Are the Lions trying something "innovative?"

Personally, in my opinion, the Lions haven't been on the cutting edge of anything except finding new ways to lose since the day Mouse Davis was canned and the Silver Stretch died.

They have stayed with a base 4-3 defense for more than twenty years. Even though almost two-thirds of the league has at least flirted with the 3-4. The Lions did try the West Coast Offense (only ten years after everyone had already figured out how to stop it.)

To say that the Lions are cutting edge on offense or defense is grounds for a straight jacket fitting...but looking at the team this year and the changes that have been made, I'm pleasantly surprised that the Lions may indeed be trying something nobody else is doing.

Now, every team in the league has a two tight end set. Usually, it is used for goal line and short yardage situations. Some, like the Indianapolis Colts, even throw out of the formation from time to time.

It looks like the Lions will now be using this set as the offensive base. Is this going to set the league on fire and set new scoring records? Probably not. But it is a diversion from the norm and it appears to be a very intelligent move in the right direction.

By going to a two tight end, single back set the Lions are able to put their most talented playmakers all on the field at the same time. Last year's #20 overall pick, TE Brandon Pettigrew was showing real flashes at the end of last season, before he incurred a nasty knee injury. TE Tony Scheffler is another gifted receiver who can open up the middle of the field for The Franchize. Scheffler is better and more proven than the Lions current #3 wide receiver, Bryant Johnson.

With Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson on the outside, the drop off to Bryant Johnson is significant.

Another, not to be overlooked, advantage of this set is the ability for the Lions to be able to protect another weakness, the offensive line and the right tackle in particular. Gosder Cherilus is in his third season now and still hasn't been able to play consistently well enough to keep his position. He is currently in a training camp battle with Jon Jansen, a 481 year old fossil, and it is still up in the air if he'll win out.

Jeff Backus has been the unheralded left tackle for ten years now and as bad as the offensive line has been, he's always been the fall guy. I have often said that Backus probably could have been a multiple probowl tackle--if the Lions had played him at right tackle his entire career. Backus, like most tackles, has great difficulty with speed rushers.

Covering up both of those tackles with tight ends does nothing but help them both and slowing down that pass rush keeps Stafford standing a little bit longer so he can launch his rockets deeper down the field to Calvin.

And this is probably the biggest change in the Lions over the last two years...they are looking at what talent they have and are actively trying to find the best way to work with that talent. They are not trying to slam square pegs into round holes anymore.