Had one agent tell me this week, “We don’t want to go to Cleveland. No one does. They aren’t building to win.”

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 28, 2012

Most (all?) Lions fans have to be pleased with the progress the team has made since completing the league’s first and only 0-16 season in history. Improving doesn’t necessarily equal “building to win” but the Lions are doing more than just improving. It might sounds silly but I had a moment this morning where I stopped and said, “yeah, the Lions are building to win”. That couldn’t have been said just a couple years ago but it is true today, here’s why.

Leon Halip-US PRESSWIRE

1. They have their quarterback

The NFL is a quarterback-driven league these days. You either have your guy or you need to get him – there is no treading water when it comes to the quarterback position. The argument that Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson are Super Bowl winning quarterbacks is a decade old and no longer carries any weight.

The Lions held the first overall pick in 2009, targeted their quarterback and went all-in with him. Matthew Stafford’s 2011 season showed that the team got it right and now they have the requisite piece for becoming a contending team for the next decade. Building to win requires something to build upon. That foundation is the quarterback in today’s NFL and the Lions have him in place.

Jan 16, 2009, Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand (right)and general manager Martin Mayhew (left) introduce Jim Schwartz as the Lions new football coach during a press conference held at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-US PRESSWIRE

2. They have a plan and they’re sticking with it

The front office and coaching staff works in concert towards attaining a common vision. They’ll go against the “experts” say they should do in the draft and they won’t splurge on a free agent as a temporary fix. It’s all about infusing the organization with talent to improve in the short-term without sacrificing the future.

Tom Lewand has said many times that the offseason headlines are they easiest to get but they aren’t the type the Lions are after. The Lions do what makes sense for them, regardless of outside opinion or public pressure.

Aug 15, 2009; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks over plays with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan after his first NFL touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

3. They have consistency where it counts

Matt Millen’s time in Detroit was marked by a lack of cohesion. Head coaches came and went and it seemed the organization was always grasping for the latest trend whether it be the west coast offense or the Tampa-2 defense. The messages coming from the Lions’ training facility was filled more with cliches than any semblance of a firm direction (“the bar is high” and “pad level”, anyone?).

Now, the Lions have stable coaching staff preaching a consistent message that allows for year-to-year growth in the system rather than starting anew every two or three years. It starts with Jim Schwartz and continues with Gunther Cunningham and Scott Linehan. That kind of stability and consistency has certainly aided in the development of Matthew Stafford. What he was able to learn and observe while injured was still relevant for when he stepped back on the field healthy this past season. Consistency also allows the team to more accurately identify needs for the next year instead of trying to keep up with a moving target. The Lions know where they want to go and how they want to get there.

Like what you see? Give SideLion Report a “like” on facebook, become a follower on twitter, or grab ourRSS feed.

While some fans might scowl at the news of Cunningham’s return considering the way the Lions defense closed out the year, it shouldn’t be forgotten that they also played well at times. The Christmas Even game in which they wrapped up a playoff berth, for example. While the Lions defense still suffers from a lack of talent at some key positions, the coaching staff doesn’t suffer from a lack of creativity. Consider me more than content to sit back and see what happens as the personnel is upgraded.

Like what you see? Give SideLion Report a “like” on facebook, become a follower on twitter, or grab our RSS feed.

Tebow was given go-ahead to start over the struggling Kyle Orton in week 7 against the Miami Dolphins, where he manufactured an incredible comeback win in the final five minutes and overtime.  He played relatively poorly for the firt three quarters and had basically no passing game to speak of. In the end, Tebow tallied 161 yards through the air with two TD passes, along with 59 rush yards in an 18-15 overtime win. Yes, the Dolphins are winless and yes, there were probably more questiones raised about the second-year pro than were answered.

But the Broncos still won, and ultimately, the Lions don’t care about Tim Tebow, comebacks, numbers or statistics. They care about getting the win. Tebow was able to keep this game alive with his feet rather than his arm, which is what the Lions should be focusing on containing this weekend.

(more…)