Now at an awful 0-8 record, the Detroit Lions must be doing something wrong in order to be in this position. The one main thing that I have noticed about the Lions is that their offensive line simply does not allow the quarterback enough time in the pocket. Another major flaw is the Lions’ defense. The Lions have no problem with scoring points but the defense is just not doing their part to seal the deal. It is truly sad that the Lions’ organization is spending money on quarterbacks and wide receivers when they should be focusing on good coverage corners, linebackers, and defensive lineman to pressure the opposing offense. One can make a strong argument that in the NFL, defense wins games.
Injuries have plagued the Lions’ secondary with key injuries to starting cornerback Leigh Bodden and safety Dwight Smith. Here I will analyze some good options that the Lions could explore this offseason:
- Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State – If the Lions do indeed get the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Malcolm Jenkins would be an excellent choice at cornerback. Jenkins, at a height of 6’1” and 208 pounds has been noted as one of the best coverage cornerbacks since Deion Sanders.
- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois – Another great cornerback with a frame of 6’0” and 200 pounds. Look for Davis to have a spike in statistics in the homestretch of the season. In two seasons at Illinois, Vontae has had 128 tackles, 5 interceptions and 14 break ups.
Until the Lions beef up their passing defense, they will continue to struggle in the NFL as a whole. With the addition of two good quarterbacks in Drew Stanton and Daunte Culpepper, and Kevin Smith at tailback, the Lions are pretty solid on offense save for their O-line. All in all, Detroit is not a lost cause and I would expect to drastically improve next season.