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When Emmitt Smith was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last month, he became the final member of the famous Dallas Cowboy “Triplets” to get a bust in Canton. And so with that trio fully commemorated, which current team has the best chance to produce this era’s “Triplets”?
Based on the title of this preview, I’m assuming you know who I’m leaning toward. And no, I probably shouldn’t operate heavy machinery for about eight hours.
The Detroit Lions have the most promising young quarterback-running back-wide receiver trio in the league. This despite the fact the quarterback, Matthew Stafford, had the worst touchdown-to-interception ratio in the league in 2009. This despite the fact the running back, Jahvid Best, has yet to play an NFL game. This despite the fact the wide receiver, Calvin Johnson, has been hampered by injuries during his three-year career.
But name a team that has as much upside at all three offensive skill positions. The Houston Texans have Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, but no running back. The Indianapolis Colts are in a similar situation. No one else comes close.
Who would you rather have, Tony Romo, Miles Austin and Marion Barber, or Stafford, Johnson and Best? I’m going with the latter.
A lot of mystery surrounds the 2010 Lions, but the focus is on these three puzzle pieces. To emerge as the next great offensive trio, Stafford will have to cut down on his interceptions (he threw 20 in 10 starts in ’09), Best will have to live up the hype he has created with a superb preseason and Johnson will have to stay healthy.
Obviously those tasks won’t be easy, but neither is building a great team.
2009 in a nutshell: They follow up an infamous 16-loss season with 14 more losses. But Stafford’s play makes it feel a whole lot better than that.
Why 2010 could be different, in a nutshell: Another year for Stafford and Johnson; the arrival of Best and No. 1 overall pick Ndamukong Suh; the addition of free agents Kyle Vanden Bosch, Nate Burleson, Tony Scheffler, Corey Williams, Rob Sims, Landon Johnson, Chris Houston, Jonathan Wade and C.C. Brown, all of whom are expected to start (seriously).
Three random thoughts/observations/projections
1. The defence has some centerpieces now, too. Second-year safety Louis Delmas has been battling through a groin problem all summer, but when healthy he’s one of the best young safeties in the game. Delmas has a real chance to become a legit playmaker in this league, especially if this year’s No. 1 overall pick, Suh, can become a force up front and take some pressure off the secondary. Suh has been a monster in the preseason. His presence combined with Vanden Bosch’s motor should free up linebacker Julian Peterson to make plays — something he wasn’t able to do last year when forced to compensate for a bad defensive line.
2. Although Calvin Johnson is a freak of nature, he’ll need help. Teams might have double-teamed Johnson more than any player in the league in 2009, mainly because Detroit had no other offensive weapons. But that won’t be as easy this year if the team gets what it paid for from No. 2 wideout Nate Burleson. Big tight end Tony Scheffler, acquired from Denver in the offseason, should also help take attention off Johnson.
3. The offensive line did a decent job protecting Stafford last year (he was sacked 24 times in 10 starts), but they’ll need to improve on that and do a better job opening up holes if the Lions want to take that next step. The pressure in particular is on third-year right tackle Gosder Cherilus to become the player the Lions hoped he’d become when they used a top pick on him in 2008. I do like the acquisition of Rob Simms, who steps in at left guard and immediately bolsters the interior part of the line.
2010 prediction: There are several emerging stars on offence and defence, but there are still many holes to be filled. In fact, they might be the shallowest team in the NFL. Though they’ll be way better than 2-14, they’re still a year away from making a playoff run.
