Obviously the Lion's have been the laughingstock of the NFL (National Football League) for more than a decade now, and i'd like to voice my opinions as to why.
We'll start with this year...this "year" started in late April during the NFL Draft. For those football illeterates among you the NFL Draft is a massive "team expander" of sorts in which each team has a base of 7 "picks" in which to use on college football players to add, of "Draft" to their respective team. There are 7 rounds, with each team receiving a pick in each round, hence the 7 picks. Teams can trade their picks with other teams, adding or losing them in the process, and there are also several dozen "supplementary" picks added into the process. These supplementary picks are given by the NFL to teams who had a poor season before to help add talent to those particular team. The goal of these picks is to constantly swing the talent of teams in a sort of bell-shaped curve so that there are no dynasty's or constant bottom dwellers in the league. The draft order is determined by the final standings as far as wins/losses from the previous season, meaning the worse teams get the first picks in each round where the better teams get that later picks.
I believe the Lion's main problem have started each and every year at this weekend in April at the NFL Draft. We'll go in depth with this past year's. In the first round, the Lion's held the 15th overall pick in the first round, based on thier not good, not bad record of 7-9 in 2007. They traded this pick to gain an extra 3rd round choice, and henceforth moved their draft position to number 17. With this pick, the Lion's chose Gosder Cherilus, a massive RIGHT Tackle from Boston College. I disagree with this pick for a couple reasons. 1) The Lions were and still are in need of a LEFT tackle, the most important position in football because he protects the quarterbacks blind side in passing situations. People will argue that Jeff Backus (drafted in 2001 out of Michigan) is a competant left tackle, but i disagree. Backus is slow, has a short arm reach, and has injured feet, 3 qualities that are very, very detrimental to a quality left tackle. I know these things first hand because i played left tackle for two consecutive seasons (18 games) in high school. Backus, who i believe is an above average offensive lineman on the whole, would be much better suited on the right side, where he would be protecting the qaurterbacks front side, putting less pressure on him in passing situations. Also, defenses regularly put their best defensive end on the right side of the defense (the offenses left side) putting even more pressure on the left tackle. Why would the Lion's draft an established right tackle, when the need is on the left side? 2) Jeff Otah, an excellent LEFT tackle out of Pittsburgh, was still available, and was of course drafted by the Carolina Panthers 2 spots later at number 19. The Lion should have drafted Otah, moved Backus to the right side, and henceforth have 2 of the better tackles in football at the CORRECT spots on the line.
Second Round-The lions have one of the best wekside linebackers in football in Ernie Sims, and a decent Strongside linebacker in Ryan Nece. So that leaves the middle linebacker spot as a pressing need, with Paris Lenon playing there. Lenon is quick and has football intelligence, but once again, is better suited to play either the weak or strong side, rather than the middle. So the Lion's, rather than drafting a middle linebacker, draft a WEAKSIDE linebacker in Jordan Dizon out of Colorado, with the hopes of converting him to the middle. I played middle linebacker in high school, starting all 9 games there senior year, so i understand on a smaller level what it entails to play the three respective linebacker spots. I'm not saying i was exceptional in either spot, but i was the best available because of the weak turnout my high school had when it came to football.
I do, however, believe that the Lion's are moving in a positive direction. I REALLY like Rod Marinelli, and i also like Jim Colleto's offensive scheme. And the firing of Matt Millen, the former GM (General Manager), the man who approved these horrendous draft selections, certainly puts the Lion's in a better position for the comind draft. Just an example of Millen's idiocy...he started in 2000 drafting for the Lions. His first round picks since then go like this-2000-Stockar McDougle, OT, Texas. 2001-Jeff Backus, OT, Michigan. 2002-Joey Harrington, QB, Oregon. 2003-Charles Rogers, WR, Michigan State. 2004-Roy Williams, WR, Texas AND Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech. 2005-Mike Williams, WR, USC. 2006-Ernie Sims, WLB, Florida State. 2007-Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech.
Only Jeff Backus, Ernie Sims, and Calvin Johnson remain with the team. McDougle, Harrington, and Kevin Jones are still in the league, playing as reserves on different teams. Charles Rogers and Mike Williams are no longer in the NFL. Roy Williams starts on the Dalls Cowboys...
I'll end with that statistic, a testament to Matt Millen's ridiculous ideas of drafting.
More to come later...
3 comments:
Just one mistake you made. Ryan Nece was not a Detroit Lion at the time of the draft last year. Signed as a free agent in August. Although he is decent, an upgrade is needed eventually.
I disagree that Marinelli is a good coach, and i Ford deserves most of the credit for the Lion's impunity over the last ten years.
i forgot to mention in the blog that this is merely part one of several i'm doing on the lions. i just havent gotten to wcfSR yet.
Great post Brian, I didn't know any of this and your insight helps me sound like more of a man for maybe 2 seconds before someone realizes I really don't know what I am talking about in a conversation :P haha thanks. Keep this stuff coming. What are your thoughts on the Thanksgiving game?
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