By: Patrick Crawley & King Tong

 

Legit-Not Legit is a newborn Deli column in the spirit of Pardon the Interruption; except that King isn't black and Patrick isn't bald.

After discovering at work that they are the sports fan equivalents of Biggie and Tupac (both talented but never in agreement), they decided to settle their disputes at the Deli. Thus, every few weeks, Patrick and King will decide on an athlete that they disagree about and debate the merits of that athlete in the Deli. One will defend the athlete as a "Legit" competitor, the other as a "Not Legit" waste of time.

Your job as dutiful Sports Deli patrons will be to settle the issue with a vote of either "Legit" or "Not Legit" to pecrawley@gmail.com. After the column has been posted for 10 days, votes will be calculated and the winner will be recognized on the main page.

Without further ado, read these two arguments and vote for your winner in this, the inaugural Legit-Not Legit showdown.

King I'm sorry but you've gotta be drinking the Kool-Aid if you think that Rod Marinelli and Mike Martz are going to lead the Lions to the promised land this season. Oh, by the way, when I say "promised land" I don't mean the Super Bowl and I don't mean the playoffs. When I say "promised land" I mean a winning season; something that the Lions haven't achieved since their 9-7 breakout year in 2000.

The Lions may have drafted Calvin Johnson this year -- and he may be a monster talent for many years to come -- but even a player as good as Johnson is, he isn't going to fill all the holes on this roster. Finishing at 3-13 in 2006, the Lions were 30th in the NFL in points allowed and 28th in total defense. The team allowed 24.9 points per game and struggled to find the winning formula under first-year head coach Rod Marinelli. Altough wide receiver Roy Williams and quarterback Jon Kitna experienced a fair amount of success, the Lions had a number of glaring weaknesses. First of all, the Lions' secondary was about as effective as Carrot Top's comedy routines. As a team, the Lions intercepted a grand total of 8 passes last year. To put that stat into perspective, Pro Bowler Nnamdi Asomugha of the Raiders had 8 interceptions BY HIMSELF last season. On top of that the Lions were one of the worst clutch teams in the NFL, having lost the majority of the 10 close games they played and having converted a measley 32.6% of their third down opportunities. Finally, Detroit was rated as the league's worst running game (that's right...worse than the Clevland Browns).

The running game may have been bad last season, but the worst part of the team in 2006 was definitely the defensive backfield. Despite having arguably the weakest collection of DB's in the league, the secondary didn't get much better over the offseason. The team was in dire need of corner backs heading into the draft but general manager Matt Millen didn't pick one until the fourth round; when he chose 5'10" A.J. Davis out of North Carolina State. This is just one more example of how much of a bonehead Matt Millen is. As if you needed more proof after highly drafted wide receivers Mike Williams and Charles Rogers both turned out to be gigantic busts for Detroit.

Getting back to the secondary though, the Lions are in horrible shape. Neither of their starting corners had an interception last year, their starting strong safety (Kenoy Kennedy) can't read plays to save his life and, as a team, they gave up 220 passing yards per game last season. The worst part is that little has changed since last season. Millen may have brought free agent Travis Fisher into the fold but Fisher is injury prone. Also, despite being a veteran, Fisher honed his game in St. Louis; not exactly a prolific pass-stopping defense itself. In other words, coach Rod Marinelli is going to trot out essentially the same guys to get slaughtered by the pass again this year with the exception of Fisher; who, let's face it, isn't exactly a difference-maker.

To compensate for the hellacious passing defense, the Lions are going to have to score a helluva lot of points this year. Unfortunately for them they have an offensive attack that's less balanced than Lindsay Lohan trying to walk a straight line. Wide receivers Roy Williams, Mike Furrey, Calvin Johnson and Shaun McDonald are terrific and quarterback Jon Kitna isn't bad either. Given those weapons, there's no dispute on my part that the Lions will have a very potent passing attack. The problem is that they are also operating with an offensive line that allowed 3.9 sacks per game last season. When an O-line is giving up that many sacks, it can only mean one thing: the running game isn't enough of a threat to keep the opposing defense from stacking their secondary and blitzing the QB on a regular basis. On that note, it seems like a good time to mention that the Lions running game only averaged 70.6 yards per game last year (dead last in the NFL).

