably the one you’re thinking of. If he manages to stay healthy, I expect him to put up roughly the same rushing yards and have a great season receiving. Leshoure is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, so we’ll see how he does next year but it doesn’t look good.

6. It’ll be better in the sense of our starters coming back healthy and some new better depth. Our pass protection should still remain in the top 5 in the league range, but our run blocking is still very suspect. Essentially, more of the same if not a little bit better.

7. All three of our tight ends, Pettigrew, Scheffler, and Heller are looking really crisp in the offseason. You’re probably asking most about Pettigrew, who has managed to fix some of his dropsies and develop into a more well-rounded player. I expect big things from him this year.

I was pulling for you in 2007.

Of course, when you guys play us I hope we put your heads in the dirt for four quarters straight, but against anyone else, I’m pulling for you. Haha.

1) The TEs get involved to stretch the field a bit. Due to Grink;s size, and hands, and Herndo’s size and speed- They are used in our passing game whether it be short or long (i dont think we have a long passing game anyways). You should expect to have our TEs involved, RBs, Welker, Branch, Ocho. because they are all capable of being involved.

2) Our run blockers are generally above average. We get holes, but our backs tend to be smart in where they should go. Mankins is the best run blocker on the team, solder and vollmer so far are doing a solid job on the outside. Our center and RG though remain in question. I believe they do well.