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I have here on my laptop screen three "unofficial depth charts" -- one each for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. They arrived as part of the media game notes in advance of preseason games, which begin the day after tomorrow. On Monday, I got the ones for the Cowboys and Eagles, who open preseason play Thursday. This morning I got the one for the Redskins, whose preseason opener is Friday. I am assuming that the Giants, who play Saturday, will send theirs tomorrow. (See what I did there? I incorporated simple addition and knowledge of the calendar. My sons' elementary school teachers would be so proud.)

Anyway, these don't, technically, mean anything. The teams call them "unofficial" just so we remember that. But they are fun, and here at the NFC East blog we're all about having fun. So let's take a look at a couple of things I noticed about each of the three I have so far that you, my dear readers, might find interesting. (And don't worry, Giants fans, you'll get your turn when I get your depth chart.)

Dallas Cowboys

Not a lot of surprises here. The Cowboys don't list their injured players as front-line starters, so Phil Costa is listed as the first-string center with Andre Gurode listed in brackets at the back of the depth chart as an injured player. They still have Montrae Holland listed as the starting right guard even though he's hurt, too, and David Arkin started there in Sunday's scrimmage. Arkin is listed as Kyle Kosier's backup at left guard, but we know that the alignment was changed Monday so that Arkin was starting with the first team at left guard and Kosier moved over to the right to start next to rookie tackle Tyron Smith.

Felix Jones is listed as the starting running back, though Tashard Choice and DeMarco Murray are listed in brackets because of injury and therefore pose no unofficial-depth-chart threat at the moment. Jones' backup on the depth chart is Lonyae Miller. Kevin Ogletree and Jesse Holley are the wide receivers listed immediately behind Dez Bryant and Miles Austin at those two positions, for what that's worth. Brings into focus the fact that they could use help at that No. 3 receiver spot.

On defense, they have Marcus Spears and Igor Olshansky starting at defensive end, and Sean Lee starting next to Bradie James at inside linebacker with Keith Brooking hurt. Orlando Scandrick is the starting cornerback opposite Mike Jenkins and in place of the injured Terence Newman, and Alan Ball is listed as Jenkins' backup. Free-agent signees Gerald Sensabaugh and Abram Elam are the starting safeties.

And David Buehler is still listed as the kicker ahead of Dan Bailey, but as I understand it that's not yet settled. Overall, it's tough to get a clear picture of the Cowboys' depth chart because of all the injuries.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles still list Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson, neither of whom has yet had a full practice, as their starting receivers. So the Dream Team rolls a bit differently, depth chart-wise, than does America's Team. Their backups are listed as Riley Cooper and Jason Avant, who are obviously more likely to play Thursday than are the listed starters. Ryan Harris is listed as the starting right tackle and Winston Justice isn't listed at all (presumably because he's on that PUP list). Jamaal Jackson is still listed as the starting center, though you need to keep an eye on Jason Kelce and how much he plays against the Ravens. They also list Vince Young as the No. 2 quarterback, ahead of Mike Kafka.

On defense, the Eagles' first-team line is listed as Trent Cole, Antonio Dixon, Mike Patterson and Juqua Parker. Obviously, Patterson's health concerns have taken him out of the mix for the time being, and Dixon has been limited due to injury. So you're more likely to see Cullen Jenkins and Anthony Hargrove at those defensive tackle spots, with Trevor Laws in the mix once he's healthy. Deep rotation on the line, where free-agent signing Jason Babin is a second-team defensive end along with Darryl Tapp. They're listing Casey Matthews as the starting middle linebacker in between Jamar Chaney and Moise Fokou, and Asante Samuel and Nnamdi Asomugha are the starting cornerbacks. Kurt Coleman is listed as the starting free safety opposite Nate Allen and in front of rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett.

Johnnie Lee Higgins is listed as the kick returner and as Jackson's backup punt returner.

Washington Redskins

Rex Grossman is listed as the starting quarterback, which is a change from the depth chart Mike Shanahan had on the wall of his office last week and could have something to do with John Beck's groin injury. It'll be interesting to see, if Beck is healthy, which one starts and how much they play. I think they'd like Beck to win the job but are prepared to go with Grossman if Beck falls on his face.

They're also listing Tim Hightower as the starting running back with Ryan Torain injured. But even if Torain were healthy, I believe they prefer Hightower assuming he can control his fumbling problem. Jabar Gaffney is listed as the starting wide receiver along with Santana Moss. Anthony Armstrong and Leonard Hankerson are listed as the backups. No surprises on the offensive line.

On defense, they have rookie Ryan Kerrigan starting at outside linebacker opposite Brian Orakpo and Rocky McIntosh starting inside along with London Fletcher. That puts Lorenzo Alexander in a bench/utility role from which he can help in multiple ways. Stephen Bowen and Adam Carriker are listed as the defensive ends on either side of nose tackle Barry Cofield. They have Josh Wilson starting at cornerback opposite DeAngelo Hall, and it'll be interesting to see if Wilson holds that job through and after Phillip Buchanon's four-game suspension. Reed Doughty starts at strong safety with LaRon Landry injured, and they're still listing Graham Gano as the kicker ahead of Shayne Graham, though it's possible that whoever shows up first when Shanahan yells "Graham!" will get to kick.

