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» 2008 Lions Results |
@ Atlanta 34 Detroit 21
Sept 7
Green Bay 48 Detroit 25
Sept 14
@ San Francisco 31 Detroit 13
Sept 21
Week 3 BYE
Chicago 34 Detroit 7
Oct 5
Detroit @ Minnesota
Oct 12
Detroit @ Houston
Oct 19
Detroit vs Washington
Oct 26
Detroit @ Chicago
Nov 2
Detroit vs Jacksonville
Nov 9
Detroit @ Carolina
Nov 16
Detroit vs Tampa Bay
Nov 23
Detroit vs Tennessee
Nov 27
Detroit vs Minnesota
Dec 7
Detroit @ Indianapolis
Dec 14
Detroit vs New Orleans
Dec 21
Detroit @ Green Bay
Dec 28
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» NFL Calender |
Friday May 2-Sunday, May 4: Lions full squad minicamp with veterans and rookies(closed to the public).
Monday, May 19-Wednesday, May 21: NFL Spring Meeting, Buckhead, Ga.
Tuesday, July 15 (1 p.m., Pacific time): Deadline to sign franchise players to offer sheets.
Late July: Lions open training camp. (Exact date will not be known until the announcement of exhibition schedule.)
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» Lions Redzone Original - Lions Meltdown |
Meltdown in Motown
By Vic Turner
www.LionsRedzone.com
Oct. 6, 2008
The Mike Martz firing appears to be the nail in the coffin for Matt Millen and Rod Marinelli
It's obvious Rod is way over his head as a head coach in the NFL. What head coach fires a super bowling winning OC then hires two guys to fill the spot? Rod this isn't like the military, merely sending more guys in after you sacrificed a guy on the previous mission will not get the desired results! Numbers won't solve the coaching problem. Casualties are mounting and the count should be higher come the end of the season. Referees walk all over you and players no longer have any confidence in you, respect is a fine line and that is the only thing left that can hold this together.
But Rod isn't all to blame, after all somebody did offer the once defensive line coach the head coaching position. True he took his seven win team from last season and changed virtually almost everything that didn't need to be changed like OC and most of his secondary which were moves that were obviously wrong! The apparent areas which need the most attention such as OL, LB and DL have not been upgraded and look in worst shape this season. But is also isn't know the extent of which Millen was involved in the drafting this season. Millen or Rod matter not, neither have had much success in the draft, and the personnel and coaching changes and decisions with both men made me scratch my head then as much as it does now.
Mutiny is and ugly business! And it looks like his troops are defecting. At one time most fans would say guys like Kitna and Roy Williams were players the Lions could hang their hard hot on, but they have too lost all confidence during this meltdown. One thing is for sure Matt Millen was the poster child for ineptitude, but what's left over is certainly more then just a symptom. The front office as a whole is obviously filled with underachievers and has failed the Lion's organization in an embarrassing fashion. It also appears the roster needs to be purged of most of it's talentless players. Ultimately the guy that got Matt Millen fired this early in the season was Rod Marinelli. This seven win team of a year ago could be win less by the end of the season if something doesn't drastically change soon with the Lions. It's finally been realized by even the most stubborn of sports owners in the business that both Millen's and Marinelli's football team will be the laughing stock of the NFL once again. Mr. Ford may have staved off massive losses is ticket sales for the time being, but for how long in the tough economy of Detroit? The only option is starting over from scratch. Keeping anyone around in the front office and down to most of the players will make the stupidity hangover just linger. Let's just hope for our sake Mr. Ford finally gets it right next time around, and hope his win less reminder does not let him forget the mistakes of the last seven seasons as he watches them collapse and self implode the rest of the season.
Vic Turner
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» Lions Redzone Original - Change the D Scheme |
A Change For The Better Starts With Defensive Schemes
By Ryan ‘K-Dawg’ Kohler
www.LionsRedzone.com
Sept. 20, 2008
Bottom line, things are not working out for the Detroit Lions, again. The defensive line, with all the guys they kept and drafted, is not helping the rest of the defense. The linebackers are not making enough plays, if any at all. The secondary is giving up huge chunks of yards. When your defense makes guys like Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, or Jordy Nelson look like they’ve been Pro Bowl receivers for years, or even a rookie quarterback look like a Hall of Famer, you have to admit there is a problem. Maybe it’s the play calling. Maybe it’s the personnel. Maybe it’s the system. If the defense could be a defense for any amount of time, then the Lions wouldn’t put the game on the shoulders of Kitna. Under that kind of pressure, Kitna’s shoulder’s look about as broad as a second grade Pop Warner cheerleader. The focus of the draft was defense, but these young guys are not seeing any kind of time, so far, to decide what the Lions have in terms of talent on that side of the ball. So, starting from the end of the season, where the defense will be dead last in most statistics, the defense will be the downfall of Matt Millen, Rod Marinelli and family...um, not family, his staff. So how do you fix it?
