Please note that all answers were received before the announced Gerald Alexander trade. If there are any questions, you’d like the Congregation to answer, email the Reverend!
1. How does Marquand Manuel fit into the secondary picture?
Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: Assuming that Louis Delmas will procure a starting spot from day one, I believe that the addition of Manuel indicates that Daniel Bullocks, Gerald Alexander, and Kalvin Pearson will each have to make tangible improvements, if they will compete legitimately to start beside Delmas.
Ty, The Lions in Winter: Well with today’s trade of Gerald Alexander to the Jaguars, and word from multiple minicamp observers that Bullocks is not playing like an NFL starter, I would have to say that Marquand Manuel is likely going to start at safety, next to Louis Delmas. Given the amount of young, athletic, physical talent on the roster at safety (Delmas, Bullocks, Alexander, and Stuart Schwigart), the fact that a free agent retread is going to walk in and start is depressing.
Phil, MLive: Manuel fits in like so many other free agents the Lions have acquired: as competition and depth. Manuel will compete for a starting cornerback position, but it’s truly up in the air as to whether he makes it. Regardless, he should be able to provide much-needed depth for the team.
Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: The Lions have been signing relatively inexpensive, yet quite competent NFL veterans since Martin Mayhew and his posse took over Detroit’s front office. Marquand Manuel continues the meme. A meme of which I approve.
I’m not expecting big things from Manuel. But it doesn’t mean he won’t be a solid player for the Lions. You just can’t have enough NFL quality pass defenders on your roster, advice something Jim Schwartz and Mayhew apparently agree upon.
He’s not a star by any means, but be it as a spot starter, injury replacement, and/or a depth guy, Manuel will definitely be a positive contributor in the defensive backfield. In other words, he’s a player of the sort the Lions have sorely lacked for the past several seasons. They seem intent on fixing the issue by signing as many veteran NFL backups and spot starters as possible to cap friendly deals.
Josh, Detroit Lions Fan 1979: He is not an “immediate unquestioned starter” so to me, the situation remains the same: There are two starters — Buchanon at CB and Delmas at S. Henry will likely start at one or the other. Everything else (including what position Henry plays) is up for grabs.
Deacon Blades Boyd, CofS: Doesn’t change much in my mind. It really all depends on whether Bullocks or Alexander can solidify the other safety spot. If that happens, Henry will start at corner and Manual might be the 4th corner on the roster.
Reverend Spielman, CofS: I think he starts from Day 1. The coaching staff doesn’t seem to enthused with Daniel Bullocks and Schweigert/Pearson are strictly depth. Manuel has always been a boom or bust type player. He’ll take lots of chances and get burned but he’ll also make some outstanding plays. Let’s just hope the outstanding plays outweigh the big plays allowed.
2. In your dreams, how many wins do the Lions end up with this year?
Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: In my dreams 10 wins, but pragmatically, and considering the team’s rough early schedule, which will likely begin with an inauspicious 0-6 start, 3-4 wins seems to be a sensible, if not painful, expectation.
Ty, The Lions in Winter: In my dreams? I think 9-7 is the absolute best to be expected. For starters, the first seven weeks of the schedule is absolutely brutal . . . I think going 3-3 in the first six games (before the Week 7 bye) would be the absolute maximum I could imagine, and probably more like 2. I think there are 4-6 wins in the back half of the schedule: the Rams, Browns, Niners, and two home division games are all looking promising right now. It will be interesting to see how/when/if Schwartz takes the foot off the gas . . . starting the season 1-5 or 0-6 could put the Lions in a ‘what do we have for next year’ mode.
Phil, MLive: In my dreams? Zero. I mean, last year’s live game blogs were just TOO much fun. If only every season could be like that. Seriously, though, the only thing I’m dreaming about is for the Lions to remain competitive throughout the game.
Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: Considering my dreams of late have been heavily influenced by the big time pain meds I’m taking after my back surgery, I’d love to believe my recent dreams of Jim Schwartz leading the Lions to a 16-0 regular season is what my unconscious truly, honestly believes. But I know better after being on oxycontin for the past 4 weeks. The stuff can play games with your mind…
My true, drug-free, dream season would be the Lions finishing with 8 wins, and competing for the Central division title well into December.
