Detroit Lions Weblog

Is There A New Day Dawning in Detroit?

After the first round of the 75th NFL draft, the strong, lasting impression that I am left with is that the Lions are in better hands now, and are slowly evading the pall of paralyzing failure that so dubiously marked Matt Millen’s overwhelming dumbassery as the team’s chief executive.

Not only did the Lions make the no-brainer selection, by drafting Ndamukong Suh, but when there was a possibility that the Lions might miss on their targeted running back, Jahvid “The Jet” Best, Martin Mayhew got aggressive, and jumped back into the first round, by orchestrating a trade with intra-divisional foe, Minnesota, and enabling the team to get their man.

Jahvid the Jet, The Lions Best Post-Barry Gamebreaker?

The Lions, with the additions of Rob Sims, Nate Burleson, Tony Scheffler, and Jahvid Best have become a pretty good offense this off-season, assuming that the team’s principals (Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson) stay healthy and improve at a reasonable and expected rate from last season’s level of play.

There are also some concerns about the nasty concussion suffered by Best last season, but the Lions apparently got medical clearance from their staff to select a player that they clearly eyed lasciviously from afar, since it was no secret that the Lions had targeted him from the get-go.

I don’t for a second believe that Mayhew is finished, either. If he can find a willing partner, I would not be surprised in the least to see him jump back into the second round to nab an offensive tackle or cornerback, especially if a particualrly enticing player remains improbably undrafted.

Would These O-Linemen Projects Have the Allure Necessary for the Lions to Select Them?

The Lions could provide themselves with some Gosder “Don’t Call Me False Start Foster” Cherilus insurance (if he falters), and potentially a devlopmental heir apparent for Jeff Backus, who isn’t getting any younger, by selecting one of the many remaining offensive line talents such as Charles Brown, Bruce “Evil Dead” Campbell, Rodger Saffold, Vladimir Ducasse, or local small college product, Jared Veldheer.

In fact, I would strongly advocate the Lions pursuing more offensive line help, since there are a few players with a surprising high amount of value still remaining.

Would a Player Like CB Brandon Ghee, Who Wants to Play With Louis Delmas, Encourage the Lions to Jump Back Into the Second Round?

There are also desirable defensive backs like Brandon Ghee, Chris Cook, Jerome Murphy, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, and Dominique Franks who all could appeal enough to the Lions for them to make the expenditure necessary to jump back into the second round and grab them, meanwhile addressing a serious personnel need.

Best Gives the Lions an Element That Their Offense Has Sorely Missed

I was recently on record indicating that the Lions should grab a bigger, more punishing back for their single-back sets that they are likely to begin implementing this season. This fact, along with Best’s concussion history (there are some “red flags” raised about his future in the NFL), doesn’t deter me from believing that the the Lions likely took the best available (and most complete) running back available in the draft this season.

Best may never become an every down, workhorse style of back, but that era of running back is fading into the horizon and becoming a distant memory. Best will give the Lions a home run threat, who is capable of scoring in a number of different ways, and at any time. Kind of like a running back, who casts an increasingly larger shadow over the entire Lions organization, as it’s greatest player of all-time.

Ultimately, time and luck will determine the Lions potential chances of future success, but after last night, we can credibly discuss potential future success for this organization, without a hint of irony, for the first time in many years. Many thanks to the Lions front office and scouting staffs, for your efforts!

The Lions Draft Suh-perman!

NDAMUKONG-ING The NFC North Suh-n!

Some Post-Sims Trade Clarification

From all reports, it sounds like the Lions have had designs on adding a second, starting caliber tight end to their offense during the entire off-season, at least according to some post-trade assessments made by various experts (Cotsonika, Kowalski), which explains their acquisition of Tony Scheffler from the Broncos yesterday.

The Lions want to utilize more double-tight end formations, meanwhile, occasionally splitting out one of the two tight ends, Indy Colts/Dallas Clark-style, to occupy safeties who might otherwise play over Calvin Johnson in double coverage, or at least cheat in his direction in their defensive alignment.

I also believe that the Lions will diminish the role of fullbacks in their offense, and utilize either Brandon Pettigrew, Scheffler or Will Heller as a H-Back, when the situation dictates it. It will be interesting to see how well either Scheffler or Pettigrew takes to that role, since it is already established that Heller is a more than capable blocker who would thrive in that role.

