With two Super Bowl rings, former Steelers LB Foote will help change the tone. Andrew Hancock/SI

2009 Schedule

September 13 at New Orleans 20 MINNESOTA 27 WASHINGTON October 4 at Chicago 11 PITTSBURGH 18 at Green Bay 25 Bye November 1 ST. LOUIS 8 at Seattle 15 at Minnesota 22 CLEVELAND 26 GREEN BAY (T) December 6 at Cincinnati 13 at Baltimore 20 ARIZONA 27 at San Francisco January 3 CHICAGO

SPOTLIGHT

Matthew Stafford, Quarterback: Recent history says there's a 50% washout rate for first-round rookie quarterbacks. For every Peyton Manning there's a Ryan Leaf; for every Carson Palmer there's a Kyle Boller. Will Stafford, this year's No. 1 draft pick, sink or swim? Two things stood out about Stafford during a training camp practice against a live rush: While he's not overly athletic, he moves confidently in the pocket to avoid pressure and keeps his eye on his targets downfield. And then there's the arm. Other than a couple of somewhat wobbly rollout throws, every pass Stafford made -- short and long -- on a windless morning spiraled perfectly. "I had no idea this would happen," says Stafford, the Georgia standout whom the Lions signed to a contract with $41.7 million guaranteed, "but the NFL ball actually fits my hand better than the college ball did. It's a little bigger, and it feels more secure." The coaches like how the game's not too big for their rookie quarterback. A couple of times on the practice field this summer, before offensive coordinator Scott Linehan could correct a mistake, Stafford held up his hand and said he knew what he did wrong and not to worry -- it'll get fixed. There's a lot to fix in Detroit, and Stafford will get a chance, early, to play the biggest part in the team's improvement.

This article appears in the September 7, 2009 issue of Sports Illustrated

New season, new coach, new players, new outlook. Time turn the page on the past and start fresh

You don't really want to talk about the recent history of the Lions, do you? Jim Schwartz doesn't either. Detroit's rookie coach hasn't mentioned 0-16 or anything else about the grim season to his team. Hired in January to steer this ship out of oblivion, Schwartz has no use for negativity. Like this daunting stat: The last 10 Lions coaches, dating to Don McCafferty in 1973 and not counting interims, had losing records in Detroit.

The tragicomic reign of error by general manager Matt Millen is mercifully over. And though you would think the spirit of the fans had expired by now, it turns out they still care. For instance, at training camp one day this summer, the Lions were in pads, knocking the tar out of one another, because Schwartz, who was defensive coordinator of the Titans from 2001 to '08, believes that at its core a good team must be physically tough and mentally indomitable. A fan stood off on his own, engrossed in the scene. "I get shivers up my spine watching this," said Pete Ruokola, a 36-year-old math teacher from the Upper Peninsula who each summer drives eight hours to watch three Lions practices. "I can't tell you how different this is, and how exciting it is, to see the first-team defense go up against the first-team offense in a practice that seems like a game. I finally feel like there's hope."

Schwartz has discovered that the fans and his players share an important quality. "It's the most incredible resilience," he says. "I was staying in a hotel before my family moved here, and the Red Wings were playing Game 7 [of the conference semis]. I figure, 'What am I doing sitting in a hotel room?' I went to a sports bar. Someone recognized me, and we had a great time rooting for the Wings. We won it right at the end, and the place went absolutely crazy -- more noise than you've ever heard before. One guy turns to me and says, 'Coach, when the Lions win it'll be better than this.' I got chills."

One Lion who likes what he sees is ninth-year tackle Jeff Backus. "I've been optimistic before," he says, "but there's something different about Schwartz. He's got such a clear plan, not like any rookie coach I've seen."

Schwartz is trying to change the culture, and the way his team approaches work. His moves since taking the job in January include reassigning lockers to mix offensive and defensive players and instituting a strength-and-conditioning program based on free weights, ropes and kettle bells. "It's like a medieval torture chamber in there," Schwartz says. "But we just had to get stronger." It appears to be working: Defensive tackle Andre Fluellen, for one, went from 23 reps on the 225-pound bench press last year to 43 this summer.

Schwartz and new G.M. Martin Mayhew also signed or traded for players with impressive résumés or strong playoff backgrounds, as much for their demeanor as their talent. Almost every position group has at least one new player who'll also function as a mentor: Jon Jansen (Redskins) on the offensive line, Dennis Northcutt (Jaguars) at receiver, Terrelle Smith (Cardinals) and Maurice Morris (Seahawks) in the backfield, Grady Jackson (Falcons) on the defensive line, Larry Foote (Steelers) and Julian Peterson (Seahawks) at linebacker, and Anthony Henry (Cowboys) and Phillip Buchanon (Bucs) in the secondary. So many people around the team are new -- 56 players and coaches in training camp -- that Schwartz thinks erasing the worst season in NFL history from the team's psyche is possible. "We don't talk about it," said Foote. "We just talk about getting better today."

Schwartz knows his job isn't about this year. It's about 2010 and beyond. Far beyond, he hopes. "I met [Tigers legend] Al Kaline, and he told me he got here in the '50s and has lived here ever since," Schwartz said. "I told him I'd love to do the same thing."

-- Peter King