Have fun with it, folks. I'll take questions here and in the chat, at noon ET.

Time once again for our nightly check-in, where we look back over the 24 hours that have just transpired and ask the open-ended question: How was your day...

Dallas Cowboys?

"You know, fine." Got to be getting old watching the Eagles sign half the world, but the Cowboys did finally lock in one of the two starting safeties they need, bringing back Gerald Sensabaugh on what appears to be his third one-year contract. Wonder what that says about a guy. They keep wanting him back, but ... not that much. I'd be surprised if Abram Elam weren't the Cowboys' next move, and after that maybe a No. 3 receiver. But everybody who's been harping on the Cowboys to sign free agents seems to forget how many good players they already have. Rob Ryan's coaching could be enough to fix what went wrong on defense last year, even with similar personnel. And the offense is loaded with talent. They don't need star-caliber pieces. They just need to fill holes. They'll do it. By the way, they also signed another kicker -- Kai Forbath, who was really good at UCLA, but is hurt now and may or may not be a factor in the David Buehler/Dan Bailey kicking competition that has the Metroplex riveted.

New York Giants?

"Restful." The Giants' players had the day off, to their coach's chagrin, but the front office made itself busy with minor moves, like signing defensive tackle Gabe Watson, who'll be a solid backup or rotational guy in the middle of their line, and bringing back Michael Clayton to help their receiver depth. Nothing new on Osi Umenyiora, who still wants a new deal or out and isn't any more likely today than he was yesterday to get either. Nothing new on Steve Smith or Kevin Boss, though the signing of Zach Miller by the Seahawks could get the Raiders interested pretty quickly. The Giants signed Ben Patrick on Monday to give them insurance in case Boss left, but they're not similar players. Patrick doesn't block the way Boss does, and they surely want Boss back.

Philadelphia Eagles?

"Oh, you know. Typical, three-signing day." The Eagles were off too, but they were at it again, agreeing to new deals with Ronnie Brown as a backup running back, Ryan Harris as a right tackle and Jarrad Page to add to their safety mix along with all of the young guys they have back there. All three came on one-year deals because apparently the whole league wants to play for the Eagles now and will take anything to do it. Jeremy Maclin also arrived in camp after missing the first five practices due to an illness that the team won't discuss, so hopefully he's okay. And nothing new on DeSean Jackson, who has to be wondering how much money is left for him.

Washington Redskins?

"Humbling." Yes, they're paying attention in Ashburn to what's happening at Lehigh with the Eagles. The whole league is. And if you're the Redskins, it can't escape your attention that your current starters at quarterback and running back are John Beck and Ryan Torain while the Eagles' backups at those spots are Vince Young and Ronnie Brown. But hey. Rex Grossman showed up Tuesday, which means it might not have to be Beck. Phillip Buchanon showed up, too, though we also learned that he's suspended for the first four games of the season. Once he's back, I think the Redskins' defense has a chance to be good. The offense, with question marks at quarterback, running back, receiver and offensive line ... that's another story.

My day was good. Spent some more time at Redskins camp. Had some nice conversations with Barry Cofield, Trent Williams, DeAngelo Hall, Lorenzo Alexander and others, and in the coming days I will be filling you in on the insight I gleaned from those conversations. I like getting out and talking to the players and coaches. I learn more from those conversations than I do from watching practice, though I know you guys want to know what I saw in practice. But yeah, my day was real nice. Looking forward to one more morning in Ashburn before I head home and then out to see the Eagles.

How was your day?

All right. I didn't forget you guys. Been a busy day what with the chat and some video stuff we've been working on for the site. But I have been here at Redskins Park, where some things are happening. Let's take a little spin through some of them.

Item No. 1: Rex Grossman returns.

Mike Shanahan said in his morning news conference that Grossman would "be here tonight," which is something about which many people have been asking me and for which I now have an answer. Grossman was a free agent and is re-signed to enter the quarterback competition along with John Beck, who's taken so many first-team reps that, Shanahan says, his "arm was a little sore today" and "He didn't have the zip on it that he normally has."

The other thing everybody's asking is how Beck looks, since it sounds like Shanahan favors him as the starter. I wish I had better news for you guys. Beck has not looked good the two days I've been here. His throws are consistently behind receivers, his deep passes wobble and he looks jittery when he sees extra rushers (who aren't even allowed to hit him, by the way). It's only Aug. 2, so it's unfair to judge a guy based on the way he looks right now. But you guys are asking how he looks, so there it is, with those caveats.

What do I think they'll do at quarterback? I think they'll decide between Beck and Grossman, depending on how each looks in camp and maybe even switch it back and forth during the season depending on how they play. I do not think they'll bring anyone else in, and I think the quarterback spot will be a glaring weak spot that costs them a chance to contend in 2011. I believe their offseason moves have been good ones, but I think that because this is a team building for the future, not a 2011 playoff team.

Item No. 2: Phillip Buchanon is back ... sort of.

The Redskins re-signed the cornerback Monday, and Tuesday Shanahan revealed that Buchanon would be suspended for the first four games of the season. Didn't say why, but four games does tend to mean a second violation of the substance abuse policy. (A first violation gets a warning that's not made public.) Buchanon will be here and eligible to practice Thursday and throughout camp but will miss the first four games. And no, I don't expect them to bring in another corner for those four games. Could be a chance for a guy like Kevin Barnes to show something.

