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Pasch Previews Lions
by: Dave Pasch
Last year, Jon Gruden left the highly successful Oakland Raiders to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You already know the joyous ending to that story. Steve Mariucci led the 49ers to two division championships and four playoff berths in six seasons in the bay rea. "Mooch" also left success for a new venture, but his story probably won't play out like Gruden's fairy tale. At least not this year. After all, the chances of Mariucci meeting his former team in the Super Bowl are zero (the Niners and Lions are both in the NFC in case you're not following me). Oh, and another thing...the Lions don't have the talent that Tampa Bay has. One more thing...they haven't even won a playoff game in 12 years. There is great news for Lions fans. Mariucci, unlike his predecessor Marty Mornhinweg, is a proven head coach, and winner. This one, however, will probably take time.
OFFENSE
Joey Harrington is the centerpiece of the Lions offense and the quarterback of the future in Detroit. Or is he? Some fans in the motor city this summer suggested that backup Mike McMahon deserved a fair shot in training camp to beat out Harrington. Harrington will be the guy and probably for many years to come. He has a strong arm and is a gamer. His numbers weren't very good last year, but he was a rookie on a bad team. He should improve this year with the addition of first-round pick wide receiver Charles Rogers. Remember, Rogers is a rookie, so don't expect too much, but he still has to be better than Bill Schroeder, Scotty Anderson, and Germane Crowell. Wide Receiver Az-Zahir Hakim missed half of last season due to a hip injury and he didn't even play this preseason because of a knee problem.
A season ending injury to running back James Stewart won't help Harrington's chances of dramatic improvement in year two. Stewart is one of the more underrated backs in the league, rushing for over 1,000 yards last year, while averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Stewart is going to be 32 years old later this year, yet he continues to get better with age. Unfortunately for Detroit, Stewart will watch this season from his couch. His replacement will be either Shawn Bryson, who had 13 carries last season in Buffalo, rookie free agent Avon Cobourne from West Virginia, or recently acquired Olandis Gary, also from Buffalo. Gary rushed for 1,159 yards as a rookie in 1999 with Denver, but struggled with injuries the following two years. By the way, the Lions are 0-7 with James Stewart sitting on the sidelines.
The offensive line allowed only 20 sacks last season, and should be a pretty good unit again this year. Right tackle Stockar McDougle, a former first round pick, is in the best shape of his career. Center Dominic Raiola was voted the team's most improved player in 2002. The clock on guard Ray Brown hasn't stopped ticking as he enters his 18th year in the NFL. 2001 first-round pick Jeff Backus will only get better at left tackle.
DEFENSE
The transition theme continues with the Lions defense. Defensive tackle Luther Elliss is on the reserve/non football injury list (pectoral), and second-year defensive end Kalimba Edwards, who finished with 6.5 sacks last year, is back after off-season hernia surgery. Defensive end Robert Porcher is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery, but is expected to start against the Cardinals. The Lions need defensive tackle Shaun Rogers to have a big year, and he's reportedly in great shape. Detroit also picked up "Big Daddy" Dan Wilkinson.
Barrett Green is the only returning starter at linebacker. Rookie Boss Bailey will replace Chris Claiborne, who departed for Minnesota. Earl Holmes, who led the Browns in tackles last season, will start at middle linebacker.
The secondary is led by former Ram Dre' Bly, but he has been bothered by a sprained ankle the last month. The Lions probably overpaid for Bly, but he's much better than any cornerback they had on their roster, and was probably the best free agent cornerback available. The Lions recently lost corner Chris Cash for the season due to a knee injury.
SUMMARY
The NFC north was a weak division last season and Green Bay could be coming back to the pack, so to speak, thanks to an abundance of question marks. The Lions should be respectable under Steve Mariucci, but a playoff run might be asking too much.
Pasch Previews Lions
by: Dave Pasch
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Last year, Jon Gruden left the highly successful Oakland Raiders to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You already know the joyous ending to that story. Steve Mariucci led the 49ers to two division championships and four playoff berths in six seasons in the bay rea. "Mooch" also left success for a new venture, but his story probably won't play out like Gruden's fairy tale. At least not this year. After all, the chances of Mariucci meeting his former team in the Super Bowl are zero (the Niners and Lions are both in the NFC in case you're not following me). Oh, and another thing...the Lions don't have the talent that Tampa Bay has. One more thing...they haven't even won a playoff game in 12 years. There is great news for Lions fans. Mariucci, unlike his predecessor Marty Mornhinweg, is a proven head coach, and winner. This one, however, will probably take time.
OFFENSE
Joey Harrington is the centerpiece of the Lions offense and the quarterback of the future in Detroit. Or is he? Some fans in the motor city this summer suggested that backup Mike McMahon deserved a fair shot in training camp to beat out Harrington. Harrington will be the guy and probably for many years to come. He has a strong arm and is a gamer. His numbers weren't very good last year, but he was a rookie on a bad team. He should improve this year with the addition of first-round pick wide receiver Charles Rogers. Remember, Rogers is a rookie, so don't expect too much, but he still has to be better than Bill Schroeder, Scotty Anderson, and Germane Crowell. Wide Receiver Az-Zahir Hakim missed half of last season due to a hip injury and he didn't even play this preseason because of a knee problem.
A season ending injury to running back James Stewart won't help Harrington's chances of dramatic improvement in year two. Stewart is one of the more underrated backs in the league, rushing for over 1,000 yards last year, while averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Stewart is going to be 32 years old later this year, yet he continues to get better with age. Unfortunately for Detroit, Stewart will watch this season from his couch. His replacement will be either Shawn Bryson, who had 13 carries last season in Buffalo, rookie free agent Avon Cobourne from West Virginia, or recently acquired Olandis Gary, also from Buffalo. Gary rushed for 1,159 yards as a rookie in 1999 with Denver, but struggled with injuries the following two years. By the way, the Lions are 0-7 with James Stewart sitting on the sidelines.
The offensive line allowed only 20 sacks last season, and should be a pretty good unit again this year. Right tackle Stockar McDougle, a former first round pick, is in the best shape of his career. Center Dominic Raiola was voted the team's most improved player in 2002. The clock on guard Ray Brown hasn't stopped ticking as he enters his 18th year in the NFL. 2001 first-round pick Jeff Backus will only get better at left tackle.
DEFENSE
The transition theme continues with the Lions defense. Defensive tackle Luther Elliss is on the reserve/non football injury list (pectoral), and second-year defensive end Kalimba Edwards, who finished with 6.5 sacks last year, is back after off-season hernia surgery. Defensive end Robert Porcher is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery, but is expected to start against the Cardinals. The Lions need defensive tackle Shaun Rogers to have a big year, and he's reportedly in great shape. Detroit also picked up "Big Daddy" Dan Wilkinson.
Barrett Green is the only returning starter at linebacker. Rookie Boss Bailey will replace Chris Claiborne, who departed for Minnesota. Earl Holmes, who led the Browns in tackles last season, will start at middle linebacker.
The secondary is led by former Ram Dre' Bly, but he has been bothered by a sprained ankle the last month. The Lions probably overpaid for Bly, but he's much better than any cornerback they had on their roster, and was probably the best free agent cornerback available. The Lions recently lost corner Chris Cash for the season due to a knee injury.
SUMMARY
The NFC north was a weak division last season and Green Bay could be coming back to the pack, so to speak, thanks to an abundance of question marks. The Lions should be respectable under Steve Mariucci, but a playoff run might be asking too much.