Will Heller Earns His Living as a Tenacious Blocker, as Pictured Here

If neither Pettigrew nor Scheffler take to their blocking roles, then the Lions offensive intentions will become much more transparent to their opponents, to the Lions detriment, since they will be forced to play Heller in clear running situations.

If the Lions utilize more single back sets, I wonder if drafting a big, punishing back, like Toby Gerhart or LeGarrette Blount, would be their most prudent decision? If they are going to eventually have only a single back to protect Stafford, it had better be a big back who is dogged in his blitz pick-up, and determined to keep his QB clean at all costs.

Will Effort Like This Make Gerhart Desirable to the Lions? Can He Avoid Becoming Steve Owens Re-Incarnated?

I believe that the Lions would benefit from having a punishing inside runner, who draws the safeties towards the line of scrimmage, opening up the play action passing game, allowing Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford to connect vertically. This would be a crucial that Scott Linehan’s offense would need to flourish, in my opinion.

The larger issue still remains, since the Lions have created another defensive need at linebacker, by trading Ernie Sims, whether they will add another defender via the draft, look at an internal option, or add a veteran free agent?

Gunther Cunningham indicated at an event for season ticket holders recently that he is a firm believer in Zack Follett’s ability to take the starting job vacated in Sims’ trade, going as far as to say that he would “kill” Follett if he doesn’t eventually win the job.

Follett is in G. Cunningham's Sights, Can He Do the Job?

Whether Follett wins the job, or not, the Lions are quite likely to investigate the availability of former Titans LB Keith Bulluck or ex-Dolphins LB Akin Ayodele, either of whom who could easily slide into a starting role.

I am of the opinion that the Lions needs in the secondary, offensive and defensive lines, and running back all supersede the need for an additional linebacker, at this point.

With just over 24 hours until the draft, with the Rams draft intentions still under a shroud of secrecy, the Lions are in a holding pattern, weighing their various contingency plans in Thursday’s draft.

The Rams recnet trade of DL Adam Carriker to the Redskins has made this writer begun to experience some nervous handwringing. The potential selection of Ndamukong Suh by the Rams, rather than Sam Bradford, has become a much more real possibility, as a result.

Sam Bradford Eludes a Would-Be Tackler. Hopefully, He Does Not Elude the Rams Clutches Tomorrow

With all luck, the Lions will eventually be selecting Ndamukong Suh, and filling several of their other personnel needs capably, in one fell swoop over the next few days.

Holy Crap! The Draft is Upon Us… Double Holy Crap, Three Team Trade!

As a poker-faced Martin Mayhew and the Lions front office prepare for this Thursday’s draft, intrigue will only grow surrounding whether or not the Lions will make the obvious selection, drafting either of two DT’s Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, take an OT in Russell Okung or Trent Williams, or make a less expected decision, by selecting S Eric Berry, who fits the profile as a talented, multi-dimensional defensive back in Schwartzingham’s defense.

Of course, the 900-lb elephant in the room is Washington Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth, whom the Lions and Jim Schwartz would gladly add to the mix, if the disgruntled star can engineer his way out of D.C., at an affordable price.

These Children Are Excited For the NFL Draft, and More So For the Lions Upgrading Their Defense

It goes without saying, but the Lions desperately need to upgrade their defense. However, with the upcoming draft being very rich in defensive line talent, does the Lions reticence about indicating their intentions for the upcoming draft reflect that reality? Does the defensive line remain important, entering the draft?

The Lions do already currently have DT’s Corey Williams, Sammie Lee Hill, and versatile DE/DT’s Kyle Vanden Bosch and Andre Fluellen. The team also has backups Landon and Joe Cohen. Is defensive tackle of imminent importance?

Doug English Believes That the Lions Need to Bolster the Middle of Their Defense

If the Lions are able to acquire Albert Haynesworth, or decide to trade down, both of which are major possibilities, considering Martin Mayhew’s acumen as a consummate dealer, then which direction will the Lions turn, next?

With the Addition of the Capable Scheffler, What About Last Year's First Rounder, Pettigrew?

The Lions were involved in a three-way trade today, according to many reports. The Lions moved Ernie Sims to the Eagles, received TE Tony Scheffler from the Broncos, and the Broncos will receive an undisclosed draft pick from the Eagles.