Item No. 3: Ryan Kerrigan still hurt.

Shanahan said the team's first-round pick would miss "another two or three days" of work because of the bone bruise on his knee. Said they don't want to rush the kid, who hasn't had injury problems in the past. What long-term effect this has is a good question. Kerrigan will be a rookie who didn't have minicamps, and every day of training-camp practice he misses is a day lost in learning the new techniques he must learn to play 3-4 outside linebacker as opposed to the 4-3 defensive end spot he played in college. That could explain why they are, as has been reported, looking for inside linebacker help. They tried on Nick Barnett before he signed with Buffalo, and Lofa Tatupu was supposed to be in for a visit today. Bringing in help there could allow them to keep Lorenzo Alexander at the outside linebacker spot opposite Brian Orakpo in the event that Kerrigan isn't ready to take all the starter snaps beginning in Week 1. Alexander's versatility is critical here. He lined up in several different linebacker spots this morning, and they could use him in a variety of ways regardless of Kerrigan's status.

Item No. 4: Jarvis Jenkins

The defensive line was one of the most impressive-looking things about the Redskins in morning drills, and Jenkins stood out, particularly in his ability to create pressure up the middle against the run and the pass. "You can tell he likes to work," Shanahan said of his second-round pick. "All the things you look for in a guy, I believe he has." Jenkins will have an opportunity for playing time on the line even once Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen are able to practice.

The Redskins have a walk-through in a little while and we'll get some more interviews, so I'll keep you posted if anything else happens or anybody says anything especially interesting. But hopefully these here give you something to chew on in the meantime. If you need me, you know you can find me on Twitter.

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Readiness factor: The Redskins held a ton of player-organized workouts, and they seemed to go very well. Organized by defensive leaders London Fletcher and Lorenzo Alexander and inspired by the camps the Redskins teams of the past ran to great effect during labor stoppages, the Redskins' workouts were well-attended and well-directed. There were days when Fletcher would call plays from a piece of paper he kept in his pocket, trying to help the defense run some of the 3-4 looks that were installed (but not quite mastered) last year. They brought fans out of the stands to run drills with them and generally just had a good old time. It'll be interesting to see if all of that lockout-time bonding pays dividends once the games start to count.

Biggest challenge: Figuring out the quarterback situation. Donovan McNabb is surely gone as soon as they can move him. They didn't draft a quarterback in April, and shortly after the draft head coach Mike Shanahan said he liked the idea of John Beck as his starter. Whether it's Beck or Rex Grossman, who ran the offense late last year when the McNabb plan blew up, the Redskins will be going with an imperfect solution at the most important position on the field. Will it be a season-long nightmare that forces them to draft a quarterback high in next year's draft? Will it be a revolving door with one guy starting one game and the other the next? Will the defense play well enough to overcome it? Will Beck surprise and play better than everyone (except, apparently, Shanahan) thinks he can? Many questions, still no answers yet. At least soon they can start running drills and see what they actually have back there.

Haslett's second season: Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett came to town with Shanahan last year and converted the Redskins from a 4-3 defensive team to a 3-4. It was not an easy transition, and many of the pieces that were in place didn't fit well into the new scheme. Now, every coach who knows about it says it takes two years, not one, to fully transition to the 3-4. So we should see improvement in the way the Redskins play defense in 2011. They still need to add some pieces on the line, find a cornerback or two, and they may need a linebacker if Rocky McIntosh leaves and Alexander can't be a full-time starter on the inside. But the pre-lockout addition of O.J. Atogwe at safety and the drafting of outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan in the first round were good moves. Along with the year of experience the returning guys got last year, they could help the Redskins put together a respectable defense sooner than you might expect.

Key players without contracts for 2011: OT Jammal Brown, CB Phillip Buchanon, DE Kedric Golston, QB Rex Grossman, CB DeAngelo Hall, LB Rocky McIntosh, WR Santana Moss, C Casey Rabach, CB Carlos Rogers

MINNEAPOLIS -- Would you believe that Adrian Peterson rushed for 160 yards Sunday in part because ... the Detroit Lions challenged him to? That's the way Peterson's quarterback saw things after the Minnesota Vikings' 24-10 victory at the Metrodome.

"Believe it or not," quarterback Brett Favre said, "without watching the tape, it seemed like today and the last two games ... there were teams that were kind of daring us to run the ball a bit more. Not that they feel threatened by our passing game, but it's really how teams [have played]."

Vikings coach Brad Childress took it a step further, suggesting the Vikings checked out of several downfield passing plays because the Lions' defensive alignment lent itself more to a running play.

"You don't want to put round pegs in square holes," Childress said. "You don't want to throw up the field just to throw up the field."

A true cynic might suggest Favre and Childress were offering elaborate excuses for why their passing game has stumbled throughout the first month of the season. Sunday, Favre threw two more interceptions, bringing his season total to six, and had two other turnovers each nullified by a Lions penalty. "We're not near as good as we were last year," he said, speaking both of himself and the Vikings' passing game.

