D E T R O I T   L I O N S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Offseason Movement

Glance Head coach: Marty Mornhinweg 2001: Results 2002: Draft picks Training camp: July 24 at Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, Mich.  2002 Schedule Date  Vs.  Time  Sept. 8  at Mia.  1 p.m.  Sept. 15  at Car.  1 p.m.  Sept. 22  G.B.  4:15 p.m.  Sept. 29  N.O.  1 p.m.  Oct. 6  Open     Oct. 13  at Min.  1 p.m.  Oct. 20  CHI.  1 p.m.  Oct. 27  at Buf.  1 p.m.  Nov. 3  DAL.  1 p.m.  Nov. 10  at G.B.  1 p.m.  Nov. 17  NYJ  4:15 p.m.  Nov. 24  at Chi.  1 p.m.  Nov. 28  N.E.  12:30 p.m.  Dec. 8  at Ari.  4:05 p.m.  Dec. 15  T.B.  1 p.m.  Dec. 22  at Atl.  1 p.m.  Dec. 29  MIN.  1 p.m.

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

After setting an NFL record with nine consecutive losses by eight points or less, the Detroit Lions are looking for any positive reinforcement. "Remember, we're 1-0 in 2002," says Lions head coach Marty Mornhinweg. True, the Lions beat Dallas 15-10 in the final game of the 2001 season on Jan. 6, 2002.

But that's sugar-coating a 2-14 season that began with 12 losses in a row and included a league-high 66 sacks allowed. The Lions also were 26th in points scored per game, 30th in points allowed per game and 30th with a minus-16 in takeaways/giveaways.

In the wake of such a forgettable first season under the M&M boys -- GM Matt Millen and Mornhinweg -- Detroit was in need of: a cornerback replace Bryant Westbrook, a tight end to replace David Sloan, an outside linebacker, a defensive end/pass rusher, a free safety, a running back to fit the West Coast offense.

So what did the Lions do to address the problems? Jettisoned 60 percent of their passing game (Charlie Batch) and 39 percent of their receiving total (Johnnie Morton and Sloan, who also had a team-high seven touchdowns). Meanwhile, Detroit drafted QB Joey Harrington and signed WRs Bill Schroeder and Az-Zahir Hakim as free agents in an attempt to speed up its offense.

New special assistant coach Sherman Lewis, an offensive coordinator the past 10 years, is expected to be involved in strategy and game preparations with first-year offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon. Lewis was offensive coordinator for eight years with Green Bay and for two at Minnesota.

Mornhinweg will continue calling the offensive plays, as he did in his first season, but Carthon and Lewis will handle the administrative aspects of practice and game preparation.

Yeah, but what about the defense?

Kurt Schottenheimer, who replaced Vince Tobin as defensive coordinator, says the Lions will employ a 4-3 scheme for additional pass rush in order to help to the defensive backs.

"We will have four down-linemen, with Robert Porcher, Jared DeVries, Luther Elliss, Shaun Rogers, James Hall and the young kid, [Anthony] Herron. Where we are from there, we've got to add some other players to the team. We need to add some more people to the mix, but we are going to a 4-3 team where we have four big guys covering them up and three linebackers behind.

"I just like to get as many big, strong and physical players on the field as possible and it has to do with four big linemen."

Fact James Stewart is one of only four players in NFL history to rush for five TDs in a game (Oct. 12, 1997, vs. Philadelphia).

James Stewart, RB -- This crystallizes the problems in Motown: Stewart is the team's top offensive threat, but he does little to strike fear in the hearts of even those playing sandlot ball.

Stewart is entering the third year of a five-year, $25-million contract. He and the Lions have agreed to restructure his $5.3 million salary cap figure for next season. Stewart ran for a career-high 1,184 yards in 2000, but totaled only 685 yards and one TD last season after suffering an ankle injury that limited him to 11 games.

And remember, Detroit even exposed Stewart to Houston in the expansion draft, with no viable replacement on the roster. In the end, the Lions knew the Texans wouldn't take Stewart's exorbitant price tag.

Stewart is a frontline runner, when healthy, but he's only played in 16 games with 300 or more carries once in seven years. However, he does have three seasons in which he's scored 10 or more TDs.

For his career, Stewart's seasons average 12 games, 178 carries, 688 yards rushing, 25 catches, 197 receiving yards and seven TDs. Those are tough numbers to swallow for roughly $416,666 per game.

If Millen can rework Stewart's deal -- and both sides contend a deal can be struck -- it will be another much-needed step away from the Chuck Schmidt-Bobby Ross regime. "We just have to get the numbers together where both sides are coming out on this thing feeling good," Stewart said. "That's where it's got to be. I don't think it can be where one side has come up big."

Spoken like a "Little Man" who already has come out big-time.

Fact Terry Fair's brother, Brian, was a guard on Connecticut's basketball team from 1991-95.

Defensive backs -- Showing that style wins out over substance under the big top at Ford Field, the Lions drafted a marquee QB, Harrington, instead of a "need" player, CB Quentin Jammer, or even safety Roy Williams.

After all, this is a defense that was 25th against the pass, allowed an NFL-worst 30 TD passes and gave up 117 more points in 2001 than it did the previous season.

To be fair, injuries also took their toll. Westbrook and Kurt Schulz weren't ready for the season opener. Rice broke a toe, then went on injured reserve with a neck injury. Terry Fair missed the final four games with a foot injury. Todd Lyght played with a banged-up shoulder.

To fill Westbrook's corner spot, the Lions will look to Chidi Iwuoma, Jimmy Wyrick or Lamar Campbell. Detroit also added safeties Brian Walker, Corey Harris and Bracy Walker to take up the slack for departed Schulz and Rice.

Walker, who Millen says is just another "piece of the puzzle," tied for the AFC lead with seven interceptions in 2000 with Miami. His INT total dropped to one last year, but he was the Dolphins' second-leading tackler (99), and missed three games with a broken thumb.

To further complicate the problems, Fair has been working with his personal trainer to build strength and rehabilitate a slow-healing broken bone in his foot. Mornhinweg says it is likely Fair could be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start training camp.

Who will win out in the sure-to-come QB controversy?

Fact During his career at North Allegheny (Pa.) High School, Mike Mahon was featured on NFL Presents as one of Western Pennsylvania's next great quarterbacks.

After the Lions tabbed Harrington with the No. 3 overall pick, Millen was quick to note, "Mike McMahon is 'the guy' and he has had a year of experience and a year of training. We all know the time and effort and energy that we put into training a quarterback. We will see how fast and how far Joey Harrington will go."

During the Lions' offseason minicamps, Mornhinweg said the development of the two was one of the successes during the sessions. "It has been approximately four weeks and both of those quarterbacks are progressing beautifully," Mornhinweg said. "For Joey at this point, it appears that it comes pretty fast. He is a pretty sharp guy, football-wise."

What can be read between the lines? Well, it seems as if McMahon is holding down the fort until M&M feel the pressure to put their prized pupil on the line.

"Some guys learn best from the board. Some learn best by a coach demonstrating it, or a veteran doing it," Mornhinweg said. "Some guys get it straight from the book and some it takes film. Some of them learn with a combination.

"It appears that Joey learns pretty well from all of those ways."

So, it would be reasonable to deduce that Harrington can learn on the fly, even in the faster-paced NFL?

Millen seems to thinks so. "I would expect him to be able to escape in this league," Millen said. "He manages the pocket very well also. He has plenty of arm strength. He has great leadership qualities, which you can look at in his wins and losses [in college]."

Mike McMahon, meet Kent Graham, the other placeholder for a rookie QB.