Detroit Lions Weblog

Let the Lions Draft Discussions Begin!

Well, Lions fans, it’s our favorite time of the year, the pre-Thanksgiving, we-are-mathematically-eliminated-from-the-playoffs-again, blues. In other words, aside from the slim probability of the Lions mustering a win Sunday at home against the Browns, the Lions are clearly postioning themselves for, at worst, a top five draft selection spot. Do the games really matter from here on out? Has it become one of those strange, paradoxical periods of time where, even as a Lions fan who is pulling for victories week-in and week-out, ultimately with each successive loss a small part of you glows lasciviously at the thought of whom the Lions may pick to address their voluminous needs?

It is clear that the Lions need help all over their roster, here is a laundry list:

Offensive Line: at the very least, the Lions will be in the market for a left guard. I am of the belief that they will also consider finding another tackle as they shift either Gosder Cherilus or Jeff Backus, after a re-structured deal, to guard, finally.

Wide Receiver: As sad as it is to consider(Please, for the love of God, no MORE DROPPED PASSES!!!), the Lions wide receiver corps, after investing high draft picks and a revolving door of free agents who have all shuttled in and been subsequently ejected, desperately needs a complement to Calvin Johnson. How many hand-wringing Lions fans will sweat profusely until Dez Bryant is finally selected, by another franchise. Should the Lions actually select Bryant, I believe that a number of Lions fans will finally be pushed over the edge, wandering off into the desert, never to be seen or heard from again.

1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children built. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

If the Lions select Bryant, as talented as he is, their franchise will be a testament to man’s stupidity and his stubborn refusal to learn from his mistakes. That would be the death knell, for me, as a Lions fan.

Running Back: The least of the Lions worries in my opinion, several “in-the-know” people have been beating the drum that the Lions need an upgrade of sorts at this position. The Lions need game-breakers somewhere, is this the spot where they can add one?

Quarterback: The Lions need to add a quality backup, especially if they don’t aggressively address their offensive line, which will leave Stafford severely vulnerable to suffering a major injury.

Defensive Line: They still are completely without a rempotely effective edge pass rusher. They could definitely use a massive, athletic, disruptive defensive tackle (hint-hint, wink-wink).

Cornerback: A position that is only marked by it’s lack of continuity, will have a 60% turnover of personnel, at least. The Lions continue to plug in washed-up veteran stop-gaps, is it time for them to aggressively pursue upgrades here, too? (Update:Will Ahmad Carroll be the next Lions stop-gap measure?)

Kicker: I believe with the poor kickoffs and rash of missed field goals, the Lions are much closer to considering life without Jason Hanson, than they are to enjoying his stable presence. Is it time to be proactive and select a kickoff specialist who can be vetted as his replacement?

As you can see, Martin Mayhew does not have much to consider as April approaches. All I know, if the Lions don’t address their players in the “trenches“, an area that has been criminally ignored, then they will never, ever emerge from their thorny morass of ineptitude.