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Detroit Lions Inside Slant
by Sports Xchange
The Lions agreed to trade safety Gerald Alexander to Jacksonville for wide receiver Dennis Northcutt. They officially announced the trade July 2 after both players passed physicals.
The deal helped the Lions fill a need at wide receiver and in the return game, while alleviating a logjam at safety.
The Lions came into the offseason needing depth at receiver beyond Calvin Johnson. They signed free agents Bryant Johnson and Ronald Curry, and they drafted Derrick Williams.
They also came into the offseason with a different special-teams philosophy. Former coach Rod Marinelli was conservative in the return game, wanting to limit penalties. Coach Jim Schwartz is aggressive.
Northcutt, 31, is a 5-11, 172-pounder is expected to play in the slot and return punts. But he said he would learn every receiver position in case he is needed.
He caught 44 passes each of the past two seasons for the Jaguars, averaging 573 yards and three touchdowns, after seven seasons with Cleveland. He has returned punts throughout his career.
"I think that's one of the biggest reasons they brought me in was to get me in the slot," Northcutt said. "Obviously that's my biggest strength. That's been my biggest strength though my nine years of playing in the NFL is working the slot. That's where I've made my money basically.
"But I have been able to play outside. Whatever they ask me to do, that's what I'm going to do. Anything to help the team win, that's what I'm all about."
Alexander, 24, was one of three recent second-round picks at safety. The Lions drafted him in 2007, between Daniel Bullocks ('06) and Louis Delmas ('09).
After starting 16 games as a rookie, Alexander suffered a fractured vertebra five games into his sophomore season. He had surgery and went on injured reserve, but he returned for the offseason program. He told Jaguars.com he was surprised by the trade.
The Lions still should have good competition at safety. In addition to Bullocks and Delmas, they also have veterans Marquand Manuel, Kalvin Pearson and Stuart Schweigert, plus Tra Battle and LaMarcus Hicks.
"Very competitive," Manuel said. "You've got to come in daily and make sure you're on top of your stuff," Manuel said. "It's going to come down to the wire."
Schweigert said the guys on the bubble need to make the most of every opportunity.
"Reps are going to be limited, which means the plays you make are going to be magnified, the plays you mess up or going to be magnified," Schweigert said.
OFFSEASON STANDOUT: QB Daunte Culpepper has lost more than 30 pounds since last season, when he came out of semiretirement and jumped right into the Lions' starting lineup. He said he is 100% entering training camp for the first time since 2004, when he put up one of the best passer ratings in NFL history for Minnesota.
LINEUP WATCH: Culpepper still will have to hold off Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, who has impressed with his strong arm and quick command of the offense. Other battles to watch include right tackle, where veteran Jon Jansen could push 2008 first-round pick Gosder Cherilus, and safety, where the Lions have three recent second-round picks.
ROOKIE IMPRESSIONS: Safety Louis Delmas, the first pick of the second round, has stood out from the first day of rookie minicamp, when he told Stafford he would be the first to pick him off. Coach Jim Schwartz said Delmas has mastered the complexities of NFL defense as quickly as any rookie he has seen in the secondary.
INJURY WATCH: Veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson did not do anything on the field in the offseason, recovering from a knee scope he had in February. Schwartz said Jackson was a little behind schedule, but Jackson said he is expected to be ready physically for the season opener.
CONTRACT TO WATCH: Stafford is already signed, and the Lions do not have any looming contract squabbles. They can focus on signing tight end Brandon Pettigrew, the No. 20 overall pick.
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