Friday, October 24, 2008

Lions 2009 draft is a GM's dream

Now that Matt Millen is off hunting and running over things with his bulldozers, I have decided to lift my self-imposed ban on posting about the Lions. There are a lot of positive things to talk about—none actually on the field—starting with the Roy Williams-trade. By all accounts, the trade was a heist for the Lions. They will now have eight picks in the 2009 draft. Five will come in the first three rounds. They could do a lot with a second and two third-round picks. Savvy trading could easily net a third first round pick if they were inclined to do so.

The other good news is that the Lions are so bad that it looks like they have all but locked up the first or second overall pick. In fact, a quick gander at the rest of the schedule reveals an excellent chance at becoming the first 0-16 team in NFL history. Detroit’s remaining opponents have a 41-24 record. Thank you, Matt Millen! With a lofty selection in the 2009 draft secured, the Lions can start thinking ahead to draft day. They have no running game and the 2009 draft is top heavy on nasty offensive tackles. Michael Oher (Ole Miss), Andre Smith (Bama), and Eugene Monroe (Virginia) are big-time NFL caliber tackles. The Lions will be able to name their guy at that position. I know the draft is still six months away but there’s a pretty good chance that the Lions will end up with the best player they’ve drafted since 1988. All three of those guys are bad dudes. If Gosder Cherulis turns into a decent lineman, then the Lions could have the makings of a pretty good offensive line.

There’s even more good news if you can believe it. When word came out that the Lions received a first round pick from the Cowboys, most assumed it would be a late-first round pick. Now the Cowboys are 4-3 and have a brutal schedule ahead. They play Tampa Bay (5-2) and the New York Giants (5-1) over the next two weeks without the services of Tony Romo. They also have to play at Washington (5-2), Pittsburgh (5-1), and Philly (3-3). Dallas is going to have a heck of a time making the playoffs. If the Cowboys don’t make the playoffs, then the worst the pick from Dallas could be is 21st. If the Lions want to upgrade their awful linebacking corps, they could be looking at Brian Cushing (USC) or James Laurinaitis (Ohio St.). The Lions would then be on the clock again at pick 33 or 34 with a chance to draft another top-flight player. They could pretty much pick any offensive guard they want. Travis Beckham (TE, Wisconsin) might even be on the board. Defensive end is certainly a position of need but this draft is not heavy on big-time DE’s. Michael Johnson (DE, Ga. Tech) and George Selvie (DE, S. Florida) are elite players but they’ll be gone by the time the Lions get to their second first-round pick.

Here’s the best news yet…If Matt Millen was around, you could pencil in the first three picks as being a WR, a guard that projects as a tackle, and a guy we’ve never heard of. Now that Millen is gone, there is hope that there might actually be someone making draft decisions who knows a thing or two about football. If the guy in charge knows what he’s doing, the Lions have a chance at putting together a special draft. Some of the great teams in NFL history were put together largely due to a strong draft. The ’74 Steelers, ’86 Niners, and ’91 Cowboys might be pushing it a bit but there’s nothing wrong with shooting for something like the ’06 Packers. Seven players from that draft have already played in at least 20 games for the Packers. If the Lions could come anywhere close to that level of efficiency, then we could be looking at something. It’s hard to screw up a draft when you know you have five selections among the first 88 picks. The only guy I know who could do it is gone. Woo hoo!

There are a number of scenarios that the Lions could consider. If they do things right, they could trade out of the #1 or #2 spot and pick up additional draft picks. They could use their second round pick and two thirds to trade up into the first round and net a third first round pick. Making bold draft moves and solid selections is how championship teams are formed. They need to be thinking about these things now instead of worrying about how many points they’re going to lose by this week. All the years of Millen’s futility have lead to a chance at redemption via the draft. Also, please, for the love of Jamie Moyer’s left arm, don’t let Rod Marinelli anywhere near the draft room. This draft can’t be about toughness or grit. It has to be about drafting frickin’ sweet football players.

The last thing the Lions need to be worrying about in April of 2009 is drafting a QB. I’m not sold on Matt Stafford. He may end up being pretty good but he is way too risky for a bad team to take with the first overall pick. Assuming Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, and Tim Tebow stay in school, the 2010 draft will be loaded with QBs. Plus, I think there is a very good short-term solution that the Lions need to seriously consider. I have never been a huge Michael Vick fan. I think it was because he was advertised as the next coming and I always felt that he wasn’t an elite caliber QB. However, there is no question that he is a decent QB. In fact, I’m pretty sure that Vick is better than any Lions QB since I’ve been alive. He’s cheap (nobody is going to throw a huge contract his way coming out of jail). He’s young (he’s 28 but his legs are even younger than that). He’s a master of ball control (the Falcons were annually near the top of the league in time of possession). T.O.P is certainly an overrated statistic but it’s a lifeline for teams with a). terrible defenses and b). no talent. Vick shortens games by controlling the clock. He also keeps his defense rested on the sideline. Lastly, Vick is a scrambler. Lions QBs have been running for their lives since “Thriller” came out. Vick will give them a different option than “instant death” when the pocket inevitably collapses. He would be a low risk, high reward acquisition and he would bring instant viability to the Lions offense in the same way he did to Atlanta. I don’t condone what he did—in fact, it was heinous—but if he’s going to play for an NFL team and he’s not going to continue being an animal abuser, then it might as well be for the Lions. The NFL is a business and signing Vick could be a good business decision for the Lions.

