Gabriel's NFC North Outlook: Detroit Lions
By Greg Gabriel--
(CBS) With a new offense and defense under a first-year coaching staff, the Bears will have a lot of work to do if they are going to compete for the playoffs in 2015. Two of their NFC North opponents made the playoffs in 2014 -- the Packers and Lions -- and the Vikings are vastly improved and the Lions want to build on last year's playoff run. In this the second in a series of the Bears NFC rivals, we take a look at the Detroit Lions.
In the first part of our series breaking down the NFC North, we took a look at the Vikings. In the second part today, we take a look at the Lions, who brought in Jim Caldwell as their coach last year and turned in an 11-5 season to earn a wild-card berth. Now they're looking to take the next step.
Let's break Detroit down with the important offseason roster activity behind us.
Quarterback
As with any team, if you are going to compete for a championship, you have to have a top quarterback in place. Such is the case in Detroit with Matt Stafford, who's entering his seventh year and coming off one of his best seasons. Stafford threw for over 4,257 yards, 22 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2014. He has to continue with that improvement if the Lions are going to improve.
The Lions have a reliable backup in 10-year veteran Dan Orlovsky, but they have to hope that he doesn't have to play much. He might win them one game in the event of a Stafford injury, but after that it's all hope. In OTAs so far this spring, four-year veteran Kellen Moore has gotten the bulk of the second-team reps. Moore's smart and instinctive, but he lacks and NFL arm.
Running backs
In 2014, the running game was led by Joique Bell and Reggie Bush, the latter of who's now gone. The Lions drafted Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah in the second round.
Bell's a solid inside runner, but he has his limitations. While I still expect him to start, especially early in the year, Abdullah will get a lot of work. Abdullah is small at 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds, but he's an explosive and instinctive player who can be effective as a runner and a receiver. Playing in a rotation will help him even more, as he won't wear down.
A third back who will get playing time is 24-year-old Theo Riddick, who played well down the stretch and is effective as a receiver. The Lions might not have a bell-cow type back, but they have three options who can work well together.
Receivers/tight ends
The Lions have one of the best receivers in the business in Calvin Johnson. At 29, Johnson is beginning to show signs of the wear and tear of playing in the NFL, but opponents still have to account for him on every play.
Across from Johnson is Golden Tate, who was the Lions' leading receiver a year ago with 99 receptions. Having been acquire as a free agent last year, Tate really came into his own. The Lions need to find a reliable third receiver, and right now the best options seem to be T.J. Jones and Corey Fuller. Jones. Jones was slowed by injuries a year ago, and I expect him to break out in 2015.
Last year, the Lions drafted athletic tight end Eric Ebron in the first round with the hopes that he would give them a dimension they didn't have. That didn't happen, as Ebron only had 25 receptions for 248 yards as a rookie. Now he's in his second year in the system, and the Lions have to hope that he comes on. If he does, he makes Johnson and Tate that much better.
The blocking tight end is Brandon Pettigrew, who had perhaps his worst season last year with only 10 receptions. The third tight end is Joseph Fauria, who disappointed last year. The Lions felt that the tight end position was a strength going in to 2014, and they were disappointed. They have to hope that all three will show big improvement in 2015.
Offensive line
The offensive line didn't do a good job a year ago, giving up 45 sacks. To address that, the Lions used their first-round pick on Duke guard Laken Tomlinson, a big, powerful mauler who should come in and start right away at left guard. The right guard will be three-year veteran Larry Warford, who's perhaps the team's best lineman.
Left tackle will be manned by Reilly Reif, who's more than competent. He may be better on the right side, but at present he's all the Lions have on the left. Who lines up at right tackle will be decided in training camp. The two fighting it out for the job are second-year man Cornelius Lucas and third-year man LaAdrian Waddle. Both have limitations. Waddle is coming off an ACL injury, and Lucas isn't that athletic.
The center will be second-year man Travis Swanson, who was drafted in the third round in 2014. He got five starts in 201, coming at guard and center. He will be an improvement over the departed Dominic Raiola.
Defensive line
Detroit's defensive line in 2015 will have an entirely different look than a year ago. Last year the interior of the line was manned by Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. Both are gone. Replacing Suh is former Baltimore Raven and All-Pro Haloti Ngata. While Ngata will be a force against the run, he won't give the Lions the interior pass rush that Suh gave them.
Who lines up next to Hgata will be determined in training camp. The battle is between Caraun Reid, Tyrunn Walker and rookie Gabe Wright. The player that I'm looking at to surprise in his second year is Reid, who played his college football at Princeton and needed time to develop. After a year doing that, he could be ready.
The ends will be former first-round pick Ezekiel Ansah and Jason Jones. Both are excellent fits for the Lions' "wide 9" pass rush scheme. Darryl Tapp and Larry Webster provide the depth.
Linebackers
The Lions will welcome back Stephon Tulloch at the Mike linebacker position. Tulloch only played in three games a year ago before tearing an ACL. He's the group's leader and was missed after his injury.
At Sam linebacker will be last year's second-round selection, Kyle Van Noy, who also give the Lions some pass rush skill. The Will linebacker is DeAndre Levy, who's ideal for that spot. The Lions have good depth at the position, as two players last year got a lot of playing time that they wouldn't have gotten if it wasn't for injuries: Tahir Whitehead and Josh Bynes. Both are reliable and can play if needed.
Secondary
The secondary played better than expected in 2014, and the Lions hope for even more improvement this year. At free safety is ball-hawk Glover Quin, who had seven interceptions a year ago and is good in run support. At strong safety is James Ihedigbo, who's strong in run support and a big hitter. He has more-than-adequate cover skills, as shown by his four interceptions a year ago.
The starting corners going into camp will be 13-year veteran Rashean Mathis and Darius Slay, who played well a year ago. The Lions drafted two players this year to provide depth for this year and be eventual starters. They are third-round pick Alex Carter and sixth-round pick Quandre Diggs. One of those two will emerge as the slot corner in nickel sets. There are some who feel Carter may even have a future at safety.
Outlook
I've always been a believer that if a team is going to be successful in the NFL, it needs to be strong on both lines and have a quarterback. The Lions have the quarterback and skill position players, but in 2015, both the offensive and defensive line will be question marks.
On paper, the offensive line seems improved, but it will have new players at two positions and maybe three. That always has to be concerning. Until we see how they play once the season opens, the offensive line has to be labeled a weakness.
The defensive line lost its interior players, and the replacements -- while capable -- aren't nearly as athletic.
That could all bode well for the Bears in this coming season.
Greg Gabriel is a former NFL talent evaluator who is an on-air contributor for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @greggabe.