To counteract a miserable running game, the Lions cornered one of the more sought after backs on the market this offseason: former Denver Bronco Tatum Bell. That's fine; Bell is a decent running back. But really the main improvement was on the offensive line at guard, where the Lions picked up perennial starters Edwin Mulitalo from the Ravens and Zach Piller from the Titans. Both of these guards have started for their respective teams in recent years and they look to be solid additions for the Lions. The only problem is that both of these players are coming off of serious injuries. Mulitalo missed 12 games in 2006 with a tear in his triceps and Piller missed 13 games with an ankle injury. To compound the injury risk of Mulitalo and Piller, starting right guard Damien Woody also missed half the season last year with a sprained foot. All three of those offensive lineman are at, or nearing, the 30 year-old mark. If these old men can't stay healthy, the signing of Tatum Bell will mean nothing. Without viable offensive guards the Lions running game will fall apart quicker than Denise Richards' acting career and Bell will be left with nothing but his memories of the good ole days. Kind of like what happened to Edgerrin James last season when he came over to the Cardinals. Again, I can't stress this strongly enough to Lions fans, when it comes to your new O-linemen please don't get too excited. This can only end in tears and no one likes to see that.

Also, fans who feel that adding Calvin Johnson and Tatum Bell to the fold will reverse the Lions' fortunes are dead wrong. In their first preseason game against the Bengals last week the Lions earned a total of 556 offensive yards (which is, admittedly, a ton of yards for an offense). Of those 556, however, only 59 yards came on the ground. If Detroit cannot find a way to balance their offense there is no way that they will reach nine wins this season. No running game + awful secondary + worst GM in Lions history = another rebuilding year for Detroit. I don't know about you, sports fans, but in my mind a rebuilding year (no matter how positive a "motivational" coach may make it sound) is a bad year.

Sorry, King, in the court of Deli Law the 2007 Lions have been tried and the jury has reached a verdict. On the count of Crappy Pass Defense That Inexplicably Didn't Get Fixed in the Offseason, the jury finds the defendant: Guilty. Similarly, on the count of Horribly Unbalanced Offense That Doesn't Stand a Chance Against Blitz Packages, the jury finds the defendant: Guilty. Finally, on the count of Having an F'ing Clue, the jury finds defendant Matt Millen: Not Guilty.

Basically, when it comes to defending the Lions, you could have the best day in court and there's still no chance in hell that anyone is going to be persuaded that the 2007 Lions have any kind of shot at a winning record. King, no matter what your teachers in high school may have said, when it comes to the Lions there is only one right answer. And that answer is NOT LEGIT.

 

 

 

 

Here's a brief look at what Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen has done since he has taken over the Lions' operations in 2001:

- Compiled a 24-72 overall record with no playoff appearances. That's a .250 win percentage.

- Selected 1st round busts Mike Williams and Charles Rogers.

- Induced the Millen Man March in which fans marched through the streets of Detroit to protest Millen's recent contract extension.

Needless to say, it's not such a good resume. I doubt Millen would even be able to get a job at FEMA. Last year the Lions ended their 2006 campaign with a 3-13 record and finished fourth in the NFC North. Just in case you're confused, there are only four teams in the NFC North. Just like Nicole Ritchie in a hot dog eating contest, the Lions finished in last place.