Scheffler is a capable, but disappointing player, who has considerable potential, and is a Western Michigan University alum. With the recent loss of Casey FitzSimmons, and the injury to last year’s first rounder, Brandon Pettigrew, the Lions needed some insurance at the position. Which made adding a player like Scheffler more enticing.

The organization viewed Sims as expendable in Schwartzingham defense, due to a lack of size and his propensity towards free-lancing, a position I staunchly disagree with. The Lions linebacker group now is considerably thinner, with them likely wedded to Julian Peterson and his high-priced contract, unless things change dramatically on draft day.

Pettigrew Will Have More Pressure to Succeed, Recover From Injury

The Lions do have Zach Follett and Jordan Dizon who could eventually work their way into the playing mix, but more likely, linebacker has now joined offensive and defensive line, running back, and secondary as areas of need, entering the draft Thursday.

Michael Oher, What If?

I also wonder about the severity of Brandon Pettigrew’s injury, given the addition of Scheffler. Beating a dead horse, the Michael Oher/Brandon Pettigrew debate continues, seemingly for the foreseeable future.

All told, today’s trade should prove beneficial. The draft intrigue continues. It is not too bad being a Lions fan today.

Lions Edge Toward Draft Day, Secondary Remains in Flux, Rob Sims, and Casey FitzSimmons

The Lions are rapidly approaching this week’s draft with a number of remaining personnel needs to address. That being said, with the recent acquisitions of DB Dante Wesley and G Rob Sims, they continue to put themselves closer to being in a postion where all of their draft day decisions will be talent-based, as opposed to being beholden to their personnel needs.

Massive Rob Sims Should Immediately Solidify the Interior of the Lions Offensive Line

The Lions secondary remains a considerable work in progress, unfortunately. Even with the additions of DB’s Dante Wesley, Chris Houston, and Jonathan Wade, aside from Louis Delmas, and a potentially healthy return to productivity by Daniel Bullocks, the Lions have few resources to draw upon to bolster one of the all-time worst pass defense’s in NFL history.

The recent releases of DB’s Kevin Hobbs, Brian Witherspoon, and Kalvin Pearson does little to clarify their secondary issues, except to make it abundantly clear that they most definitely will be addressing that personnel group in the upcoming draft, without question.

Someone, Please Tell Me That My Unabiding ManCrush For Suh is Healthy and Prurient?

With the increasing likelihood that the Lions defensive line will continue to be upgraded by their selection of either Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy at about 7:50 P.M. Thursday April 22nd, does the Lions secondary pose as imminent of a concern? Would Suh/McCoys’s addition help protect the transparently obvious shortcomings in the Lions secondary?

Even if its unmitigated dorkiness is unquestioned, this ESPN Sports Science Feature on Ndamukong Suh is fantastic!

The recent trade for G Rob Sims was a major coup for Martin Mayhew. Even with Sims’ addition, the Lions need to continue to look towards adding a value draft pick for their offensive line, given the shortcomings of Gosder Cherilus and the team’s clear need for quality depth in that position group, anyhow.

I envision the Lions power running attack will become much better now that Sims has arrived, which if successful, will allow the Lions play action/vertical passing game to fullly blossom behind Matthew Stafford’s arm.

FitzSimmons Always Played With Guts and Effort

This week, one of my favorite Lions, Casey FitzSimmons, retired due to concussion-related symptoms. FitzSimmons, whose improbable rise from 7-on-7 high school football in Montana, then small college football, and finally to playing professional football was a source of inspiration. FitzSimmons had a workmanlike, reasonably productive, if too brief career as a Lion.

FitzSimmons in the Detroit Free Press:I think the worst part about this whole deal is that I can’t see the ship right — for the Ford family, for the people of Detroit, for every Lions fan across America,” the former tight end said today over the phone from his home in Montana. “I can’t be a part of this turnaround that I think is right around the corner.

“I think that’s what hurts the most having to make this decision, knowing damn well that my body — legs, arms, everything — can still play at a high level. It’s just one hit to the head, and it could be a whole different ballgame.”

Casey, I wish I could say that I completely understand your anguish, but I believe that most NFL fans can commiserate with a stalwart, blue collar performer walking quietly off into the sunset. Good luck with all of your future endeavors, Casey!