The Power Ranking Preview - #32
by adelfish | 5 years ago | 1 Comments
Season 62 Power Ranking Preview - #32
Welcome to the 2020 Red Zone Power Ranking Preview. In this long-running preview, I will be going team at a time, ranking them 32-1, discussing the user, the team, the schedule, etc.
This does not mean there will not be a podcast version of the preview, but a written version gives me more time to think, and come up with those witty anecdotes you all love.
On that note, let's move into the team that I am projecting to pick first overall in the Season 62 draft....
#32 - Detroit Lions (RFox)
(2-14 Projection)
Welcome to the league Rfox...unfortunately my crystal ball (that is ALWAYS right, by the way) predicts a brutal start to your coaching tenure, one that will test you in ever aspect on and off the field.
One of the reasons that Rfox and his Lions are so low, is the fear of the unknown - we really don't have anything to go off of. He seems like a nice guy, and our only real scouting report comes from new coach King John, who said 'he sucks'. Not a ringing endorsement.
Let me say this right away, there is a massive opportunity for this organization to start red hot. I really struggled to pick the opening five games, which will ultimately make or break the season for Detroit. Let's get into it...
One Big Question
With an unknown in new head Coach RFox, the Lions have a ton of work to do to return to relevancy. It starts with the secondary, and the Lions went all out to repair it. Is Jeffrey Okudah the biggest building block for RFox's success?
Every team had one question asked about them going into Season 62, and we will use this is a basis to outline some of our bigger concerns. The Lions defense has a ton of money invested into players I really don't care for, such as Jamie Collins, Trey Flowers, and Desmond Trufant. Yes, they are veterans that will help a defense that has been much maligned, but are they worth the long term commitments given? Especially in a division that is expected to be the Packers for the foreseeable future?
The Lions drafted Jeffrey Okudah with the third overall pick, who figures to be their shutdown corner of the future. I like the tandem of Okudah and Trufant (and slot corner Justin Coleman), especially in a division loaded with star receivers (Adams, Thielen, Robinson). In a league where cornerbacks are so valuable, Okudah is someone that Rfox needs to build around. The youth on the Lions defense is actually intriguing, as opposed to the expensive ex-Patriots I mentiond above.
Players like Okudah, Jarrad Davis, Jahlani Tavai, and Da'shawn Hand will be the mainstays initially to build around, as the Lions actually have a pretty impressive linebacking group. Looking for Desmond Trufant's replacement early to play alongside Okudah for the cycle will be paramount to the Lions success - but Okudah is an elite blue chip to have.
One Big Schedule Issue
We will know everything we need to know about the Lions by Week 6. In their first five games they play...
Bears (Beat)
Packers (Lefty)
Cardinals (Ramesu)
Saints (Spencer)
Bye Week
Jaguars (Pat)
Ths is not a murderer's row. Trying to stay away from spoilers, but I am not high on Pat with Jacksonville, or Spencer with New Orleans. Not to mention, a Week 1 showdown with the crappy Bears and Beat Oven.
If Rfox can surprise us, he could go 3-2 in this stretch. I obviously give the nods to Lefty and Ramesu to take care of business, but the other three are total wild cards. I would normally pick Pat as well...but have you seen those Jaguars??
In my prediction when I went through the schedule, the Lions finish a league worst 2-14 with wins over Jacksonville and Chicago. With the lack of talent on defense, and no real indication into the talent of this coaching staff, it seems like a last place NFC North finish is destined.
Reasons for Optimism
The offense has a lot of really good players, starting with quarterback Matthew Stafford. Despite a big cap hit of $30 million plus per season for the next 3 years, stability at the position is a huge plus. The Lions will have to look for his successor sooner rather than later. In the draft, the Lions added running back D'Andre Swift out of Georgia with the 35th pick, who figures to handle the majority of the load, while the Lions feature a talented compliment in Kerryon Johnson.
Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay, and Danny Amendola highlight the receivers, and all three are on expiring deals. You expect Golladay to receive a big extension, and Jones to return as well. This is a very underrated group. T.J. Hockeson is in his second year, and will be huge for Rfox's offense.
On the offensive line, I really like Taylor Decker at the left tackle spot, and Frank Ragnow is a young center with a ton of potential.
Defensively I mentioned the pieces I like, and the secondary should be an interesting watch, with the aforementioned Okudah, Trufant, and Coleman. There is some talent here, but the expensive veterans outweigh the roster upside for me.
Reasons for Negativity
Outside of what we've already discussed, the Lions gave an indefensible contract to Halapoulivaati Vaitai this offseason, totaling $45 million over the next 5 years, with $20 million of that being guaranteed. For some reason the Lions also gave tight end Jesse James $22 million over the next four years, to backup Hockenson?
The roster issues are beating a dead horse, but the biggest issue of all is the division. I feel Rfox can compete with the Bears if he puts the time in, and Eikim in Minnesota is a total wild card right now - but what about the Packers? Will the Lions ever beat them this cycle? Coach Lefty is one of the all-time greatest in Red Zone history, so being a brand new coach in his division is a daunting task.
Last Word
It could be a long year in Detroit, and an even longer cycle, if things go south fast. The Lions have some pieces in place, but also some big financial decisions to make. If the Lions do struggle this year, the first draft is so important; replacing Stafford, adding help for Okudah, the offensive line.
Is Rfox ready for his closeup? I frankly can't wait to see what he does, and hopefully this ranking is a little kick in the butt....