But things are looking up for poor Millen. This year the Detroit Lions just may pull off a winning record. Here's a few reasons why things will change in Detroit:

1. CALVIN JOHNSON - His success in the NFL is as sure a thing as Britney Spears' children growing up to have psychological problems. This guy has it all. Randy Moss' size, Reggie Bush's speed, Tory Holt's route running ability, Marvin Harrison's hands and Hines Wards' work ethic. Johnson managed to compile 1,202 yards and 15 touchdowns on 76 receptions at Georgia Tech. This while being quadruple teamed every game. This while having a quarterback who threw the football as accurately as Stormtroopers firing their blasters. Johnson is second on the wide receiving depth chart now, but that should change by mid-season when he takes over the role of...

2. ROY WILLIAMS - Last season he amassed 1,310 yards. That's more than Terrell Owens, Tory Holt and Steve Smith. This Pro Bowler is an absolute monster. He's a freak. If you need more proof of that, just check this out.

3. MIKE FURREY - Furrey caught 98 passes for 1,086 yards last year. This season he's Detroit's No. 3 receiver. Enough said.

4. THE RUNNING GAME - On paper, Kevin Jones looked like he had an awful season. But before he was effected by a foot injury, Jones was reveling in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system. Barring injury, Jones would have been a hands-down 1,000 yard back last season. This leads me to believe that Tatum Bell will have that very same success that Jones had. In his first preseason game against the Bengals, Bell was quick to the hole and very explosive. So you have Kevin Jones, your premiere every-down back and one hell of an athlete. You have Tatum Bell, the home run hitter who can explode for a touchdown every time the ball is in his hands. And on short yardage or goalline situations, TJ Duckett will take it home by mowing down the opposition. It's a very deep corps.

5. THE OFFENSIVE LINE - Detroit's O-line surrendered 63 sacks last season. Quarterback Jon Kitna was on his back more often than Paris Hilton. Obviously, no one wants to be associated with her. So the Lions did some work and tried to patch up their O-line during the offseason. They grabbed Eric Mulitalo (previously from Baltimore), Zach Piller (from Tennessee) and George Foster (from Denver). Mulitalo and Piller are both experienced lineman with a history of success. They should shore up the running game very nicely. Foster is a huge guy and a former No. 1 draft pick. The physical tools are there there but he has had work ethic questions during his tenure in Denver. A change of scenery should do the trick. Damien Raiola returns as one of the most reliable and underrated centers in the league. If Damien Woody can round back to his Pro Bowl form of 2004, the offensive line will be very much improved. After all, it really can't get any worse.

6. MIKE MARTZ - The Mad Scientist orchestrated The Greatest Show on Turf to bring two Super Bowl championships to St. Louis. You must be pretty good if you're an offensive coordinator with a nickname, and likewise created a gameplan with a name of its own. Anyway, Martz's influence was very apparent last season. The Lions were among the league leaders in passing yardage. They also had two 1,000 yard receivers; a feat matched by only Indianapolis, Arizona, Dallas, Cincinnati and St. Louis. With Calvin Johnson being drafted, it's very possible that the Lions can have three 1,000 yard receivers in 2007.

Martz can also be more creative than ever with all the tools he has at his disposal. The Lions can employ three and four wide receiver sets and, if defenses start worrying about the Lions' passing game, their nickel and dime defenses will be cut through by the running attack of Jones and Bell. Their speed and quickness will allow them to go for huge yardage in such an open field. If the opposing defenses decide to concentrate on the run, then QB Jon Kitna should be able to throw bombs down the field to any of his prolific wideouts. If Kitna goes down due to injury, former UC Davis Aggie J.T. O'Sullivan can step in and put UC Davis on the map. Martz has had a history of turning no-name CFL quarterbacks into winners (remember Kurt Warner?). The offense will be very high-powered and dangerous. The Greatest Show on Turf has arrived in Detroit.

