NFC North Champs

[Jack the Cat]

I don't know how they have managed not to contend in this joke of a division. They have finally got themselves rid of the problemed Joey Harrington, which should help them improve. Afterall, they have 3 #1 overall pick wideouts. Their built to suceed on offense.

I know the Bears won the division last year, but after their last division champ they dissapeared for a while. Just like their last division title, they got upset by a wild card team. I feel 2005 was just winning a losers division, they will fade away in 06. The Packers are in utter turnmoil right now.

That leaves the Lions, and Vikings to compete for the divisional title. I think the Lions will have the better offensive team, and the Vikings still have defensive issues.

[tigers527]

I don't know how they have managed not to contend in this joke of a division. They have finally got themselves rid of the problemed Joey Harrington, which should help them improve. Afterall, they have 3 #1 overall pick wideouts. Their built to suceed on offense.

I know the Bears won the division last year, but after their last division champ they dissapeared for a while. Just like their last division title, they got upset by a wild card team. I feel 2005 was just winning a losers division, they will fade away in 06. The Packers are in utter turnmoil right now.

That leaves the Lions, and Vikings to compete for the divisional title. I think the Lions will have the better offensive team, and the Vikings still have defensive issues.

As a life long Lions fan, this has been the mantra for more then a few seasons. Maybe we can be the best of the worst, the smartest kid in the remedial reading group as it were. That said, just cause the division is horrid, there is no reason why the Lions can't be worse. In simular cases they have been.

I just hope the Lions are at least a game within .500 after the Tigers win the World Series. If both the Lions total defense and offense improve which they should through coaching alone, I would think that would not be too much to ask for.

[racosun]

There's a load of talent on both sides of the ball for Detroit. I think it's very possible that we just needed a new system (WCO sucks!) and new leadership. This could easily be a very good team, possibly resembling something like the '06 Tigers turnaround. Of course, every true Lions fan has been saying every fall that the Lions could pull off a good turnaround, so they just as easily could bomb out on me.

Sending Jumpin' Joey off to greener pastures was a good move, no matter who they choose to replace him. He was clearly a distraction, although the media can take a lot of credit for that. The offense will be much improved with Mike Martz calling the shots, and there's plenty of weapons at his disposal. As much as I like the talent of Roy Williams, I believe former pothead Charles Rogers could be even better, and by a lot too. He needs to stay clean and focused, and he'll be in Hawaii come February. If he can stay out of the coach's doghouse and line up with the Williams twins, he'll be wide open all year long. Kevin Jones is going to break out huge, and the O-line will be much better. This is going to be a potent offense, barring injury or relapses.

Millen finally drafted some defensive help, and just in time. The trio of Boss Bailey, Teddy Lehman, and Ernie Sims is going to be a fantastic, quick group for a long time. Dan Bullocks is going to surprise some people with his quickness as well, I think it's a bit deceiving. He's an aggressive playmaker. Losing Big Daddy will turn out to be perfect timing, as I think Dan Cody is ready to fill a role on the D-Line. He showed flashes last year, and I think with proper coaching (Marinelli was THE best D-Line coach in the NFL) Cody will break out this season. We didn't really add too much to the line, but it'll be an improvement via coaching. If the secondary can stay healthy, this can be a quality defense, but again health is the main key here.

The division is our to be had, if we want it bad enough. The Vikings took a step back, and I don't expect Brad Johnson to be able to hold up for an entire season. If he can trick them into giving him a long-term extension, that'll be good for the Lions. The Packers will be better than most people think, but alas, Brett Favre will take yet another step backwards in his final year. He's been a great nemesis to have for all these years, and I'll miss watching him. I'll probably videotape his Lions games this season. AJ Hawk is the next Brian Urlacher, he'll win an MVP someday. Our biggest threat will come from the Bears, who still have a great defense, but really shouldn't be pissing off some of their better talent. LB Lance Briggs is fantastic, and is currently on the second string. He nearly led the league in tackles last season. 1300-yard rusher Thomas Jones is also a second-stringer, but this one is more explainable. They need to give carries to the expensive second-year RB Cedric Benson. But if the Bears want a shot at a division title, they'd better keep those two guys happy. With Rex Grossman at the helm, they'll need all the help they can get.

[tigers527]

There's a load of talent on both sides of the ball for Detroit. I think it's very possible that we just needed a new system (WCO sucks!) and new leadership. This could easily be a very good team, possibly resembling something like the '06 Tigers turnaround. Of course, every true Lions fan has been saying every fall that the Lions could pull off a good turnaround, so they just as easily could bomb out on me.

Sending Jumpin' Joey off to greener pastures was a good move, no matter who they choose to replace him. He was clearly a distraction, although the media can take a lot of credit for that. The offense will be much improved with Mike Martz calling the shots, and there's plenty of weapons at his disposal. As much as I like the talent of Roy Williams, I believe former pothead Charles Rogers could be even better, and by a lot too. He needs to stay clean and focused, and he'll be in Hawaii come February. If he can stay out of the coach's doghouse and line up with the Williams twins, he'll be wide open all year long. Kevin Jones is going to break out huge, and the O-line will be much better. This is going to be a potent offense, barring injury or relapses.

Millen finally drafted some defensive help, and just in time. The trio of Boss Bailey, Teddy Lehman, and Ernie Sims is going to be a fantastic, quick group for a long time. Dan Bullocks is going to surprise some people with his quickness as well, I think it's a bit deceiving. He's an aggressive playmaker. Losing Big Daddy will turn out to be perfect timing, as I think Dan Cody is ready to fill a role on the D-Line. He showed flashes last year, and I think with proper coaching (Marinelli was THE best D-Line coach in the NFL) Cody will break out this season. We didn't really add too much to the line, but it'll be an improvement via coaching. If the secondary can stay healthy, this can be a quality defense, but again health is the main key here.

The division is our to be had, if we want it bad enough.

I gotta say, if you know your football as well as I know my baseball. I see the makings of a great prediction post from you. However so much my heart wants to believe your words, my head steps in. This is the Lions, but if your right I will be there giving you some props.

It is Shaun Cody BTW I remember the ones that share my moniker, even if they spell it wrong.

[racosun]

I gotta say, if you know your football as well as I know my baseball. I see the makings of a great prediction post from you. However so much my heart wants to believe your words, my head steps in. This is the Lions, but if your right I will be there giving you some props.

It is Shaun Cody BTW I remember the ones that share my moniker, even if they spell it wrong.

Oops, Shaun Cody, my bad. I always confuse Shaun with the Ravens' Dan. I think when I was studying for the '05 draft, that's where things got mixed up. I haven't recovered, but hopefully Shaun will make it harder to forget who he is this season.

As for the predicitons, I was wincing as I was typing it up. After so many years of hope and then heartbreak (Andre Ware, anyone?), it's hard to be a Lions fan. But, like I did with my Tigers, I'll stick by them and believe they can turn it around. It may take new ownership, but hopefully not. Hopefully, this is the year. But again, us Lions fans say that every year. They do have a lot more talent this season than they have had in a long time, I'll say that much. There really isn't much of a reason for them not to succeed, except that damn losing culture that's been hanging over our heads forever.

It's got to turn around at some point, right? Why not now? They should adopt a slogan similar to the Tigers: "Four Quarters." But then again, that's kinda cheesy. It makes me think of a dollar. :p