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Their O-Line stinks, but they'll pick up some help there. Their running game only stinks because their passing game was no threat. With Stafford and Calvin Johnson there will at least be the big play threat to make opposing defenses not play so close, easing the burden on their sucky O-Line and giving Smith room to run. They need a tight end. They don't have a great pass rush, but they can pick up a star or two, including somebody on end who is worth a damn. Their linebacking core is OK. They will probably pick up a safety or at least a corner with their second 1st round pick, so they'll get something.

Stafford may need 2-3 years to become a good NFL quarterback, but I thought the same thing about Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, and Matt Cassel (I know Rodgers and Cassel weren't technically rookies, but I think you can see my meaning). We won't know how good he's going to be until he plays his first regular season game.

And to say that the Lions didn't show up is just not true. They played hard, they just were outcoached by everyone and out-talented by some. They were built to neither comeback nor sustain a lead. Jim Schwartz will be able to fix a lot of those problems, mainly because he has forgotten more about football than Marinelli will ever know. He will at least make them able to sustain a lead, if not comeback also, in this next year, and that alone will be enough to give them a handful of wins.

EDIT: Oh, and KC doesn't need a quarterback, they need a defense. I'm jiggy with Thiggy.