I know neither dream is realistic, but they are called “dreams” for a reason, right?
Josh, Detroit Lions Fan 1979: Dream scenario as in “Best Case Scenario Considering Reality” or the “Dream Dream Scenario” that is as relative to the actual Lions team on the field as Matt Millen is to “NFL’s Greatest Leader since Lombardi.” Seriously, though, IF every IF goes perfectly for the Lions — 10-6. But let me qualify that by saying there are a LOT of big IF’s about this team no one can know until the season starts.
Deacon Blades Boyd, CofS: 1. I’d love it if they could just get a win!!!!
Reverend Spielman, CofS: In my wildest dreams, I’m envisioning a 10-6 season and a division title. The only way I think this happens is if Daunte Culpepper starts the entire season and Stafford only sees some mop up duty. To get to this record, the Lions are going to have to win at least 2-3 games before the bye. Their schedule gets considerably easier after that and if they win 2-3 games, I’ve got to believe C-Pep keeps the starting gig. I can envision the last game of the season, against the Bears, being a winner-take-all for the division title….in my dreams…..
3. What’s your best guess for how many wins the Lions actually get this season?
Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: 3-4 wins, with Matthew Stafford getting his feet wet and potentially emerging as a legitimate NFL franchise QB in the process. If Stafford is even moderately successful, the Lions season will be a success, in spite of how many wins they ultimately end with.
Ty, The Lions in Winter: I think five wins is the most probable outcome. Again, I think the expecting the Lions to go on the road and beat the Saints, Bears, or Packers is really pushing it–and hosting the Vikings, Redskins, and Steelers is no joke. Either the Lions will have to win some divisional road games (typically difficult for the Lions, even when they’re good), beat the defending world champs, beat the possibly-Super-Bowl-bound Vikes, or beat the Redskins, who finished last in the most brutal conference in football at 8-8. Even if the Lions beat the Redskins in 2009, unfortunately, I don’t see a way we approach .500
Phil, MLive: The Lions were historically bad last year. We know this. But they’ve also addressed some question marks in a legitimate manner. I think they’re looking significantly stronger at linebacker, bigger on the defensive line, while the secondary will have to show if it’s improved or not (especially at the corners). Offensively, the Lions are better at tight end and at least no worse along the offensive line. At running back, starting Kevin Smith from the get-go will be helpful and Maurice Morris is a capable backup. While Bryant Johnson may not be as big a name as Roy Williams at wide receiver, his productivity should be similar. Overall, I’d say the WR group is similar to improved. If Derrick Williams makes the team as a returner, it would give a tremendous boost to the Lions special teams unit, which could use some adrenaline. All of that is a long-winded way of saying that I think a solid, yet achievable record would be 6-10. Not bad when you consider the difficult schedule and the fact they’re coming off a winless season.
Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: My best case Lions scenario is 6 wins, with a worst case of 2, So I’ll split the difference and predict Detroit wins 4 games in 2009.
Hey, fans of most any NFL franchise would be thrilled beyond belief by a 4 game improvement in the win column! All a 4 win improvement means in the D is the Lions are still a last place team.
God damn, it’s tough being a Lions fan.
Josh, Detroit Lions Fan 1979: My best guess would put the Lions at about 6 wins +/- 1 win for “how the ball bounces” (luck). They are improving, and have a lot of potential — but the older pickups need to keep playing at a high level, and there are a lot of very young players who will be going through their growing pains. 2010 will be better — possibly even playoff good.
Deacon Blades Boyd, CofS: 0. Unless Favre signs with the Vikes of course.
Reverend Spielman, CofS: I know most people are thinking I’m going to be overly optimistic here, but I’m guess we end up with 8 wins. I know it seems ridiculous to think about but I think there are 8 games on the schedule where we will be the better team(and/or have home field advantage). I don’t expect the Lions to start strong and I’m thinking we’ll be 1-5 at the bye week(with the lone win coming against the Vikes in Week 2). However, I expect this team to pick up steam in the season’s 2nd half with a much weaker schedule. I see us winning 4 of our 5 home games after the bye(the exception being the Arizona game) as well as 3 of our 5 road games(wins at Seattle, Cincy and San Fran). I know it sounds crazy but I expect this team to be the rare Lions squad that gets stronger throughout the year as they learn to play together.
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