And yet, the Lions, New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins have defended them largely with two-deep coverages designed to keep receivers from getting downfield at the possible expense of giving Peterson more favorable looks than he is used to. The result? On the strength of a career-long 80-yard touchdown run Sunday, Peterson is off to the best three-game start of his career and -- importantly -- has yet to fumble. (See the chart to your right for details.)

It seems blasphemous to take that approach, especially considering the offense's disjointed start. Frankly, it was Peterson's struggles last season -- he lost six fumbles and went the final seven games without a 100-yard game -- that forced a philosophical shift toward Favre and the passing game in the first place.

But staring down their first 0-3 start in eight years, the Vikings made no secret of their plan to pull back and ride Peterson. The Lions entered the game tied for the NFL lead in sacks, and Favre's lone downfield pass was a 25-yard touchdown to Percy Harvin against a busted coverage. He completed 23 of 34 passes for a modest 201 yards.

Peterson, on the other hand, busted a 19-yard run in the first quarter and then put the game away with the 80-yard run with 3 minutes, 14 second remaining in the third.

"Running has always been our identity," right guard Anthony Herrera said. "Coach Childress will never get away from that. We have Brett and we'll use him, but we're always a run-first team."

Last season's numbers wouldn't bear that out, but here's how I would put it: The Vikings will be a running team for as long as it takes Favre to get untracked. If it doesn't happen at all, it will be Peterson's offense.

"That's the mentality I have," Peterson said. "When things aren't going well, I want to be able to get the guys going up front and settle the run game. So we've been pretty productive."

Indeed, Peterson has never had as many as 392 yards after Week 3, even after putting 180 yards in the books. And remarkably, his big run Sunday came on a play he said the Vikings have never used before.

Peterson said it was called "65 U-back" and that two different players -- left guard Steve Hutchinson and tight end Jeff Dugan -- approached him on the sideline to suggest he could break it for a long gain by cutting back.

"They were telling me the backside would be there," Peterson said. "They said, 'Just make sure you press it. Let it develop the way you know [it should].' "

Peterson hasn't always been known for his patience, but Sunday he pushed into the left side of the line even though he knew if the play was going to break, it would be down the right side line. He ran five yards behind Hutchinson, drawing safety C.C. Brown his way, and then cut back against Brown. Last season, former Lions cornerback Phillip Buchanon caught Peterson from behind on a long run. Buchanon plays for the Washington Redskins now, and the Lions had no one Sunday with a chance to catch Peterson from behind.

"That sure takes a lot of pressure off of me and the passing game when you can do that," Favre said.

The big question is not whether Peterson bailed out the Vikings on Sunday. He most certainly did. It's whether he can do it, and whether he will need to, indefinitely. Favre suggested that the next step should be taking advantage with play-action. But Peterson has other plans. Asked Sunday if he thought a 2,000-yard season was reasonable -- he's on pace for 2,090 -- Peterson offered an alternative answer.

"Twenty-five hundred," he said. "I focus on being the best player I can be to help my team. That's where I set my bar and then I go out and play."

Based on the way Peterson has run in September, I wouldn't rule it out. In this era of our Air and Space division, I'm not sure anyone can win over time without getting more production from the passing game than the Vikings are. But Adrian Peterson as your Plan B? That's an awfully nice alternative -- especially if opponents are giving it to you.

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If this season is what the Houston Texans expect it to be, they may look back at fourth-and-10 with 2:11 left in regulation in Washington as a decisive moment for the year, not just the game.

Down 27-20 at the Redskins’ 34-yard line, Matt Schaub lined up in shotgun with running back Arian Foster on his left, tight end Owen Daniels on his right and receiver Andre Johnson to his left.

Schaub took the snap just as the play clock was expiring, got flushed to his right by Andre Carter and threw deep to the left side of the end zone while still on the move and just before he got decked by Lorenzo Alexander.

Johnson had run to the left side of the end zone, with cornerback Phillip Buchanon dropping off and free safety Reed Doughty winding up alone with him. It turned out to be a jump ball and while Doughty was with Johnson, he didn’t have a chance. Johnson went up high over Doughty and grabbed it, showing off the physicality and athleticism that make him one of the scariest receivers in the league.

The Texans won 30-27 in overtime to move to 2-0.

What it means: It's a really tough loss for a team that appeared to be in control at halftime. The Redskins know the Texans' offensive personnel as well as anyone but they couldn't do anything to slow down Matt Schaub in the passing game. A 2-0 start would have put the Redskins in a great position -- especially with the Cowboys at 0-2. Washington has to quickly put this one behind them, but it's a loss that could haunt the Skins late in the season. Quarterback Donovan McNabb had a huge day with 426 yards passing and a touchdown. The Redskins' offense really missed rookie left tackle Trent Williams when he was injured late in the game.

Tomorrow's talker: Everyone will be talking about the timeout Gary Kubiak took just as Redskins kicker Graham Gano attempted a 52-yard field goal. He nailed the field goal, but Kubiak had already been awarded the timeout. When Gano lined up again, he missed the field goal to the right. Icing a kicker at the last second can obviously backfire if he misses the kick, but it paid off for Kubiak. The fact that he did it to his mentor and close friend, Mike Shanahan, only added to the intrigue.

