Dr. Davis’ diagnosis on Detroit ‘D’: The intangibles

By Os Davis  |   Monday, July 14, 2008  |  Comments( 8 )

Detroit Lions
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As the virtual medical staff here at St. RealFootball365 concludes its long-ranging examination of the patient known as the Detroit Lions' defense, the doctor offers his last notes on a few minor potential problem areas, a handful of further observations and conclusions that might assist in alleviating the suffering of our subject.

On attitude “issues.” No problems here; the modern-day Lions have had surprisingly relatively few head cases and little disgruntlement in the post-Barry Sanders years of mediocrity and most of these have been on the offense (Charles Rogers, the 2006 version of Az-Zahir Hakim, Tatum Bell); these were dealt with accordingly. Reportedly head coach Rod Marinelli and Shaun “Big Baby” Rogers had issues of attitude and weight – imagine dogging a 340-pounder about his weight – so today Rogers is gone, too, impact be damned. At least the attitudes are good in Detroit.

Experience. Can you say “revolving door”? Paris Lenon is the only Detroit linebacker with more than four years in the NFL under his belt; Dwight Smith is the only safety with more than three, and he hasn’t even suited up for the Lions in a regular-season game yet. And here’s the list of remaining Detroit defenders with six seasons or more worth of experience: Cory Redding, Brian Kelly, Travis Fisher, Jared DeVries, Chuck Darby, Leigh Bodden. Kelly, Darby and Bodden were all acquired in free agency this offseason; Fisher came aboard last year. A young lineup that has often been shaken up is fine while rebuilding, but they’ve been “rebuilding” in Detroit since going 9-7 in 2000; some logical continuity might have helped and might yet. Someday.

Draft performance. You’d think the abysmal draft years since 2002 would have doomed development on both sides of the ball. In terms of defensive selection, however, somebody in Detroit knows talent. Ernie Sims and Daniel “Never Mind the” Bullocks came aboard in 2006, while the offense got, well, nobody; after obtaining Mike Williams in 2005, Detroit picked up Shaun Cody. And in 2003, year of the great Charles Rogers torpedo at No. 2 overall, the Lions also spotted Redding, Boss Bailey and Terrence Holt. Of course, Bailey and Holt are gone, while Cody becomes a free agent after the season. See next item.

Player acquisitions. The Lions’ recent forays into free agency have produced mediocre-at-best results on the defensive side. R.W. McQuarters and Damien Woody contributed at the expected level of aging vets, while the released Kenoy Kennedy was apparently considered a disappointment. After that, it’s a lot of Brock Marion and Fernando Bryant types.

Conclusions. After millions of dollars thrown at the problem, multiple cures attempted and pages of analysis can the conclusion possibly be as simple as those two words of common wisdom the public has been prescribing for at least five years? Is “Fire Millen” really the answer?

After reviewing the woes of the Detroit Lions organism piece by piece, vital function by vital function, the trouble all visibly stems from the decision-making. Why has the team consistently chased away its best players? Why the Tampa 2? Why three-quarters of the members on Marinelli’s staff? Why is no single personnel move apparently considered in relation to any other personnel move? Why not Kenoy Kennedy (who had an excellent second half while the remainder of the team took eight games off, incidentally) and why Brock Marion, for Layne’s sake?

Firing Millen figures not to immediately solve the Lions’ deep, deep problems – they’re a good three years away from any realistic contention even starting with a blank slate, as the rot has spread everywhere in seven – but it would be satisfying for those agonizing over the state of their loved one, the poor Detroit defense.

Whispering those two little words throughout the year at RealFootball365.com
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's ...
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