The 4-3 has not worked for the Lions in a long time. A traditional 4-3 under Bobby Ross/Marty Mohrninwheg/Steve Mariucci/Dick Jauron didn’t fare too well either. The trendy Tamp 2 has yet to look at all what it is supposed to look like, a la the Buccaneers, Colts, and Bears. We have some youth on the defensive side of the ball, with Avril, Dizon and Sims. You also have one guy not making his money (Corey Redding) and another guy who MIGHT be making his money, but he hasn’t played enough to justify his contract (Dewayne White.) The secondary has potential, but someone is going to have to come in for Brian Kelly, who will be yet another year older. Depth may be a concern, but considering the major holes on the starting lineup, I wouldn’t worry about that yet.
I propose going with a youth movement. Change the entire 4-3 scheme into a 3-4.
The question, of course, is do the Lions have the bodies to fill the linebacker slots? As of right now, the linebacker corps consists of Ernie Sims and Gilbert Gardner on the weak side, Paris Lenon and Jordan Dizon in the middle, and Alex Lewis and Ryan Nece on the strong side. A switch to the 3-4 would mean Jordan Dizon and Paris Lenon would be starting in the middle, with Ernie Sims and Alex Lewis playing the outside positions. However, we do have Cliff Avril, who was projected as a 3-4 defensive player. I say put him at linebacker. That gives you Gilbert Gardner and Alex Lewis as the back ups on the outside. I didn’t forget Nece. I would shift him inside to back up one of the inside linebacker spots until depth can be found. Going into the draft, the Lions would have to spend an early pick on an inside linebacker to eventually take over for Paris Lenon, who will be turning 32 next season.
As for the defensive line, the starters would be Dewayne White, Corey Redding, and Jared Devries. Not all that intimidating, obviously. Corey Redding can give some flexibility by playing nose tackle or defensive end, he did play defensive end for a bit earlier in his career. The better option would be to draft a big body to play nose tackle, and put Redding on the outside. This would be better then sticking with a 4-3. In a 3-4 the Lions would need a younger inside linebacker to groom to replace Paris Lenon, and a nose tackle to help clog the middle, and a younger cornerback to start opposite of Leigh Bodden. In a 4-3, the Lions would be looking for a defensive end, a defensive tackle, a strong side linebacker, and a cornerback to take over for Brian Kelly. So automatically the Lions are cutting down on needs. It’s a question as to how well Dewayne White and Corey Redding would do in a 3-4, but with the size of their contracts, the Lions have to stick it out a little longer with them, before getting rid of them. Maybe the Lions catch lightning in a bottle, and both turn out to be solid in a 3-4. Or not, but no one knows that yet.
So to switch to a 3-4, the Lions would have to hire someone who knows how to run a 3-4. The candidates are pretty slim. Available at this moment are Bill Cowher and Marty Schottenheimer. If the Browns don’t make the playoffs, Romeo Crennel may be available. If the Lions management dig a little deeper there would be guys like San Diego Chargers Defensive Coordinator Ted Cottrell, New England Patriots Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees, Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Brian Stewart, Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau, and the dark horse of them all, Russ Grimm, the Arizona Cardinals Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach. Of course, none of these guys would be any helpful unless the scouting department is completely overhauled.
When’s the last time the Lions had a late round draft pick pan out into, at worst, a solid starter? Corey Schlesinger as a 6th round choice seems to fit the bill. But it was difficult to find anyone the Lions drafted in recent history that made any kind of impact, on any team, after the 4th round. So while the Patriots are finding guys like Tom Brady and Curtis Martin, the Lions are finding guys like Kerwin Waldroup and Terry Battle. Add into this, the Lions have a bunch of first round draft picks become busts, a change in the scouting department would be a welcome addition to a team trying to convert to a new defense and bring the fans back
Of course, the person who can do such a move would be the General Manage/President. If the Lions are going to overhaul the defense by converting to a 3-4, and bring in a guy who knows how to run it, that means firing Rod Marinelli. If Rod is gone, so is Matt Millen. That leaves the Lions with a hole to fill at the top of the organization. The key here would be to take someone from a team who is a perennial winner, and the head of their scouting department, or Assistant General Manager. There is a reason San Diego is the most talented team in the league. There is a reason the Steelers are always in playoff contention, even when they’re having a down year. There is a reason the Patriots have won so many Super Bowls in the past few years. These teams know how to draft. By taking a page from any of these teams, automatically it will bring fans back to the Lions and provide an immediate glimmer of hope in what has become the dismal Detroit Lions. The prospects would be Ed McGuire of the San Diego Chargers (Assistant GM and Executive of Football Operations), Ron Hughes of the Pittsburgh Steelers (College Scouting Coordinator), Scott Pioli (Vice President, Player Personnel, to get him to come over he would have to take a promotion to President, I would assume), Nick Caserio (Director of Player Personnel of the New England Patriots) and everyone’s favorite dark horse as a General Manager, Ron Wolf.
