An In Depth Look At The Detroit Lions 2013 Schedule

Sun, Sept. 8  VS Minnesota Vikings

Vikings Head Coach Leslie Fraizer record 16-22

2012 record 10-6 NFC Wild Card berth

Key Losses- LB Jasper Brinkley OG Geoff Schwartz WR Percy Harvin

Key Additions- QB Matt Cassel WR Greg Jennings

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	23(23)	S. Floyd	DT	Florida
1	25(25)	X. Rhodes	–	Florida State
1	29(29)	C. Patterson	WR	Tennessee
4	23(120)	G. Hodges	–	Penn State
5	22(155)	J. Locke	–	UCLA
6	28(196)	J. Baca	OG	UCLA
7	7(213)	M. Mauti	–	Penn State
7	8(214)	T. Bond	OG	North Carolina
7	23(229)	E. Dawkins	DT	Florida State

 

 

 

Sun, Sept. 15 AT Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Head Coach Bruce Arians 9-3 as Interim for Indianapolis Colts in 2o12 technically a rookie

2012 record 5-11

Key Losses- RB Beanie Wells WR Early Doucet

Key Additions- QB Carson Palmer RB Rashard Mendenhall

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	7(7)	J. Cooper	OG	North Carolina
2	13(45)	K. Minter	–	LSU
3	7(69)	T. Mathieu	–	LSU
4	6(103)	A. Okafor	DE	Texas
4	19(116)	E. Watford	OG	James Madison
5	7(140)	S. Taylor	RB	Stanford
6	6(174)	R. Swope	WR	Texas A&M
6	19(187)	A. Ellington	RB	Clemson
7	13(219)	D. Jefferson	TE	Rutgers

 

 

Sun Sept. 22 AT Washington Redskins

Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan record 21-27

2012 record 10-6 NFC East Division Winner

Key Losses- OT Jammal Brown

Key Additions- WR Devery Henderson WR Donte’ Stallworth

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
2	19(51)	D. Amerson	–	North Carolina State
3	23(85)	J. Reed	TE	Florida
4	22(119)	P. Thomas	–	Fresno State
5	21(154)	C. Thompson	RB	Florida State
5	29(162)	B. Jenkins	–	Florida State
6	23(191)	B. Rambo	–	Georgia
7	22(228)	J. Jamison	RB	Rutgers

 

 

Sun, Sept. 29 VS Chicago Bears

Bears Head Coach Marc Trestman Rookie no record

2012 record 10-6

Key Losses- LB Brian Urlacher WR Johnny Knox QB Jason Campbell

Key Additions- TE Martellus Bennett OT Jermon Bushrod

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	20(20)	K. Long	OG	Oregon
2	18(50)	J. Bostic	–	Florida
4	20(117)	K. Greene	–	Rutgers
5	30(163)	J. Mills	OT	Louisiana Tech
6	20(188)	C. Washington	DE	Georgia
7	30(236)	M. Wilson	WR	Washington State

 

 

 

Sun, Oct. 6 AT Green Bay Packers

Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy record 74-38

2012 record 11-5 NFC North Division Winner

Key Losses- WR Donal Driver WR Greg Jennings RB Cedric Benson

Key Additions- None

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	26(26)	D. Jones	DE	UCLA
2	29(61)	E. Lacy	RB	Alabama
4	12(109)	D. Bakhtiari	OT	Colorado
4	25(122)	J. Tretter	OG	Cornell
4	28(125)	J. Franklin	RB	UCLA
5	26(159)	M. Hyde	–	Iowa
5	34(167)	J. Boyd	DT	Mississippi State
6	25(193)	N. Palmer	–	Illinois State
7	10(216)	C. Johnson	WR	Grand Valley State
7	18(224)	K. Dorsey	WR	Maryland
7	26(232)	S. Barrington	–	South Florida

 

 

Sun, Oct. 13 AT Cleveland Browns

Browns Head Coach Rob Chudzinski Rookie No record

2012 record 5-11

Key Losses- WR Josh Cribbs TE Ben Watson

Key Additions- DE/LB Paul Kruger LB Quentin Groves WR David Nelson

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	6(6)	B. Mingo	DE	LSU
3	6(68)	L. McFadden	–	San Diego State
6	7(175)	J. Slaughter	–	Notre Dame
7	11(217)	A. Bryant	DE	East Central Oklahoma
7	21(227)	G. Gilkey	OG	Chadron State

 

 

Sun, Oct. 20 VS Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis record 79-80-1

