Former Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz took a shot at his old team in a story that appeared on the Chicago Tribune's website Saturday.

"There are one or two things you would like to upgrade a little bit here, but the rest of it is in place," Martz told the Tribune of his new digs in San Francisco. "They're not even close in Detroit. So it's a big difference. Offensively, we were short two tackles. It's hard to run or throw without two tackles."

Ouch, though the reality is few would disagree with that assessment.

Left tackle Jeff Backus struggled with a rib injury much of the year and finished the season among the NFL leaders in sacks allowed. Right tackle George Foster lost his job in November to Jonathan Scott, who finished the year on IR and was replaced by Damien Woody, a former guard who's not likely to be re-signed this offseason.

If the Lions can't pluck a starter from a limited free-agent crop they'll have to spend a first- or second-round pick on a tackle in the draft. That's good in one regard. Matt Millen hasn't drafted an offensive lineman on the first day since 2001, and landing a talent like Boise State's Ryan Clady or USC's Sam Baker may allow Backus to move to right tackle, where he'd be most effective. But coach Rod Marinelli — who Martz has praised since his firing — prefers to go defense-heavy this draft in order to address the significant talent gap on that side of the ball.

As for Martz, he continues to talk up 49ers running back Frank Gore as an elite player — a description he once bestowed on Kevin Jones — and someone who'll be the centerpiece of his offense. If history is any indication, that, at least, is a bunch of hot air.