Depending on who becomes the Lions President/General Manager, they will bring in their own scouts, and they would want ‘their guy’ as head coach. So hiring a front office person from San Diego could bring in a guy like Marty Schottenheimer or Ted Cottrell. Hiring someone from Pittsburgh could land Bill Cowher (if the Carolina Panthers job is not open at the end of the season). Hiring someone from the Patriots would most likely bring anyone from the Patriots coaching staff over also.
To bring in a guy like Marty Schottenheimer, a good coach no doubt, you would have to have a guy on the staff be his protégé. Schottenheimer can coach the players and make them better, but he can’t navigate a team through the playoffs. To avoid a rebuilding process once Schottenheimer is gone, the Lions would have to set up something like the Seahawks have with Mike Holmgren and Jim Mora Jr. or what Dallas has with Wade Phillips and Jason Garret, but more friendly then how Dallas set it up.
So by just changing a philosophy on defense, the entire organization can be overhauled. No one would argue that Dallas, New England, Pittsburgh, and San Diego are top tier teams. So why not mimic what they have done to become an elite team? The NFL is a copycat league anyway, so what’s wrong with copycatting the team who has been to the most Super Bowls this century, a former Super Bowl winner who is still in contention for deep run into the playoffs, and a perennial favorite to go to the AFC Championship game? So the Lions bring in a whole new front office, a whole new scouting department, a whole new staff, and convert the defense into something Lions fans have only seen, and from the wrong side. Would this not be a sign of encouragement that indeed the time is now for change?
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» Lions Redzone Original - Please Help! |
To Our Beloved, Our Dearest, and Our Most Gracious.
Dear, Mr. William Gates III, Mr. Warren Buffet, Mr. Michael Dell, Mr. Carlos Slim Helu, Mr. Karl Albrecht, Ms. Oprah Winfrey, Mr. Paul Allen, Mr. Sheldon Adelson, The Walton Family, Mr. Forrest Mars Jr., The Koch Family, Mr. Larry Page, Mr. Steven Forbes and last but not least, Mr. Steve Jobs.
First of all, thank you for your time.
As a hard working citizen of Michigan, I’d like to express to you my deepest concern at what is transpiring in our little corner of the world. As you may or may not know, automotive jobs here are being outsourced on a monthly basis, taxes are increasing at substantial rates and many blue-collar workers are finding themselves without work. Michigan, sadly, garners the highest unemployment rate in the country and not only are many residents fleeing this state, but I have witnessed many of my friends and family succumbing both mentally and financially to such tough times. I have seen first hand how this hardship has affected loved ones, friends and otherwise good people and with so little work, not to mention a declining economy, there seems little hope over the horizon.
I am writing you; because if anybody can help thousands if not millions of hard working Americans rekindle the old fiery spirit of what once made Michigan great, it is you. Our residents have supported Microsoft, Apple, Dell, Wal-Mart, bought pet food, candy, watched TV and have purchased gasoline. Please, in return, all I ask is another ten minutes of your time.
Respectfully, we here in Michigan need your help.
This state does not have much as far as entertainment. Here, we are a die-hard sports town, one who spend what little money we have on our teams. We don’t question it. I am writing you with 100% sincerity and a heart full of optimism and I am 100% serious in what I propose.
It is no secret that the NFL is one of the most popular leagues in the world of sports and we feel (as a state) that it is time for our team (The Detroit Lions) to be bought out from Mr. William Ford and the Ford family. Mr. Ford and his family are great, well-respected people of this state, but we feel it is time to move on. You may ask how this affects you. Well, I propose to you in all sincerity a three-point plan. I can guarantee that this plan will not only make you hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars from day one, but it will also ease the minds and elate a million tough working, blue collar Michiganders.
