Detroit Lions to-do list for 2009

January 2, 12:03 PMDetroit Lions ExaminerChris Morgan

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Don't screw it up, Mayhew. (ESPN.com)

Well, I hope your year has kicked off well.  Though if you are a Michigan State fan it probably wasn't all too great, though they did play Georgia tough and I presume if any MSU fan was being honest with you they would tell you a New Year's Day bowl was but a pipe dream when the season started. However, on the other side of things the Wings dominated the Chicago Blackhawks on a national platform, showing that no matter how much love the Penguins and Blackhawks of the world get, the Wings are still the defending champions and one of the elite teams in the league.

But you're not here for MSU or Red Wings talk, but if you do want some might I point you to our Spartans and Red Wings Examiners. However, let's talk Lions before you check out those other fine folks.

Needless to say, the Lions have a lot they need to do before the start of next season. Winless teams don't just turn things around overnight without doing anything. Or at least that is what I presume, I was not alive the last time a team went winless, but I do know the 1976 Tamps Bay Buccaneers weren't exactly world beaters in 1977 either. So if the Lions want to emulate this year's Dolphins and Falcons and not that Bucs team, they need to make a lot of big decisions, and more importantly make them well. Matt Millen made a lot of big decisions, but since he was dangerously unqualified he made them terribly. Consider the following a checklist of everything the Lions need to do before the start of the 2009 NFL season. Or, if you are a fan of lazy, contrived story ideas, consider it the Detroit Lions 2009 New Year's Resolutions list.

1. Hire a head coach: But not just any head coach, of course. If they are smart, they'll hire a defensive minded head coach. I have been trumpeting the name of Steve Spagnuolo the last week or so, and I will keep doing it until a coaching decision is made. However, any proven defensive coordinator from the 4-3 defense will do. If the Lions are going to turn things around, they can't be making the move to the 3-4, it will set them back a couple of seasons, especially considering how bad their defense is. Mayhew is making me a bit wary by lining up interviews with two of his old teammates in Dolphins secondary coach Todd Bowles and Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray. While both of these men may be fine candidates, I worry about potential cronyism superseding hiring the best candidate. President James A. Garfield was a big fan of cronyism and he ended up shot in a train station. Let's hope things go a little better for Mayhew.

2. Hire a defensive coordinator: Hire a defensive coach, and let him choose the defensive coordinator. It's as simple as that.

3. Hire an offensive coordinator: A little trickier if you hire a defensive head coach, and made a little harder since Norv Turner may have saved his bacon by squeaking into the playoffs at a paltry 8-8. Hey, Mike Martz is currently unemployed, how about another go 'round with him? I can just imagine his offense combining with Daunte Culpepper's lack of mobility. I may not be a Culpepper fan, but for his sake I would never wish that upon him. The offense is not that big of a worry to me to be honest. Throw the ball to Calvin Johnson, hand the ball off to Kevin Smith. Easy right? Perhaps a quarterback guru type would be ideal to either groom a franchise quarterback or try and help Dan Orlovsky and/or Drew Stanton take strides. Wouldn't have to be a current offensive coordinator, just a well respected quarterback's coach.

4. Decide what to do with the number one overall pick: They have three options as far as I am concerned; draft a quarterback, draft an offensive tackle, or trade down to draft defense. When I write my "draft all defense" article in the future I will discuss the logistics of who to draft and potential trade partners, so I won't go to in depth into that. If they draft a quarterback, it will be Sam Bradford or Matthew Stafford. If you watched the Capital One Bowl nee Citrus Bowl, you saw Stafford in action. Rough first half, great second half. He certainly has a big arm, can make some nice throws, perhaps is a bit inconsistent but he is still young. Discipline can be taught, arm strength can't. It's a good adage to follow when drafting a player; Draft somebody who does the things you can't teach well, and with the right personality to be able to learn the things that you can teach. Still, I want to see Sam Bradford against the Florida defense, than hear about the combines and pro day workouts before I make any further decisions. I hope you like draft talk, because there will be a lot of it. I'm a guy who watched the NFL draft the past two years. As in, the entire thing, rounds one through seven. Yeah, I'm kind of a draft nut.

If they go offensive tackle, go Andre Smith. He is likely to come out, what with getting suspended from the Sugar Bowl for improper contact with an agent and all. He's considered the best tackle on the board, and going with a tackle worked really well for the Dolphins this season. Still, defense is the real problem with this team, so if they can trade down and go all defense, it would be great. The draft is the one thing they HAVE to get right. Millen destroyed this franchise with terrible drafts. Free agency isn't a big thing in the NFL, the draft is where teams turn their fortunes around. If this team is ever going to become anything other than the laughing stock of the NFL, they need good drafts. If Mayhew can prove a more astute evaluator of talent than his predecessor, things will be looking up.

5. Try and get a couple of defensive free agents: Yes, I just said free agency is not that big in the NFL, but it is still a place to get new players in. The Lions need plenty of new players on defense, and if more than half of starters on defense for Detroit next year aren't new players, I will be disappointed. They don't need to get any big name free agents, and anyway none are likely to want to come here, but if they just get a couple of solid upgrades, it could go along way. It's not all big splashes, the little moves are just as important.

Those are the five things the Lions must do as far as I am concerned this offseason. If they do not do all of those things right, they will fail. There is no middle ground here. It can be done, it was even done twice this season. There is hope right now, but if Mayhew makes any errors in these five areas, that hope could be lost.

In other NFL news, I will just quickly give you my Wild Card playoff picks:

Philly over Minnesota: The Vikings appear to have pulled a Lions in the playoffs i.e. not selling out their home game. Kind of feels like it nullifies home field advantage does it not? Plus, Tavaris Jackson is the starting quarterback for the Vikings. Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is a blitz guru, and his defense should have a good day against a young, inexperienced quarterback in Jackson. By the way, you know who is a student of Johnson and his blitz defense? Steve Spagnuolo. Just saying.

Atlanta over Arizona: I do believe the Cardinals also haven't sold out their home game. Also, they aren't that good and took advantage of a weak division. Michael Turner will run all over them.

Indianapolis over San Diego: The Chargers took advantage of a weak division, yes, but they are still a good team who is playing well at the right time. Still, I believe three-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning and company squeak one out.

Baltimore over Miami: Yes, I took all the road teams. I just think Baltimore's defense is too tough. Still, many kudos for the Dolphins. 1-15 to 11-5 in one season. They are an inspiration.