The problem with the upcoming draft class...

I haven't made any projections yet. It's far too early, and I want to see this class tested, but this has been a disappointing draft class to say the least. Week by week, I have watched player after player fall short of their hype/expectations that they might be an impact player in the NFL. Some sites list Michael Johnson as a top prospect, and as I watch him, he's not it the same area code as the QB. He doesn't move well, yet he has great size to be a big time pass rusher. As far as pass blockers are concerned, there are question marks with each of them. Andre Smith gets beat by speed rushers, and has help on his left side, usually with a TE. He's a big mauler, and he sets well at times, but he's getting beat by college players that I'm seeing, such as Kentucky's Jeremy Jarmon; a nice player but not a pure pass rusher. The guy who popped out watching Alabama was running back Glen Coffey. Like Smith, he's a JR, and made some big runs in the Kentucky game a few weeks ago. Defensively, S Rashad Johnson popped out as a nice player in the Tide backfield.

Another player who is popping out of the screen is PSU's Derrick Williams. As I watch for players who would be a good fit for the Detroit Lions, he fits the bill well. He's got a nice burst, and does a great job returning kicks. He doesn't run alot of pro style routes, he's very involved in their reverse game and usually runs crossing routes. I'd like to see his 40 times, his hands are good enough.

All and all, it's been a disappointing class, though. The Lions need for some gems to start coming from the depths. They have too many picks for this to be a bad class.

Looking forward to 2009 draft...

With the trade of Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys, the Lions now look forward to the 2009 draft, where they will be in a great position to draft. Not only will they add the Dallas picks to their personal haul, but they should garner at least 3 compensatory picks from free agency in 2008. This would net them 13 picks, with five coming in the first three rounds. So far in my pre-draft studies, I have noticed that the strength of the draft will be on the offensive line, defensive linebacking, and QB is looking deeper if a talented group of Jr's/eligible sophomores like Matt Stafford and Chad Bradford come out. As far the top pick, whereever the Lions might fall; they're looking at a top 5 pick, and they need to find out if they have their QB of the future on the roster. If they don't, they need to look at the two young QB's, and groom them for the future. Otherwise, there are three top left tackles coming out this year that will probably take their attention. The best of the lot is Eugene Monroe of Virginia. Extremely fleet afoot, he reminds me of Lomas Brown when he came out of Florida. He might be a better run blocker, and is very similar also to Joe Thomas, minus the knee issues. Other top left bookends include Michael Oher of OlMiss, and Andre Smith of Alabama. Michael Oher's a nice story, but I'd be reticent to select him with that high of a pick. Smith might have weight issues, and might have to move to the right side in the NFL. He might have problems with speedier rushers.

Positional Analysis: Defensive Backs...

Cornerbacks

1. Leigh Bodden: At 6'1", 193 lbs, Bodden has the ideal mix of speed and size to matchup with other top receivers. He comes from the Browns, which means he doesn't have alot of experience with the cover 2, but he's a perfect match for what the Lions need. He has had a problem of staying on the field, so he needs to stay healthy to keep the extension bonus he signed for.

2. Brian Kelly: At age 32, Kelly is an old warhorse for a corner, but he's got plenty of talent around him, as I would bet the Lions would want to groom others behind him to take over. He's showed a great deal of moxie, and adds a presence that is needed for the Lions to succeed.

3. Keith Smith: Smith finally started to come into his own last year, as he's an adept cover corner. He's improved with his tackling, but still has work to do. He flashed last year, when his interception for a TD beat the Bears. He has excellent ball skills.

4. Travis Fisher: Largely underappreciated due to his horrific ball skills, Fisher is the top Nickel corner the Lions have, due to his solid tackling ability. He's almost 29, so he's a vet, but doesn't have too much time left. One thing to note is that he's played in the cover 2 for his entire career, so he knows what he's doing, and can play any corner. He has 9 career INT's, but only 2 the past three years.

5. Ramzee Robinson: If he's proven anything in his time with the Lions, Robinson has proved that he's a really tough cookie who will get everything out of his talent base. His play in the preseason was so special, that he beat out athletically superior Dovonte Edwards, who production was as bad as Robinson's was good. Here is a case where the Lion's coaches got it right.

Safeties

1. Gerald Alexander: Always at the right place at the right time, Alexander is an example of what coach Rod Marinelli preaches. Not a flashy player, but always uses the correct techniques, whether it be in coverage or in tackling. He doesn't miss many tackles. He and Dan Bullocks should man the safeties for a long time in Detroit.

