Detroit Lions
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NFL Team Column By Scot Acocks |
Top Ten Pick Within Reach
It has been hard to find positives in the Detroit Lions’ season again this year. They have struggled to reach even a low level of mediocrity and continue to be the bottom-feeders that they have been for so long. In the meantime, the fans continue to wait for a savior to come along and turn the muck into cream that will rise to the top.
After last week’s bye the Lions looked pathetic and did nothing to stimulate the hearts and dreams of their fans in a futile battle against one of the other worse teams in the league. The coaches tried to sound optimistic after the 17-10 loss to the previously winless St Louis Rams but the only real highlights of the game included a two point safety and a two point conversion after quarterback Matt Stafford rushed for a touchdown. The low points seemed endless and accumulated into the Lions’ sixth loss on the season.
Cornerback continues to be a real problem on this team. Currently Phillip Buchanon and Will James are the starting duo as Anthony Henry has been benched. It seems that they are all unwilling to tackle and have had problems nabbing interceptions. The diminutive Jason David (5’8” 180 lbs) was brought in to provide some help but he is coming off a shoulder injury. He did have five interceptions in New Orleans last year and he has 16 INT’s throughout his career.
There is no doubt in my mind that the team will look to add a player or two here in the off-season to provide more competition at the corners. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be any real top end talent coming out of college worthy of a high first round pick. If the Lions want to add a player through the draft they will most likely have to look at doing so in the later rounds.
Florida Gator cornerback Joe Haden (5' 10" 202 lbs), a junior, is the best prospect at the college level but it is uncertain whether or not he will make himself eligible. Florida State’s Patrick Robinson (5’11” 192lbs), Kentucky’s Trevard Lindley (5’11” 177lbs), and UCLA’s Alterraun Verner (5’11” 180lbs) are also among the top 100 prospects listed here at the NFL Draft Dog and could provide some valuable options when the Lions make their picks in the second and third rounds.
The best defensive back prospect that is most likely to be a top 10 pick is Tennessee safety Eric Berry (5’11” 195lbs). He seems to have all the physical attributes you would want in a safety, including the speed of a cornerback (4.3 forty). He has built himself quite a resume in college and will definitely be playing on Sundays. It wouldn’t surprise too many people to eventually see him playing in the Pro Bowl someday either. It will be hard for any team to pass up on his talent and the Lions may be tempted to pair him up with this year’s second round pick Louis Delmas who is establishing himself as one of the best defenders in Detroit.
In order for the Lions to take the next step and rise out of the NFL cellar they will have to continue addressing the secondary. However, it will not matter who is playing back there if the team continues to have a weak pass rush. Against the Rams the Lion defense came away with no sacks. That is a number that represents many of the problems this team faces and it will have to change.
This week the Lions get another chance at a win by traveling to Seattle to play the 2-5 Seahawks. Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselback has been struggling lately and he apparently is still recovering from a rib injury. If the Lions want a chance at a win there they will need to put some hits on him. If they don’t they may be reaching the midway point with only one win.
Defense Hustles but Quarterbacks Struggle
The Detroit Lions (1-5) were shutout 26-0 by NFC North “rival” the Green Bay Packers (4-2) on Sunday. The game may have been closer than it looks by some accounts but the final score tells it all: The Lions have no game. There have been plenty of times in the last few years that the team neither played with an offense and a defense. On Sunday the defense decided to make an appearance but it was the offense was non-existent.
The closest thing to resemble production was Kevin Smith’s 61 yards on 15 attempts (4.1 avg). It didn’t amount to much as nobody else decided to chip in to help. Only 17 more yards were put up on the ground and Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton combined for 105 yards passing. If it looks dead and smells dead then it is probably dead and on Sunday the Lion offense stunk up Lambeau field.
It’s especially bad because the defense, despite allowing Aaron Rodgers to throw for 358 Yards and 2 touchdowns, played a good game. Rookie safety Louis Delmas lead the team with 7 tackles and 2 assists and Cliff Avril added another sack to bring his season total up to 3.5. The real story though was Julian Peterson coming alive to get 2.5 sacks and force two fumbles. That instantly put him in the team lead with four sacks and also brings a sense of hope to the fans that at least a few players on the field really care.
This week the Lions are guaranteed not to lose as they have a bye. Next week they play the Rams at home. It should be a real barn burner as St Louis hasn’t won a game yet. America can hardly wait for that one. I will see you all there I’m sure.
Looking to Upset
The Green Bay Packers offered up the last opportunity for the Lions to escape the 2008 season with at least one win but instead sent them packing back to Detroit with a 21-31 loss and a 0-16 record. This week the Lions travel back to the scene of the crime looking to get revenge upon dairy land. If a few things come together Lambeau Field could be very quiet when the last whistle blows on Sunday.