7. JON KITNA - Laugh all you want but Kitna had an amazing season in 2006. He threw for 4,208 yards (good for fourth best in the league). All this while being hurried by pass rushers because his offensive line couldn't even block the Muppet Babies. But with two new good receivers, in addition to his two favorite targets from last season, a solid receiver in the backfield -- Bell -- and a new offensive line, Kitna should have an even better year in 2007. Don't forget that he was a very good quarterback for the Bengals before being benched in favor of Carson Palmer. Expect Kitna to have a big season. After this year, people will finally stop laughing at this poor guy.

8. DEFENSIVE LINE - You couldn't even get a train through the Lions' interior lineman. The Lions' defensive tackle position is stacked with Shaun Rogers, the recently franchised Cory Redding and newly drafted Shaun Cody. Rogers is a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the best DTs in the league. At age 28 he's entering his prime as a defensive lineman. Redding is one of the most versatile linemen in the league (he played DE and DT last season). Redding recorded 48 tackles and 8 sacks in 2006 and reveled once he moved to tackle in Week 9. Since that move, he had 6.5 sacks in a position not known for getting to the quarterback. Cody, a former collegiate All-American, has much promise and should figure to be in the rotation at tackle.

9. LINEBACKERS - Fast. That's the one word you can use to describe the Lions' linebacking corps. Ernie Sims was a rookie last season and recorded 125 tackles to lead the team. Boss Bailey, the former Georgia standout, has been limited with injuries throughout his career. A failed experiment as a middle linebacker limited Bailey's productivity. But now he's healthy and back to his natural position as a strong side linebacker. Paris Lenon provides youth and quickness in the middle. Teddy "China Doll" Lehman is also a contender for the middle linebacker position.

10. DEFENSIVE BACKS - As talented as former Lion Dre Bly was, he never fit into the Cover 2 system employed by head coach Rod Marinelli. Bly was a shutdown cornerback and his skills were not showcased in a defense that stresses awareness and space coverage. The signing of Travis Fisher should help ease Bly's loss. Fisher has been a stalwart in St. Louis' secondary, although recent injuries have hampered him somewhat. Fernando Bryant should provide veteran leadership to a young but dynamic group that includes second-year man Daniel Bullocks (74 tackles, 1 sack) at free safety and hard-hitting Kenoy Kennedy (66 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 sack) on the strong side.

11. ROD MARINELLI - For many years the Lions have had a very complacent locker room under the tutelage of Marty Morhinweg and Steve Mariucci. Both are nice guys but I wouldn't exactly trust them in overseeing Lindsay Lohan's rehab. They're just too soft. They let people run all over them. But I do trust Marinelli. This guy is strict; but not like Tom Coughlin where everybody hates him. Marinelli demands respect and gets it from his players. How much of a man is Rod Marinelli? He's a Vietnam veteran. He wrestled a bear in high school. If that's not enough, then I really don't know what is.

12. NFC NORTH - The Lions play in the NFC North. Outside of the Chicago Bears the division is horrible. You have the Green Bay Packers, led by a guy who really just needs to hang it up. The Minnesota Vikings are better at houseboating than playing football. That's four wins that you can chalk up for the Lions right there. And who knows? If Rex Grossman continues to play like, well, Rex Grossman then the Lions may be able to get another tally in the win column.

 

It's really not too inconceivable to predict a winning record for the Detroit Lions in 2007. I'm not saying they will win more than half their games, but it's not such a stretch. Realistically, I sense around a .500 record. In addition to playing their NFC North foes, the Lions will play the likes of the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants. It's not a tough schedule at all. And in the cyclical world of the NFL, there is always a surprising team that surges to the top when least expected (see: 2006 New Orleans Saints).

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently went to Lions' training camp to check out the team. He came away very impressed. "I spent probably 15 minutes with Coach Marinelli this morning which was a wonderful experience," said Goodell. "By the time we got done I was ready to go out and play myself. He's really got a tremendous attitude, a positive attitude and an expectation of winning. I think you can sense the difference in this franchise and in this building of the expectation to win and create a great franchise here. I think that's wonderful."

VERDICT: LEGIT!!!

 

 

Detroit Lions