| You Are Currently Looking At 2009 NFL Pages - Visit The Dropdown Below To Go To The 2010 NFL Season |
2009 Detroit Lions Season Preview
You're Currently Looking At Our 2009 Detroit Lions Season Preview. The 2010 Previews Are Available Below
2010 Detroit Lions Preview | 2010 NFL Team Previews
When you go 0-16, things can only get better for the 2009 Detroit Lions. The worst season in NFL History is finally over, and hopefully the remnants of that terrible season will not transfer in the 2009 Detroit Lions Season Preview. The Lions had the number one pick in the 2009 NFL Draft with which they selected QB Matt Stafford, out of the University of Georgia. They've made many other changes, in the offseason, including Head Coach Rod Maranelli, and staff. Maranelli is being replaced with Jim Schwartz who is coming over from the Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator position. Coming to be Schwartz' Defensive Coordinator Gunter Cunningham, from the Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator position. Also coming over is Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan, who was previously the St. Louis Rams Head Coach, in 2008. There are also a host of other new coaches which include Linebackers coach Matt Burke, Defensive Line coach Bob Karmelowicz, assistant D-Line coach Kris Kocurek, Secondary coach Tim Walton, and assistant Secondary coach Daron Roberts, for the Defense. On the offensive side, new coaches include Offensive quality control coach Todd Downing, Quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton, Tim Lappano to coach the Tight Ends, Offensive Line coach George Yarno.
Other 2009 Detroit Lions Team Related Pages
2009 Detroit Lions Schedule | 2009 NFC North Preview | 2009 NFC Conference Preview
2009 Detroit Lions Free Agency And TradesThere was a lot of transition for the Lions from 2008 to 2009, and it didn't just stop with the coaches. Normally, when a team loses this many players, it is a bad thing, well not this time. This can only be a case of addition through subtraction for the 2009 Detroit Lions Free Agency campaign. Gone are starters like CB Leigh Bodden, DT Shaun Cody, WR Mike Furrey, QB Jon Kitna, WR Shaun McDonald, LB Ryan Nece, OG Edwin Mulitalo, TE John Owens, and DT Cory Redding, including others. With that many guys gone, the Lions have a lot of shoes to fill, which opened the door for the addition of 5 time Pro Bowl LB Julian Peterson, who is coming over from the Seattle Seahawks. Other additions to the Defense include CB Phillip Buchanon, who joins from the Buccaneers. RB Maurice Morris who is also coming over from the Seattle Seahawks. WR Ronald Curry also joins the Lions, from the Raiders.
2009 Detroit Lions NFL DraftThe 2009 Detroit Lions NFL Draft was the chance for the Detroit Lions to reshape their roster, for the future, from top to bottom, starting with the First Overall Pick. Many argued what the Lions should do with their pick, but in the end, the Lions took Matthew Stafford, from the University of Georgia, to be their Quarterback of the future. Early speculation is that Matt Stafford will at some point be the Lions Starting Quarterback for 2009. The Lions also got another First Round pick, from the Cowboys, when they traded WR Roy Williams away. With that pick, at 20th overall, Detroit selected TE Brandon Pettigrew from Oklahoma State. In round 2, with pick 33, the Lions selected CB Louis Delmas from the Western Michigan. LB DeAndre Levy was the first pick, of the third round, for the Detroit Lions, coming out of Wisconsin, at 76th Overall. With their second selection of the third round, at 82nd overall, the Lions took Derrick Williams, WR from Penn State, which ended up being another pick from the Cowboys. In an acquired pick in the fourth round, at 115th overall, Detroit went with DT Sammie Lee Hill from Tillman. The Lions wouldn't draft again until the sixth round, at number 192, at which time they took Aaron Brown, RB out of Texas Christian. To wrap up the Detroit Lions 2009 NFL Draft, were three selections in the seventh round. At pick 228, the Lions selected OT Lydon Murtha out of Nebraska. With the 235th pick, Detroit selected LB Zack Follet from California. With their last pick, the Detroit Lions took Dan Gronkowski, TE out of Maryland, with the 255th selection.
