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Gone with Fontes is his beloved one-back, three-wideout set. New coach Bobby Ross plans to install a pro-set offense with two receivers and, finally, a fullback to keep Barry Sanders company in the backfield. The odd receiver out is Brett Perriman, who had 94 catches last year but was allowed to leave as a free agent in favor of the more dependable Herman Moore and the faster Johnnie Morton.

To Moore, less traffic downfield means more room to operate. "It's hard to move three receivers," he says. "It's a lot easier to move just two. Most teams don't respect the run out of a three-receiver set. They play pass first. Two receivers give us a little more flexibility and keep us from being predictable."

Morton, Detroit's first-round pick in '94, has grumbled that he doesn't get the ball enough; now, moving from the slot to wideout, he'll be seeing plenty of action. He's also going into his free agent year—added incentive for him to boost his productivity.

The fullback will be either Cory Schlesinger, a third-year man who has had one carry for one yard in two seasons, or Tommy Vardell, who in five injury-riddled NFL seasons has scored just five rushing TDs. Nevertheless, Sanders likes the idea of having a fullback alongside him, and Ross is optimistic that Schlesinger or Vardell will step up. "That's gone from being a position we've created to a position of strength," Ross says.

The key to the Lions attack will be Mitchell, who, after enduring a tumultuous relationship with Fontes, went to great lengths to get off on the right foot with Ross. "Everything's a lot different than we're used to around here," says the southpaw. "Bobby leaves nothing to chance. He puts players in the best situation to win. There's not going to be any confusion about assignments and responsibilities. He believes in perfection."

Ross has his share of kind words for Mitchell. "I like Scott," the coach says. "He's been to every workout we've had—every run, every lifting session. He appears to pick things up well."

Ross's top priority in the off-season was to shore up the defense. His first move was to re-sign left end Robert Porcher, who led the team in sacks. Porcher and tackle Luther Elliss give Detroit half a good line, but the other two spots are question marks. Though the Lions had no competent replacement for aging tackle Henry Thomas, he was waived in a salary cap move; right end Tracy Scroggins missed most of the '96 season with ankle problems.

The linebacking corps never recovered after free agent Chris Spielman went to the Bills last year; Michael Brooks and Pepper Johnson struck out trying to fill the void. This year's candidates in the middle are unproven veteran Stephen Boyd and rookie Matt Russell.

The secondary is a complete mess. Strong safety Bennie Blades, who was the heart of the Lions' defense after Spielman left, signed with Seattle, and the remaining defensive backs are largely untested or undersized—or both. But first-round pick Bryant Westbrook of Texas is a promising cornerback and will lend some athleticism to the group.

The early signals are that Ross's ship will be significantly tighter than that of Fontes. Ross moved training camp from the Silverdome to Saginaw Valley State University, two hours north of the distractions of Detroit, and sent word that players would no longer be allowed to go home between camp practice sessions. He arranged to have a chain crew and refs at every practice—even during minicamp—and took a far less cavalier attitude than Fontes might have when confronted with a discontented Sanders, who skipped a mandatory workout session to protest the fact that Mitchell had been taken care of financially but he had not. "I'd like to be home taking walks with my wife," Ross said. "There's work to be done."

—by Mark Bechtel