ALLEN PARK -- After months of hard work in the offseason last year, Detroit Lions linebacker Ernie Sims was ready to begin earning the payoff: his first winning season in the NFL.
It took less than a quarter of Football in Detroit's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons for Sims to realize the Lions weren't nearly as good as they thought they were.
Sims, the ninth overall pick in the 2006 draft, is going through his second major defensive overhaul in as many years. The Lions will have at least six new faces in the starting lineup in 2009.
Detroit already has added run stopper Grady Jackson, veteran cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry and five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson.
"As of right now, I feel comfortable with them," Sims said.
In addition to free agency and trades, the Lions have five of the first 82 picks in the April 25-26 draft, including the No. 1 selection.
The Lions need to fill holes at defensive tackle, cornerback, middle linebacker and safety.
"I don't care (which positions are addressed) as long as they bring in somebody to help us," Sims said.
