I’ve been writing semi-regular posts here about my beloved Detroit Lions since late in the 2010 season. My posts have all been based in statistics and not opinion. This time around, that is going to be difficult given that draft predictions so often come down to opinion. But I’ll give it a try. Through this post, I offer Martin Mayhew free advice* regarding whom the Lions should draft this year.

Keeping with the previous format, my analysis is based upon the statistical categories which I’ve previously identified as key to winning football games. I’ve compared the 2011 regular season Detroit Lions to both the NFC and AFC champions. This chart summarizes that comparison:

As you can see, I’ve highlighted in either gold or maroon (Fire Up Chips!) those statistical categories in which the 2011 NFC and AFC Champions regular season average exceeded the performance of the 2011 Detroit Lions. There are 8 categories so highlighted out of a possible 15.

(Stop and consider that for a moment: The 2011 Detroit Lions outpaced the average plan of the 2011 NFC and AFC champions during the regular season in over 46 percent of the key statistical categories. We are getting close!)

You can’t address every need in a single draft, so I’ve divided the eight problematic statistical categories into two sub-categories: Key areas in need of improvement, highlighted in maroon; and not-so-key areas in need of improvement, highlighted in gold. I can hear you yelling: “But how did you determine which were key and which were not-so-key?” Don’t fret. I’ll tell you. The key areas in need of improvement are those areas in which the 2011 Lions failed to outplay either of the 2011 champs, and the not-so-key areas in need of improvement are those in which the 2011 Lions exceeded the performance of one of the 2011 champs. Brilliant!
Continue reading Here is what the Detroit Lions should do in the 2012 draft →

This year, Detroit Lions will be playing in the NFL Playoffs for the first time this century.*

Since late in the 2010 season, I’ve been posting here about the development of the team. (One year ago today: “I’ll say it now, and I’ll stand by it next year: The 2011 Detroit Lions are going to be playing in the 2011 post-season.“) My posts have all been about statistics, not opinion. Keeping with the previous format, the chart below shows how the 2011 Detroit Lions compared throughout the regular season to their opponents and to the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Detroit Lions in terms of the eight statistical categories key to winning football games.

If you take the time to read this chart, you’ll see an absolutely amazing four-year turnaround.

Compare the 2008 squad to the 2011 squad. The 2011 Lions were better than the 2008 Lions in literally every aspect of the game. More importantly, the 2011 Lions bested their opponents in seven of the eight key categories. That is how you go from a 0-16 record to a 10-6 record. Welcome to football relevancy. I can’t wait for Saturday, when the Lions take on the New Orleans Saints in their first playoff game since my sophomore year in high school.

*I found this wikipedia entry on the history of the Lions when I was posting this for Perry Mason. And it says Marvin Gaye decided to stop singing and try out for the Lions. What the what? –N