It looks like Daunte Culpepper will get the starting nod as Matthew Stafford continues to nurse a knee injury. Last week against the Steelers Culpepper put up some decent numbers but he needs to speed up his reads a little bit. He was sacked seven times last week by Pittsburgh and some of them he could have avoided. Not having a healthy Calvin Johnson (knee injury) doesn’t help though. This week we’ll see how tough the young wide receiver and the veteran quarterback are as the crowd will be hostile and the Packer’s defense will be looking to erase them both from the field.
WR Dennis Northcutt stepped up and had a strong performance last week (5 rec, 70 yds, 1 TD). Both he and Bryant Johnson will be depended upon to take advantage of some coverage matchups that may present themselves. But again, that would depend on whether or not Culpepper checks down fast enough from his first option.
It would be nice if the Lions pass rush showed up in Green Bay.
Giving up sacks can really take the wind out of a crowd’s sails so getting to Aaron Rodgers early and hitting him late in the game is critical. That’s a lot to ask for from this team however. Cliff Avril, who leads the team in sacks with 1.5, may be the team’s best pass rusher but he needs to use his speed and athleticism to beat linemen. However, he lacks the bulk and strength to move blockers and he doesn’t hold up against the run very well. I have continuously expressed my belief that the Lions will focus on the pass rush in the upcoming draft and that will not stop unless something miraculous happens this season.
The University of South Florida’s George Selvie had a down year last year with 5.5 sacks. If he had been a Detroit Lion he would have tied for the team lead. Selvie is a hard player to project as a prospect as he is somewhat of a mystery. He was virtually unknown coming out of high school and it’s hard to say if he fits into any position at the next level. He has played end in a 4-3 in college and he could possibly fit in as a linebacker in a 3-4. His size (6’4” 250lbs) suggest that he could do either one and his numbers tell you that he is worth a look no matter what scheme a team employs. He has been one of the most disruptive players in the country the last three years, collecting 186 tackles and 59.5 tackles for a loss in that time. His sack total slipped from 14.5 in 2007 to 5.5 in 2008 but it can be argued that other teams caught on to Selvie and double teamed him while he suffered through some injuries.
When healthy, he can be a terror. So far in 2009, the Bulls were 5-0 going into a big matchup against the Cincinnati Bearcats and Selvie had two sacks and 20 tackles going into the game. The Bulls lost the game and at this time I am unsure what Selvie’s stats were for the game. If he finishes the season with some big games, however, he will be one of the most sought after defenders at the combine. Without a doubt he’ll be looking to have a great offseason and boost his draft stock. Right now he appears to be a possible late first rounder. In any case his type of presence would be a welcome on the Lions’ defense. He would eventually be expected to put up Dwight Freeney or Mario Williams type numbers if he’s drafted high in the first round. If he slips down into the second round it may be that scouts see him more as a situational pass rusher.
Insider Tip: keep an eye on Selvies' team-mate DE Jason Pierre-Paul, 6' 6" 265 lbs. Paul has better size and is more explosive and athletic than Selvie according to some scouts. Pierre-Paul has even been added to the first round of NFL Draft Dog's 2010 Mock Draft.
The Detroit Lions: Road Work Ahead
First Quarter Report
With four games in the bag the Detroit Lions have provided much of the same effort as was on display last year. It hasn’t been without any excitement or glimpses of what may be some good things to come in the future though. At the very least a huge monkey has been lifted off the backs of this franchise as it got its first win in over a year. A week later the Chicago Bears delivered a nasty wake up call in the form of a 24-48 beating.
In that game at Soldier Field the Lions gave up three rushing touchdowns while second year Bears running back Matt Forte only needed 12 carries to get 121 yards on the ground (10.1 yds/rush avg). Kevin Smith never got his game going and Stafford was sacked four times, including 2 ½ by Adewale Ogunleye, thus igniting more questions about D-town’s offensive line. If this unit, which does have potential, could step up and deliver I believe this offense would be stable enough to keep the team in games. It especially needs to come to life when Detroit is on the road and faces loud, hostile environments.
QB Matt Stafford has shown signs of life while throwing for 894 yds in the first four games. He’ll obviously have to improve on his 3-6 TD to INT ratio in order to win more games but he’s on track to throw 3,500 yards in his rookie season. That would be a nice accomplishment for any QB and we should only expect more good things to come if he can keep feeding the ball to wide receiver Calvin Johnson like he did against the Bears (8 catches 133 yds). Hopefully the knee injury Stafford sustained in the fourth quarter last week doesn’t become a lingering problem for the team. If he does miss an extended period of time, however, the team is prepared to give Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton each more reps under center.