With so much hardship here in this state, we religiously follow our Detroit Lions. That said this team does not harbor the right motives that we fans hold so sacred. According to Forbes, the average NFL team is worth 733 Million dollars. It should be noted that Detroit has just built a brand new field, called Ford Field, and it is state of the art in all the world of sports. We also have a top notch practice facility in Allen Park and great sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, Comerica, Master Card, and Burger King to name a few. Despite a record of just 7-9 in 2007, the Detroit Lions made over 189 Million in TV rights, licensing fees, advertising and other ticket and merchandise purchases by us, the loyal faithful. The purchase of this team is not only good business, but is a transaction that, if the right people are hired, will not involve much of your time. You will also be helping millions of sports fans.
The first point of our plan is to ask for a small, fee, say, $90 million dollars per person, but let it be noted that this is all you will have to invest. This is a business transaction that will pay for itself in less than three years. If this cost is too great, I tactfully add that for just $5 million dollars per, you could buy out our GM Matt Millen’s contract and write it off as charity. This action alone would greatly improve moral in this downtrodden state ten fold, the likes of which no amount of new factories could equate.
Mr. Ford is a great business mind as you know, and the Detroit Lions net worth increases 15% each year at the very least, just as it does for the rest of the league. For just 850 million dollars total (providing Mr. Ford a nice profit,) you will have ownership of a true NFL tradition, as the Detroit Lions hold the annual Thanksgiving game every year, which was watched by 60 million homes alone last year and your investment will ensure one of the elite, founding teams of the NFL. This team has been in action, as long as the league itself and not unlike the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Pistons or the Detroit Red Wings, it never fails to make a profit.
I am reminded of a young man that lives close to me. He was in a car accident not too long ago, and even though he cannot walk and has succumbed to a wheelchair, he loves his Detroit Lions. He can be seen in the neighborhood wearing his Honolulu Blue jersey and there is never a day, when he isn’t grateful for his team. He is one of millions. He was a linebacker for the local high school here and Ernie Sims is his favorite player. If you ever need a smile, I recommend you spend five minutes with him. Talk football. Talk computers. Talk current events. Talk love for life. You won’t regret it.
Whether you know it or not, your contribution to our cause will greatly impact a lot of people’s lives. We raise our children, love our families and are the best hard working people we know how to be. We love our sports here in Michigan and above all, despite it being taken from us, we love our football come Sundays.
Lastly, and I am sure you know by now, I am writing you, because these are desperate times. By no means do I think this letter will be read, but my intense propensity and sheer determination alone should tell you how much we need you. This is no joke, although I wish it were.
As a state, Michigan asks you for your help. We are desperate and are being ignored and ridiculed by the very team our proud city loves so much. We don’t look forward too much here, but we do look forward to Sundays and we do look forward to some day competing. With a transaction such as this, not only will your pocketbook thank you, but so will the millions of loyal and thankful fans of this great state.
No disrespect to Mr. Ford, but since he has bought this team in 1964, it has produced only two playoff games, both for losses. For being in the league 44 years, this record is unfathomable. Mr. Ford is a good man I am sure, but it is time to hand over the reigns and it is time to make the Detroit Lions respectable. With your modest help this can become a reality. As a blue-collar worker for this honest state, the one I love, the one I was born, there is only so much we can take and we feel it is time for better minds to bring us out of our misery.
Sincerely yours,
Will B. Praying
And
Ken U. Help
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» Lions Redzone Original - F'em till next year |
“F- - k ‘em ‘til next year.”
Perhaps Lions fans should concur.
By Anthony B. Irvine. A.k.a. Sanders97
www.LionsRedzone.com
May 20, 2008
Like a moth to the flame; a piranha to it’s prey; a fly to the ever-growing pile of dung that is the Detroit Lions organization, I am drawn to issues such as this one. I can’t help it. When something so obviously wrong takes place, how the hell can one ignore such a thing? Perhaps many may choose to when threats to “come after you” are levied as stated by Lions Chief Operations Officer Tom Lewand. However, when those threats are made in response to an absolute wrong on the part of a Lions employee, one has to question the integrity of such an organization.
The Lions have not offered up a winning season in nearly an entire decade. Still, ticket prices increase nearly every year. Inflation? Perhaps. The economy isn’t exactly thriving at the moment and even millionaires deserve to make a profit, but where is the incentive for the fans to continue spending their money on this product? Players and other NFL officials are quick to point out the generosity of the Ford family. “They have state of the art facilities” and “they are loyal” to a fault. But are these people who receive and love the generosity they get from the Ford’s simply covering for a deep dysfunction within the organization that radiates from the top down? I can think of no better example than the recent e-mail that was mistakenly sent to one fan who was shown less than stellar courtesy on more than one occasion, and I don’t mean just having to endure multiple seasons of shoddy performance on end.
