These two drunks were 3rd and 4th on the linebacker depth chart after Detroit's injury plagued 2006 campaign.
In 2006, the Detroit Lions' defense ranked 27th in total defense in the league. This ranking is quite possibly the biggest reason for their 13 defeats last year. And facing so-called “key losses” in the off-season with the departures of (DE) James Hall, (CB) Dre’ Bly, and (S) Terrence Holt, the defense may be the biggest hole in this potentially sinking ship. But there is hope. One thing that the guys upstairs do well is find players with potential- and we have plenty of those.
The defensive line is going to be rock hard this season. The Lions have the power, size, and talent to post a strong 5-man front, a formation we may see quite often against the run-heavy offenses in the NFC North. The addition of Dwayne White from Tampa Bay will prove to pay off. He had a career-high 52 tackles and tied his team's-high of 5 sacks. Another dynamic White will bring to the Lions is his turnover power; last year he produced two forced turnovers, three fumble recoveries, five deflected passes and a blocked field goal. Talk about a defensive playmaker! I am excited about the 5-year contract he signed in the offseason. Some say the opposite DE of White is still up in the air between Kalimba Edwards and Ikaika Alama-Francis. Whatever the verdict ends up, this young kind from Hawaii, Alama-Francis, is a star (Or will be soon). Jerry Glanville, former University of Hawaii Defensive coordinator said that Alama-Francis was the most talented defensive linemen that he had ever coached.
Blame this fat ass if the Lions' defense is subpar this year.
Though the ends have potential, we need to be concerned with the interior. Will Shaun Rogers and Cory Redding live up to the hype? If these two Texas Longhorns can get their acts together and keep out of trouble, then we will be punishing some offenses.
When I talk about this next position, I get giddy like a little schoolgirl: Linebackers. One in particular, Ernie Sims, is a little powder keg ready to explode every single play. This young Florida State Seminole brought his junkyard dog style line-backing from Tallahassee up to the Motor City. In 2006 he led the team with 144 tackles, boasting eight 10+ tackle games. In a pre-season camp interview, Sims was quoted as saying that he was ready to get on the field and rip some heads off. And if I were you, I would believe him. Other backers such as Boss Bailey, Teddy Lehman, and Donte Curry will bring added pressure and assistance, but look to Sims to bring the pain on the defensive side of the ball. Sims makes me want to jump out of my seat with a painted blue and silver painted body, chanting “D-FENCE” holding up a giant Detroit “D” and a fence. But not a white picket fence, a chain-link fence, with barbed wire and ribbons of flesh hanging from the barbs. Brett Favre, Rex Grossman, and Tarvais Jackson are praying by their bedsides at night that Sims goes into a “Sophomore Slump,” but they should be out looking for better health insurance.
Lastly, we are brought to the Lions secondary. What can I say? There are more holes in the Detroit secondary than swiss cheese. With the losses of Terrence Holt and Dre’ Bly we will see some new faces in the Lions' coverage. But one thing the Lions have done is used their draft choices wisely. A.J. Davis, Ramzee Robinson, and Gerald Alexander are all defensive backs that were chosen in this year's NFL Draft. Add to that a healthy Fernando Bryant, as well as free safety Daniel Bullocks, and one might say that the Lions' secondary has the potential to be quite solid. But most would beg to differ (I am one of them). Ankle injuries, broken clavicles, sprained wrists, concussions, over-extended knees and shoulders, and the occasional dead relative will be all reasons that some of these rookies will see Sunday game time. Hopefully, they will bring presence is this ghost-like secondary. Only time will tell...
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