2009 Detroit Lions Quarterbacks
Obviously, coming into 2009, the Detroit Lions have huge expectations for QB Matt Stafford, the number 1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, not to mention the rest of the 2009 Detroit Lions Quarterbacks. Stafford, from the University of Georgia, is already impressing Lions' brass by making great throws, and terrific decisions, during offseason OTAs. Of course Stafford is just a rookie, and is likely to make rookie mistakes. The Lions may also want to consider easing Stafford into the position. The Lions have a history of ruining young, promising Quarterbacks, with Joey Harrington being the latest example. Should Stafford not win the starting job right away, it will most likely be the veteran Daunte Culpepper getting the nod, to open the season. Culpeppper joined the Lions mid-season 2008. In addition to Culpepper and Stafford, is Drew Stanton, 3rd year man out of Michigan State. Overall, the 2009 Detroit Lions Quarterbacks are a serviceable staff, and could produce some astounding results, compared to the 2008 staff.
2009 Detroit Lions Running BacksThe Lions' second year tailback, Kevin Smith, out of the University of Central Florida, will have the starting job of the 2009 Detroit Lions Running Backs, come opening day, provided that he stays healthy. Backing up Kevin Smith will be RB Maurice Morris, who comes over from the Seattle Seahawks. Aveion Cason, 8th year RB out of Illinois State, will be returning to the running backs stable. The Lions also drafted RB Aaron Brown, from TCU, with the 192nd pick, in 6th round of the 2009 NFL Draft. The lead blocker for starting RB Kevin Smith will be free agent pick up FB Terrelle Smith, who comes over from the Arizona Cardinals. The Lions are looking for great results from the Smith and Smith combination.
2009 Detroit Lions Wide Receivers
In mid-season 2008, the Detroit Lions parted ways with former first round pick, Roy Williams, who they sent to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for picks, including 1st round picks in the 2009 and 2010 NFL Draft. With Williams departure for Dallas, other first round draft pick Calvin Johnson becomes the main, go to guy in the 2009 Detroit Lions Wide Receivers core. Johnson's explosive speed and big catch ability makes him a nightmare matchup, for most NFL defenses, provided the Lions can get the ball to him. In addition to Stafford, the Lions selected TE Brandon Pettigrew, in the 1st round of the 2009 NFL Draft, with the 20th selection (from Dallas). Pettigrew, and free agent pick up WR Bryant Johnson are expected to round out the starting Wide Receiving core. WR Ronald Curry also joins the Detroit Lions receivers in 2009, after coming over from the Oakland Raiders. Lions have a large squad of back up WRs and TEs, which are sure to dwindle down by the start of the Detroit Lions 2009 NFL Season.
2009 Detroit Lions Offensive LineIf the Lions want to make a drastic turn around from the winless 0-16 season of 2008, the first place to begin rebuilding will be the 2009 Detroit Lions Offensive Line. Unfortunately, this area has gone unaddressed for the most part. Back are C Dominic Raiola, who played and started in 12 games in 2008, OT Jeff Backus, 16 game starter from 2008, OT Gosder Cherilus, who started 13 games in 2008, and 14 game starter, OG Stephen Peterman. The one new face will be OG Daniel Loper, who played in 16 games, with the Tennessee Titans in 2008. There are a host of other Offensive Linemen, including several offseason acquisition which include OG Dylan Gandy, OG Toniu Fonoti, and OT Kirk Barton. Also, look for OG Manny Ramirez, not Man Ram, the Dodgers outfielder, in his third season out of Texas Tech.
2009 Detroit Lions Defensive Line
On the other side of the trenches will be a few familiar faces, as well as Free Agent signee DT Grady Jackson, who makes his way over from the Atlanta Falcons. In addition to Jackson, the Lions also signed DT Chuck Darby, 15 game starter for the Seattle Seahawks in 2008. Returning to the 2009 Detroit Lions Defensive Line will be DE Cliff Avril, who started 3 games in 2008, and DE Dewayne White, 11 game starter in 2008 for the Lions. Beyond the four starters, the 2009 Detroit Lions have DE Ikaika Alama-Francis, returning after playing in 13 games in 2008, along with 2008 second round pick Andre Fluellen, who saw action in 8 games last season. Rookie additions to the staff include DT Sammie Lee Hill, who was drafted in the 4th round out of Tillman University.
