With the NFL rosters cut down to the 53-man team, the Lions have kept the players that they feel will help the team win. A few players were surprisingly cut, but football is a numbers game, and those who don't fill those numbers wind up unemployed.
But with the full roster set, it is now time to grade each position by who is on the roster, the strength of the position and how important those players are to the team.
Quarterbacks: Matthew Stafford, Shaun Hill, Kellen Moore
The quarterbacks are very well set and are strength of the team, starting with franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford played for the entire season for the first time in his career last season, and showed what he can do with over 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns last season. Shaun Hill is an excellent backup, and has been called the best backup in the league. Many were surprised to see Kellen Moore make the roster, but he is the future backup quarterback for the team, and he needs to develop. He probably wouldn't pass through waivers to make the practice squad, so he remains the third quarterback.
Grade: A
Running Backs: Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure, Kevin Smith, Joique Bell, Keiland Williams, Stefon Logan
The running back position has been one of the positions highly scrutinized. The injury to Jahvid Best hurts the offense by taking his speed and catching ability out for at least the first six weeks of the season while on the PUP list. Mikel Leshoure is second in line, and he has looked good in his two preseason games, but he has durability questions after missing all of last year with an Achilles tendon tear. Leshoure will also miss the first two games due to league suspension. The Lions will lean on Kevin Smith, Keiland Williams, Stefan Logan and Joique Bell to tote the rock for the time being. Logan will see more of a role in the offense, but is still the kick returner. Smith has been consistent in his play, and I expect him to perform highly. Consistency with his health is another story, and that will be key for the running game.
Grade: C
Receivers: Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Titus Young, Ryan Broyles, Kassim Osgood, Brandon Pettigrew, Tony Scheffler, Will Heller
By far the strength of the team. But it should when you have the best wide receiver in the game in Calvin Johnson. Burleson quietly made 73 catches last season, and Titus Young got hot down the stretch in his rookie year with five of his six touchdowns in the second half of the season. Ryan Broyles was the surprise of the draft, taken in the second round, but he is the leading receiver in NCAA history at Oklahoma and would have been a top-ten pick had he not torn his ACL in his senior season. Osgood is mostly a special-teamer. The Lions are set at tight end with big body pass catchers in Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler. Will Heller is a good reserve.
Grade: A++
Offensive Lineman: Jeff Backus, Rob Sims, Dominic Raiola, Stephen Peterman, Gosder Cherilus, Riley Reiff, Jason Fox, Corey Hilliard, Dylan Gandy
The offensive line returns all five starters for the third straight year. They protected Matthew Stafford very well last season. However, the line does have to take some responsibility for the anemic running game. The depth at tackle is excellent with first round pick Riley Reiff along with Jason Fox and Corey Hilliard as reserves. With Reiff waiting in the wings to take over at left tackle in the future, expect him to see playing time at tackle and guard this season. With Reiff having the ability to play guard, the Lions only kept one reserve interior lineman in Dylan Gandy.
Grade: C+
Defensive Lineman: Cliff Avril, Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams, Nick Fairley, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Lawrence Jackson, Willie Young, Ronnell Lewis
Another strength of the team, but inconsistency down the stretch hurt the team and was the culprit of the poor defensive performances the last game of the regular season at Green Bay and the wildcard game at New Orleans. Suh is the face of the defense, and he will need to return to the form of his rookie year where he dominated opposing offensive lines. Nick Fairley hasn't lived up to his 13th overall pick status yet due to injuries, but he came into camp overweight and with plenty of off-field issues and has plenty to prove. Corey Williams will likely start next to Suh, and is a very solid player, but the Lions will need to put Suh and Fairley on the line at the same time. Sammie Hill is also a solid reserve at tackle. At end, Cliff Avril was the MVP for this defense last season, but this may be his last season in Detroit with contract issues, but overall he needs to record more sacks to get the money he wants. This may also be Kyle Vanden Bosch's last season due to his age, but will start. Expect big seasons from Willie Young and Lawrence Jackson. Lewis will be a reserve and get a limited role his rookie season. The Lions will need to increase their sack numbers this season to be successful.
Grade: B+
Linebackers: Stephen Tulloch, DeAndre Levy, Justin Durant, Doug Hogue, Ashlee Palmer, Travis Lewis, Tahir Whitehead
The linebackers are solid, but there are no stars in the corps. Tulloch and Levy are studs and will get the job done, but there needs to be a speed linebacker to complete the front seven. But with the front line the Lions have, it will be easier for everyone behind them, including the backers. Durant is fine for the most part at the outside linebacking spot, but will need to stay healthy and tackle better this season. Hogue, Palmer, Lewis and Whitehead are viable backups, but their impact will be more on special teams.
Grade: B-
Defensive Backs: Chris Houston, Dwight "Bill" Bentley, Jacob Lacey, Jonte Green, Kevin Barnes, Louis Delmas, Erik Coleman, Amari Spievey, John Wendling, Ricardo Silva
The position that took much criticism and was blamed for the performance down the stretch last season, but the secondary is not as bad as many think. Depth was a problem for the secondary last season as injuries to Houston and Delmas hurt the defense. That new depth will be tested with Delmas on the shelf again after knee surgery. John Wendling and Erik Coleman have played very well this preseason while Amari Spievey has fallen on the depth chart. The Lions hope they found a consistent starter in third round pick Bill Bentley. Jacob Lacey, rookie Jonte Green and Kevin Barnes, who came over in a trade with the Redskins this week, are expected to be the better depth this season.
Grade: C+
The Lions have the pieces to win this season. They have found their franchise quarterback in Matthew Stafford. They also have a franchise offensive player in Calvin Johnson and franchise defensive player in Ndamukong Suh. There are also very solid players around them in Titus Young, Brandon Pettigrew, Willie Young, Stephen Tulloch and DeAndre Levy. With the corps group of players, a double digit win season and a second straight trip to the playoffs are by far not out of the question.
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