2012 record 10-6 AFC Wild Card

Key Losses- None

Key Additions- None

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	21(21)	T. Eifert	TE	Notre Dame
2	5(37)	G. Bernard	RB	North Carolina
2	21(53)	M. Hunt	DE	Southern Methodist
3	22(84)	S. Williams	–	Georgia
4	21(118)	S. Porter	–	Texas A&M
5	23(156)	T. Hawkinson	OT	Kansas
6	22(190)	R. Burkhead	RB	Nebraska
6	29(197)	C. Hamilton	WR	Arkansas
7	34(240)	R. Fragel	OT	Ohio State
7	45(251)	T. Johnson	–	South Carolina

 

 

Sun, Oct. 27 VS Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett record 21-19

2012 record 8-8

Key Losses- RB Felix Jones

Key Additions- None

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	31(31)	T. Frederick	–	Wisconsin
2	15(47)	G. Escobar	TE	San Diego State
3	12(74)	T. Williams	WR	Baylor
3	18(80)	J. Wilcox	–	Georgia Southern
4	17(114)	B. Webb	–	William & Mary
5	18(151)	J. Randle	RB	Oklahoma State
6	17(185)	D. Holloman	–	South Carolina

 

 

 

BYE WEEK

 

 

 

Sun, Nov.10 AT Chicago Bears

 

 

 

Sun, Nov. 17 AT Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin record 63-33

2012 record 8-8

Key Losses- WR Mike Wallace RB Rashard Medenhall

Key Additions- None

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	17(17)	J. Jones	–	Georgia
2	16(48)	L. Bell	RB	Michigan State
3	17(79)	M. Wheaton	WR	Oregon State
4	14(111)	S. Thomas	–	Syracuse
4	18(115)	L. Jones	QB	Oklahoma
5	17(150)	T. Hawthorne	–	Illinois
6	18(186)	J. Brown	WR	Penn State
6	38(206)	V. Williams	–	Florida State
7	17(223)	N. Williams	DT	Samford

 

 

Sun, Nov. 24 VS Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Head Coach Greag Schiano record 7-9

2012 record 7-9

Key Losses- RB LeGarrete Blount TE Dallas Clark WR Arrelious Benn

Key Additions- S Dashon Goldson CB Darrelle Revis

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
2	11(43)	J. Banks	–	Mississippi State
3	11(73)	M. Glennon	QB	North Carolina State
4	3(100)	A. Spence	DT	Illinois
4	29(126)	W. Gholston	DE	Michigan State
5	14(147)	S. Means	–	Buffalo
6	21(189)	M. James	RB	Miami (FL)

 

 

Thu, Nov. 28 VS Green Bay Packers

 

 

 

Sun, Dec. 8 AT Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly rookie no record

2012 record 4-12

Key Losses- CB Nnamdi Asomugha DT Cullen Jenkins

Key Additions- CB Cary Williams S Kenny Phillips

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	4(4)	L. Johnson	OT	Oklahoma
2	3(35)	Z. Ertz	TE	Stanford
3	5(67)	B. Logan	DT	LSU
4	1(98)	M. Barkley	QB	USC
5	3(136)	E. Wolff	–	North Carolina State
7	6(212)	J. Kruger	DE	Utah
7	12(218)	J. Poyer	–	Oregon State
7	33(239)	D. King	DE	Oklahoma

 

 

 

Mon, Dec. 16 VS Baltimore Ravens

Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh record 52-26

2012 record 10-6 AFC North Winners

Key Losses- WR Anquan Boldin LB Ray Lewis S Ed Reed C Matt Birk FB Vonte Leach S Bernard Pollard

Key Additions- DL Chris Canty DE Elvis Dummervil S Michael Huff

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	32(32)	M. Elam	–	Florida
2	24(56)	A. Brown	–	Kansas State
3	32(94)	B. Williams	DT	Missouri Southern State
4	32(129)	J. Simon	DE	Ohio State
4	33(130)	K. Juszczyk	FB	Harvard
5	35(168)	R. Wagner	OT	Wisconsin
6	32(200)	K. Lewis-Moore	DE	Notre Dame
6	35(203)	R. Jensen	OG	Colorado State-Pueblo
7	32(238)	A. Mellette	WR	Elon
7	41(247)	M. Anthony	–	California

 

 

