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Kitna, Culpepper Not Right Options At This Point
Jon Kitna or Daunte Culpepper? What a choice that would be for the Lions at quarterback.
To me, the better answer is none of the above.
Obviously, the better pick would be Dan Orlovsky, but he will command attention on the free agent market. Maybe the Lions should pay him that little extra to retain him.
The Lions need to breakaway from their past and select a quarterback for the future early in the draft, and either sign a free agent, or make a trade for a quarterback, to bridge to the future.
Kitna and Culpepper represent too much of that past. Kitna is the better player right now, but that isn’t saying much, Culpepper hasn’t been an effective player for five years. It isn’t that he was just rusty when he came to Detroit.
Random Thoughts
- I don’t know what’s worse, Alex Rodriguez’s admission he used performance enhancing drugs or Bud Selig coming out and acting hurt and shocked about it. If there is anybody who needs to look in the mirror when it comes to this issue, it’s Bud Selig.
- If Kitna does stay with the Lions, please, no more predictions of a 10-win season. Call it ironic if you want, but the Lions won exactly 10 games in the nearly 2 1-2 seasons Kitna was their starting quarterback.
To me, the better answer is none of the above.
Obviously, the better pick would be Dan Orlovsky, but he will command attention on the free agent market. Maybe the Lions should pay him that little extra to retain him.
The Lions need to breakaway from their past and select a quarterback for the future early in the draft, and either sign a free agent, or make a trade for a quarterback, to bridge to the future.
Kitna and Culpepper represent too much of that past. Kitna is the better player right now, but that isn’t saying much, Culpepper hasn’t been an effective player for five years. It isn’t that he was just rusty when he came to Detroit.
Random Thoughts
- I don’t know what’s worse, Alex Rodriguez’s admission he used performance enhancing drugs or Bud Selig coming out and acting hurt and shocked about it. If there is anybody who needs to look in the mirror when it comes to this issue, it’s Bud Selig.
- If Kitna does stay with the Lions, please, no more predictions of a 10-win season. Call it ironic if you want, but the Lions won exactly 10 games in the nearly 2 1-2 seasons Kitna was their starting quarterback.
Labels: Jon Kitna Daunte Culpepper Alex Rodriguez Detroit Lions Bud Selig Dan Orlovsky
posted by Pat Caputo at
1:15 PM
10 Comments:
I really respect your opinion on the quarterback issue Pat but I couldn't disagree more.
I would agree with you if there was a can't miss guy waiting to be drafted number one. From everything I have heard and watched there isn't though.
The Lions are the last team in the league that can afford to take a flyer on the first overall draft pick. There are some really dominating defensive guys who would be much less risky.
Some quarterback will drop, they usually do. Whoever they end up picking regardless of the draft number will be a project anyway.
Allan
Pat,
I understand your viewpoint but I think the critical year for the Lions is 2010 not 2009. Kitna or Culpepper can give you 3-4 victories. Neither Kitna or Culpepper should be playing in 2010, their roles will have ended, they are just seat warmers for the future qb. A management team with a solid plan should use 2009 to implement it's system. Draft a qb high in this draft and let that qb sit, it does work, just ask Matt Cassel. A rookie qb would die on the Lions because the organization is so bad. This is not the Pittsburgh Steelers. Atlanta succeeded last year because Arthur Blank is a good owner that is passionate about winning. Remember the Falcons have had previous success in the last ten years that they could refer to, the Lions don't. The Lions should build a stable defense this year and focus on offense next year. Even though the Dolphins turned it around in one year, it took Ken Whisenhunt a couple of years in Arizona. The Lions have hit rock bottom but they need to feed there awhile to learn their lesson. 2010 is when they should be making a move up the ladder. I would have Martin Mayhew on a 2 year plan. He's been with the organization long enough to make an impact within 2 seasons. But then again this is the Fords and you know how they run things.
Alan
Book I am with a lot of folks. I think they would be dumb to draft a QB this season. I just think they need to concentrate more on building a foundation and next year I think they can get just as good if not better QB then Stafford or Sanchez. I say we build the trenches and get that defense built up. Cause I don't care what QB u have if u can't stop someone then forget it. I just think we'd be best resigning Orlovsky let him Kitna, Culpepper, and Stanton all battle it out for the QB job through offseason work outs and training camp. Make a competition for it. I mean the Titans and Giants proved u don't need a stellar QB in order to win. Hell the Ravens one with Dilfer. The Bears went to the bowl with Grossman. Build the lines and the D.
I think what is more crazier. If the lions are going to franchise anybody shouldn't it be Nick Harris LOL. He saw the field more then Hanson has the past few years... Can't let that guy go lol. I know I am being a goof but have to admit that was funny.
Whatever the solution the Lions seek at QB for next year I am of the strong opinion that it should not be the draft.
I know you are an avid proponent of the Lions drafting a QB with their first overall pick but history simply doesn't support this theory.
Going back to 1989 there have been 45 quarterbacks drafted in the first round. Of this 45, only nine have played in a Superbowl.
Oddly however, of the past 20 Superbowls a first round quarterback has played in 16 of them... four of these quarterbacks were the first pick overall.
The first round quarterback can be quite the misnomer. Team success is not guaranteed just because a QB was selected in the first round... rather, it has to be the right guy in the first round.
Despite the success of Roethlisberger, the Manning Bros., and McNabb there are many, many more stories of those that have flopped.
Do these names sound familiar? JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Alex Smith, JP Lossman, Kyle Boller, Joey Harrington, Patrick Dempsey, Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Cade McNown, Ryan Leaf, Jim Druckenmiller, Tony Banks, Heath Schuler, Rick Mirer, David Klingler, Tommy Maddox, Dan McGwire, Todd Marinovich, Jeff George, and Andre Ware. They were all first round picks.
Allan,
Maybe there is some confusion on how I feel about this, but based on what I know about this draft, at this point I wouldn't take a QB No. 1 overall, either. I do think they need to take a quarterback relatively early in the draft, though. At this stage, I would probably take Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji first overall.
Caputo
Alan,
I think you need to take a QB now because they need to give him at least a little bit time to develop. Also, I wouldn't be adverse to taking a QB early in the draft next year. It's something the Lions need to do in order to somehow get it right.
Caputo
Maddog52,
I agree with you about the defense. But I see QB as a great need than offensive line at this point. Not that the Lions' offensive line is strong...
Caputo
Michael,
Drafting a QB in the first round is a high-risk, high-reward proposition. Couch, Carr, Harrington and Smith were busts, but the last three Super Bowls have been won with first-round QBs. And look what Flacco and Ryan did last season.
Caputo
I understand your point about the QB. Lets face it they need everything. I just think they will be jumping the gun and there is much more value at other positions this year. I just think they should focus on building the race car this year and then next year finding the driver. The QB pool seems a lot more promising next year then this year as well.
Why in the hell would Detroit yet again waste a first round pick yet again on someone who will never make it in the NFL. Culpepper is the man for the job on the upcoming season and then you have next season to worry about the problem. The Lions to start building there O-Line or improve their D-Fence. Taking Andre Smith or Eugene Monroe would already be a very large help on the line and will then protect Culpepper. Stafford is a good QB dont get me wrong but we dont know for sure if he will live up to the standards of the duties in the NFL. Why guess on what could happen when we could just take something that we are almost sure on.
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