FanHouse DonnieHenderson

The Jets have a pretty long history of failing in the draft (one of my favorite YouTube videos of all time, particularly the mortified "Oh no!!!!" that rings out at the :38 mark). But they got it right with Jonathan Vilma. At least, it was right at the time.

Under Donnie Henderson's 4-3, Vilma excelled -- Rookie of the Year one year, a Pro Bowl alternate the next. Then Eric Mangini came in, switched to a 3-4, and Vilma stopped being productive. And healthy. So, with free agency looming next year and Vilma sure to depart, the Jets are trying to get whatever compensation they can for him now.

They've informed Vilma that he can seek trade opportunities, which would also require his new team to sign him to an extension. Coming off microfracture surgery on his knee, Vilma will begin running full-speed next month, and his ultimate health will determine the market, and what price the Jets could command. I wouldn't be surprised to see him moved for something like a conditional fourth-rounder that can jump to a third based on playing time and a second based on production.

The Saints and Jaguars -- two 4-3 teams -- are considered potential suitors, though I don't expect to get anything done until closer to the draft, as teams will want to see what progress Vilma has made in his recovery. If healthy, and in the right system, this can be an impact move. As for his replacement, David Harris, it looks like the Jets hit on that draft pick.

With the announcement of the firing of 2006 Defensive Coordinator Donnie Henderson, a new era has officially begun in Detroit. Henderson, who had played on a team coached by Rod Marinelli, never gelled with Marinelli's dogged faith in the Tampa-style Cover-2 zone defense. Joe Barry, in spite of being Marinelli's son-in-law, is likely one of the league's biggest proponents of the defensive scheme. Both Barry and Marinelli coached under Tony Dungy, Lovie Smith, and Monte Kiffin in Tampa. They are adherents to what has become one of the more effective defensive schemes in recent NFL history. That in mind, one has to wonder if the Lions will have the personnel necessary for the scheme to be effective in 2007 and if the rest of the league has not already caught up with and adapted to the scheme.

The Lions allowed opponents to complete nearly 70% of their passes this season. The Lions were almost completely unable to generate a consistent pass rush, especially from their edge pass rushers, even though DT Cory Redding had eight sacks. The Tampa-2 is a "bend, but don't break" type of defense that is predicated on a heavy pass rush from the defensive line and excellent zone coverage from the linebackers and the defensive backs. Most Cover-2 schemes demand big, physical corners who make it difficult for receivers to get off of the line of scrimmage. The Lions never established this type of defense against the pass. The Tampa-2 also emphasizes maintaining gap responsibilities against the run, to eliminate running lanes and allow the zone defense's fast, undersized linebackers to flow to the play unabated. The Lions linebackers, aside from Ernie Sims, never flourished within this scheme this season.

The Lions do possess some of the necessary personnel from which Barry can build a stronger Tampa-Style defense. First priority is re-signing DT Cory Redding who has proven to be a diference maker since he was moved to the middle. Getting All-Pro DT Shaun Rogers fully on board with the defense may be Barry's biggest challenge but could lead to the greatest rewards for the team. The Lions can only hope that with one more season that young players like Ernie Sims, Alex Lewis, and Stanley Wilson, Jr will continue to improve under Barry's guidance. The biggest priority for the organization is finding a consistent edge pass rusher via free agency, trade, draft or internally. Kalimba Edwards continues to be a major disappointment who may finally develop under the auspices of Barry's guidance.

The Lions 2007 off-season has hit the ground running. Within 72 hours, the Lions garnered an implausible road victory against a playoff team, fired a position coach and coordinator, had another coach retire, retained a team president whose career record is 24-72 across six seasons, and replaced the aforementioned fired coordinator.

The Lions victory in Dallas has many Lions fans up in arms. Unexpected as the victory was, any meager success this organization can muster is valuable as it continues it's arduous and perilous march towards NFL respectability. As much as many detractors are disappointed about the team surrendering the first overall pick in the 2007 draft with a victory, I think it is safe to say that the prospects would be considerably more ominous if the current regime were allowed to make that pick, considering the complete lack of credibility that the Lions front office staff currently possesses. The fact that a 2-13 team can find a way to play hard and achieve a victory on the road, against a Super Bowl contender, is a small tribute to the direction of the team under Head Coach Rod Marinelli.