Goat: Safety Chris Horton jumping offsides in overtime was an absolute killer. The Texans were able to extend the game-winning drive. A lot of Redskins deserve blame for all those passing yards, but Horton made the mistake that folks will remember.

What I didn't like: At a crucial point late in the fourth quarter, why would the Redskins have Phillip Buchanon attempting to cover Andre Johnson? He had already burned them for double-digit catches. You have to put your best cornerback on him. Buchanon had help over the top with Reed Doughty but he was not able to break up the touchdown. That's how the Texans forced overtime.

What's next: The Redskins will travel to St. Louis, where they can't afford to have a letdown. If they can get to 2-1, that Eagles game in Philly is going to be huge -- for so many reasons.

Detroit's decision to revamp its secondary has led it to invite free agent Lito Sheppard for a two-day visit beginning Wednesday night, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Sheppard's stock fell in 2009 during his first season with the New York Jets, but the Lions offer a wide-open opportunity to resurrect his career. They're likely to have three new starters around safety Louis Delmas after releasing cornerback Phillip Buchanon and, to this point, failing to re-sign starting cornerback Will James.

Veteran Chris Houston, acquired last month from Atlanta, is a likely starter at one cornerback position but there are no obvious candidates for the second role. Veteran Dante Wesley, signed earlier this month, was more of a special-teams addition.

Sheppard played in 11 games last season after Philadelphia traded him to the Jets, finishing with one interception and eight deflections on the NFL's top-rated defense. But the Jets released him rather than pay a $10 million roster bonus and replaced him by acquiring Antonio Cromartie from San Diego.

Sheppard turned 29 last week and should still have several productive years left. He doesn't have the upside of another cornerback the Lions have evaluated, veteran Adam "Pacman" Jones, but he is certainly a safer option.

One day after he visited Redskins Park, veteran cornerback Phillip Buchanon has signed a one-year contract with the club worth $1.5 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Buchanon could earn up to $750,000 if he reaches certain incentives.

The 17th overall pick in the 2002 draft for the Oakland Raiders, the 29-year-old Buchanon has had a disappointing career. He has 18 career interceptions, five of which have been returned for touchdowns. But he hasn't been able to stick with a team long since being traded from the Raiders.

"We are very excited to add a veteran corner, such as Phillip, to our defensive backfield,” said Mike Shanahan in a press release Monday. “He has had a lot of success in this league and brings with him the ability to create turnovers. He will be a big part of what we are trying to accomplish defensively in Washington ."

The Washington Redskins have avoided the big-ticket items in free agency this offseason, instead opting for veteran players in need of a fresh start. I still think Washington will regret signing a malcontent such as running back Larry Johnson, but veterans such as Maake Kemoeatu and Buchanon make sense. They come at a relatively low cost and they both have the potential to play a significant role on defense.

Buchanon played in 13 games for the Lions in '09 but did not have an interception. He was banged up in a game that caused Browns coach Eric Mangini to launch allegations of the Lions faking injuries to slow down Cleveland's no-huddle offense.

I'm a little surprised Detroit released cornerback Phillip Buchanon -- not so much because of his 2009 performance, which was disappointing, but because the Lions were already so thin at the position.

Their other primary starter last season, Will James, is a pending unrestricted free agent. I'm not saying the Lions' dreadful pass defense should return intact next season, but you need to feel relatively assured you can elevate your personnel before you start jettisoning your incumbent players.

Between the draft, free agency and a potential trade for San Diego's Antonio Cromartie, the Lions must feel pretty confident they can do just that.

Detroit cornerback Phillip Buchanon lingered a bit longer than usual in the Lions’ locker room at halftime Sunday, receiving treatment for a minor injury. Really, there was no rush. The Lions were scheduled to receive the second-half kickoff, and Buchanon wasn't a member of the return team.

But these are the Lions, and seemingly on cue, tailback Kevin Smith fumbled on their first offensive play. With Buchanon temporarily unavailable as the defense took the field, Detroit coaches sent out newcomer Jack Williams. Earlier in the week, Williams had become the seventh cornerback to pass through the Lions’ revolving door dating back to the start of the season, yet another attempt to elevate their talent level.

On his first play, a 27-yard run by Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson, Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury. He will be placed on injured reserve this week.

Alas, Detroit is no luckier -- and only one victory better -- since compiling the NFL’s worst-ever season in 2008. I’ve seen the Lions play in person three times this season, most recently on Sunday. There have been a few encouraging signs, but overall I’m mortified by what seems to be a tremendous talent gap across most positions.

I can only assume that’s what coach Jim Schwartz was referring to last week during a conference call with Minnesota reporters. Asked to encapsulate his first season with the Lions, Schwartz said, “I’m certainly not discouraged but there hasn’t been a whole lot of encouraging either. I think the best word is determined. We know what our issues are. We are going to work hard to get through them. We still have a lot of work to do. We know that and we are determined to get done.”

The Lions could and probably should pick up their second victory Sunday when they host Cleveland. But a realist would say their best-case scenario for 2009 is 4-12, and even that might be stretching it. More importantly, as Schwartz seems to admit, the Lions remain deeply encumbered by a talent shortage brought on by a decade of poor drafting.

