Detroit Lions Team Report by Clayton Gray
| Det Projections (9/3) | Passing Stats | Rush Stats | Receiving Stats | Fantasy | |||||||||||
| Change | Name | Pos | Att | Comp | % | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | Pts |
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#fname# #lname# | #pos# | #NumberFormat("#pts#", '__,_____')# | ||||||||||||
| Totals | #NumberFormat("#tot_patt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pcmp#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#evaluate(100*tot_pcmp/tot_patt)#", '_____._')#% | #NumberFormat("#tot_pyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ptds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_int#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ratt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ryds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rtds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rec#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_cyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ctds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pts#", '__,_____')# | ||
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Quarterbacks Starter - Mike McMahon Backups - Joey Harrington, Ty Detmer Starting Quarterback: The unquestioned starter this season will be Mike Harrington. Wait, I mean Joey McMahon. This one is really up in the air. Current rumblings have Mike McMahon opening the season as the top signal-caller but giving way to Joey Harrington within weeks. Worst case scenario: throughout the season, they could rotate in and out as neither young QB inspires any real confidence. If the competition is even, look for Harrington to get the majority of work. If your league drafts team QBs, don't overlook the Lions. We have them down for 3300+ passing yards to go with 16 TDs. Backup Quarterback(s): The loser between McMahon and Harrington will certainly also see a good amount of action. Ty Detmer will only help you if you receive bonus points for multiple INT days. Running Backs Starter - James Stewart Backups - Lamont Warren, Aveion Cason Starting Running Back: After an off-season of speculation that he would be a salary cap casualty, James Stewart is back in Detroit as the unquestioned starting RB. He is the man .... as long as he stays healthy. Of course those nagging (and sometime a little more than nagging) injuries have always been a problem with Stewart. That said, he's definitely a top 25 fantasy back and should be good for 1000 yards. In the past, he's shown a nose for the goal line. Backup Running Back(s): If Stewart goes down, the backup situation looks bleak. Luke Staley was drafted to help out, but he couldn't even make it to preseason in one piece. Lamont Warren and Aveion Cason would be in line to fill in for Stewart but neither are worth much consideration. Fullback(s): Cory Schlesinger: If your league awards points for receptions then Schlesinger is a decent option. If catches are not included in your scoring system then he's really not worth the time it takes to learn how to spell his last name. The production just won't be there. Wide Receivers / Tight Ends Starters - Az-Zahir Hakim, Bill Schroeder Backups - Germane Crowell, Larry Foster, Scotty Anderson, Desmond Howard Starting Receiver(s): We have a pair of brand new Lions starting at WR. Both Az-Zahir Hakim and Bill Schroeder showed flashes of potency with their former clubs. Of course it helps to have the likes of Kurt Warner and Brett Favre throwing to you. Catching passes from inexperienced passers like Harrington and McMahon will not do wonders for your numbers. Still, don't write off either Hakim or Schroeder. Both are viable fantasy WRs and should finish around the 40th best at their position. Backup Receiver(s): Crowell has enduring nothing but injuries since exploding for 1300+ yards in 1999. Now he seems to be nothing more than a shell of that great young WR. Foster and Anderson have little fantasy value. Tight End(s): Mikhael Ricks, John Waering, Josh Owens Mikhael Ricks is an intriguing option. As a WR, he was too slow to beat his defender. But now, as a TE, he suddenly is a speedster. We currently have him as our 19th rated TE. That's a perfect spot for someone with his potential. He should not be viewed as the #1 TE on your roster. However, take him as your backup with the hopes he'll explode into the top 10. Place Kicker Jason Hanson: Hanson is a solid over-80% kicker that just happens to be in a poor situation. With such inexperienced QBs, there will be many mistakes made in Detroit. A team doesn't have many long drives when they are making mistakes. A PK doesn't kick many FGs without the team having many long drives. A PK doesn't score many points when he doesn't kick many FGs (unless of course you're Jeff Wilkins who boots in a half-dozen PATs sometimes and calls it a day). That said, you'll be the envy of all the preteen girls if Hanson is on your roster. Defense Everyone agrees that Detroit was a horrible team in 2001. While the offense didn't exactly play error-free ball, the defense was the real reason for lack of success. They were 30th in yards allowed, 26th in yards allowed, 25th in sacks made, and 26th in take aways. This year, they still have major questions in the secondary and at linebacker (except for Chris Claiborne). While the team defense should be avoided, there are four quality IDPs that will help your roster. S Brian Walker, LB Chris Claiborne, DL Shaun Rogers, and DL Robert Porcher are each top 30 guys at their respective position. Coaching While he has had success as an offensive coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg is still a question mark as a head coach. Like so many other coaches that were excellent coordinators, Mornhinweg may be in over his head as the person in charge. Still, it is far too early to stick a fork in him. New defensive coordinator Kurt Schottenheimer can't do much worse than Vince Tobin did last year. Still, he'll have his work cut out for him with the secondary. Intangibles There has to be a little heat on Mornhinweg and on Matt Millen. They came in a blaze of glory last year and fell flat with only a pair of victories. That said, improvement should be easy to find as it's difficult to not better 2 wins. One gets the feeling that better fundamentals and a little success would do wonders for this club. |