Obviously, this is all firmly entrenched in theory. William Clay Ford must first show that he has the competency to hire a good GM. Until that happens, the 2009 draft is destined to be a disaster like every other Lions draft since they lucked their way into Barry Sanders with the third overall pick in 1989. My hopes are sky-high in the theoretical realm. In reality, I’m waiting to hear…”With the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select Matthew Stafford, QB, University of Georgia.” Something tells me Stafford doesn’t want that to happen, either.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gotta disagree about Vick.

I've suffered through years of Lions mismanagement and losing, but if they're so desperate they put a PUPPY-MURDERER on their team, I will stop rooting for them altogether.

Plus, he wouldn't make as big a difference as some people think.

He'll have been out of the league at least 2 seasons, so he'll be 2 years older, for starters...

Plus, the exercise he could do in prison (lifting weights, maybe jogging in place in crappy shoes if he wants to) will NOT keep him in true, professional football shape, like the rigorous, year-round, team-oriented, professionally-monitored, full-body, high-quality conditioning programs that NFL players normally go through to stay at their best.

He won't come out of prison and be someone who can scramble and beat a linebacker around the corner like he used to.

He would NOT be the same player. Plus, he wasn't really a good passer anyway when he was playing.

Detroit is in a bad situation, but they should NOT be looking to an out-of-shape, out-of-touch, shaken-up, ex-con, has-been scrambling quarterback.

The best Vick could hope for would probably be as a punt returner or kick returner working for the minimum salary. I hope it's not with the Lions.

Dylan said...

I believe you you were completely correct...on EVERYTHING. But I also think that they should stay clear of Mike Vick (assuming he is aloud back in the NFL)(Which he should be. I mean after everything Pacman Jones has done...) But I'd steer clear of Vick. He will be completely out of playing conditioning if he is back in the NFL. I would just stick it out with say...Daunte Culpepper, just for the season and use the first round pick next year (most likely #7-14) on a QB. I would go with Colt McCoy who is a good young leader and knows how to win. Lions first round 1 pick...Michael Oher. Second first round pick, toss up between Rey Maualuga,James Laurinaitis,Brandon Spikes, and Brian Cushing. If none of those 4 are there I think the pick will be CB, Vontae Davis. (This is only because I think they will try to erase Millian completely and not take the next best player on the board...Percy Harvin)

Jake said...

Carl and Dylan,

I think Vick will eventually make it back to being a serviceable NFL QB which is all he ever was. I can't imagine anyone not wanting Vick over Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton. However, I only suggested Vick because he is actually a competent QB that might have actually considered Detroit. Thankfully, Culpepper came along and made my Vick suggestion moot. I lobbied for Culpepper last year (http://motownsportsrevival.blogspot.com/2007/06/lions-are-too-good-for-culpepper.html) when the Lions's passed on him. So, I'm pretty content with that until next year's loaded QB crop.

Take care!

Anonymous said...

HEY CARL grow up, Mike Vick is human and coming from an environment where most human beings don't even like the breed of dog Vick killed. I think it safe to say that he received the short end of the stick. I can' justify his actions I'm not him but its safe to say that giving the people of the United States can support a war, lol, on terror and go to a country kill the majority of our own troops and never capture anybody I think Mike Vick should be well how do you say Forgiven.

I take it you Carl have to be a Republican that has never been in a urban setting. If you the you would know that dog fighting is viewed as the same way you upper or middle class people look at hunting. I think its a big double standard that you could kill an innocent deer but a dog a vicious dog that is trained to kill gets murder everybody is going crazy.

How about this in Canada the breed is prohibited, most people in the urban community hates the dog because they fear the dog will turn aggressive and attack them. And lets not forget at my Humane Society if you bring a Pit Bull in the Euthanized them ASAP. So whats the difference there either way it goes it shows that the dog isn't like and will be killed.

Now Vick don't get me wrong was never a great quarterback, but with the humbleness he's going to endure because of the situation I think it's safe to say that he will do whatever it takes to improve and stay on a team. Name me one quarterback in the league that could have endured the multiple offensive schemes and quarterbacks coaches like Mike Vick and make the situation stable none ala Joey Harrington remember him. Since we are drafting for the future here in Detroit I say bring Vick in let him sit behind Daunte and learn and then hand him the rock.

With Vick you will see the running game more because he adds that dimension and not to mention the number of play action plays we will be able to run.

The Lions signing Mike Vick will e the biggest steal next year and I will say this to you grow up he's served his time unlike your president and his staff Fuck Bush by the way.

All I have to say is the prison Vick was in was not a typical one and you better believe they let him stay in shape and in prison you can't lift weights dumbass.

Just remeber when you judge him rememeber 9/11, Iraq, Katrina, sounds more humbling that someone that killed a dog get the same chance as your President.

LIONS AND MIKE VICK EQUALS WHAT THE DOLPHINS ARE DOING THIS YEAR PLAYOFF CHANCES

Wildcard said...

Mr. Ghetto313, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Not only is your grasp of the English language an atrocity, your spelling and grammar skills make a baby look like a genius. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Anonymous said...

Considering this original post was made in Oct 2008, it's sad to say they were correct!! The Lions once again showed how poorly they draft, opting for Stafford and a slew of offensive players. They have to be the most incompetent franchise in all of sports...they are pathetic and proved once again that even with new coaching and management..its the same old story folks!!!! They suck..!! Jim in Laguna, CA

 

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