In this preview of the Detroit Lions

The defense rests

The Lions jerseys were dead last in every defensive category except one. They allowed an average of 399.2 yards per game including 265 through the air. They gave up 30.9 points per game more than a touchdown worse than any other team in the league.

It's no wonder that the Lions are listed as 90/1 long shots to win the NFL title and 50/1 to capture the NFC crown. If you're a glutton for punishment, you could always put down a few bucks on the Lions to win the NFC North (+1500).

Youth is served

Detroit is pinning its 2010 hopes on the continued development of Matthew Stafford and the arrival of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Stafford was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft and immediately installed as the starter by head coach Jim Schwartz. He started 10 games, passing for 2,267 yards and 13 touchdowns, and enjoyed his finest day as a pro in Week 11 when he threw a touchdown pass on the final play of the game to beat Cleveland, 38-37.

Stafford finished that game with 422 yards, a rookie record, and five touchdown passes but suffered a separated shoulder on the next to last play of the game that ended his rookie campaign.

Can somebody lend a hand?

Stafford's receivers need to step up, especially former first-rounder Calvin Johnson who had a team-high 67 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns.

The Lions football jerseys running game has to be more productive if for no other reason than to give Stafford a break. Detroit had the sixth-most pass attempts in the NFL last season, a sure-fire way to burn out your QB.

 

The camps are for boys and girls ages 6 to 14 and the academy is for ages 8-14. The cost for the four-day camp is $159, the academy is $75 and the mini-camp is $89.

 

The camps are designed to improve beginning, intermediate and advanced skills in offense, defense and special teams and are limited to the first 80 participants.

 

The new Detroit Lions jerseys is hosting more than 20 youth football camps throughout the state this summer, including three in West Michigan.