After waiting out his time on a waiting list, season ticket holder Kevin Furlong acquired multiple season tickets for club and lower level seats. Paying several thousands of dollars each year for his seats, the Lions organization thanks him by downgrading his club level seats and then, somehow, misplacing the seats he was promised, not once, but twice in consecutive seasons. At this point, even a person with half the intelligence that God gifted primitive primates would feel that the burden of responsibility lies with the Lions organization. Let us not forget that Mr. Furlong would have every right to be disappointed in these occurrences. What transpired in conversations between Furlong and the Lions organization is irrelevant up until the time in which Furlong received an e-mail from the Lions. Granted, the e-mail was mistakenly sent to Furlong, but the message was loud and clear to not only Furlong, but also to many fans who have chosen not to renew their season tickets. Basically, the message was, “F—k ‘em ‘til next year”.
I’m sure there was a heated exchange between the two parties and I’m also confident that the Lions officials tried to do their jobs by satisfying a customer who had every right to be unsatisfied. However, my question is; how can this attitude even be present on the part of even the lowest of Lions employees? Not only that, but what about the “…’til next year” part of that statement? Are they making a Jon Kitna prediction? Are they suggesting that the Lions will, somehow, miraculously make a championship run and bring back all of those disgruntled fans? Even if they were making that suggestion, how can they feel confident in making that prediction after the word is out that they typically don’t give a damn about the fans they’ve disappointed year after year?
Fans can expect turbulent times. I think even the most rabid fans would be willing to stomach the common ups and downs of their favorite football team if they knew that they could very well bounce back and be competitive the following year. However, I also think that there’s a lot of people who base their decisions on principle matters and one of those principles is respect. I would like to know how any self respecting fan could validate spending a large sum of money on a product that not only doesn’t seem to have a clue on how to be competitive, but whose overall attitude is “f—k ‘em” towards those who have the nerve to get upset about it all.
Lions fans have proven to be, arguably, the most loyal fans in all of the National Football League. In over a half century, fans of the Detroit Lions have enjoyed less than what some expansion teams have enjoyed in less than fifteen years of existence. Still, come September, they show up in droves to support their hometown team. Common sense says that there’s an expiration date on that kind of loyalty when there’s no return and I think Tom Lewand and his staff have just moved that date a bit closer by displaying the attitude that was received in that one mistakenly sent e-mail.
Perhaps more fans need to mirror this attitude. Many are already doing this by refusing to renew their season tickets. Still, hope springs eternal and many of those cancelled tickets will be picked up by others who have yet to experience a game at Ford Field. Still, what once saw very little turn over on the waiting list is now flirting with the possibility of localized blackouts. Maybe the Lions organization is setting their own precedent. “F—k ‘em ‘til next year”. I think many Lions fans would agree.
Thank you Mr. Lewand. Threatening a journalist for suggesting what you’ve just clearly displayed in your statement versus the lack of action taken against the offending employee says enough. “F—k us ‘til next year”??? You’ll be lucky if you have many left to dismiss so readily after this statement, let alone another year of inept performance on the field or from within the organizations offices.
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» Lions Redzone Original - 2007 draft report |
Lions Draft Report
By Murtyle
www.LionsRedzone.com
May 9, 2008
It’s that time again. It’s the time when we fans get told that our favorite team has made real progress. As Mike Martz put it last year “This is the day we turned the corner” or something to that effect. To his credit the Lions did improve last year by 4 wins. However, it wasn’t quite the turn around that we had all hoped for. This year we’ll hear much of the same, but could this be the year that they’re more than words and we FINALLY make the playoffs? Is this the draft class that puts us over the edge like the Giants class did for them last year? Only time will tell and to expect to get that type of production from a group of rookies is a stretch, but this is the way I see things at this point.
- 1st Round pick Boston College Offensive Tackle Gosder Cherilus (6-7 312 lbs) Overview: The massive tackle was switched to left tackle last year by their first year BC’s head coach Jeff Jagodzinski. Jogodzinski wanted his best offensive lineman anchoring the left side of the line. While it is true that he was BC’s best offensive lineman, the move didn’t fit him well as he was considered one of college football’s most inconsistent players last year. Gosder is a good run blocker and shows good drive most of the time, but in pass protection he looks like a fish out of water. He is often off balance and struggled against both bull and speed rushers. His run blocking ability makes him a decent option at right tackle for the Lions, but he won’t be anything special.
