Gosder Cherilus has been a member of the Detroit Lions for almost a month now. Following the team’s minicamp in Allen Park last week, however, we still don’t know if Cherilus, the Lions’ No. 1 pick, is the player this team needed.

While the NFL Draft is always an opportunity to enhance one’s team, the Lions, once again, have served up their loyal contingent a football knuckleball.

During the minicamp, the Lions coaching staff praised Cherilus endlessly, remarking how impressed they were of the big offensive lineman.

I do not profess to know more than Lions President and CEO Matt Millen or Head Coach Rod Marinelli, but I wonder at draft time.

Many analysts across America think the Lions over reached in taking Cherilus in the first round with the 17th pick overall. Most had the Boston College lineman rated as the 35th best player in the draft.

“With Cherilus we were able to do a couple of things: take the best guy we thought on the board and then also solidify that offensive line,” Millen said. “He’s got a great mean streak; he’s one of those kids who plays with great emotion and it shows up on the field.”

Added Marinelli: “He’s a very big, very physical guy. He has good balance and he’s very tough. So it gives us a presence and he’s got a chance to come in and compete right now. It starts up front and we’ve added a guy to that piece and we want to be more physical in terms of our offense and he’ll add to that.”

Cherilus, an imposing 6-foot-7, 314-pound figure, said: “I love football. I’m not the type who’s going to be satisfied just getting the job done. I’m going to go after the guys and be aggressive and let them know we’re nasty; nothing against the whistle, everything within the whistle.”

If only we could bottle quotes and turn them into action on the football field.

Yeah, Millen, Marinelli and Cherilus all sound good, but we have heard it all before . . . haven’t we?

The Lions’ second-round pick is a puzzle as well: Detroit drafted another undersized linebacker: Colorado’s Jordon Dizon, who is listed at 6 feet, 229 pounds.

The Lions needed a big inside stopper, but what do I know?

After looking at Dizon in minicamp, Marinelli praised his speed and football instincts.

“He is a football player,” Marinelli said.

Maybe Millen and Marinelli saved face by taking Kevin Smith in the third round of the draft. Smith, from Florida Central, finished the 2007 season with the second-most rushing yards in NCAA history, scooting for 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns. Lions Hall of Famer Barry Sanders still holds the record with an incredible 2,628 yards.
There are some who think Smith can be that electric back and is the player the Lions can trust their running game to.

Maybe Smith is the real deal. For the long-suffering Lions faithful, I surely hope so. But I have to believe there was a reason Smith was still on the board in the third round.

I guess the Lions are really switching gears and now they want to become a running team. The team went from a pass-happy bunch to an in-the-trenches crew.

I suppose something needed to be done. After all, they ranked last in the league in rushing in 2006 and next-to-last last season.

The question is, can they make the switch under new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto and new quarterback coach Scot Loeffler?

Lions quarterback Jon Kitna must think so. Kitna recently announced – again – that the Lions should win at least 10 games.

“Our expectation is we will be disappointed if we don’t win 10 games,” he said after the Lions’ first Organized Team Activities practice in Allen Park. “Because that will mean we’re not in the playoffs and that (stinks).”

Lions’ wide receiver Roy Williams, who had been the subject of trade rumors, echoed Kitna’s sentiments.

“Yeah, I want to win, and I think this place can win,” Williams said. “We got a little taste of it last year at 6-2.”

Sure, the Lions got a taste of winning last year. But they went into the toilet afterwards. So, people can say what they want.

The proof, however, will be in their play.

Leland Stein can be heard on WGPR radio (107.5) every Sunday from 11 p.m. to midnight. He can be reached at lelstein3@aol.com.