The Lions were in a rut. Well, two ruts actually. First, they were a
perennially average team in a perennially strong division. Second, they were
fast starters and slow finishers. Take last year, for instance. The Lions
started 8-4 and finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs.
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CAMP AT A GLANCE
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| Charlie Batch has missed 10 games in the last three years. |
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Location:Saginaw State, Saginaw, Mich.
Rookies report: July 23
Veterans report: July 26
Preseason schedule:
Aug. 10: Cincinnati
Aug. 18: at Indianapolis
Aug. 25: at Pittsburgh
Aug. 30: Tennessee
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Fed up with such mediocrity, the Lions went outside the box to hire
television analyst Matt Millen as general manager and Millen in turn hired
49ers offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg as his coach. Mornhinweg, a
third-generation Bill Walsh disciple, was a perfect choice because it is the
Lions offense that needs the most work. The special teams are excellent and
the defense, when healthy, is solid. Nevertheless, this will be a season of
discovery for Millen and Mornhingweg. They're looking for a new attitude and
every player is on notice this season.
Man in the spotlight
Robert Porcher is one of the NFL's premier pass
rushers, although you wouldn't know it from last season. Porcher had only
eight sacks, the first time he failed to reach double figures since he moved
to left end in 1996. Accordingly, the Lions' sack total fell from 50 to 28.
Porcher's problem was that he allowed a messy contact dispute to affect his
play. Porcher has already promised the new management that he'll return to
Pro Bowl form this season. If he does boost the pass rush, a good defense
could become a great one.
Key position battle
With the exception of the offensive line, every Lions
starter returns. That includes Charlie Batch, whose hold on the starting
quarterback job is tenuous. Batch, so poised as a rookie, has been injured in
all three of his NFL seasons and last year appeared skittish at times. The
new regime is not sold on him, one reason they signed free agent Jim Harbaugh
during the off-season. If Mornhinweg can work the same quarterback magic with
Batch that he worked with Jeff Garcia, Batch could still be a capable
starter. However, if Batch struggles or is injured again, Harbaugh is a
decent short-term answer and rookie Mike McMahon might be the long-term
answer.
Biggest adjustment
Millen understands that games are won in the trenches,
so most of his efforts have been focused on rebuilding the offensive line.
Jeff Backus became the Lions' third straight first-round offensive lineman,
joining Aaron Gibson and Stockar McDougle. Backus will probably play left
tackle and nudge McDougle to guard. The new bosses have put Gibson on notice
that he had better be in good enough shape to play 60 minutes or they won't
hesitate to put McDougle or veteran Ray Roberts at right tackle. Millen used
a second-round pick on center Dominic Raiola, who could elbow his way past
starter Eric Beverly, and signed free agent Brendan Stai. Stai is the only
player in the group who was a full-time starter last season, and he played
for the Jaguars.
Rookie report
Besides Backus and Raiola, two others could help this
season. Second-round pick Shawn Rogers will give the interior defensive line
excellent depth. He was a consensus first-round pick who slid due to a
serious ankle injury. McMahon, selected in the fifth round, has already
impressed people with his confidence and ability. If the season goes south,
don't be surprised if the Lions throw him in there.
Lions' complete offseason moves