So while the topic is fresh in all of our minds, I thought I would scan the Lions' roster and divide the players into three categories:

1. Keepers. These are players the Lions can build their future around.
2. Worth Learning More About. For various reasons, I wouldn’t give up on the players in this group.
3. Others. This one is pretty self-explanatory.

You can see the results of this exercise below. (No sense calling out the Others by name. It’s their island, anyway.)



A few notes and thoughts:

• As you can see, I came up with only seven nucleus-type players, along with seven more who have the potential to be part of a core group. Keep in mind that every team has a relatively small nucleus with a bunch of complementary players around it. I don’t think I was a particularly tough grader here, but a nucleus should represent more than 13 percent of your players.
• Cornerback is a position that many NFL teams have trouble establishing. But for the Lions not to have one nucleus-type player on either of their lines, at least by my reckoning, is most troublesome. It takes years to develop a good, cohesive lines. Last Sunday’s matchup against Minnesota provided an exaggerated example of the issue: Quarterback Matthew Stafford got pummeled while the Vikings' offense rushed for 152 yards and passed for 344 with only one sack. There’s a reason why the cliché still exists: It really does all start up front.
• For me, the Lions’ next step is to spend the rest of this season performing a similar exercise: Which players can Schwartz build around? Which ones are toast? Then you just start in one corner and start working your way out. If it were me, I would make linemen on both sides of the ball the top (and perhaps single) priority this winter.
• There are some good complementary players whom I left off this list because, based on age or history, it’s hard to envision them as more than short-term solutions. That group includes Buchanon, tight end Will Heller, cornerback William James and linebacker Larry Foote.
• I realize linebacker Ernie Sims isn’t on this list. I think he is and can be a good NFL player, but he might better suited to play in more of a Tampa 2 style scheme. Even before he started dealing with shoulder and hamstring injuries, it has seemed the Lions were intent on moving rookie DeAndre Levy past him. I could be wrong about that and am willing to listen to alternate theories and evaluations.
• I can’t say I had any specific criteria for making these selections. They’re based on what I’ve seen, along with what I’ve heard from people I trust. I consider this list a jumping-off spot for future discussion. I know some in our Lions audience are still mad at me for bailing on training camp, but hopefully we can move past that.

Let me know what you think, and we’ll continue to revisit the topic through the second half of the season and into the winter.

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Falling

1. Jay Cutler, Chicago quarterback: You knew there was no way to omit Cutler from this list. Even though his last game was five days ago, it was a doozy. A five-interception night at San Francisco might have scuttled the Bears’ playoff hopes. Even after last weekend's games, Cutler’s 17 interceptions still lead the NFL by a wide margin. He has a long wait until Sunday night’s game against Philadelphia, and all of Chicago is holding its collective breath. Cutler has thrown 70 percent of his interceptions (12 of 17) in three prime-time games this season. Eagles defenders no doubt are licking their chops.

2. Bryant Johnson, Detroit receiver: In an offense that also includes receiver Calvin Johnson, Bryant Johnson should have ample opportunity for high production. But he has proved underwhelming in that role, and dropped what would have been a touchdown pass late in the second quarter of the Lions’ 27-10 loss at Minnesota. Overall this season, Johnson has caught only 22 of the 56 passes thrown his way. That ratio puts him among the 10 least-efficient receivers in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Looked at another way, Johnson has cost the Lions far too many yards and first downs.

3. Gosder Cherilus, Lions right tackle: He took a pretty good beating Sunday at the hands of Minnesota defensive end Ray Edwards and was briefly replaced by veteran Jon Jansen. Cherilus was one of many Lions offensive linemen who struggled, but you tend to get singled out when the player across from you has a career game. Cherilus had no answers for Edwards’ speed or power rushes. The Lions’ top pick of the 2008 draft deserves more time to develop, but Sunday was certainly a learning experience for him.

Rising

1. Charles Woodson, Green Bay cornerback: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers set Woodson loose Sunday against the Dallas offense, and Woodson responded with what might have been his best game in a Packers uniform. He finished with a team-high nine tackles, including a sack. He also forced two fumbles and made an interception in a 17-7 victory. It was a beautiful response from Woodson, who suggested earlier this year that Capers wasn’t blitzing as often as he should. In a must-win situation, a team relies on its best players not only for leadership but for exceptional performances. Woodson provided both Sunday.

2. Ray Edwards, Minnesota defensive end: When Detroit focused its attention elsewhere Sunday, Edwards pounced with a two-sack performance and lost a third on a questionable roughness penalty. He finished with four total hits on quarterback Matthew Stafford and also a forced fumble. The Lions tried to adjust with Cherilus, but he couldn’t keep leverage on Edwards’ outside rush. Edwards quietly has compiled 5.5 sacks this season, giving him a chance for a 10-sack year. (Sorry, Vikings fans. I’m over my Sidney Rice quota for the season.)

