Newly Unveiled, The Detroit Ramaneers!
March 8, 2008 on 9:51 am | In Uncategorized |Rod Marinelli has clearly instigated a major impact upon Matt Millen’s personnel acquisition process this off-season. The Lions have signed (or could sign) these former Bucs: DT Chuck Darby, CB Brian Kelly, S Dwight Smith, and S Kalvin Pearson. This is after having added players from Tampa like Corey Smith, DeWayne White, and Jon Bradley to the roster last season.
I understand that Marinelli probably feels that if he is going to lose (or retain?) his job after the ‘08 season, that he’d like to do it with his “guys”, so to speak. After all of the former Rams acquisitions that were made during the brief tenure of Mike Martz, one has to wonder, have the Lions become a repository for Rams and Bucs cast-offs?
Admittedly, the players that Marinelli has acquired this off-season will provide some organizational “glue”, depth and character, but none of them, not one, constitutes any sort of serious talent upgrade at their respective positions.
That’s where the real question lies, can a team with marginally less capable talent, with a proven track record of missing more than hitting in the April draft, actually be expected to improve upon their disappointing 7-9 record last season, amid the horrific 31-81 tenure of Matt Millen?
The news that the Lions had signed Chuck Darby comes as no surprise. He will help fill out a decent tackle rotation among Langston Moore, Shaun Cody, and Cory Redding. Don’t discount a return of Jon Bradley to defensive tackle, either this season. That being said, there will be a noticeable void in the middle of the Lions defense, that will be felt throughout the entire season, in spite of Shaun Rogers inconsistent production.
The Lions have also signed G Corey Hulsey, a virtual no-name, who was out of football last season. I appreciate the Lions conservative means of building their franchise, but given their off-season acquisitions up to this point, it’s increasingly tantamount that Matt Millen has a successful draft, something he has never actually accomplished during his tenure as team president.
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Brian Kelly is a definite talent upgrade at CB.
Chuck Darby will be a starter.
Both are strong character guys and vocal team leaders.
These are excellent acquisitions.
Comment by Riley — March 8, 2008 #
Riley–I agree. These players will have a positive influence, especially Darby and Kelly, if they can remain healthy. However, be honest, if these players were available and Jimmy Lake, Rod Marinelli, and Joe Barry were not on the Lions coaching staff, would these signings be notable?
That’s my point. These players are veterans who will not represent upgrades, except in knowledge and character. If the Lions don’t find instant contributors in the draft, it will be a very long season.
Comment by Steve — March 9, 2008 #
You’re definitely right. The Lions will need to draft another two guys that can step-in and make a significant impact right away if they’re going to repeat or improve their record from last year. I think they can get that in the first round at OL or DL in the first round, and at LB or RB in the second, and those two third round draft picks could provide depth at DL and LB.
That being said, these off-season acquisitions DO represent talent upgrades at their respective positions from last year.
Brian Kelly (if healthy) is better (at least in the T2 system) than either starting CB the Lions had last year: at the number two CB spot he’ll be solid.
Bodden is much, much better than any CB the Lions had last year, no matter what the system, but he appears to be especially well suited to the Tampa 2.
The Chuck Darby signing was also a talent upgrade over what the Lions had left at the DT position after trading Rogers for Bodden and a 3rd round draft pick. Darby, if healthy will do fine, and adding two other players to positions of need to replace Rogers (who is not really a full-time guy anyway), might actually be a talent upgrade when you consider the time on the field.
These free-agency signings are not big money guys, but they are upgrades at positions of need. They are players that when healthy are starters on most teams.
So, I think the Lions are doing quite well with these picks. Looking at what they have to work with, I’m very happy with the way things are progressing this off-season.
Comment by Riley — March 9, 2008 #
I will not deny that Bodden represents an upgrade, but we can’t cloud the Darby and Kelly of a few seasons ago with their current models.
Their respective knowledge and character is a major plus, but I can’t accept that Kelly will be noticeably better than Fernando Bryant and Bodden is new to the Tampa-2.
Darby, Cody, Moore, Bradley(?) and Redding might constitute a better D-Line rotation with the addition of another contributor, but I think you’re selling short the total package of Shaun Rogers. He has a knack as a playmaker, a rare commodity in the interior of a defensive line, in my opinion.
In regards to the draft picks, what do names like Jonathan Taylor, AJ Davis, Johnny Baldwin, and Artose Pinner represent to you? Let alone Mike Williams, Joey Harrington, Shaun Cody, Teddy Lehman, Boss Bailey and Charles Rogers? Matt Millen and the Lions collegiate scouting staff are horrible in their ability to evaluate talent. That third rounder from Cleveland will eventually get burnt in some way or another.
I am glad you are positive about the Lions current off-season, I am finding it increasingly difficult to accept that they are heading in the right direction.
Comment by Steve — March 10, 2008 #