Lions Preaseason Update

Well Lions fans, after two games of the preseason, after two preseason victories, it's time to take a look at where the Lions stand with the regular season quickly approaching.? The Lions defeated the Giants and Bengals in their first two encounters.? While preseason victories are meaningless, we witnessed several good things on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.? Since it is preseason, much of what we see needs to be taken with a grain of salt.? Here is a look at the Lions halfway through the exhibition season. There were a lot of questions regarding the Lions offense with the departure of Mike Martz.? Many thought getting rid of Martz?and turning over the reins of the offense to Jim Colletto and Kippy?Brown would be a huge mistake.? Many felt the offense would tank?without Martz.? Who knows what will happen once the regular season starts?? However, I love the new offensive plan of Colletto and Brown.? I think it will work.? The offense will look a lot different and I think it will be productive. The 2008 team is going to be committed to running the football.? Colletto is switching to a zone blocking scheme and there will be growing pains.? They have been far from impressive in the first two games.? They did improve from game one to game two.? There is still a lot of work to be done to get the running?game in order for the start of the regular season.??Rookie?OT?Gosder Cherilus looked horrible against the Giants, but he put in a?solid performance in Cincinnati.? The running game won't need to rack up the yards.? They will simply need to?help keep the defense honest and help control the clock.? The running game was an afterthought during the?Martz regime, it won't be in 2008. There are several new wrinkles in the passing attack.? It appears that Colletto and Brown are going to focus on getting the ball to?the playmakers.? No more controlled mayhem designed to?open up a big?play.? They have Calvin Johnson and they are going to use him.? Look for Johnson to have a huge year and Roy Williams to put up big numbers as?CJ will draw double and triple coverage. QB Jon Kitna will not be the sitting duck he was the last two seasons.? The staff is mixing up the drops and they are using rollouts.? With the commitment to the running game, the play action pass is part of the offense, as well as the bootleg.? Opposing defenses can't just rush to the same spot anymore.? Kitna has showed mobility and the ability to throw on the run in his limited preseason action. Many of the new acquisitions on the defensive ball have played well.? CBs Leigh Bodden and Brian Kelly have improved the secondary.? The defense has been putting pressure on the QB.? Rookies Jordon Dizon, Cliff Avril, and Andre Fluellen have looked good.? It won't take much to improve on the defensive side of the ball.? The 2007 unit was at the bottom of the barrel statistically. Preseason is preseason but I have liked what I have seen from the 2008 Lions.? The Lions host the Browns in the third preseason game this Saturday.? We should have a better idea of where things stand after that one.? So far so good.