More than anything else, the Lions need a playmaking defensive player. But there comes the rub. There is no apparent great playmaker defensively available in this draft. It means the Lions must depend on Matt Millen to make a sound judgment. That is an obvious problem. Their secondary is bad. And it is not going to get better overnight - especially since the Lions have apparently decided to part ways with Dre’ Bly. That means they need to rush the passer much better. They should get a decent push inside with Cory Redding and Shaun Rogers, but they badly need speed off the edges. There are a few defensive ends available in this draft who could provide it: Jamaal Anderson from Arkansas, Gaines Adams from Clemson and Adam Carriker from Nebraska. On the surface, none appears worthy of being taken second overall in the draft. But there are no obvious choices that early in the draft this season. It’s why the Lions are throwing up these ridiculous smoke screens they are interested in taking a quarterback. This is the perfect draft to trade down, especially considering what a crater the Lions roster has become. Other teams are not foolish, though. Being able to trade down seems like a remote possibility given the nature of this draft, which has some depth, but not much "Wow" appeal at the very top. I don’t advocate the Lions taking Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas second overall. They need playmakers on the defensive side of the ball more than anything else. And they are already paying a left tackle, Jeff Backus, a boatload of money. Chances are one of the three defensive ends I mentioned will be that impact player, but which one? I would have liked to have seen Anderson matched up more against Thomas in the Capital One Bowl, but he is obviously talented. Adams made the best defensive play I saw all last season when forced a botched field goal hold, stole the ball and then sprinted down the field for a long TD. Carriker reminds me a little bit of the Packers’ Aaron Kampman, who had double digits in sacks last season.

Random Thoughts

- It’s amazing how Joe Dumars made one of the worst draft choices in the history of the NBA when he took Darko Milicic second overall, but yet the Pistons just keep rolling regardless. No news at the trade deadline was great news for the Pistons, who had already added Chris Webber. And just as Miami was getting back on track, Dwyane Wade’s injury happened. Darko, by the way, displayed exactly what he is Wednesday against the Pistons. He’s just not that good.

- I know, I am, admittedly, a sick puppy hopelessly obsessed with sports...but I do find the extensive coverage of the combine on the NFL Network to be, well, fascinating. I TiVo it and watch it by the hour.

- Just wondering, which of the Big Three leading the Tigers starting pitching rotation - Kenny Rogers, Justin Verlander or Jeremy Bonderman - will have the most wins this season. I think it will be Bonderman. The way he bounced back from a shaky second half and performed during the playoffs should carry over to this season.