Detroit Lions 2011 off-season review

The Detroit Lions have had an excellent off-season and should be competitive in 2011. Playoffs maybe? Not this year but I do see playoffs for this team in the near future. The Lions need to continue to upgrade their roster. Let’s take a look at some of their off-season moves….

CB Anthony Madison: (Ex-Steeler) Madison adds decent depth.

OT Kirk Chambers: (Ex-Bengal) Chambers is a journey-man OT who is a decent backup.

C Rudy Niswanger: (Ex-Chief) Niswanger is a solid player

S Michael Johnson: (Ex-Giant) Johnson is solid against the run but horrible against the pass

RB Jerome Harrison: (Ex-Eagle) Harrison is an explosive back who adds good quality depth. Solid runner when healthy.

RB Mike Bell (Ex-Eagle): I just don’t see Bell making this team. He’s too injury prone.

WR Maurice Stovall (Ex-Buccaneer): Stovall has had a great off-season and could be the Lions slot or fourth receiver if he continues to keep up his steadily play in preseason.

LB Stephen Tulloch (Ex-Titan): Tulloch is a tackling machine, he posted 160 tackles in 2010. Tulloch brings some much needed speed to a LB unit that was slow last season.

CB Eric Wright (Ex-Brown): Wright had a bad 2010 season with the Browns. Maybe a new change of scenery will help. Wright is a decent cover corner and the Lions need all the corners they can get.

WR Rashied Davis (Ex-Bear) Davis has had a solid preseason as well. Davis’s problem is that he is too inconsistent and his hands can be a little “Too Suspect”.

OLB Justin Durant (Ex-Jaguar) Durant can fly, but doesn’t make enough plays on the field. He has trouble shedding blocks. Durant still hasn’t played as full 16 game season yet. He needs to show this season that he be durable for the whole season.

CB Maurice Leggett (Ex-Chief): Legget is a decent corner, not great but is a solid nickel or fourth stringer.

Key departures: LB Zack Follett was released,  DE Turk McBride (to Saints); LB Jordon Dizon was released and WR Bryant Johnson was released as well.

Key resignings: DE Cliff Avril, OLB Bobby Carpenter, CB Chris Houston, CB Brandon McDonald, C Dylan Gandy, PK Dave Rayner, QB Drew Stanton, S John Wendling, FB Jerome Felton, and DT Andre Fluellen.