On defense things have looked very similar as they do on offense. Although each individual unit has had its share of troubles thus far, the real ugly duckling on this side of the ball has also been the line. For the most part they have been sieves against the run and merely flies buzzing in the ears of opposing QB’s. Barely annoying, they have struggled to muster up seven sacks. Obviously things will have to change here as well.
Safety Louis Delmas has done a good job proving the Lions new regime to be good judges in talent as he is third on the team with 22 solo tackles and has also contributed a fumble recovery and a sack. Larry Foote leads the team in tackles but has possibly been out-played by rookie Deandre Levy the last two weeks. The young linebacker from the University of Wisconsin had seven solo tackles and forced a fumble against the Bears and was very active in the win over Washington. Julian Peterson has not quite provided the big plays that were expected of him when the team traded for him from Seattle.
Hopefully some camaraderie continues to develop on this team. The younger players need to continue stepping up in games and the veterans need to provide more leadership in the locker room. This team will win more games this year and perhaps upset some good teams on the road in the upcoming months. There will be plenty of opportunity to provide excitement in the Great Lakes State for the Lions. For now, however, just like many of the roads in Michigan, it is a continued work in progress.
Vs. Pittsburgh
The Steelers visited Detroit and escaped with a 28-20 win. Daunte Culpepper put up 282 yards through the air in place of the injured Matt Stafford. Calvin Johnson was limited to two yards receiving but Dennis Northcutt picked up the slack with 5 catches for 70 yds and one TD.
The Lion’s running game again looked pedestrian. This are will be the focus for improvement on the offensive side of the ball. Kevin Smith did chip in 44 yards receiving however.
Cliff Avril chipped in a ½ sack and Julian Peterson finally nabbed one as well. The will be the are of focus for improvement on the defensive side of the ball.
Detroit Lions: Down in the Trenches
As I sit in the Belltown Inn, sipping my third cup of Seattle’s Best and awaiting the Bears visit to Qwest field, I am keeping up on the Lions game through the online game tracker and watching the Titans play the Jets on the tube. Nothing could seem more fitting to me at the moment as I wonder how Matt Stafford is doing in his contest against the Redskins. Mark Sanchez is putting himself on the NFL radar right before my eyes with a TD run and a TD pass in the first half against the Titans. It has been a different story for the two rookies so far this season. Going into week three the Jets were 2-0 and the Lions were 0-2.
A lot of credit and attention is given to the young signal callers, but some dues need to be paid to the two team’s offensive lines. That’s where the big difference is being made. Sanchez and company have the opportunity to play behind an offensive line that has a lot invested in it, including two first round draft picks and a pair of high-priced free agents, including former Lion Damien Woody. In the end, they could have four pro-bowl candidates playing for them in the trenches where as the Lions will most-likely have none.
As the early games roll on a buzz around the Lions and Redskins game seems to be brewing. Could the Lions be on the verge of breaking a 19 game losing streak? It appears more and more likely as the clock ticks away and the team continues to run the ball effectively. However, the Lions are experts at coughing up games in unfortunate ways and continuing the joke. I’ll wait until the end before celebrating and sparing myself any further embarrassment as a fan.
One thing that I quickly notice in the stats is the lack of interceptions and the rushing yards the Lions are racking up on Washington. Again, that’s a direct attribute of solid offensive line play and without even seeing the game I can tell that the guys in the trenches are getting it done. I am a firm believer that the offensive line is the first priority when building a team. The Lions’ management thinks that there is plenty of talent there to begin building around but an upgrade will be needed in order for the team to have any success in the future.
The formula seems to be working well for the Jets, as they are on their way to being 3-0, and one can only expect the Lions to make some changes up front in their near future as well. At the very least, this year’s draft stock includes some prospects with the size, strength, and college gridiron resumes to make pro scouts drool. Tackles Cirron Black of LSU and Russell Okung of Oklahoma St could follow in the footsteps of Jake Long, Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, and Andre Smith towards becoming top ten picks in the NFL draft. Black (6’5” 320 lbs) and Okung (6’5” 302 lbs) are both big and athletic enough to play left tackle and at the very least should make really good guards at the pro level for the next decade. When the 2010 NFL Draft finally rolls around one of these guys may be the one guy considered as the “safest” pick in the entire talent pool.
As it turns out, the Lions pull off their first win in over a year. Kevin Smith rushed 101 yards, Matt Stafford did not throw an INT, and Maurice Morris also got a TD run. It appears that the Lions won by playing ball the way they want to play it. A huge key to that is the work in the trenches. Despite whatever type of successes the o-line finds this year I am still putting my money on some high picks being spent on the position in 2010.
