Usually this time of year Detroit fans have a lot to celebrate. The beginning of the year brings thoughts of winning the NFC and going on to the Superbowl winning the coveted title.
Okay okay it usually lasts only until after the second game, but this year could be different for a few key reasons….You have all heard about Joey, Charles, Roy, and Mike. You know, the QB and the three “wonder recievers.” Yeah yeah throw in Kevin Jones running for 1,200 yards and what do you have? Detroit getting beat 35-28. But this year….
We can start this off with 2 words that will mean more than anything else this year… DEEE FENSE. Thats right, defense. Get in your face, kick ass, stop the other team from marching down the field at will defense!
The keys to the season start and stop at the Lions usual weakness. Not only are the Lions much better this year, I think that this unit can dominate opponents at the point of attack up front on the ground and pressure QB’s to make mistakes.
The line is anchored in the middle by perhaps the best interior DT tandem in football. Dan Wilkinson is a load to push out of the hole and while not a huge pass rusher, he moves the pocket backwards nicely. Shaun Rogers seems to always pressure the QB and there are very few that stop the run as well as he does.
James Hall is becoming one of the true stars at DE. After playing with a broken hand and notching 11.5 sacks last year, I think this may be even better. Cory Redding is young but huge for his position at 290 lbs. Kalibala Edwards provides speed rushing at times and Shawn Cody(R), the rookie from USC, is fast and may take Redding’s starting position by next year.
The LB’s are maybe not the best unit Detroit has ever had, but they have good lateral speed and with Bailey returning from missing last year, they show tremendous potential to be in the upper echelon of NFL corps.
Earl Holmes is a solid guy inside and well suited to the 4-3 defense. He is an All Pro calibur player who is a real leader. Boss Bailey while untested is the best athlete on the defensive side. He will team with Hall to give opposing QB’s a reason to worry. James Davis is fast and a sure tackler. Teddy Lehman is the odd man out but has potential after a fine rookie season to be All Pro in the years to come. Donte Curry is an excellent special teams player.
The DB’s are maybe not up to par with the other 2 units.
Dre Bly is as close to a shut down corner as it gets. Fernando Bryant has skill but will be picked on the left side. Kenoy Kennedy and Terrence Holt are super hitters, but Holt is inexperienced and Kennedy is not much of a pass defender. R.W. McQuarters provides depth at both CB and S. Stanley Wilson(R) is a speedster but will be brought along slowly. Bracey Walker started all 16 games last year but will provide depth this year.
To sum this up, with the offense having a good chance of scoring some points this year, this year Detroit looks like they may finally be able to stop most of these teams from scoring more.
I guess we will see this Thanksgiving if Falcon on the menu tastes bitter or sweet.
7 replies on “Why Detroit Will Win the NFC Central”
Nice observations Ray, you’re right, that defense has a fair amount of talent on it. I’m concerned, though, with the defensive coaching philosophy. I watched the Rams run and pass all over that defense in the third preseason game. Instead of using their athleticism and bringing some heat with blitzes, the defensive coordinator seemed content to rush only 4 guys, never getting heat on the quarterback.
I’m anxiously waiting to see if they will make the necessary defensive adjustments in the regular season. Their db’s are not good enough to give a decent NFL qb ample time to throw the ball.
I think Minnesota will win the Central, but one can never be sure when Mike Tice is the head coach. He’s had one of the longest, non-productive on-the-job training sessions in NFL history.
Mike Tice is good for 2-3 losses a year. That guy is an idiot.
Tice isnt an idiot Minnesota doesnt have an owner who will spend money at the moment. He is unlucky also in the fact that he has no running game. Min will prob win the division as Det is prob a year away.
I dont agree completely “middle by perhaps the best interior DT tandem in football.”- to say the least id put them at about 5th best in the NFL at best. Secondly you spelled Shaun Rogers first name wrong.
Anyways their strong point this year in my opionon is thier CB’s, Fernando Bryant gained a lot of experiance he wouldnt have if Bly was at CB#1. And Dre Bly is one of the better corners ins the league On offense i agree that they have a great set of wide recievers, but it doesnt matter if Joey can’t lead them. The things the lions need most are a winning mentality and leadership.
The main reason i voted abstain was because the Lions are at least a year away from being able to match the Vikings. Mike Tice is far from an idiot, He wouldnt be there if he was (that comment refers to the Editors comment). The Vikings defense this year is stacked. They have an amazingly talented team, the only weak part of it is thier outside linebackers and yound DE’s.
Although i liked your article, i didnt really agree with the fact that you thought the lions had a chance at this divison
and why would you say in your comments that the Vikings would win this division if you wrote this article about the lions winnning it, i didnt understand that.
I don’t think they’ll win The Lions have a lot of young talen who can be excellent in a year or two and they may challenge for a Wild Card spot this year at best, not the division title. I just think this team needs some time to grow a bit before taking the division.
Also, I would have to put Jacksonville’s tandem of John Henderson and Marcus Stroud as the best interior DL.
I voted for your article because while I don’t necessarily think they’ll win it, you put enough reasons why they can.
If you were a Lions fan you would understand. 🙂 I am being optimistic saying they will win the division, but at the same time I am not going to jinx them.
Yes I spelled Shaun’s name wrong. I did this all in ahurry.
Detroit is always a year away, like with Mitchell, Moore, Morton, and Sanders of years past.
I wouldnt say that the Jag’s interior line is better, especially against the run, and Rogers has the ability to be the best inside pass rusher in football this year or next.
The Vikings def while not horrible doesnt have the potential of the Lions this year. But the Vikes are rather thin at the starting OL spots and I think when Min doesnt do as well offensively this year the Vikes def will be even worse. No running game means no clock management and since Min prob last year was with the defense titing in the 4th Quarter, it wont help it when they are on the field 5-9 mins more a game.
And Joey Heisman is going to have a great year. Hell he had a +7 TD/ INT ratio last year w/o his starting wr’s for the majority of his snaps. I think he will do very well and make a lot of the experts eat crow.
But hey we’ll only know how well any of our predictions are after the games are played.
Thx for the comment tho.
No u didnt… “The Vikings def while not horrible doesnt have the potential of the Lions this year.”
That was one of the more unrealistic and riculous things ive heard. Do you know who is on the Vikings Defense. The Vikings D has a potential to be a top 5, The Lions arent even close to being a top 5 defensive team.
Secondary (vikings):
Antoine Winfield, Fred Smoot, Brian Williams, Darren Sharper, Cory Chavous
The Lions secondary: Dre Bly, Fernando Bryant, Torrence Holt, Chris Cash, Kennoy Kennedy
Front Seven (vikings):
Pat Williams, Kevin Williams, Sam Cowart, Dontarrious Thomas
Lions Front Seven: Shaun Rogers,Dan Wilkinson, Earl Holmes, Teddy Lehman, Boss Baily.
If you look at that the Vikings secondary is incredibly more talented than the Lions and the front seven from both teams are almost identical. Except the DT’s from the Vikings are a much more dominating tandem