Well, I already did my Lions preview
back in June, but I'll copy and paste it for fun!
...
With OTAs for the Lions complete, it's time for my annual Lions 2015 depth chart prediction challenge!
Following my
off-season round-up.
Free Agent addition Rookie Currently injured No longer with Lions since 2014 season
QB: Stafford
WR: Megatron, Tate,
Jones, Fuller,
Moore, Broyles
RB:
Bush, Bell, Riddick,
Abdullah
TE: Pettigrew, Ebron,
Ausberry,
Fauria
RT:
Hilliard,
Waddle, Williams
RG: Warford
C:
Raiola,
Swanson
LG:
Sims,
Ramirez,
Tomilson
LT: Reiff,
Lucas
The Lions, having gotten rid of Raiola, Hilliard, and a very surprising Sims,
now have the second youngest offensive line in the league. Megatron, hopefully healthy, and Tate continue to catch balls with ease while everyone else is a constant stream of ??????. I feel like Moore has been injured at every chance he has gotten to break out. And with
the Lions past history, I foresee only doom in his future. Broyles' remains affected by the past Megatron Madden deflection curse and while I've always rooted for him to play a big role he might end up cut before the off-season is over.
Fauria remains injured from a mysterious dog fucking incident, while Pettigrew and Ebron continue to merely exist. With Bush now back to California Abdullah has been a revelation while Bell rehabs. Dan Orlovsky remains on the depth chart behind Stafford so Stafford remains in charge.
DE: Ansah,
Jones,
Johnson, Taylor, Tapp, Webster
DT:
Suh,
Fairley,
Mosley,
Fluellen,
Ngata,
Walker, Reid,
Wright, other people not on the Lions roster last year
MLB: Tulloch,
OLB: Levy, Van Noy, Whitehead,
Palmer
CB: Slay, Mathis,
Wilson,
Lawson,
Bentley,
Carter,
Diggs
FS: Ihedigbo
SS: Quin
While the outside of the defensive line remains largely unchanged, including an now oft-injured Jones, the interior is gutted. Well, Fluellen is certain to return to the Lions as he has every year,
signing what has to be a league leading eight contracts in seven seasons with the Lions. Gone are the stomper (
of Martha Ford's heart, no less) and the underperformer. In are a roider in Ngata and an under the radar pass rusher in Walker. Perhaps Reid, in studying under Suh this off-season, will break out. Or fully break Rodger's leg. Who can say. The Lions welcome back Tulloch and continue to have Levy who has become one of the premier 4-3 linebackers in the NFL. Whitehead stepped up admirably last year in place of dancing Tulloch and will fight with van Noy for the strong side spot as well as be a leader on special teams. Both Slay and Mathis return and each have brought stability to corner back. Mathis might ultimately become a safety for the Lions while mentoring younger cornerbacks. Near all of the stock of cornerbacks brought in under Schwartz, save Slay, are now gone with the recent cut of Bill Bentley and a new stock looks to replace them. There is even talk of utilizing the dime defense more often with the improved cornerback numbers but with how often they suffered dramatic, horrific injuries last year it will be nice if two stay healthy. The Lions return both safeties including Quin who picked up All Pro honors in addition to leading the league's safeties in interceptions.
K: Prater
P: Martin
LS: Muhlbach
KR/PR: Ross,
Abdullah,
Diggs, Broyles
Prater finally seemed back in step towards the end of last year. Martin was alright. Muhlbach is always great. Ross was extraordinarily mediocre and the Lions have made it a priority to have lots of rookies and eager receivers take reps returning the ball.
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And it must be time for football because I've been getting the fantasy football invites.