Value: Poor. The Lions did well to move back and should be given credit for it, but it seems as though they could have gotten more to move back than just moving up 10 spots in the 3rd round. That is being picky though. What isn’t being picky is the spot they chose to take Cherilus at. 17th overall is about 9 or 10 spots higher than he was projected to go by even his biggest fans. However, if you look at the first round you see a trend. Teams over-payed for lineman on both sides of the ball, not just the Lions. Atlanta taking Sam Baker with the 21st overall pick was a surprise, but the shocker of the first round was when Houston decided to take the extremely raw OT Duane Brown out of Virginia Tech who most had being a 3rd round pick. What does this say to me? Anyone who question’s the leagues stigma of being a “copy cat” league doesn’t have a leg to stand on. The year after the Giants won the Super Bowl mainly with stellar line play on both sides of the ball; there were 15 picks on either line including 9 in
the first 15 picks. There were only 11 in last year’s 1st round.
Passed On: Rashard Mendenhall, Mike Jenkins, Aqib Talib and technically Brandon Albert
Rashard Mendenhall would have been a great pick, especially after trading back. Pittsburgh got a real steal with him. Brandon Albert will be a dominant guard in this league and while I can’t blame the Lions for passing on Talib and Jenkins due to their character issues, they are supreme talents that could have helped this team more on the field than Cherilous will in my opinion if they can stay out of trouble. The drop off in talent from Mendenhall to Smith is so much bigger than that between Cherilous and say John Greco.
- 2nd Round pick Colorado Linebacker Jordan Dizon (6-0 229 lbs)
Overview: Dizon is an undersized linebacker for the NFL, but he was very productive in college. In fact he is 8th in the history of college football in total tackles, registering a whopping 463 tackles in his career. Dizon was the Big 12 Defensive player of the year last year to boot. For all his production however taking him with the 45th overall pick was a definite stretch. Much has been made about the MLB position in this Tampa 2 defense. You’ve heard the “experts” tell us how much relies on the player being very smart, instinctual and athletic. Dizon has 2 of the 3. He is very instinctual and smart by most accounts, but you have to wonder about his athletic ability and lack of strength. At the combine he ran a very pedestrian 4.71 in the 40 yd dash and only recorded 12 reps of 225. That lack of speed and strength is really going to be a factor on the next level where he’ll have to shed more blocks and make more plays against faster players from sideline to sideline. Getting stronger is possible, but adding more weight isn’t. He won’t be able to add anymore weight without losing significant athletic ability. He can go 2 ways: Either he turns into the next Tedy Bruschi or the next Teddy Lehman.
Value: Poor. It’s tough to tell where exactly he would have gone in this draft. There were other teams like the Colts that were reportedly interested in drafting him. However, I can’t honestly look at this guy and say he was a top 50 player in this draft and in my opinion it was another reach. For all his production, his lack of athletic ability is really going to put him at disadvantage on this level.
Passed On: Trevor Laws, Quentin Groves, Jason Jones
You could make a case for any 3 of these guys. Trevor Laws easily would have been my pick had the draft fallen this way. I will say this though, when you look at the 2nd round, after we picked, there weren’t a whole lot of draft picks that you say “Wow. Why would you pass on that guy?” like you could in the 1st round of the draft. It seemed like there were a lot of “reaches” in the 2nd round. Quentin Groves or Jason Jones really could have helped the pass rush out too, but Laws was the safest pick here in my opinion.
- 3rd round pick Central Florida Runningback Kevin Smith (6-1 217 lbs)
Overview: This guy is going to be nothing short of interesting. He has got an ego that won’t quit. In fact, on his own website that he put up he said “I was the Denzel Washington of football”. He’s going to need all the ego that he can get. The Lions had to grab him there because they were extremely thin at the RB position. If you watch him play, he doesn’t play with great burst, his vision is average at best, he doesn’t have great balance and he is an upright runner which leaves him prone to injury. Despite that he has been durable over his career. While in college he was extremely productive however. Setting school and conference records and coming within 62 yards of former Lion Barry Sanders’ NCAA all time single season rushing record. That may be more of a testimonial to how many times he carried the ball though. For as many yards as he had he was also tackled for a loss 48 times his senior year. He reminds me of a poor man’s Kevin Jones. Smith isn’t a guy that can make things happen on his own. If he has a good career, it is going to be more of a testimonial to the offensive line that it will be to his ability.