Sun, Dec.22 VS New York Giants

Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin record 151-121

2012 record 9-7

Key Losses- RB Ahmad Bradshaw WR Domenik Hixon TE Martellus Bennett

Key Additions- TE Brandon Myers LB Dan Connor

Draft-

RD	PK(OVR)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1	19(19)	J. Pugh	OT	Syracuse
2	17(49)	J. Hankins	DT	Ohio State
3	19(81)	D. Moore	DE	Texas A&M
4	13(110)	R. Nassib	QB	Syracuse
5	19(152)	C. Taylor	–	Richmond
7	19(225)	E. Herman	OG	Ohio
7	47(253)	M. Cox	RB	Massachusetts

 

 

Sun, Dec. 29 AT Minnesota Vikings

2013 NFL All Underrated Team-NFC

Arizona Cardinals- While Darnell Dockett gets all the press, Calais Campbell is most definitely the underrated player of this team.

Atlanta Falcons- While the offense gets all the attention and the defense has names like Osi Umenyiora and Asante Samuel, William Moore is the guy who is the difference maker.

Carolina Panthers-  Jonathan Stewart while he and DeAngelo Williams splits reps and basically are about equal in talent and production, Stewart gives them a great two back backfield.

Chicago Bears- Amongst NFL fans this guy is known but he should be known much more. Charles Tillman is the best player and has been on the Bears for years. His ability to play coverage and the run is at a rare level. His ability to force fumbles is incredibly underrated by mainstream fans.

Dallas Cowboys- This was a hard one because they have young up and coming guys but they’re coming off injuries and you never know the value of a guy until he plays again. That said, Dwayne Harris is an underrated kid. Solid in both kick and punt returns and on coverage. Not to mention he is a good 3rd or 4th WR.

Detroit Lions- Without a shadow of a doubt Detroit’s most underrated player is Cornerback Chris Houston. Houston has been a very good player since his arrival to Detroit and deserves more recognition around the league.

Green Bay Packers– Among all the weapons in Green Bay’s arsenal the most underrated and undervalued player by far is John Kuhn. He plays a dying position, fullback, and is very versatile. Blocks well, catches and runs at critical times for first downs and has had his share of TD’s as well.

Minnesota Vikings- With Jared Allen on one end, on the other is Minnesota’s most underrated player. Brian Robison in the past two seasons Robison has 16 and a half sacks and 6 forced fumbles. Very much the benefits from Allen and Kevin Williams on that line.

New York Giants- Many good candidates on this team but the one who stands out to me is Safety  Stevie Brown. He has really stepped up and filled a hole in the back-end of that defense.

New Orleans Saints- Drew Brees and Darren Sproles get all the publicity but the underrated player on this team is Pierre Thomas. Thomas has been so good that he has made Mark Ingram virtually expendable.

Philadelphia Eagles- While the offensive line gets a lot of heat one guy stands out. Todd Herremans he has played every position except Center and while he’s not a great player that kind of versatility has helped Philadelphia immensely with all the injuries along that line in recent years.

San Francisco 49ers- While Colin Kaepernick and the defense get most of the credit and press coverage the glue and fiber of this team is Vernon Davis. Yes the same guy who was told to leave the field, game in progress, by former Head Coach Mike Singletary. Not only has he grown up as a player but he puts the team first even if that means sacrifice in his own statistics.

Seattle Seahawks- By far the most underrated player on this team is Red Bryant. He plays a 2 gap technique and can play both Defensive End and Defensive Tackle. He has been the rock of their defense and allows the rushers and coverage players to make plays.

St. Louis Rams- Without question this was the hardest team to find an underrated player on. They either have good established guys like Courtland Finnegan, Chris Long, or a bunch of bad players but I did find one guy who was very good for them last year and helped them win games. Kicker Greg Zuerlein. The kid had a league best 13 fields goals past 50 yards in his rookie campaign. While his overall field goal percentage wasn’t spectacular it was not bad either. I think, they found themselves a nice contributor for years to come.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers– Not a lot to work with on this roster either but Mason Foster seems to be the best candidate for the Bucs. A solid tackler and hard worker this 3rd round pick in 2011, has earned the starting spot at middle linebacker and now we’ll see if he is the player most draftniks thought coming out of the University of Washington.

Washington Redskins- Quick, who was the best rookie running back last year? Alfred Morris that’s who. Once again Mike Shanahan found himself a stud running back at the bottom of the draft in 2012. Morris never had a fair shot at Rookie of the Year with Luck, Wilson and RGIII but he was by far the most consistent and best player for the Redskins last season. RGIII got the media coverage, Morris stole the show.

I’ll be posting my AFC All Underrated Team soon.

Thanks for reading