The Lions will have five running backs competing for the open job as the feature back in 2008.  Tatum Bell appears to have the lead for the job despite being in the Lions’ Dog House last year.  Bell will need to hold onto the football to keep the starting job.  He is really fast but he’s not the toughest running back in the NFL.  Bell played in 5 games (all starts) for the Lions last year and he carried the ball 44 times for 182 yards (4.1 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 14 passes for 63 yards (4.5 avg).  Bell has been productive in his career to date but his best times were in Denver where they can make any running back into a star.  Bell has now played in 47 games (19 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 525 times for 2,524 yards (4.8 ypc) with 14 TD runs.  He has also caught 61 passes for 362 yards (5.9 avg).

Brian Calhoun has talent but he’s always gets hurt and last season was no exception.  Calhoun played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Lions last season and he carried the ball 7 times for 35 yards (5.0 ypc).  He also caught 5 passes for 35 yards (7.0 avg).  It will be interesting to see if Calhoun can stay healthy enough in 2008 to show what he can do.  Calhoun has now played in 11 games (0 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 14 times for 54 yards (3.9 ypc).  He also caught 7 passes for 55 yards (7.9 avg).

Rookie 3rd round pick Kevin Smith has the skills to beat out the backs above him on the depth chart.  Smith had an incredible season at Central Florida last year and the Lions’ hope he can do half as good in the NFL.  Smith played in 14 games (all starts) at Central Florida last season and he carried the ball 450 times for 2,567 yards (5.7 ypc) with 29 TD runs.  He also caught 24 passes for 242 yards (10.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Smith to win the starting job by mid-season for the Lions.

Aveion Cason is buried on the depth chart but he will still have a chance to earn a bigger role with the Lions in 2008.  Cason played in 12 games (0 starts) for the Lions last season and he carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards (3.5 ypc).  He also caught 14 passes for 129 yards (9.2 avg).  Look for Cason to add to his modest career numbers in 2008 as he might surprise.  Cason has now played in 49 games (5 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 122 times for 555 yards (4.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He has also caught 60 passes for 628 yards (10.5 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

Artose Pinner didn’t get a lot of playing time with the Falcons last year but he will also have a big opportunity to move up the depth chart.  Pinner played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Falcons last season and he carried the ball 5 times for 46 yards (9.2 ypc).  Pinner has now played in 47 games (7 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 250 times for 858 yards (3.4 ypc) with 8 TD runs.  He also has caught 39 passes for 308 yards (7.9 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  D+

It will be interesting to see if the Lions will stick with Jon Kitna this whole season if he keeps turning the ball over at such an astounding rate.  He threw 20 pickoffs and fumbled 17 times (losing 6 of them) last season!  That can’t be tolerated again no matter how many yards Kitna is throwing for.  His problem is that his hands are really small and it doesn’t take much to jar the ball from his hands.  When he’s getting protection he is still a solid NFL QB but that can be said about most QBs in the NFL.  Kitna started all 16 games for the Lions last season and he completed 355 of 561 passes (63.3%) for 4,068 yards with 18 TD passes and 20 interceptions (80.9 QB Rating).  Kitna also carried the ball 25 times for 63 yards (2.5 ypc).  Don’t look for Kitna to throw for as many yards as he did last season as offensive co-ordinator Mike Martz is off to San Francisco.  That means that the Lions will try to go with a more balanced attack.  Kitna has now played in 124 games (111 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 2,394 of 3,994 passes (59.9%) for 26,535 yards with 147 TD passes and 146 interceptions (76.8 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 273 times for 777 yards (2.8 ypc) with 10 TD runs.  Kitna has also fumbled the ball an amazing 100 times in his NFL career, losing 43 of them.

Drew Stanton missed all of his rookie season due to knee surgery but he still projects as the Lions’ QB of the future and it could be soon.  He doesn’t have a great arm but it’s strong enough.  Stanton also is as tough as nails and he doesn’t hesitate to take off running if the opportunity presents itself.  He might get his first NFL action this season if Kitna keeps putting the ball on the ground or in the opposing defenses’ hands.

Dan Orlovsky is a limited player as he doesn’t have a big time arm to drive the ball down the field.  He didn’t get on the field last season for the Lions.  He has played in 2 games (0 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 7 of 17 passes (41.2%) for 63 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 interceptions (51.8 QB Rating).  He will be the #3 QB for the Lions this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C-

Caleb Campbell is a huge safety at 6’2″, 229 pounds and he runs a 4.55 40.  Campbell delivers hard hits in the running game so he is likely more of a strong safety.  Campbell played in 43 games (38 starts) at Army and he finished with 307 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, forced 4 fumbles, broke up 7 passes and he intercepted 6 passes.  Campbell will probably make the Lions because he will help out on special teams.

Landon Cohen dominated in college at Ohio but he might have problems in the NFL due to his size as he stands 6’3″, 278 pounds.  He played in 48 games (37 starts) at Ohio U. and he finished with 144 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 39.5 tackles for a loss.  Cohen will need to get stronger if he hopes to stick with the Lions this season.

Jerome Felton is a solid all around fullback as he can block, run the ball and catch it.  He has nice size at 6’0″, 246 pounds and he runs a 4.75 40 so don’t expect any really long runs out of him.  Felton played in 48 games (43 starts) at Furman and he carried the ball 575 times for 2,652 yards (4.6 ypc) with 63 TD runs.  He also has caught 46 passes for 334 yards (7.3 avg).  Felton should do a good job in the new offense for the Lions and he will also likely help out on special teams.

Kenneth Moore is a small receiver at 5’10″, 199 pounds and he’s a little slow running a 4.5 40, but he’s a hard worker and he is tough.  He also can return punts and help out on special teams.  Moore played in 39 games (27 starts) for Wake Forest and he caught 139 passes for 1,458 yards (10.5 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Moore was a solid pick for the Lions and he should make the team as a #4 WR or #5 WR and special teams player.

Cliff Avril is not the best football player around as he’s not very physical against the running game.  The Lions hope that Avril will be able to bring heat in the passing game on the QB.  He is 6’3″, 252 pounds and he runs a 4.7 40 so the potential is there to produce.  He played in 49 games (35 starts) for Purdue in his career and he made 194 tackles, 35.5 tackles for a loss, had 13 sacks, broke up 14 passes and had 2 interceptions.  Avril will need to be coached up if he wants to make an impact for the Lions.

The Lions were caught reaching here as Fluellen is 6’1″, 285 pounds and he gets pushed around in the running game.  He is a good athlete though so he could improve in that area if the Lions can get him stronger and tougher.  Fluellen played in 48 games (30 starts) at Florida State and he finished with 81 tackles, 18.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks and he batted down 5 passes.  He will likely be rotating at tackle as a rookie as the Lions need help inside.  Still, they likely drafted Fluellen a couple of rounds too early.

The Lions were ecstatic to see Kevin Smith still around when they picked in the third round.  He will battle Tatum Bell for the starting job at running back as a rookie this season.  Smith is 6’0″, 210 pounds but he’s not an overly physical back and he runs a 4.5 40 but he’s quicker on Game Days.  Smith played in 36 games (33 starts) at Central Florida and he carried the ball 905 times for 4,679 yards (5.2 ypc) with 36 TD runs.  He also caught 49 passes for 539 yards (11.0 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  This was an outstanding pick for the Lions as Smith could very well be the feature back for them this season.