Value: Average. This is right where Smith should have gone. I personally liked Tashard Choice and Jammal Charles more, but then again NFL teams disagreed with me and Choice lasted until the middle of the 4th round. While I am not that big of a fan of Smith’s (and I think he will have off the field issues as well) I can’t blame them for moving up to secure a RB as grabbing one was a necessity.
Passed On: Jammal Charles, Tashard Choice
I just want to say that Dan Connor falling this far was a gift falling this far was a gift, but we needed a running back badly. The position was right after passing Mendenhall in the 1st and Forte not being there for us in the 2nd. However, Jammal Charles will end up being the better back in my opinion. He is much faster, has far better burst and balance and still has good size to him. I’m also more of a fan of Choice than I am of Smith.
- 3rd round pick Florida State Defensive Tackle Andre Fluellen (6-2 296 lbs)
Overview: This is the first pick that they made that I really didn’t have much issue with. Fluellen is an undersized DT that relies on his quickness to make plays. He has a knack for shooting gaps and getting into the backfield which makes him a good fit in this defense. His production in college however was less than impressive and he really struggled with consistency. His Senior year he finished with only 11 solo and 13 assisted tackles including only 1 solo and 2 assisted tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Value: Average. This is about where Fluellen should have been picked. Again, an average draft choice.
Passed On: None
Between this pick and our 3rd third round pick there were only 4 picks and none of them would have been a better pick.
- 3rd round pick Purdue Defensive End/ Linebacker Cliff Avril (6-3 253 lbs)
Overview: I’m very torn on this pick. On one hand I see an extremely athletic OLB/DE tweener that can develop into a dominant pass rusher with his speed. On the other hand I see an undersized, inexperienced DE that will have trouble matching up physically with big offensive tackles. One thing I’m not torn on is the fact that he is going to be another defensive line project for Marinellli.
Value: Below Average. This was a bit of a reach especially considering we gave up 2 4th rd picks to move up and get him. This is your stereotypical “boom or bust” prospect. I personally have no issue with them taking a flyer on this guy.
Passed On: Phillip Wheeler, Oneil Cousins, Anthony Collins, Tyvon Branch
Wheeler would have been a nice value here and he fits our scheme pretty well (confirmed by the fact that the Colts drafted him) and he is probably less of a project than Avril is. Collins was a steal going in the 4th round. Cousins is raw, but a great value. After taking Cherilous in the 1st rd, it wouldn’t make much sense to grab one in the same draft. Tyvon Branch was a GREAT pick by the Raiders at the top of the 4th and is the prototype T2 CB and returns kicks. Still Avril works for me as well as any of the guys I just mentioned. Let’s just hope he’s more of the boom type rather than the bust.
- 5th round pick Wake Forrest Wide Receiver Kenneth Moore (5-11 195 lbs)
Overview: I must admit that I knew very little of this guy before we drafted him. After doing some research though I remember seeing a little bit of this kid. Anybody, who has watched Wake Forrest over the last few years, knows that Jim Grobe’s offense is a little out of the ordinary. It utilizes smaller, versatile athletes doing all kinds of crazy stuff. “WRs” lining up in the backfield, “RBs” lining up outside, well this kid was their go to guy. He did everything for them. He caught passes, ran reverses, lined up at RB and returned kicks and punts. Here’s your new kick returner Detroit AT LEAST. I didn’t even mention that he was 9th in the nation and set a school record with 98 receptions his senior year. He’ll end up pushing Furrey and McDonald by the beginning of next year.
Value: Above Average. This guy was off my radar mostly because he was a WR and wasn’t the highly rated kick returner that others were, but I really think Detroit got a good player with this pick. I think he’ll make a lot of fans here happy regardless of whether he is a WR or not.
Passed On: John David Booty, Zack Bowman, Orlando Scandrick
As much as I liked this pick, the recent news, which Stanton and Orlovsky aren’t progressing would have made Booty VERY intriguing here. It certainly couldn’t have hurt to add competition to the position. I’m of the opinion that we need to add depth at CB and Bowman or Scandrick could be nice developmental guys. Still I like the pick as we needed a kick returner as well and he fits the bill.