3. Phillip Buchanon, Detroit cornerback: No one can doubt that Buchanon still has elite speed after he caught Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson from behind and knocked the ball loose Sunday. Based on the video replay, Peterson had a 4-yard head start once he broke into the open field. Buchanon, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds while in college, sprinted 25 yards to catch Peterson. He probably should have been flagged for a horsecollar tackle, but it was such a surprising display of speed that no official seemed prepared for the play to stop short of the end zone. Speed is a precious commodity in the NFL, and Buchanon’s effort was the kind of play that can single-handedly extend a career.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Sorry. I'm a sucker for symbolism. Sometimes these things just pop into my noggin. So as I descended into the Metrodome basement after Minnesota's 27-10 victory over Detroit , all I could think about was the Phillip Buchanon play.

Surely you've seen it by now. Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson broke into the clear at the Lions' 47-yard line during the second quarter. Pretty much every time that's happened in Peterson's career, the result has been a touchdown. But Buchanon, the Lions' cornerback who once ran a 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds, gave chase for 25 yards before catching up.

The NFL rushing champion was stunned as Buchanon tackled him with his left hand and punched the ball loose with his right. The Lions recovered for a touchback.

“I was caught off guard,” said Peterson, adding that he was “sick” about the play and jokingly saying he wanted to “punch” Buchanon. “Overall,” Peterson said, “I feel like we've got a lot to learn from this game.”

Indeed, the Vikings overmatched the Lions in every way Sunday and ultimately overwhelmed them. They are 8-1 and have a three-game lead in the NFC North. This season is rapidly shaping up as a once-in-a-generation combination of opportunity and chance, putting the Vikings on a pretty short list of candidates to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

But lest anyone get too convinced of that destiny, remember this: If Adrian Peterson can get caught from behind, anything can happen.

“He just made a great play,” Peterson said. “Those guys on the other side of the ball, sometimes those guys are fast, too.”

But the second lesson/reminder of Sunday was that Minnesota has the offensive firepower to overcome even a series of similar occurrences. (It helped to be matched against the Lions' horrid pass defense, which has allowed quarterbacks to complete 71 percent of their passes on the way to a 107.8 rating.)

Minnesota gashed the Lions for 492 total yards, an average of 7.8 yards per play. Five of them went for 40 or more yards. Quarterback Brett Favre passed for 344 yards, receiver Sidney Rice totaled 201 receiving yards and Peterson finished with 133 rushing yards.

I understand the Vikings won't be playing the Lions' defense every week, and certainly not in any postseason game. But as they continue to compile elite offensive numbers, the confidence of the players surrounding Favre will only improve. Let's take a closer look at what we saw Sunday:

Rice should no longer surprise any opponent. Entering this year, many of us considered Rice a possession/red zone receiver. Although he does not have elite speed, it should now be clear he has the ball skills to catch passes at any point on the field. On Sunday, his seven receptions included catches of 56, 43, 43, and 21 yards.

Rice outmaneuvered Buchanon (or gently shoved, depending on your team allegiance) for a 43-yard reception in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter, Lions safety Ko Simpson stood flat-footed in the middle of the field as Rice blew past him. “He told me afterwards that he thought I was going to break off my route,” Rice said.

A possession receiver might do that, but we really shouldn't consider Rice that way anymore. In nine games this season, he is averaging 17.9 yards on 44 catches. He said Sunday that his favorite NFL receiver is Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald, who has maximized his receiving skills to offset speed that falls short of elite.

“As far as deep threats go,” said Favre, “Sidney ranks right up there with the best.”

To my good fortune, at least for this post, Rice's day ended with a bit more symbolism. With the game in hand at the 5:37 mark of the fourth quarter, the Vikings realized Rice was 9 yards away from Sammy White's team record of 210 receiving yards. Coach Brad Childress agreed on a short passing play that would give Rice the record, but Rice dropped the pass from backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

“My bad,” Rice said.

Yes, there is always room for improvement.

Not to be outdone, rookie receiver Percy Harvin turned a short slant pass into a 40-yard play in the fourth quarter. Against a four-man defensive line, Favre opted against audibling to a running play based on his faith that Harvin could make an open-field play.

Harvin bounced off a strong hit from Lions rookie linebacker DeAndre Levy, kept his balance and beat the rest of the Lions' defense to the sideline.

“They actually played the pass on that play,” Favre said. “By rule you would have thought, ‘Hey, let's go to the run.' It helps when you have players that make plays. I said, ‘Hey, give Percy a chance.'”

Buchanon's play against Peterson overshadowed a tremendous run from Peterson, who clearly had live legs coming out of the Vikings' bye.

On the play, Peterson ran through four would-be tacklers, two at the line of scrimmage and two more at the Vikings' 47-yard line. (Levy actually had two chances at him.) Nine times out of 10, it would have been a spectacular 61-yard touchdown, replayed endlessly on highlight shows for the next 24 hours.

“That was one of the better runs, I don't want to say that I've ever seen, but in recent memory,” Favre said. “It seemed like the best I've ever seen at the time. ... Adrian, he'll be killing himself all night over that. But the guy is amazing, the way he can stop and go.”

Speaking as if he knew what I would be writing about Sunday, Peterson offered a final bit of perspective.

“In the NFL,” he said, “you definitely know it's going to be up and down. You can't be caught up and still looking behind you. You have to play the next play.”