2009 Detroit Lions Linebackers
In the linebacking core, the 2009 Detroit Lions made some key free agency acquisitions which include the likes of ex-Seahawks LB Julian Peterson, as well as Super Bowl Champion, LB Larry Foote, who makes his way over from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Peterson and Foote will be joining LB Ernie Sims, 2006 First Round Pick, who is the only returning Linebacker from the disastrous 2008 season. Other additions to the 2009 Detroit Lions Linebackers include LB Curtis Gatewood, who was picked up off of Waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs, LB Cody Spencer who joins the staff coming from the New York Jets, and rookie draft picks Zack Follet, from California, as well as DeAndre Levy, from Wisconsin.
2009 Detroit Lions SecondaryThe Detroit Lions were in much need for a quality secondary, which saw the release of many 2008 starters, which included CB Leight Bodden, who had the team's only interception in 2008. To revamp the Defensive backfield, the Lions brought in CB Phillip Buchanon, from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as CB Anthony Henry, from the Dallas Cowboys. Rookie Safety Louis Delmas, out of Western Michigan, is expected to thrown right into the action, after being selected in the 2nd round of the 2009 Detroit Lions NFL Draft. Rounding out the secondary will be returning starter Safety Daniel Bullocks, who got the nod in 15 games of 16 games, he played in, in 2008. Also joining the 2009 Detroit Lions Secondary is CB Eric King, which saw action in 10 games with the Tennessee Titans in 2008, and CB Antonio Smith from the Indianapolis Colts. With some skill, luck, and good coaching, the 2009 Detroit Lions Secondary expects to have more than one player with an interception, in 2009.
2009 Detroit Lions Draft Picks
Round 1: Pick 1 - Matthew Stafford QB (Georgia)
Round 1: Pick 20 - Brandon Pettigrew TE (Oklahoma State)
Round 2: Pick 33 - Louis Delmas CB (Western Michigan)
Round 3: Pick 76 - DeAndre Levy LB (Wisconsin)
Round 3: Pick 82 - Derrick Williams WR (Penn State)
Round 4: Pick 115 - Sammie Lee Hill DT (Tillman)
Round 6: Pick 192 - Aaron Brown RB (Texas Christian)
Round 7: Pick 228 - Lydon Murtha OT (Nebraska)
Round 7: Pick 235 - Zack Follet LB (California)
Round 7: Pick 255 - Dan Gronkowski TE (Maryland)
| 2009 Detroit Lions Free Agency Acquisitions and Trades |
| LB Julian Peterson from Seattle Seahawks |
| CB Phillip Buchanon form Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| OT Kirk Barton from Chicago Bears |
| WR Ronald Curry from Oakland Raiders |
| OG Toniu Fonoti from Carolina Panthers |
| LB Larry Foote from Pittsburgh Steelers |
| OG Dylan Gandy from Oakland Raiders |
| CB Anthony Henry from Dallas Cowboys |
| DE Eric Hicks from New York Jets |
| TE Will Heller from Seattle Seahawks |
| DE Jason Hunter from Green Bay Packers |
| DT Grady Jackson from Atlanta Falcons |
| OT Daniel Loper from Tennessee Titans |
| WR Bryant Johnson from San Francisco 49ers |
| CB Eric King from Tennessee Titans |
| RB Maurice Morris from Seattle Seahawks |
| FB Terrelle Smith from Arizona Cardinals |
| LB Cody Spencer from New York Jets |
| 2009 Detroit Lions Free Agency Losses and Trades |
| CB Leigh Bodden to New England Patriots |
| RB Brian Calhoun to Unsigned |
| TE Dan Campbell to New Orleans Saints |
| DT Shaun Cody to Houston Texans |
| TE Michael Gaines to Chicago Bears |
| WR Mike Furrey to Cleveland Browns |
| CB Travis Fisher to Unsigned |
| QB Drew Henson to Unsigned |
| QB Jon Kitna to Dallas Cowboys |
| RB Rudi Johnson to Unsigned |
| LB Paris Lenon to New England Patriots |
| DT Langston Moore to Unsigned |
| WR Shaun McDonald to Pittsburgh Steelers |
| C Andy McCollum to Unsigned |
| OG Edwin Mulitalo to Unsigned |
| FB Moran Norris to San Francisco 49ers |
| LB Ryan Nece to Unsigned |
| TE John Owens to Seattle Seahawks |
| QB Dan Orlovsky to Houston Texans |
| DT Cory Redding to Seattle Seahawks |
| DE Corey Smith - Deceased |
| S Dwight Smith to Unsigned |
rt-banner
Copyright © 2019 USAPlayers.com - All Rights Reserved.