In moves that may call into question Marinelli's decision-making prowess, the Lions fired Offensive Line Coach Larry Beightol, who is highly regarded among NFL circles, and Defensive Coordinator Donnie Henderson, who is also well-regarded but has very different philosophies about defense than Marinelli. Meanwhile, long-time Special Teams Coach Chuck Priefer has decided to retire. The team promoted his long-time assistant Stan Kwan. Both Priefer and Kwan have weathered the Lions many coaching changes during recent seasons, so hopefully Kwan will be able to enact a smooth transition entering 2007.

In spite of potential accusations of nepotism, Marinelli hired former Tampa Bay linebackers coach Joe Barry to become the Lions new Defensive Coordinator. Barry, who is Marinelli's son-in-law, would have joined the Lions last season but the Buccaneers have a policy of making it difficult for their coaches to leave the organization while under contract. Barry's hiring is an indication that the organization is fully committed to implementing the Tampa Cover-2 Zone defense scheme, despite the difficulties the 2006 Lions have had in adapting to the new scheme.

Coming off of this past week's bye, Lions Defensive Coordinator Donnie Henderson faces some serious challenges in implementing the Lions Cover-2 Zone defensive scheme, as well as extracting the quality of play necessary from his defense so that the Lions can remain competitive throughout the season's duration. The Lions defense has been injury-ridden and will struggle mightily to replace Pro Bowl DT Shaun Rogers, who is serving a suspension for failing the NFL's drug testing program.

If Henderson is able to draw a higher quality of play from his defense, one that has been lackluster thus far, he may not only be able to preserve his own future within the Lions organization, but likely will also enable the team to garner a win or two more down the stretch. Henderson's unit will be bolstered immediately by the impending return of SS Kenoy Kennedy, SLB Alex Lewis, and MLB Teddy Lehman. The return of Lehman and Lewis are particularly important. The linebackers should benefit greatly from the expanded depth and stronger inter-squad competition among the personnel to gain playing time. Lehman will likely be a little rusty from missing nearly two seasons and it still remains to be seen whether or not he has added the necessary upper body strength to adequately fend off blockers in the middle of the defense. That being said, Lehman consistently made plays as a rookie and his athleticism should be well utilized in the Lions new defensive scheme.

The Lions face a huge, immediate challenge against their Sunday opponents, the Falcons. The Jets ground game, which previously had been average at best, excelled against the Lions who entered the contest without both of their starting defensive tackles. The Lions will now face one of the better rushing attacks in the NFL and will still be without their starting defensive tackles. They also have the misfortune of facing Falcons QB Michael Vick after two successive career best games. The Lions, with their expanded defensive personnel, are going to have to play an inspired game if they are going to weather the upcoming challenges they face in playing the Falcons.

If Sunday's game stands as an indicator, The Lions offense has finally started to benefit from the guidance of the team's Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz. They have scored a combined fifty-eight points in the last two games. The offense has exhibited the necessary big-play ability to be able to compete against nearly any team in the NFL. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the team's struggling, porous defense.

If you look at the Lion's defensive struggles statistically, especially considering the tough-minded defense-centric mindset of Head Coach Rod Marinelli, there is no mystery to the team's 0-4 record. The Lion's front four, after 5 sacks in game 1, have only garnered 1 sack since. They have allowed an astounding ninety-nine points since only allowing 9 points in game 1. Opposing QB's through 4 games have completed 71.3% of their passes with 10 TD's and 0 INT's. The four QB's the Lion's have faced have combined for an astonishing 121.9 Passer Rating. Obviously, while implementing new offensive and defensive philosophies it stands to reason that there would be some growing pains along the way for a team as young as the Lions. That being said, the Lions have far too much talent for teams to be able to march up and down the field as easily as their opponents have.

Before the season takes an irreparable turn, the Lion's Defensive Coordinator Donnie Henderson has to find a way to both increase the defense's understanding of their responsibilities and encourage them to tighten up at the end of games. The Lion's record, as many of us are painfully aware, could be 3-1 at this point. The Lion's have an established track record of playing just close enough to lose. If there is any challenge that will determine Coach Rod Marinelli's forseeable future as a Lion's coach, it will be finding away to change this organizational characteristic.