FanHouse DevaleEllis

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: Jon Kitna -- man of God, man of many passing yards, man of many lapses in judgement. With Kitna, Mike Martz found a quarterback who could air it out appropriately in his offense. Appropriately, in this instance, means bombing away with little regard to risk, and the interception and sack totals with Kitna under center reflect that. Martz is gone and the Lions are shifting to a more conservative offense. Kitna isn't the right man to helm it, and, turning 36 early this season, should be on his last tour in Detroit. The problem is that the Lions aren't sure if they have anyone behind him to take over, with Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton possessing exactly zero starts and only 17 passing attempts between them, all Orlovsky's. Heat Index: 5

Running back: That conservative offense will put more work at the feet of the team's tailbacks. The Lions' running game in 2007 was 31st in the league and lost their best runner in Kevin Jones. Still, they're going about improving in the right way. They kept Tatum Bell and Brian Calhoun from last year and tailored their attack to a one-cut zone blocking system that suits their skills. Bell had almost 2,000 yards and 10 touchdowns running in that system in 2005 and 2006. Assuming he stays healthy, he should bring a big-play punch. But the biggest impact will be made by the biggest unknown -- rookie Kevin Smith. He also excels in a zone system, and the wildly productive college back is one of the players I think is going to absolutely turn heads this year. Heat Index: 7

Second year Lions WR Mike Williams has been one of the most disappointing draft selections in Lions team history. His well-documented maturity issues (missing practice, sleeping in meetings, weight control issues) and poor work ethic have severely hampered a 2-9 team that has been sorely lacking a compliment to WR's Roy Williams and Mike Furrey in Mike Martz's multi-receiver offense. In Thursday's game against the Dolphins, Williams was activated for the first time in weeks and apparently he is being given another opportunity to hopefully emerge as a contributor for the 2006 team.

Williams was activated due to injuries to WR's DeVale Ellis and Eddie Drummond. Williams also has begun to contribute to the special teams, a role which he had previously been unable or unwilling to offer to the organization. In order to justify Williams' activation, he had to be able provide some other contribution besides sulking along the sidelines with his helmet off, waiting for his chance to run a few pass patterns. It recently had been rumored that Williams had missed another opportunity to play by not being fully aware of how to run his pass routes for a 7-on-7 passing drill in practice.

In response, the Lions have softened a little on Williams. Reportedly they have been fining him less heavily for being overweight. They have established a running program for him in hopes that he may yet meet his 220 lb. playing weight which the organization has set for him. Williams could still provide match up problems for opposing defenses from the slot, against smaller defensive backs, and also inside of the "red zone". The ball is in Williams' court for now. Williams needs to prove to himself and the organization that he still possesses the qualities that made him a desirable draft pick. It is time for him to step up for a team that desperately needs something positive to emerge during an increasingly disappointing end to their season.

The Lions DT Shaun "Big Baby' Rogers returned to the team yesterday from his five week vaca--er, I mean five game suspension for failing a league-administered drug test. Rogers, who had a minor knee surgery while under suspension, utilized his time away from the team to rehab his recovering knee. Apparently, even though Rogers was rehabbing his knee, he is still remains over his playing weight and is not in good enough condition to play Thursday. Rogers, a former Pro Bowler, has the hurt the team with his absence. It may be necessary for the Lions to consider what Rogers' future will be with the organization after the season.

Rogers' absence has been very costly. In the four games he has been away, teams have rushed 132 times for 689 yards, or about 5.2 yards per carry. In Rogers' defense, the Lions were also without injured starting DT Shaun Cody while Rogers was suspended. It is also likely that the Falcons, with their strong ground game, would have been able to run effectively even if the Lions had Rogers available in their game. I do think the relative success of the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets running the ball is at least, partially attributable to Rogers' suspension, though. Rogers' continueed absence must provide no small amount of joy to Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown as he awaits Thursday's game.

The Lions wide receiver personnel has been unsettled throughout the entire 2006 season. They have been unable to find receivers to play consistently enough, or remain healthy enough, as compliments to the team's starters, Roy Williams and Mike Furrey. The injuries of WR's Eddie Drummond and DeVale Ellis against the Cardinals may necessitate the re-activation of WR Mike Williams, who has been left off of the game day roster for several weeks now. Williams, a disappointing former first round draft selection, is very unlikely to play except for emergency situations. It has been reported that Williams has continued to allow his weight to balloon and that during a recent 7-on-7 passing drill Williams had no clue what passing routes he was supposed to run.