Things Seem to be Back to Normal in Michigan
Whew! What a weekend. I’ve been so busy that the college and professional football seasons have snuck right up on me. At times it was a little over-whelming and I feel like I didn’t look both ways before crossing the freeway and got T-boned by a Mack truck. It was pure sensory overload that got the best of me as I watched the sport I love so much come back into my life and fill the void that has been missing since January.
However, I have to admit that I only caught a glimpse of the games on Sunday. It’s a long story but let’s just say I stayed up a little too late on Saturday celebrating Michigan’s win over Notre Dame and then proceeded to miss the early Sunday games as result of my condition. I have recently moved to the great state of Washington as well and I haven’t gotten used to these 10 a.m. kickoff times on the Pacific coast yet. Anyway, I did study the stat sheets, made a few phone calls, and watched the highlights of the games. It was easy to see as I analyzed the Lions and Saints game that nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
I only picked the Lions to win six games this year and I definitely didn’t give the Saints to them. It’s just good to see things a little back to normal and that a quarterback has emerged to ease the worries of local football fans throughout the state of Michigan. Too bad for the Lions he is a 19 year old freshman who plays for the Wolverines on Saturdays.
As Tate Forcier passed for 240 yards, rushed for 70 more, and scored three touchdowns for the Wolverines against the Fighting Irish, Matthew Stafford struggled in his first start against NFL competition and sadly looked like any other passer the Lions have had in recent memory. Honestly though, nobody really expected great things from him immediately. I don’t recall anybody claiming that the Lions were going to light things up this year and I believe more Michiganders were worried about their storied University over their struggling professional franchise. Needless to say, though, Michigan has the talent to bounce back from the worst season in school history while the Lions are a year or two away from erasing any traces of the 0-16 season that was last year’s nightmare.
It is obvious that Stafford has a lot to learn yet and he may not capture the magic that last year’s crop of rookie quarterbacks did in other NFL cities, namely Atlanta and Baltimore, but throwing three picks and watching his defense get shredded by Drew Brees for six touchdowns is just par for the course. This building project (I refuse the word rebuild) will take some time and lessons like those taught to the Youngsters of Motown by the Boys of the Big Easy on Sunday will simply not just go away. A lot more needs to happen before any dreams can take flight in D-town.
One thing that was evident was a lack of a pass rush on defense. No sacks were recorded by the Lions and Anthony Henry, a cornerback, actually led the team in tackles. Those are not good signs of a team that wants to improve its defensive play. New middle linebacker Larry Foote, a Michigan graduate, did have nine tackles but the fact that the Saints averaged 4.5 yards per rush shows that not enough penetration is occurring at the line of scrimmage and a lot of tackles are being made downfield. In comparison, Detroit averaged 1.7 yards per rush and didn’t even reach 50 yards on the ground for the day. If things are going to change it’s a reversal of those stats that will lead the way for the Lions.
It was evident that the defensive and offensive lines were not going to be strengths for this team in 2009. In fact, I gave the D-line an “F” in my pre-camp grades as I think they are probably the worst in the league with or without Jared Devries. The O-line is a little better than their counterparts but that unit also still lacks good overall talent and is probably two new starters away from being respectable. With that in mind we can begin looking ahead towards the 2010 NFL Draft.
If things continue to play out as they did in New Orleans for the Lions the team will again find themselves picking number one overall. Barring any career-ending injuries to Stafford or a very bold move on GM Martin Mayhew’s part it will be safe to say that the Lions will not be taking a quarterback for the second year in a row. There is still a lot of time left between now and the draft so it’s hard to predict how things will pan out. Simply looking at the Lion’s need leaves us with several possibilities.
One interesting figure to keep in mind played for the Wolverines on Saturday as well. Defensive end Brandon Graham, a Detroit native, was Michigan’s best defender last year and could have been selected in the first round this past spring if he had decided to go pro. He chose to stay in school and came back after collecting 10 sacks (first in the Big Ten) and 20 tackles for a loss (second in the NCAA) as a junior in 2008.
He (Graham) made a quiet statement against the Irish, using his combination of speed, strength, and leverage to power through blockers and attack the line of scrimmage. He’s not the biggest defensive lineman at 6’2” 276 lbs but he handles the right end spot in Michigan’s 3-4 schemes with a non-stop motor. While constantly facing double teams he will struggle to get his sack numbers up but his value as a disruptive force is very high. He is fairly versatile as well. He was recruited as a linebacker and could possibly play as a tackle in a 4-3 or line up inside on passing downs.
