Lions Review 2010 - Defensive Backs

Cornerbacks and Safeties are possibly the one position on the Detroit Lions that is worse off than linebackers. Like the linebacker, it is of utmost importance to address this position before the new season. If there is one.

CB-Alphonso Smith:
He is only going into his third season, but as of now he is a question mark. Smith started off the 2010 season like gangbusters and quickly became a fan favorite. He was among the leaders in the NFL for interceptions for the first half of the season. He had the nerve to take chances and go after the big play and it paid off. Then he played against Tom Brady and was burnt several times. He had his worst game as a pro and never seemed to recover during the remainder of the year. If he can return to form and play like he did the first half, he is a viable starter.

CB-Chris Houston:
Once the new CBA is in effect, it is expected that Houston will become an unrestricted free-agent. The Lions have every intention on bringing him back. He also had off season shoulder surgery but should be healthy before the new season. Houston is likely a 50-50 chance of being on the Lions at this time, but it doesn't make a real big difference. He is not a true starter and would only add depth…. If Cornerback is addressed. If not, then he will start.

S-Louis Delmas:
Right now he is the only true up and coming star worthy player on the Lions defensive backfield. As a rookie he opened eyes and raise eyebrows. Last year the fans seemed to believe he wasn't playing as well. I disagree. I saw him make his usual flying missile tackles in the backfield. He played solid. He simply didn't have the picks he had the year before. He is good and still young enough to get better.

S-Amari Spievey:
A rookie in 2010, Spievey was drafted as a cornerback and changed into a safety. At times he looked to be picking it up but most of the time he didn't look so good. Too often he took bad angles, found himself out of position and most distressing of them all, he was not tackling very well. Known for his tackling, Spievey started trying to hit and not tackle. It is a disease that runs in the Lions secondary. Players tend to lower shoulders and hit a ball carrier and not wrap them up. Too often it leads to the ball carrier simply bouncing away and continuing to run. If Spievey is going to continue to be a starting safety, he will have to learn to wrap up and finish the tackles.

2011 Outlook:
If the Lions can add one true starting cornerback, it would help their defense immensely and immediately. There is a lot of talk about the Lions drafting a defensive end in the first round, but a cornerback would make a much bigger impact.