New Offensive Coordinator: Scott Linehan (STL HC: 2006-2008; MIA OC: 2005; MIN OC: 2002-2004)

A historic 0-16 record last year was the final nail in the coffin for former Detroit Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli. A day after the season ended he was fired and replaced in mid-January with Jim Schwartz. Schwartz has served as defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans the last eight years. Although he has been interviewed in the past for head coaching positions (the 49ers in 2005; and with the Redskins, Dolphins, and Falcons in 2008) this is his first stint at the pro level under such a capacity.

Schwartz’s first venture into the NFL came in 1993 as a college and pro scout for the Cleveland Browns. While scouting players was his main function then, he also assisted Bill Belichick’s (Cleveland’s Head Coach from 1991-1995) defensive staff with film breakdown and scouting reports. It was a position he would hold for three seasons until owner Art Modell relocated the franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore and renamed them the Ravens in 1996.

Even though Belichick was fired during this transition, Schwartz remained with the team under the new title of Defensive Assistant and had the responsibility of coaching outside linebackers as a member of Ted Marchibroda’s staff from 1996-1998. It was in 1999 that he first became a member of Jeff Fisher’s staff in Tennessee and continued his tenure as a Defensive Assistant in the NFL. Two years later he earned a promotion and became the Titans Defensive Coordinator. It was in this role that Schwartz began etching a name for himself as one of the top assistant coaches in the league.

Over the span of Schwartz’s eight-years as a coordinator, Tennessee’s defense ranked fifth in rushing yards allowed per game (103.5) and sixth in opponents third down conversion rate (36.1%). At home the Titans run defense was particularly dominant, allowing just nine ball carriers to surpass the one hundred yard mark in the past 64 games played at LP Field. The Titans defense also largely factored into the teams four playoff appearances within the last seven seasons. They claimed a wild card berth in 2002 and 2007, and won the AFC South in 2003 and 2008. Their 13 wins last year was most in the league.

While Schwartz is sure to make an impact with the Lions on the defensive side of the ball, Scott Linehan is the person responsible for running Detroit’s offense. His recent tenure as Head Coach of the St. Louis Rams (2006-2008) proved to be a miserable one (the teams record was a lowly 11-25 under Linehan, which eventually led to him being fired just 4 games into the ’08 season), but he does possess a commendable track record as an offensive coordinator in the NFL. Linehan spent the 2005 season under that role with the Miami Dolphins and with the Minnesota Vikings from 2002-2004.

Quarterbacks: Daunte Culpepper; Matthew Stafford (R); Drew Stanton

Detroit used the first overall pick in this years draft on quarterback Matthew Stafford out of Georgia, but veteran Daunte Culpepper will be under center at the start of the season for the Lions. Not only does this allow Stafford to sit and learn from the sidelines as a rookie, but it gives Linehan a QB to work with that is already familiar with his system.

Culpepper and Linehan spent three years together in Minnesota before Linehan departed for Miami in 2005. From 2002-2004 the Vikings offense was a powerhouse within the league. Those three seasons also happened to be the most productive of Culpepper’s career – reaching the pinnacle of his success when he threw for 4717 yards, 39 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions while completing 69.2% of his passes in their last season together.

Culpepper is now a full four years removed from that performance however and hasn’t started more than seven games in a season since then. Being reunited with Linehan should serve him well, as should a weapon like Calvin Johnson at wide receiver, but don’t get carried away with expectations. The Lions were 0-16 in 2008 for a reason and it will be difficult to turn things around over night.

The coaching staff will also have to fight the temptation of starting Stafford throughout the course of the year. For these reasons Culpepper should be considered no better than a number two QB option in fantasy leagues. He may string together some good outings, but it’s unlikely he’s a quarterback you’d want to ride with as a starter throughout the season.

Running Backs: Kevin Smith; Maurice Morris; Jerome Felton (FB); Aveion Cason; Terrelle Smith (FB); Aaron Brown (R)

Had Beanie Wells dropped two spots farther in this year’s draft, it’s possible the Lions would have selected him with the first pick of the second round. Linehan’s rushing attack is one that relies on a north-south approach from his running back and plays in contrast to the style Kevin Smith is accustomed to. Nonetheless Smith remains the starter in Detroit and will be given the opportunity to cement himself as the featured back in this offense for the foreseeable future.

As a rookie in ’08 Smith enjoyed a measurable level of success – posting 975 yards rushing on 239 carries (4.1 ypc) while scoring 8 touchdowns. He also hauled in 39 passes for another 286 yards. If he can maintain a level of consistency as the starter in Linehan’s backfield those are statistics he should surpass in 2009. Playing for a defensive minded head coach like Schwartz should also ensure plenty of carries to go around provided the Lions defense can prevent teams from scoring at will on a regular basis.

Maurice Morris, signed in the offseason and previously with the Seattle Seahawks, will serve as Smith’s back-up. He won’t warrant any serious consideration in fantasy leagues however barring injury to Smith. Rookie sixth round pick Aaron Brown may be able to carve out a role for himself as a third down back, but is nothing noteworthy at the moment.

Wide Receivers: Calvin Johnson; Bryant Johnson; Ronald Curry; Keary Colbert; Derrick Williams (R)

Scott Linehan knows how to get considerable production from wide receivers he has worked with in the NFL. He’s done so in the past with the likes of Randy Moss and Nate Burleson in Minnesota, was the offensive coordinator during Chris Chambers career year in 2005 with the Dolphins, and got strong results from both Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce in 2006 and 2007 while Head Coach of the St. Louis Rams. With that in mind, it’s safe to say Calvin Johnson will continue his flourishing growth within the NFL as he enters his third season.

Johnson may be hard pressed to match the 1331 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns he had a year ago, but it won’t be out of the question. The frightening thing is he is yet to play with a well established quarterback and possesses the potential to actually surpass those numbers in the years ahead. He’ll be well worth the selection as a number one receiver in fantasy leagues this season.

Starting alongside Calvin Johnson is expected to be Bryant Johnson. Bryant’s career has been a bit of a disappointment since he was selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2003 draft. Playing within Linehan’s offense however and opposite one of the best young receivers in the game should be beneficial to him. He’ll be worth selecting in the later rounds of drafts this year and should be a fair contributor off your bench. Pay attention to his status leading up to the start of the season to make sure he has the starting position opposite of Calvin locked up.

Ronald Curry, Keary Colbert, and rookie third round pick Derrick Williams make up the rest of the receiving corps in Detroit. Curry and Colbert may challenge Bryant Johnson for the starting position during training camp, but otherwise they’ll be nothing more than waiver wire pick-ups throughout the season.

Tight Ends: Will Heller; Casey Fitzsimmons; Brandon Pettigrew (R); Dan Gronkowski (R)

The only tight end on the Lions roster worth any consideration in fantasy leagues is rookie Brandon Pettigrew. Even then however his true value lies more in dynasty and keeper leagues at the moment. He will most likely only be useable in redrafts as a waiver wire option should he become a familiar red zone target this season. For the most part it’s his blocking skills that will make him valuable to the Lions during his first year it the NFL.