With the Lions looking to rev up their defensive motor a guy like Graham will get some consideration and if the Wolverines continue to win then his stock will probably rise. Whether or not he’s in the Lions sites with the first overall pick is too risky to speculate on at this point but he looks like a first round player. As the season progresses I will continue to evaluate potential first round picks and make predictions as to who could fit into the Lion’s plans. At this point you can expect to see a lot of profiles on players who play in the trenches.
Detroit Lions News and Notes: The Shape of Things to Come
Let us not be fooled by all the talk of Mathew Stafford sitting on the sidelines this year as he “learns the pro game”. The boy came to D-town to play some ball and thus far he has proven he can hang in pro circles and is motivated to put in all the necessary work. He will be given every opportunity during the regular season to prove himself on the field and if he continues to show a steep learning curve he’ll be throwing passes on Sundays sooner than later.
In the first preseason game Stafford showed that he can maintain his composure and stay focused in the face of adversity. After he threw his first NFL pick returned for a touchdown he responded on the next series with a nice drive that ended with a beautiful 25 yard TD pass to fellow rookie Derrick Williams. It’s easy for a player to beat himself up and collapse after a mistake like that but the kid from Texas stood up and put it behind him quickly. This is exactly the type of characteristic the team envisioned from him when they made him the number one overall selection in last spring’s draft. I have to admit that I wasn’t enamored with him as the first pick overall but so far I have been impressed with his poise and eagerness to work and learn. Now with Drew Stanton (knee) and Daunte Culpepper (foot) out with injuries at the moment Stafford will continue to get the reps needed to aid his development.
I do realize that it is only the preseason. I didn’t forget that the Lions actually won all their preseason contests last year before tripping over on the regular season. However, things are seemingly shaping up in Detroit and the team is improving on a day to day basis. The team concept seems to be taking hold and savvy veterans have noticeably been sharing their wealth of knowledge with the younger players on and off the field. Linebackers Julian Peterson (Michigan State) and Larry Foote (Michigan) and offensive tackle Jon Jansen (Michigan) have all returned to their motherland to provide leadership and assist in turning things around. Again, these are the types of characteristics that the new coaches and administration are seeking in players and it will make a difference down the road.
Jared Devries has also been lost to injury. Shaun Smith was signed to help ease the loss on the defensive line. Smith, a five year veteran, brings more size (6’2” 325lbs) to the middle. He and Grady Jackson could provide a very formidable duo, capable of occupying some space and penetrating some opposing quarterback pockets. The interesting part to this story is that former Lion defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, a close friend of Smith’s, actually facilitated the decision-making process for him by giving Detroit a positive recommendation. That is a far cry from the relationship Rogers had with the Matt Millen regime.
The offensive and defensive lines are the real keys that will turn the motor of this team. While the Lions have made attempts to increase size, depth, and overall talent in the trenches on both sides of the ball there is no question that some new talent will need to be added in the near future in order for them to become playoff contenders. At this point both lines consist of a few real players surrounded by backups and role players filling in as starters for the moment.
If I had to make one prediction for the team right now it would be that the defensive backs improve on their total of interceptions from 2008. That’s a safe bet considering they only had one last year and significant changes have been made to the lineup. There could be as many as three new starters in the secondary. Young safeties Daniel Bullucks and Louis Delmas, who has been stirring things up in camp with some big hits, have the ability to be a strong pair of players patrolling the defensive backfield for the next decade. Cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon, Anthony Henry, and Eric King all come in to try and help third year incumbent Keith Smith. I expect that more talent will be added to the corners in some high rounds of upcoming drafts as well.
As the regular season approaches and the roster is downsized a lot more will be asked of the players. More reps will be provided to guys like Stafford and Delmas. We then will start to really see how things are starting to shape up. For now it’s just good to see that there are guys who want to be here and are willing to do the little things to make themselves and the team better.
I’m sticking by my guns and predicting at least six wins for this team in 2009. That would be a drastic improvement and a shot of hope for the fan base. Then they will really be able to talk about next year with a hint of optimism. The Red Wings, Pistons, and Tigers have all done their parts in putting Detroit on the sports map in a positive way. Now it’s time for the Lions to do the same.
Pre-Camp Roster Grades
Looking ahead towards training camp one can sense a lot of optimism surrounding the Detroit Lions football team. There’s really no reason for there not to be. While the people of the Detroit area tell the rest of the country “welcome to our world” in regards to the financial crisis, they too are optimistic about the future of their beloved National Football League franchise. After all, the simple fact of the matter is that it can’t get any worse.
