2007 Results: 7-9
\n2008 Projected Cap Status: $3,390,400 over the projected cap of $116,729,000 <\/p>\n
2007 Season Recap: <\/p>\n
The Lions started the season with back-to-back wins at Oakland and against Minnesota, by the half way point they were 6-2, but went 1-7 down the stretch largely because of a defense that allowed almost 28 points and more than 375 yards per game. The Lions running game average less than 81 yards per game so Detroit\u2019s struggling didn\u2019t get much time to catch their breath. <\/p>\n
Team Needs: <\/p>\n
1. Defensive Line \u2013 The Lions don’t have an elite pass rusher, Dewayne White a decent left defensive end but is currently the starting right end. Tackle Shaun Rogers was traded to Cleveland and end Kalimba Edwards is post-June 1 designation. White and Jared DeVries both finished the 2007 season with six and a half sacks apiece, but if Derrick Harvey slips to No. 15, the Lions will grab him. More than likely they will find someone later in the draft. <\/p>\n
2. Offensive Line: \u2013 The Lions lost guard Damien Woody to the NY Jets during free agency and were almost forced to re-sign right tackle George Foster who had lost his starting job to Woody after the eighth week of the season and numerous nagging injuries. <\/p>\n
3. Middle linebacker \u2013 With Boss Bailey joining his brother in Denver the Lions need to find a player to patrol the middle and capable of tracking down the ball. Ernie Sims holds down the weak-side and Paris Lenon could once again play his natural position of outside linebacker <\/p>\n
2008 Draft Picks:
\n1st Round \u2013 15th overall
\n2nd Round \u2013 45th overall
\n3rd Round \u2013 76th overall
\n3rd Round \u2013 87th overall (from CLE)
\n4th Round \u2013 111th overall
\n5th Round \u2013 145th overall
\n6th Round \u2013 179th overall
\n7th Round \u2013 219th overall <\/p>\n
Free agency status: <\/p>\n
UFA:
\nS Idrees Bashir
\nOT Barry Stokes
\nWR Troy Walters
\nDB LaMarcus Hicks <\/p>\n
RFA:
\nDL Langston
\nQB Dan Orlovsky
\nG Stephen Peterman
\nCB Stanley <\/p>\n
ERFA:
\nWR Devale Ellis. <\/p>\n
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED:
\nTE Sean McHugh: ERFA
\nDB Greg Blue: ERFA
\nDE Corey Smith: UFA
\nRB Tatum Bell: UFA
\nRB Aveion Cason: UFA
\nCB Travis Fisher: UFA
\nOT George Foster: UFA
\nCB Keith Smith: UFA
\nTE John Owens: UFA <\/p>\n
PLAYERS LOST
\nDT Shaun Rogers traded to the Browns
\nRB T.J. Duckett: Seahawks
\nLB Boss Bailey: Broncos
\nQB J.T. O’Sullivan: 49ers
\nT\/G Damien Woody: Jets
\nLB Teddy Lehman: Buccaneers <\/p>\n
PLAYERS RELEASED:
\nCB Fernando Bryant
\nS Kenoy Kennedy
\nC\/G Blaine Saipaia
\nDE Kalimba Edwards
\nRB Kevin Jones <\/p>\n
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
\nCB Leigh Bodden trade with Browns
\nDT Chuck Darby: Seahawks
\nTE Michael Gaines: Bills
\nS Kalvin Pearson: Buccaneers
\nS Dwight Smith: Vikings
\nLB Gilbert Gardner: Titans
\nOG Corey Hulsey:
\nCB Brian Kelly: Buccaneers<\/p>\n
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Bernie Marshall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"