The Detroit Lions have been walking the boundary between being an average team in the NFL and an elite one for many years. After making the playoffs in 2011, expectations have been high, and the Lions have not returned to the postseason.
This season, the Lions welcome a new head coach, Jim Caldwell, and a slew of new pieces to both the offense and defense. The expectations will remain that the Lions will advance out of the tough NFC North and make the playoffs for the first time in three years.
However, there are still questions that need be answered before that can happen. Here are a few of the biggest mysteries entering the preseason.
1. Will Matthew Stafford play like an elite quarterback?
Stafford has been an erratic quarterback in his five years in Detroit, but when he’s on, he might be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. In the 2011 season, Stafford threw for 5,038 yards, becoming one of only five quarterbacks in history to do so. He had a 41/16 touchdown to interception ratio; by far the highest in his career.
However, Stafford struggled with consistency in the next two years. In 2012, his touchdown to interception ratio was 20/17 and his completion percentage was under 60 percent. In 2011, the ratio was better, at 29/19, but the completion percentage dropped to 58.5.
Stafford has no excuses this year, with the league’s top wide receiver, Calvin Johnson, as well as a super-reliable No. 2 receiver in Golden Tate. With a healthy Reggie Bush in the backfield, this might be the best offense Stafford has had in his time in Detroit.
2. How will Ndamukong Suh respond in the last year of his contract?
Suh, one of the most polarizing figures in the entire league, is in the last year of his five-year rookie contract. The two sides tried to get a deal done before training camp started, but could not reach an agreement, forcing the Lions to postpone talks until after the season.
The problem that could surface is if Suh decides to test the market, where his services would be in great demand. The 27-year-old is one of the most intimidating players in the NFL, but he hasn’t improved since his rookie season in 2010.
In 2010, Suh totaled 10 sacks and 66 tackles. Since that season, he hasn’t broken 50 tackles and has reached just eight sacks in a full year. He will want to step his game up in order to get the contract he hopes for after the season.
3. Will the Lions defense improve after a weak 2013 season?
Last year, the Lions finished 16th in the league in total defense. The defensive line, with Suh and Nick Fairley is not necessarily as much of a problem. The Lions weakness centers around its secondary, which was revamped through free agency this offseason.
The Lions signed safety James Ihedigbo and cornerback Cassius Vaughn to add depth to a shallow position. Ihedigbo followed his head coach from the Baltimore Ravens, where he had 101 tackles and three interceptions last season. Vaughn also hauled in three interceptions last season with the Indianapolis, giving the Lions another veteran to work with.
Caldwell is an offensive mind, so the task of improving the defense will fall on Teryl Austin, who made the move from Baltimore, as well. Austin spent time as a defensive backs coach for the Ravens, so his experience should definitely help this Lions unit.