In answering a question earlier this morning, I said I didn't see the Lions lavishing big money on receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh in free agency because they have more pressing needs on defense at tackle, middle linebacker and cornerback.

With that in mind, I asked Lions coach Jim Schwartz what he felt his team's biggest positional needs are this offseason.

“We have a lot, let's put it that way,” he said. “We probably have, just in evaluating the team and looking at all 16 games and sort of going through, we probably have a little farther to go on defense then we do on offense. When I talk about wanting the team to be big, strong and physical, there are more of those pieces in place on offense than there are on defense.”

But is one position more key than others, sort of like a nosetackle would be if the Lions were going to a 3-4 defense (which they're not)?

“There's a reason the record was what it was last year,” Schwartz said. “And it wasn't because of bad luck or a rash of injuries. There's a lot of work that needs to be done.”

Just a couple names I think the Lions will consider in free agency: Titans safety Vincent Fuller, who had a good relationship with Schwartz in Tennessee and is looking for the chance to start somewhere; Titans cornerback Chris Carr, who could double as a return man; and middle linebacker Mike Peterson of Jacksonville (assuming new senior personnel executive James Harris has good things to say).