The new regime under General Manager Martin Mayhew and Head Coach Jim Schwartz have quietly added some pieces to the puzzle that may be the beginning of a beautiful picture. This roster is not loaded with talent but it has the potential to be good. Here are my position grades and a breakdown of how things are shaping up going into the summer months:
Kicking: B+ I had to start here because this has been the most stable position for years with Jason Hanson holding the spot for as long as anybody can remember. There aren’t many other kickers out there with the accuracy of the “greatest Lion ever”. Punter Nick Harris returns and is one of the least of the new coaching staff’s worries.
Linebacker: B- A lot is riding on the shoulders of this unit. Newly acquired inside man Larry Foote is a Michigan native who comes with championship experience and will be depended upon to help stuff the run. Julian Peterson is a former Michigan State Spartan who can make big plays all over the field. He will get an opportunity to be a force as a pass rusher as well, which is something this defense desperately needs. Weak-side linebacker Ernie Sims was a top 10 pick a few years ago and so far he has been good. Now is the time for him to take his game to the next level and really make things happen. Jordon Dizon and rookies DeAndre Levy and Zach Follet should provide a lot of help on special teams.
Wide Receiver: B- It sure is hard to not get excited about Calvin Johnson. He is a true beast at the position and is on the verge of catching 100 balls a season. Free agent additions Bryant Johnson and Ronald Curry, as well as rookie Derrick Williams, could help him get there. BJ has a big frame and is capable of catching 60-70 passes opposite of CJ. Curry has had some success throughout his career in Oakland and he could become a nice option in some packages. Williams never became the great player he was envisioned to be when he was recruited by Penn State but the Detroit Lions believe that the talent and athleticism is there for him to be a playmaker. He will be tried out at returning kicks first and could develop into a nice receiver down the road.
Offensive Line: C- This unit is more stable than people think, especially now that Jon Jansen has been signed to the roster. He and Jeff Backus give the Lions bookend Michigan products with a lot of experience at the tackle positions. Backus is a serviceable left tackle who still may have his best years ahead of him. Center Dominic Raiola isn’t a dominant player, but he is fiesty and could thrive under the right system. Gosder Cherilus was a first round pick last year and should benefit from a full offseason with the new coaching staff. The arrival of Jansen means he will have to fight very hard to start at right tackle. The guard positions are ultimately the biggest question marks so if Cherilus is ready to play he may have to do it there. Big bodied guys Stephen Peterman returns at right guard and Damion Cook returns as the starter at left guard. Overall, this is a fairly young unit that returns all of its starters and possesses enough talent to be solid, but it will not be great.
Safety: C- The Louis Delmas pick was a good one. He will bring a lot of energy and leadership to the team and should be a starter at free safety from day one. Strong safety Josh Bullocks is a former second round pick who knows how to throw his body around. The tandem could be a fixture for many years to come. Kelvin Pearson, Gerald Alexander, and Stewart Schwiegart provide decent, but not necessarily good, depth.
Cornerback: C- This position was a disaster last season as they were never in position to make a play and they got burned often. Granted, they never received much help from any sort of pass rush but everybody who was a starter at some point here last year is now gone. Former cowboy Anthony Henry is the type of big (6’1” 208lbs) corner the Lions want to play their style of defense. He should be an immediate improvement at one of the starting spots. Phillip Buchanon comes over from the Buccaneers and brings some size (5’11” 185 lbs) and athleticism to the position for Detroit. He should start opposite of Henry. Eric King (5’10 185 lbs) knows how to play Schwartz’s system after playing for him in Tennessee and will compete for a starting job. This group should be the most improved on the team.
Quarterback: C- Everybody has all their eyes on first overall pick Matt Stafford, just as they should be. However, there is a select group of Lions fans who believe it will be Daunte Culpepper who steps it up this year and delivers for the team. Of course there are a lot of doubters but the guy looks to be in great shape this year and he has had tremendous success with star receivers in the past while playing for the Vikings. If he did it once he can do it again. Drew Stanton will compete hard and if he stays healthy he could become very valuable to the franchise in one way or another as well.
Running Back: D+ Kevin Smith runs hard and had a few nice moments as a rookie but he is not scaring anybody yet. He would be best used in a rotation with some guys with more speed. Maurice Morris could be that man and provide some spark as he often made plays throughout his career in Seattle. This group could still use a boost in talent.
Tight End: D+ Holdover Casey Fitzsimmons is a fan favorite for his workman-like mentality. He is not a great receiver but he can catch a couple balls a game, provide some decent blocking, and play special teams. First round pick Brandon Pettigrew was a bit of a draft day surprise but he brings another big target (6’5” 263lbs) to the passing attack and he had a reputation in college of having solid game all-around. Until he proves himself as a player this position will remain a question mark on the roster.