- 5th round pick Furman Fullback Jerome Felton (6-0 241 lbs)
Overview: Those that were upset when the Lions didn’t re-sign TJ Duckett will love this guy. There is nobody in college football more physical in short yardage and goal line situations than this kid from what I have heard and what little I have seen on tape of him. Just to put into perspective what I am talking about, he has his school’s all time record in scoring with 63 career TDs. That’s 18 more than “The Denzel Washington of football” that we took in the 3rd round. He is not fast, but he has great body lean (was only tackled behind the line of scrimmage 15 times his entire career) and lateral movement. Think Jerome Bettis, TJ Duckett or Lendale White (The college version)
Value: Average. When you get this low in the draft most teams are looking for 2 things. 1.) A player who can develop into a dominant player down the road. 2.) A steady guy at any position that will make the team. This is a guy that is going to be a steady player at the FB and short yardage back position. Like the rest of this draft outside of Avril, Campbell and Fluellen, there isn’t a lot of upside with him. He is what he is and in this case that’s good enough especially in the 5th round.
Passed On: Roy Schuening, Trae Williams, Owen Schmitt, Carl Nicks, Jonathan Goff
All 4 of these guys made my top 100. LOL. That’s all I’m going to say. In my opinion they all would have been great picks.
- 7th round pick Ohio Defensive Tackle Landon Cohen (6-3 278 lbs)
Overview: 7th round pick or not this guy seems like a waste. I don’t know that much about the guy to be honest, but his size is more than a little disheartening. I understand size isn’t a big factor in this defense, but 278 lbs is tiny for a DT. With some of the players that were still on the board you have to wonder why they drafted a guy that was almost a lock to be able to come in as a rookie undrafted free agent. Not to mention 4 rounds earlier we drafted another rookie DT. I don’t get it.
Value: Poor. His lack of size coupled with his short arms put him at serious disadvantages on this level. NFL (and even major college) offensive lineman will have their way with this guy.
Passed On: Erin Henderson, Kirk Barton, Daryll Robertson, Eric Young, Johnny Dingle or Drew Radovich
All are guys that were rated in the mid rounds and fell undrafted. I’ve got to imagine that their upside is more than that of Cohen and that if you really wanted Cohen, he would have likely accepted an invite to camp. Yes I understand that all but Barton went undrafted, but seriously, wouldn’t you feel better with any of the guys listed above instead of ANOTHER project defensive line player? I would.
- 7th round pick Army Strong Safety Caleb Campbell (6-2 229 lbs)
Overview: The Army Cadet soon to be 2nd lieutenant took advantage of a new rule the Army put forth that allows cadets to pursue a career in professional football. The Lions pulled the trigger on the safety and have plans to move him to outside linebacker citing that he played “in the box” a lot in college and looked comfortable doing it. I actually really like this pick. It’s a good story, he’s a good athlete and is ultra aggressive. He’s going to need time to adjust, but at the very least he can come in and be a strong special teamer early in his career.
Value: Above Average. The pick is solid and I like the idea of moving him to linebacker in this system. I think he was a bit under-rated to be honest. At linebacker, his questionable change of direction skills and backpedal won’t be exposed as much as it would at the safety position. He’s going to need some work at the point of attack, but I think this is exactly the type of player you go for this late in the draft.
Passed On: Erin Henderson, Kirk Barton, Daryll Robertson, Eric Young, Johnny Dingle or Drew Radovich
I’m good with this pick like I said and I actually think they got good value with this pick. If they could have coupled this pick with one of the guys above, I think it would have improved the team more than coupling Campbell with a player that stands VERY little chance of making it in this league anywhere.
Overall this draft gets a big fat C- from me. Its seems as though they paid very little attention to value and just picked areas of need. Are we better than we were last year? Yes probably. However, that isn’t the important question. The important question is did we improve more than other teams. After all they got draft picks too. Let’s put this into perspective. Both us and a division rival had the 17th pick in this year’s draft. They got the NFL sack leader. We got a middle of the road rookie Right Tackle. How does that make you feel?
Who knows, maybe (and hopefully) the guys who produced keep producing. Maybe the guys who have upside realize their potential and this will be one of the best drafts in Lions history. That’s the great thing about the draft, you can spend 100 % of your time watching tape and studying these players inside and out, but you won’t truly know for years.
So I’ve been critical of how they drafted. I might as well put my opinion against theirs. So here it is. This is how I would have drafted. (For the sake of continuity I’ll assume all trades)
1st round: Rashard Mendehall RB Illinois
2nd round: Trevor Laws DT Notre Dame
3rd round: Chris Ellis DE Virginia Tech
3rd round: Phillip Wheeler LB Georgia Tech
3rd round: Anthony Collins OT Kansas
5th round: Kenneth Moore WR Wake Forest
5th round: Roy Schuening OG Oregon St.
7th round: Erin Henderson LB Maryland
7th round: Peyton Hillis FB Arkansas
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