TEAM RANK: Defense (24th), Offense (32nd)
ADDITIONS:
Free agents: OL Damien Woody (Patriots), CB Fernando Bryant (Jaguars), CB Dainon Sidney (Bills), WR Tai Streets (49ers), OG David Loverne (Rams), FS Brock Marion (Dolphins), QB Rick Mirer (Raiders), TE Stephen Alexander (Chargers), DT Marcus Bell (Cardinals), OL Solomon Page (Chargers).
Draft picks: 1a. (7th) WR Roy Williams - Texas, 1b. (30th) Kevin Jones - Virginia Tech, 2. (37th) LB Teddy Lehman - Oklahoma, 3. (73rd) CB Keith Smith - McNeese St., 5. (140th) OLB Alex Lewis - Wisconsin, 6. (172nd) OT Kelly Butler - Purdue.
SUBTRACTIONS:
RB James Stewart (released), DT Luther Elliss (Broncos), WR Bill Schroeder (released), S Corey Harris (released), LB Barrett Green (Giants), LB Jeff Gooch (Bucs), OL Eric Beverly (Falcons), CB Otis Smith (released), CB/KR Chris Watson (Packers), WR James Williams (released), TE Mikhael Ricks (Jets).
OFF-SEASON MOVES:
The Lions revamped their team on both sides of the ball during the off-season through free agency and the draft. Matt Millen and Steve Mariucci had a successful free agency period adding veteran guard Damien Woody, wide receiver Tai Streets, and tight end Stephen Alexander on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, the Lions addressed the 28th-ranked pass defense (223 yards per game) by adding cornerback Fernando Bryant and safety Brock Marion, a three-time pro-bowler while with the Dolphins.
As successful as free agency was for the Lions, the biggest long-term impact should generate from the draft in which many experts gave Detroit their highest overall grade. Millen's first move was to trade down one spot with Cleveland and select wide receiver Roy Williams out of Texas with the seventh-overall pick. Millen then used the extra second-round pick acquired from the Browns to move up into the 30th-overall selection and add running back Kevin Jones out of Virginia Tech. With their remaining second-round pick, the Lions selected linebacker Teddy Lehman, the Butkus Award winner out of Oklahoma. All three players have one major thing in common - speed!
2004 SEASON PREVIEW:
Steve Maruicci's West Coast offense now has the weapons to give third-year quarterback Joey Harrington the opportunity to shine. The Lions have one of the most exciting young wide receiver tandems in the NFL with rookie Roy Williams, the No. 7 overall pick this year, and second-year WR Charles Rogers, the No. 2 overall pick in 2003, who missed most of his rookie season with a collarbone injury. Both combine good size and quickness, giving opposing defenses trouble in their attempts to double-team either wideout. Add in the Lions 2003 leader in reception yards and touchdowns, Az-Zahir Hakim, former 49er Tai Streets who is returning to Michigan and reuniting with his former head coach, and newly acquired tight end Stephen Alexander, and the Lions passing game promises to be much more potent than years past.
The 2003 running game in the Motor City appeared to be missing some wheels. James Stewart missed the entire season, while Shawn Bryson and rookie Artose Pinner both battled health issues all season. The addition of big-play threat and rookie Kevin Jones, the first Lions RB selected in the first round since Barry Sanders, should greatly improve the running game this season for the Lions, who managed a mere 1,338 rushing yards in 2003, a total bettered by 11 individual running backs last season. In fact, as a Hokie Jones rushed for 300 more yards than the entire Lions team and he played in only 13 games. A healthy Artose Pinner, who broke his foot in the Senior Bowl prior to his rookie season, gives the Lions a solid one-two punch combo that Mariucci favored while in San Francisco with Garrison Hearst and Kevin Barlow. Shawn Bryson will see some snaps on third downs with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and veteran Cory Schlesinger, a pro-bowl alternate the last two years, is a more than capable fullback.
Along the offensive line the Lions added former Patriot, and first-round draft pick, Damien Woody who likely will line up at right guard. Woody joins two other former first-round picks in LT Jeff Backus and RT Stockar McDougle. Center Dominic Raiola helps form a young nucleus of blockers up front. The right guard position is still in doubt with newly acquired free agent Solomon Page, free agent David Loverne and third-year Lion Josh Lovelady all competing for the starting job. For the second straight season the Lions allowed the fewest sacks in the league with just 11, nine better than the previous franchise record of 20 set in 2002.