That's what Minnesota did Sunday. After a little reminder.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Power rankings: Preseason: 32. This week: 29

2009 Schedule/Results

Where they stand: The Lions (1-7) snapped their losing streak with a victory Sept. 27 over Washington but have lost five consecutive games since. The past two weeks have been especially exasperating: A loss to then-winless St. Louis followed by a 32-20 loss at Seattle, where the Lions had jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead. Anecdotally, the Lions appear to be improved this season but so far they have only one victory to show for it.

	Jerry Lai/US Presswire
	Quarterback Matthew Stafford has been under pressure for much of his rookie season.

Disappointments: Running back Kevin Smith was supposed to take pressure off rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, but instead Smith has been unable to establish any consistency as a runner. A shoulder injury has played a role in his sophomore slump, but the bottom line is a 57.5-yard per game average for a player the Lions hoped could be a 1,200-yard back this season. Cornerback Phillip Buchanon, expected to be the team’s top cover man, has been benched several times this season. Defensive end Cliff Avril, who the Lions hoped would serve as a strong edge pass-rusher, has been slowed by injuries and has 2.5 sacks. Receiver Bryant Johnson has a pair of touchdown receptions but unofficially has five drops on the season.

Surprises: Stafford has thrown 12 interceptions and is completing 52 percent of his passes, but most of his mistakes have been from aggression rather than lack of understanding. Stafford appears to have a strong grasp of the Lions' offense and enough football instincts that, even at 21, he’s never looked out of place as an NFL starter. Rookie linebacker DeAndre Levy has been battling veteran Ernie Sims for the starting weakside linebacker spot and has made perhaps the most positive contribution of any Lions rookie this season. Levy moves well, hits hard and has a bright future.

Outlook: The Lions might be out of the playoff hunt, but they can make some inroads on next season by establishing young starters at a variety of positions. The continued development of Stafford, Levy, safety Louis Delmas, tight end Brandon Pettigrew and defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill would give them something tangible to build off for 2010.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Falling

1. Detroit’s offensive line: We’ve singled out Lions tailback Kevin Smith several times for his minimal production, and Sunday he was limited to 53 yards on 20 carries. He’s now averaging 3.1 yards per rush this season. But after watching Sunday’s game, it’s hard to blame Smith for running into brick walls. He isn’t seeing much daylight. On Sunday, the Lions also allowed quarterback Daunte Culpepper to be sacked seven times. The Lions notably left their offensive line out of their offseason personnel overhaul, but it’s clear it also has its limitations. Right tackle Gosder Cherilus missed the game because of injury and was replaced by veteran Jon Jansen. But let’s be clear: No offense will get very far with a limited offensive line.

Tauscher

2. The Mark Tauscher move: It’s going to be difficult for Green Bay to emerge in a positive light from the decision to re-sign Tauscher. If he re-claims his starting job soon and plays well, the Packers will appear to have decided simply to bide their early-season time while waiting for him to recover from a knee injury rather than identity a long-term replacement. That decision contributed to an NFL-high 20 sacks over that span. If Tauscher demonstrates he either isn’t ready to play or can’t sustain a high level, you could come down on the Packers for not finding a better solution to their early-season problems. Consider it media semantics, but one way or the other, we’ll find something to criticize.

3. Detroit’s pass defense: There’s no way to single out one player for a group effort that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 73.3 percent of their passes for 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. The Lions have made some improvement against the run, but they are totally vulnerable to the pass. To this point, personnel shuffling has done no good. Cornerback Phillip Buchanon has been in and out of the lineup, and the Lions have also inserted rookie linebacker DeAndre Levy as a starter. But the big problem is they have no one who has established a consistent pass rush. Using 240-pound linebacker Julian Peterson as a defensive end hasn’t worked to this point.

Rising

Jennings

1. Greg Jennings, Packers receiver: Jennings has always appeared to be a classy player with a far more laid-back personality than many top NFL receivers. So that’s why his words Monday should strike everyone as commendable and necessary. In a professional way, Jennings told reporters the Packers need to get him the ball more to ensure success for the long haul. He also didn’t shy away from suggesting alternative ways to prevent pass protection woes from scuttling the entire offense. You know it’s not Jennings’ nature to speak out. So when he makes a strong statement, you should take it to heart.

Rice

2. Sidney Rice, Minnesota receiver: People forget that when the Vikings drafted Rice in 2007, he was 20 years old. He didn’t turn 21 until five months after the draft. What you’re seeing now is the combination of a healthy, and now experienced, receiver who has developed exceptional ball skills despite mid-range speed that doesn’t get him separation from many defensive backs. Rice caught a season-long 47-yard pass Sunday at St. Louis and has already surpasses his production from last season. Most importantly, Rice seems to have earned the trust of quarterback Brett Favre and has convinced him to throw his way even though he might appear covered. That’s the true test of any pro receiver: Can he catch the ball in traffic? Rice has shown he can.

3. Minnesota’s special teams: We’ve never failed to point out the nine touchdowns the Vikings have allowed on special teams over the past 21 games. So it’s only fair to point out that this season, they are having a positive impact on field position. The kickoff return team has helped the Vikings start their average drive at the 31.8-yard line, third best in the NFL. And their kickoff coverage team is forcing opponents to start their average drive at the 24.4-yard line, the 10th-best mark in the league. Sunday in St. Louis, the Rams started six drives inside their 21-yard line.