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Bring Barry Back
John,
We need Barry!!!!!!
Trade with Cleveland
Hi John,
Obviously, the Lions can't rid themselves of the number 1 pick so, they must overpay for Aaron Curry (OLB) or Jason Smith (LT). They will not take Joey Stafford from Oregon again will they???????????
Detroit will most likely trade the number 20 pick to Cleveland for Brady Quinn and the number 50 pick of the second round. PLEASE DON'T START BRADY QUINN UNTIL YOU HAVE A STARTING LEFT TACKLE.
Detroit's 33 pick could be used on Evander Hood (DT) or Alex Mack (C) or William Beatty (LT) dependent upon their first selection. Lions DT's are too small. Center Raiola is a free agent at the end of the year. William Beatty is better than Jeff Backus and especially if you don't select Smith number 1.
The number 50 pick will then be used to select Louis Delmas (FS) or William Moore (SS) or Patrick Chung (SS)solidifying the secondary without moving Anthony Henry from CB.
Possibly 4 starters; Curry / Smith, Quinn, Hood / Beatty, and Delmas / Moore and its only the first two rounds!!!!!
Detroit should trade the number 65 pick for a later third and fourth rounder. Needs will include MLB, DT, TE. The current third round pick need to turn into three picks.
Saturday it is!
They're drafting Stafford, barring a huge surprise. They have little or no interest in Quinn, nor do many teams, as far as I've heard. I actually have the Lions making a big reach and taking Gilbert at 33 in my mock, but I honestly would've changed it (maybe to Eric Wood?) if I'd had the time the last couple days. Still, I'm intrigued by that guy, even if a lot of people aren't. I agree with the interest in one of those safeties - I like Chung a lot -- but I also think they need to find a DB that can return (Macho Harris?) I think the Lions want to re-sign Raiola, by the way. And trading down from 65 is a definite possibility.
#1 Draft Choice
Appears GM and Coaches want either Stafford, Smith, or Curry which would all be reasonable selections.
However, it doesn't matter......William Clay Ford wants kicker Sam Swank out of Wake Forest. About time to let Jason Hanson go because he's never won anything in Detroit. I blame it all on Hanson (ha!ha!).
Trade the #1 pick down enough where you can still get a quality OT but not Andre Smith (tell WCF that he is as lazy as hell). Perhaps the negotiation could include a 3rd or early 4th too.
Sign FA Byron Leftwich for 2009. Next year with the #2 pick the lions (1 -15) can take their QB of the future.
And I'm pretty sure that the new QB will lead the Lions to the promise land (8 - 8) in only 4 years.
No one wants that No. 1 pick. So you're going to have to just deal with it, rather than deal it.
Who's your franchise QB in next year's draft? Just asking ...
O-Line
John,
Last years Lions O-line as individuals were charged with over 30 of the 52 total tackles given up. SF 49ers were last with a total of 55 sacks given up. Left Tackle Jeff Backus was charged with 9.75 sacks, Left Guard Edwin Mulitalo 4.25 sacks, Center Dominic Raiola 2.00 sacks, Right Guard Stephen Peterman 4.00 sacks, and Right Tackle Gosder Cherilus 6.00 sacks. They cut Mulitalo and added Daniel Loper to help strengthen the O-line.
What is your opinion of trying to add free agents Left Tackle Orlando Pace and Right Tackle Mark Tauscher who were both charged 2 sacks each?
I realize that Pace is 33 and Tauscher is 31 but the Lions would still improve significantly.
At this point, now that they've plugged a few holes, I think the goal is to get younger on both lines. That's why I think there's a good chance a LT and DT could be two of the first three picks, or at least one of them. Baltimore brought Pace in for a visit, and that may be where he ends up, possibly playing at RT actually. But he's at the end of his career and doesn't make much sense for a team that's not ready to win right now. As for Tauscher, he's coming off ACL surgery and may not be ready to play until October it sounds like. I think he still ends up back in Green Bay, though the Vikings might be interested. But the Lions aren't looking for a RT. They need a LT to (eventually?) replace Backus.
Pressure to take Stafford at
What I suggested was to trade down pick #1 and take the best available defensive player. Not sure if any team would offer but, I do not think the Lions should take Smith or Stafford. I would rather move down and take BJ Raji as an example. Take Cleveland for example, they draft their QB Brady Quinn and their LT Thomas the following year. Their defense is being addressed in free agency....i.e., Bodden for Rogers. Their wins and losses haven't changed for the better. Now, they are considering trading Quinn and are having difficulties with Rogers. I am only suggesting that successful teams will build through the draft and defense should supersede offense. Once you have a defensive system in place, you draft players that make the system function the best......Pittsburgh. Your selection of 3 offensive players out the 5 picks, in my opinion will not change the Lions to a successful program.
Actually, Browns drafted Thomas at No. 3 (sort of like Lions taking Smith/Monroe at No. 1) and then traded up to grab Quinn when he kept slipping at No. 22 (sort of like drafting Sanchez at No. 20 or trading up to get him in the mid-teens) that same year (2007).
Draft Defense
John,
I spent 30 years coaching hockey retired two years ago. I always built my teams from the goalie out, defense first. If the team doesn't give up a goal you can't lose. It's more difficult to teach defense than offense so you want to teach young people that haven't been in several organizations. At any rate, the Detroit Lions should build their defense from the draft and their offense from free agency. I understand their need this year to build both from free agency because of the condition the 2008 team. I compared last years best defense team Pittsburgh against the worst Detroit. Pittsburgh built their defense through the draft whereas the Detroit built theirs through free agency. Many of the Steelers defensive players have never been associated with other systems; might be something with that???? I suggest moving down from the number 1 spot to if possible or take the best defensive player available Curry. The number 20 pick on Peria Jerry if available. The 33 pick use on Louis Delmas best free safety available. They could use the 65 pick on ILB Darry Beckwith. The 82 pick on the best CB available.
Offensively, Lions should go after free agent Byron Leftwich, a back up right tackle, center, a guard. Jeff Backus can move to guard and Dan Loper can play Left Tackle for the 2009 season. Our 2008 offense was good enough to get 5 or 6 victories but lacked coaching more than talent. The defense was so bad that every effort should be made to draft defensive players.
Defensewins
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