Defensive Line: F This unit provided no pressure in the passing game and got pushed around a lot in the running game last season. The loss of end Corey Smith, who died in a boating accident off the Florida Gulf Coast this offseason, is a tragic blow that leaves the team without its best pass rusher (five sacks in 2008). Dewayne White is a steady player who can lineup and play on the right side but he looks like a better fit on the left. Jared Devries works hard and plays the run well but he would serve the team better as a role-playing backup at both end and tackle. However, he will probably be starting at left end. Ikaika Alama-Francis hasn’t proven much in his short career with the Lions but there is still hope that he can develop into a solid edge player. A lot is riding on tackle Grady Jackson, who came over from the Falcons, to use his big body (6’2” 345lbs) to plug some running lanes up the middle. If he can do that it will make life a little easier for fellow tackles Andre Fluellen and Chartric Darby, as well as inside linebacker Larry Foote.
The defensive line position could really use a boost in talent across the board and I guarantee that it will be a high priority of the coaching staff to do just that in the next few years. Sammie Lee Hill is an intriguing prospect added through this year’s draft. With his size (6’4” 350lbs) and relative athleticism he could provide the type of play that Shaun Rogers did for the team a few years ago but Hill is raw and may need a couple years to develop into a full-time contributor. Ultimately, Schwartz and crew wish Rogers was still here. His presence would make life easier for everybody in the new scheme.
When looking forward and making predictions for this season I believe it is a good idea to just think in terms of worst and best case scenarios. Obviously, to get a look at the worst-case scenario one only needs to look at last year’s performance. That won’t happen again under the new coaches. The best case scenario would probably see this team at 8-8 this year. Nobody has delusions of grandeur when it comes to this team as making a playoff run is not likely. However, RB Kevin Smith has opened his mouth and stated that he guarantees a playoff berth. That has drawn more laughs than anything from anybody outside the clubhouse. They will surprise some folks by being a lot more disciplined and competitive though. I personally think they will win at least six games, which should be enough to provide a glimmer of hope for the future.
Standing Out in the Crowd
The Detroit Lions held their rookie orientation camp this past weekend in Allen Park, Michigan. All the draft picks were there, as well as a load of undrafted rookie free agents who were looking to make an impression on the NFL coaches. Of course, some guys stood out from the rest.
All eyes were expectedly on quarterback Matthew Stafford, which will continue to be the case for at least the next couple of years. He showed off his arm and whipped passes around the practice facility, apparently surprising many of the receivers who were on hand at how fast he could get the ball to them. However, the one pass that ultimately stood out in the end was an interception by another top draft pick.
Louis Delmas, the top selection in the second round, made a diving play to pick off Stafford, the top selection overall, towards the end of the final practice session of the weekend. That could be a bad omen for the rookie quarterback but for those who were in attendance it was a testament to the type of player that Delmas is going to be more than Stafford. The safety from Western Michigan was very vocal throughout the whole camp and stood out amongst the rest of the rookies as a leader. It could be an early indication of the impact he may have on this team for years to come.
DeAndre Levy made the move to middle linebacker and apparently seemed comfortable. He may be the answer there in a couple years but for this season the Lions will most likely fill the starting role with a free agent. There has been a lot of talk about Larry Foote, who is from Detroit and played at Michigan, being released by the Steelers and signed to fill that hole in the middle of the Lions starting defense.
Huge defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill (6’ 4” 330 lbs) also showed off his raw athleticism but his technique and knowledge of the game is a bit lacking. He has so far proven to be a great prospect but if he wants to contribute this fall he will have to step it up when the players put the pads on in training camp.
Tight end Brandon Pettigrew did not participate in the last few practices of the rookie orientation but will be ready to go when the entire team participates in organized team activities later this month.
Let the Good Times Begin Rolling
Just like the U.S. financial market and automotive industry, the NFL draft produces its share of multi-million dollar contracts and outrageous bonuses for guys who are expected to produce big numbers but rarely ever do the job that is originally envisioned.
Over the years the Lions have seen their fair share of first round busts, including quarterbacks Joey Harrington and Andre Ware; again they have put themselves at risk of looking like draft day fools with the selection Georgia QB Matthew Stafford with the #1 overall pick.
He could pan out in few years, but the history of this team suggests this may lead to more long, cold football seasons in Detroit. Time will only tell if new Head Coach Jim Schwartz and General Manager Martin Mayhew will receive good marks on their first draft class. Despite the predictable pick of Stafford, the rest of the first round was anything but, the rest of the Lion’s picks on day one was no exception. In fact, it seems that the Lions were contradicting themselves with their draft strategy. As they reached a bit for Stafford at the top, they seemed to go with the “take the best player available” approach later on. Overall, this crop of rookies is loaded with athleticism and big-play potential that may serve them well in the future.