2. Daniel Bullocks: Just as he was blossoming into a star, Bullocks blew a knee. He's being slowly added back to the mix, as the Lions are pretty deep with Dwight Smith and Alexander both starting, but when he's one hundred percent, he should be starting as he is a better overall player than Smith.

3. Dwight Smith: Smith is valuable to the Lions, since he not only is a capable starting safety, but is also a terrific backup at nickel corner. He's been a pretty consistant ballhawk, as he's taken 22 picks in his career. He's not going to wow you with big hits, but he's always good for a few picks.

4. Kalvin Pearson: Known as a special teams dynamo, Pearson got to start one game in 2007 and made 16 tackles, which is pretty impressive. He'll be needed on special teams coverage units more than in the Lions defensive backfield.

Positional Analysis: The Lions defensive backfield is in the best shape it's been in a long time. Theres great size and athleticism all around, as the Lions are relatively stacked right now.

Positional Analysis: Linebackers...

Outside Linebackers

1. Ernie Sims: Coming into his own in his 3rd year, Sims may be the best weak-side backer in the NFL right now. Last year Lions opponents gained just 48 yards on 13 carries on sweep plays with Sims at the point of attack, with a big 25 yard gainer on just one play. His play against the pass is improving by the day. There isn't anything he can't do. He is the Lions best defensive player.

2. Alex Lewis: Underrated, and underappreciated, Lewis gets a chance to start at the strong side, where his speed and heart can make up for his lack of size. He's really a speed guy, and one of the Lion's best blitzers, he doesn't get the chance to blitz often enough. I also think he'd be an interesting guy to line up and rush the passer on third down, but his speed is also needed downfield. He's also one of the Lions best special teams performers on the coverage units.

3. Anthony Cannon: Another speed backer in the mold of Lewis, but not as athletic, Cannon has made his presence known on special teams, which should keep him on the roster. He has terrific straight line speed, but has issues moving laterally. He'll backup the weakside (Lewis would move over if a long term injury occurs to Sims), so he won't be needed on defense much.

4. Leon Joe: Joe has some experience in the league, since he was drafted in 2004 in the fourth round out of Maryland by the Bears. He's moved around, playing for the Bears, Cardinals and Bills before signing with the Lions, and he might have a job. His play has been extremely steady in the preseason, and he could backup at the strong side.

Middle Linebackers

1. Paris Lenon: Lenon is a really solid guy, just not the flashy type. Still, he's extremely productive, with 161 tackles last year, two sacks, and one INT that he ran back for 61 yards. He should start whether he's at MLB, or at the strong side when Dizon is up to speed.

2. Jordon Dizon: He's starting to come on, and show why the Lions were so high on him at the draft. I think the Lions are doing the right thing, force-feeding him MLB, instead of switching positions to match their needs. Alex Lewis is a good enough player that they don't have to do that. This experience will work out well in the future, when starts to know the defense, and knows what offenses are doing. MLB is a tall order for any rookie.

3. Buster Davis: Almost written off after a forgettable rookie year when he was one of the few third rounders cut in their first training camp, Buster Davis has played extremely well, and has perhaps forced his way onto the roster with his strong play in the preseason. Last year seems to have motivated Davis in a big way. He's lost weight, and gained focus. He's a squatty type, built perfectly for this defense. And he's turning into a nasty player, which is a good thing.

Positional Analysis: The Lions have long struggled at LB, but they are improved. They have plenty of speed, but lack the size, which isn't really important in this defense. It will be telling out of the gate how much they improved when they play three straight tough running teams; the Falcons, Packers, and 49ers.

My Projected 53 man roster for the Lions...

My projected 53:
QB (3) Kitna Orlovsky Stanton
RB (4) Smith Bell Pinner Cason (Ret)
FB (1) Felton
WR (5) Williams Johnson McDonald Furrey Ellis
TE (4) Gaines Campbell (will be #1 when back) FitzSimmons Owens (Campbell insurance only)
OL (9) Backus Mulitalo Raiola Peterman Cherilus McCollum Ramirez Foster Scott
DL (9) White DeVries Avril Alama-Francis Redding Darby Cody Fluellen Smith
LB (7) Sims Lenon Dizon Lewis Cannon Joe
DB (9) Kelly Bodden Fisher Smith Smith Alexander Bullocks Pearson Blue
ST (3) Hanson Harris Muhlbach
Practice squad (8) Standeford Clark Harris Drew Henson Ramzee Robinson LaMarcus Hicks Buster Davis HardieCohen

Positional Analysis: Defensive Tackles...

