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It might be a different coach. Or a flashy first-round draft choice.

Or perhaps the organization's propagandists have talked some poor sucker in the national media into believing the Lions are actually going to be good, and such buzz catches fire locally.

This week, as the Lions embark on the start of another journey, it's different.

Seldom have the Lions entered training camp with such apathy surrounding it.

Virtually all preseason forecasts are placing them last in the NFC North. Most see the Lions garnering between three and five victories. Virtually all the Las Vegas oddsmakers have the over-and-under on Lions wins this season set at six or seven.

Rod Marinelli is still the head coach. Yawn. Jon Kitna remains the quarterback. Ho-hum. The Lions drafted a lot of productive college players in April, but none with much sizzle in regard to the public view.

The Lions didn't land any big names during the off season. Instead, they got rid of a few -- defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, running back Kevin Jones and offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

It seems to be a factor why the Lions are having trouble selling tickets for the first time in eons, and have began a marketing campaign based on absolutely nothing of substance.

"Do you believe in now?" What does that mean?

The apathy, however, has masked what should be a better football team. The Lions were 7-9 in 2007, beginning the season with a promising 6-2 record. They collapsed the second half for obvious reasons. They have addressed most of those reasons.

The Lions had the worst defense in the NFL in 2007. The primary reason was the secondary, which has totally been revamped. Leigh Bodden, acquired in the trade with Cleveland for Rogers, started 16 games for a 10-victory team. Free agent cornerback Brian Kelly started the first four games for Tampa Bay before injuring his groin -- and the Buccaneers, a playoff team, won three. Free agent safety Dwight Smith had a good season for Minnesota, starting every game and intercepting four passes. Safety Daniel Bullocks has returned from injury and safety Gerald Alexander has a year of starting -- and learning -- under his belt. The Lions should be much improved in the secondary.

The Lions needed an offensive lineman -- and drafted one in the first round in tackle Gosder Cherilus. They needed a linebacker -- and drafted one in the second round in Jordon Dizon. They needed a running back -- and took one in the third round in Kevin Smith. They needed an edge rusher -- and drafted one later in the third round in Cliff Avril. They needed another interior defensive lineman -- and selected Andre Fluellen during Round 4.

The tendency to distrust the Lions drafting under Matt Millen is understandable, but these were all productive college players. They seem to have been drafted more based on what they can do rather than being some stretch of Millen's imagination, which has been the Lions usual modus operandi. There is no fluff there. Just solid parts. At least potentially.

There is also the matter of addition by subtraction. There has been far too much bellyaching about Rogers' departure. He was a disruptive factor on that team, both in terms of his demeanor in the locker room, his suspect work ethic and the way he tended to lay down on the field. It looked like he was competing on "Dancing With The Stars" the way he waltzed with blockers the second half of last season. A bigger factor hindering the Lions defensive line play last season was an injury to end Dewayne White, the Lions best pass rusher. He hurt his arm in the Denver game, the last of the first half of the season, and missed the next two. He wasn't the same player upon returning. He is healthy now.

Martz was another addition by subtraction. What he did the second half of the year by abandoning the running game, was ridiculous. While new coordinator Jim Colletto is underwhelming by reputation, at least the scheme change is welcome.

Where the Lions have failed so far is not adding a veteran running back. It's unrealistic to count on Smith from Day One. Tatum Bell isn't an effective runner between the tackles. The rest of the running back corps is incredibly thin. Why the Lions haven't made a move to correct this obvious flaw is a puzzle, but viable options are there (LaMont Jordan?).

The Lions should be able to pass the ball effectively. Defenses aren't going be expecting it every down. Kitna's targets are Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams, the two best players on the team.

The NFC North isn't very strong. The Packers are in disarray because of the Brett Favre saga, Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton are still the Bears quarterbacks and Tarvaris Jackson is still under center for the Vikings.

The Lions schedule gets more difficult as it moves along, but is manageable early in the season. It's not out of the realm of possibility, if the Lions get off to a good start, they can sustain it this time.

And it's not an unrealistic notion they can surpass their win total from last year.

Pat Caputo is a senior sports reporter and a columnist for The Oakland Press. Contact him at pat.caputo@oakpress.com and read his sports blog and listen to his sports podcast at Blog Central at theoaklandpress.com.