Detroit Lions: NFC North

2009-10 Record: 2-14 (4th); vs. NFC North: 0-6; vs. NFC: 1-11

2010-11 Strength of Schedule: T-12^th Hardest Schedule - .508 (130-126)

Big Games: Week 3 at Minnesota Vikings, Week 4 at Green Bay Packers, Week 6 at New York Giants, Week 9 vs. New York Jets, Week 11 at Dallas Cowboys, Week 12 vs. New England Patriots, Week 14 vs. Green Bay Packers, Week 17 vs. Minnesota Vikings

Key Additions: CB – Dre Bly, WR – Nate Burleson, LB – Landon Johnson, TE – Tony Scheffler, DE – Kyle Vanden Bosch, DT – Corey Williams

Key Losses: CB – Phillip Buchanon, S – Daniel Bullocks, LB – Larry Foote, LB – Ernie Sims

Draft Picks: 1^st Round –  DT - Ndamukon Suh, RB – Jahvid Best, 3^rd Round – CB – Amari Spievey, 4^th Round – OT – Jason Fox, 7^th Round – DE – Willie Young, WR – Tim Toone

2009 Team Leaders:

Passing – Matt Strafford: 201-for-377, 2,267 yards, 13 TDs

Rushing – Kevin Smith: 217 atts, 747 yards, 4 TDs

Receiving – Calvin Johnson: 67 rec, 984 yards, 5 TDs

Scouting via NFL Scouts:

“I see them taking a step forward. I think they’ve done some nice things. They’ve added some good core people. Now they have the stability of a second year with the head coach and second year with the stability of a young quarterback — a quarterback with a lot of ability. Matthew Stafford’s a talented guy. If they can keep him on his feet, he’s a rugged, tough competitor. I was impressed with him for a first-year quarterback, for a guy who got knocked all over the place. I mean, he got knocked around a lot. … Obviously, Detroit got better in the draft, but it’s not hard to get better when you’re picking at the top of every round every year. You’re either going to get better or you’re going to get fired. I’m not sure how they could have messed it up this year, and they didn’t. … They’ve improved on the defensive line. Ndamukong Suh has a chance to be a difference-maker. … They still have areas of need. Offensive line is one, and I think they could look at the linebacker position.”

Thoughts:

The Lions now have some blue-chip talent in place, especially at the most important position in QB Matt Stafford. Now it’s time to see if the coaching staff can turn a perennial doormat into a competitive team. The Lions have won two games in two years, but a 6–10 mark in 2010 isn’t asking for too much. Ndamukong Suh was widely viewed as the best player in this class, and the dominant tackle gives the Lions the meat-anchor in the middle they’ve lacked since they traded Shaun Rogers three years ago. Running back Jahvid Best is a versatile, gamebreaking talent, though he is coming off of serious injuries (concussion, back) at California. Amari Spievey fits the profile Coach Jim Schwartz likes in his secondary as a tough, physical corner that is solid in run support.

Prediction: 6-10 (4^th)

Cash Scott for Citadel Digital © 2010