By George B. Eichorn, Detroit Monitor Columnist 

No where to go but up. Following a winless season in 2008 and an opening week loss on the road last Sunday, the Detroit Lions are set to open the home portion of the 2009 season at Ford Field. The Minnesota Vikings, led by old nemesis Brett Favre, provide the opposition at 1 p.m. Sunday, September 20, at 1 p.m. It was unknown at presstime if the game will sell out and be shown on live television on Fox and Channel 2. The radio account is on WXYT-FM 97.1.

The Lions sport a new logo and uniforms, a new head coach in Jim Schwartz with his coaching staff and a rookie starting quarterback in Matthew Stafford, the number overall pick in last April’s NFL Draft. Stafford won the starting quarterback job over veteran Daunte Culpepper during the Lions 3-1 exhibition season. It was a bit different in the opener, however, as Stafford guided the Lions to 25 points yet committed mistakes along the way, losing 45-27.

The kid quarterback from Texas hails from the same high school (Highland Park in Dallas) as the last quarterback to lead the Lions to an NFL Championship, that being Bobby Layne in 1957. The Lions hope that is good karma. Besides, no Lions signal-caller has made a Pro Bowl since Greg Landry in 1972.

Stafford was 16-of-37 against the Saints last week for 205 yards and three interceptions. He had no touchdown passes yet ran one TD in. He gives the Lions their best hope yet to someday bring this franchise back into playoff contention. They must restore some fan credibility following the 0-16 disaster of last season and eight consecutive losing seasons.

The Lions offense under coordinator Scott Linehan looks like it will be able to score a lot of points in 2009. Stafford has second-year running back Kevin Smith in the backfield with him. Smith, despite a weak effort in the opener, is expecte dto improve upon his club rookie of the year statistics of one season ago when he led the team with 976 rushing yards on 238 attempts for a 4.2 average, and 8 touchdowns.

Stafford has aerial targets in Smith along with wide receivers Calvin Johnson (thiord year) and Bryant Johnson (seventh season). Rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew will also see the ball on occasion. Of course, one of the team’s best offensive weapons is kicker Jason Hasnon, a captain, starting his 18th season in the Honolulu Blue and Silver.

The offensive line is anchored by veteran center Dominic Raiola (a captain) and guard Jeff Backus. Stephen Peterman, Daniel Loper, Gosder Cherilus and Manny Ramirez are there too.

On defense, Lions coordinator Gunther Cunningham’s group looks less promising. You have to hand to Schwartz and general manager Martin Mayhew for acquiring two capable veteran players in linebackers Larry Foote (team co-captain) from Pittsburgh and Julian Peterson from Seattle. They lend a veteran presence to a young defense.

The defensive line does not appear ready to dominate yet they must if the Lions have any intention of escaping the NFL North cellar this season.

Veteran tackle Grady Jackson (13th year) is a key building block. Landan Cohen, Dewayne White, Cliff Avril and rookie Sammie Hill need to step up.

Linebacker Ernie Sims is the team’s leading tackler and he’s joined in that unit by Foote and Peterson which should help considerably.

Safety Louis Delmas of Eastern Michigan University looks to help the inconsistent secondary. He scored a touchdown against the Saints on a fumble recovery yet committed a costly penalty on another occasion. That’s what rookies will do yet given time Delmas could prove to be the real deal.

Joining Delmas in the Lions secondary are Phillip Buchanon, Anthony Henry, Marquand Manuel and Kalvin Pearson, among others. Cunningham will see which four guys work the hardest and play the best.

Punting is in the capable hands (and foot) of Nick Harris while Aaron Brown stunned the Saints last week with his kick returns and that’s a plus for Detroit. Buchanon and Dennis Northcutt are punt returners.

Schwartz was defensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans so you know he wants badly for the "D" to succeed but the same went for fired Lions coach Rod Marinelli, who now coaches on defense for the Chicago Bears.

On a more serious note, the Lions are dedicating this 2009 season to two deceased family members: defensive end Corey Smith and director of security Ricky Sandoval. Smith (a free agent at the time) was lost at sea off Tampa Bay on March 1 and Sandoval waged a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer and passed away July 2.

So it’s another new look, and yet another rebuilding process for Lions fans. The team must produce on the field and end this 18-game NFL losing streak quickly. Once the "W’s" start, the crowds will again pack Ford Field because Detroit is such a great pro football town.

Scott Morganroth contributed to this article.

George Eichorn’s NFL predicted order of finish: NFL North-Minnesota, NFC East-Dallas, NFL South-New Orleans, NFC West-Arizona, AFC North-Pittsburgh, AFC East-New England, AFC South-Indianapolis, AFC West-Denver. Super Bowl: Indianapolis over New Orleans.

Buy George Eichorn’s book, "Detroit Sports Broadcasters On the Air" featuring Ernie Harwell, at www.amazon.com.

Eichorn can be reached at geichorn@yahoo.com.