1. Cory Redding: The unquestioned leader of the defensive line is now Redding, who has started in every game since 2004. His sack production fell from a career high 8 in 2006 to a low of 1 last year, but he was productive nonetheless. He set a career high in tackles with 78 (47 solo), and his 30 defeated run blocks, and 32.3 defeated block percentage (per K.C. Joyner, ESPN Insider) were Pro-Bowl type numbers for a Defensive Tackle.

2. Charles Darby: Although he's being brought in to start, Darby will not have "starter's minutes", meaning he will be used mostly on run downs, and will leave the field when pass rushers are needed. This will keep him fresh, and he should keep others fresh by being the warrior type on tougher downs and on the goalline. I wasn't expecting much of him, but he does show better than expected movement laterally. He can get up and down the line well, but doesn't rush the passer well.

3. Shaun Cody: Although it looked like he might have been the odd man out, Cody is probably going to make the roster, and will be given a chance because of his versatility to earn another contract. This is a make or break season for Cody, and he knows it. He got 1.5 sacks in a game as a rookie against the Panthers, and hasn't had one since.

4. Langston Moore: Moore came out of nowhere, and produced better than Shaun Cody, and got more snaps as a result. Like Cody, he had 37 tackles, but had four sacks, and one forced fumble. His penchant for big plays made him a personal favorite. He needs to play better against the run, since his aggressiveness gets him out of position at times, so he needs to play under control more often.

5. Andre Fluellen: Coach Rod Marinelli obviously saw something he liked from Fluellen, since he flew to FSU to witness Fluellen's predraft workout, and also had Fluellen visit Allen Park before the draft. He has shown his quick step already, as he recorded a sack in the first exhibition game against the Giants. He also has shown that he was stout against the run, as teams averaged only 1.74 yards per carry when they ran at him in his Sr. season at Florida State. He could very well become a force in a year.

6. Landon Cohen: Considerably undersized for a DT, but maybe not in the Lions system. Cohen has shown enough that he's a strong candidate for the practice squad, since there probably isn't a spot for him right now. I foresee him making the practice squad, and being activated due to an injury. Other teams may view him as a 3-4 left end.

Positional Analysis: I see this as a solid position for the Lions, as they have good depth right now, and have added some young talent. They are not at the level with the rest of the division, where DT is the strength of all the teams in the NFC North.

Positional Analysis: Defensive Ends...

Right End

1. Dewayne White: White has had a solid five year career so far, as he begins his second year starting full time for the Lions. He played extremely well last year until an injury in the Denver Bronco game slowed him down. He had only one sack in the second half of the year, which partly explains some of the Lions defensive problems. For the year, he had 6.5 sacks, although three were against his former team, Tampa Bay. He's also shown that he has superb awareness, as he has shown up big in coverage when dropping back. The Lions need him to provide double digit sack production.

2. Cliff Avril: Although viewed as a tweener entering the draft, Avril had shown during the NFL combine that he was to be reckoned with a 4.5 showing in the forty yard dash, far outdistancing his competition. One would think that he's stuck with the "third down pass rusher" label, but he does have good secondary moves. He has shown during practice, though, that when he's stopped, he's done for good; so he's got to fight that out. He'll get a couple of sacks just from pure speed, but he's also got to produce at other times. He could be a future starter at right defensive end, which is a huge return for a late third round pick.

3. Corey Smith: He has shown that he's a very valuable player, but is also a redundant player, and may get cut if the Lions are in a tight roster squeeze. He'll be 29 in October, so his spot could go to a younger player, although Smith's value is felt on third down and on special teams.

Left End

1. Jared DeVries: Now in his 10th year, DeVries has battled his way from being inactive in the first two games last year, to being one of the Lions most valued linemen. He had 6.5 sacks, with 3 coming in a home win against Chicago (sound familiar?), so he needs to maintain production throughout the season. He will probably see less time on passing downs, due to the development of Ikaika Alama-Francis. This should keep him fresher later in the year, since his production let down later in the year last year.

2. Ikaika Alama-Francis: Drafted in the second round last year as a raw project, Alama-Francis may start to show his vast potential soon, as he transitions to becoming a key member along the defensive line. He is much more physically talented than Jared DeVries, and he needs to produce and become the go-to guy at left defensive end. If he is "the guy" at left end, and Avril is "the guy" at right end, then the Lions are set up pretty well in the future. If not, the Lions need to keep working at it, although you can never have enough good pass rushers. Ask the New York Giants.