#1: Quarterback Mathew Stafford, Georgia – Stafford actually walks into a good position as he will be given the opportunity to learn without being thrown to the wolves. With the Lions coming off the worst season in NFL history and Daunte Culpepper set as the starter in Detroit there really is no sense of urgency at the moment. In another year the expectations will be high and the strong-armed Stafford will need to deliver a performance for the Lions similar to the one Matt Ryan did in Atlanta last year and what the two Mannings have done for their respective franchises over the last decade. Stafford reminds many people of Eli more than Peyton and he will have the weapons available to succeed, including emerging pro-bowl wide receiver Calvin Johnson, but the fact that he was surrounded by an over abundance of talent in college and never truly established himself as a big-game winner is one red flag that would have turned off other teams.
#20: Tight End Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State – This pick was a surprise as linebackers James Laurinitis and Rey Maualuga were still on the board, but there is no need for the boo birds to begin circling like a vulture waiting for its prey to die so they can say “I told you so.” Pettigrew is a solid prospect who has the skills to become a reliable option in the Lions passing attack and seal the edge with his blocking on running plays. Don’t be shocked if the 6’6” 260 lb tight end is in the pro bowl in a few years, especially if Stafford pans out.
#33: Safety Louis Delmas, Western Michigan – The Lions must’ve believed that Delmas was worthy of a first round selection and was the best player still on their draft board. Again, the top two middle linebacker prospects were still available, as well as some quality offensive linemen, but the Lions took the best playmaking safety in the draft instead. Delmas is worthy of a look here as he seems to have the smarts and leadership abilities to really make a difference in the locker room as well as on the field. At the very least he will be an outstanding special teams player, but should become a fixture in the secondary for many years to come.
#76: Outside Linebacker DeAndre Levy, Wisconsin – Levy is an athletic player who should also be another solid contributor on special teams. There is also a chance that he could develop into a good starter with the ability to pressure the QB from the edge. We are beginning to see a defensive trend rising in the league which calls for bigger run stuffing linemen and faster linebackers who can quickly shoot the gaps into the backfield or cover tight ends downfield. Levy could fill this role for Schwartz.
#82: Wide Receiver Derrick Williams, Penn St – Even though Williams has not necessarily lived up to expectations as a top high school recruit he is a quality NFL prospect with the opportunity to become a quality kick returner and number three receiver for the Lions. He will not be asked to do too much on offense as Detroit will work to establish the running game and Calvin Johnson and Bryant Johnson sit ahead of him on the depth chart.
#115: Defensive Tackle Sammie Lee Hill, Southern – A small school prospect who will not be asked to do too much as a rookie either. He will sit behind Grady Jackson, Andre Fluellen, and Chuck Darby on the depth chart as he is groomed to potentially be the big space-eater of the future.
#192: Running Back Aaron Brown, Texas Christian – Brown is a quality offensive pickup in the sixth round with speed and athletic ability that never accumulated into much on the field in college. As is the theme of this draft for Detroit, Brown also brings a lot of special teams potential to the table.
#228: Offensive Tackle Lydon Murtha, Nebraska – Murtha is not the top-rated offensive line prospect the fans of Detroit were hoping to see taken on day one of the draft, but he has got size, versatility, and enough athleticism to develop into a starter someday.
#235: Linebacker Zach Follet, California – Do not be surprised if Follet leads the team in special teams tackles this season. His intensity and love for the game could rub off on other players in the locker room and on the field. He probably will never be a starter though as he does not exactly light up the field with speed and athleticism.
#255: Tight End Dan Gronkowski, Maryland – At 6’ 6” and 255 lbs, Gronkowski has all the tools, including a 4.68 forty and a cool name, to develop into a solid contributor on offense. If he sticks around he and Pettigrew may develop into a high quality one-two punch from the tight end position.
It is obvious that things did not go as expected in the first few rounds for Detroit fans, but the one great thing about this draft class is that they will actually be allowed to learn from the sidelines and develop their techniques without being put under too much pressure. Despite the horrible record last year the Lions have a lot of returning starters, including QB Daunte Culpepper, that are expected to produce for the new coaching staff so the rookies do not have to.
With time this group has the potential to be the nucleus of a winning organization for years to come. However, in order for Schwartz and Mayhew to look back and give this draft class an “A” three years from now Stafford will have to play well enough to take the starting job for himself and not just receive it by default as many past first round flops have done.
