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Why Not Just Take A Linebacker And Defensive Lineman Early In The Draft?
Would Larry Foote help the Lions? Yeah, he is definitely better than their current choices at middle linebacker. Would Kevin Carter help the Lions? Probably, although at 35 you wonder how much he has left in the tank.
None of the above is the issue. It’s how the Lions are building toward the future and just completed the draft that’s perplexing. In the draft, they didn’t select an interior defensive lineman until the fourth round, and they didn’t take a middle linebacker until the third round. Both those players have to be considered developmental players - linebacker DeAndre Levy and defensive lineman Sammie Lee Hill.
Foote will probably effective for a few more years, but why not just take a middle linebacker early in the draft? Certainly the Lions had the option to do so. Carter and defensive tackle Grady Jackson are in their mid-30s. How is that a building plan, when your great weakness is the front seven defensively, and you plan on building through the draft?
Random Thoughts
- The Tigers need more offensively from Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez if they are going to stay in contention this summer.
- It will be interesting to see how Jim Leyland deals with Rick Porcello now that he has been rocked around a bit. It happens to every pitcher. The best pitchers - regardless of age - bounce back from it quickly. We’ll see what Porcello has in that regard.
- Call me crazy, but I see Carolina coming out of the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes got hot at just the right time. Beating New Jersey with those late goals seems to make the ‘Canes a team of destiny. Wonder who Kwame Kilpatrick will be rooting for if there is a Red Wings-Carolina final? Just a thought.
None of the above is the issue. It’s how the Lions are building toward the future and just completed the draft that’s perplexing. In the draft, they didn’t select an interior defensive lineman until the fourth round, and they didn’t take a middle linebacker until the third round. Both those players have to be considered developmental players - linebacker DeAndre Levy and defensive lineman Sammie Lee Hill.
Foote will probably effective for a few more years, but why not just take a middle linebacker early in the draft? Certainly the Lions had the option to do so. Carter and defensive tackle Grady Jackson are in their mid-30s. How is that a building plan, when your great weakness is the front seven defensively, and you plan on building through the draft?
Random Thoughts
- The Tigers need more offensively from Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez if they are going to stay in contention this summer.
- It will be interesting to see how Jim Leyland deals with Rick Porcello now that he has been rocked around a bit. It happens to every pitcher. The best pitchers - regardless of age - bounce back from it quickly. We’ll see what Porcello has in that regard.
- Call me crazy, but I see Carolina coming out of the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes got hot at just the right time. Beating New Jersey with those late goals seems to make the ‘Canes a team of destiny. Wonder who Kwame Kilpatrick will be rooting for if there is a Red Wings-Carolina final? Just a thought.
Labels: Larry Foote Kevin Carter Carlos Guillen Rick Porcello Magglio Ordonez Kwame Kilpatrick
posted by Pat Caputo at
4:18 PM
10 Comments:
I think there is a big misconsumption about the lions draft and the fans reaction. Lets be honest we all would have preferred a different route for the lions in this draft. Me I would of took malaluga just for the simple fact that he is pissed and has a huge chip on his shoulder against all teh teams that passed on him. At the same time we needed everything we got.. Me I still think we could of got a very solid tight end in the 3rd round. Which is where I think we as lions fans were taken back. We need a middle linebacker and we draft this kid levy who I think is one of the keys besides stafford to this whole draft cause there was still some good talent with better value there. Like a Guard.
What is even more rediculous is the rumors of Favre coming back.. Stay home Brett enough already.. John Madden gave it up so u have nobody left to carry your jock..
I tell you these huge innings by the Tigers starters have to be concerning I know it is only a few games and a lot can be forgotten with a series win against the Indians, but we need to do a better job. At the same time I like the way this team is shapping up.
You say Guillen I will agree with that and throw in another and that is Magglio. He has not looked good especially with men in scoring position this year... Which brings me to my question Did the Tigers blow a big opportunity by not trading Mags this year and or Guillen while there values were high... cause I think it is safe to say they are on the downside of there careers?
Pat,
I agree with you on the Lions. Actions are louder than words. This lack of strategy reminds me of what Millen did in his first couple years. Because of the security they have with the Ford ownership, there is no urgency to win now. The NFL, with its parity and the short careers of the players, is a league in which teams should be able to turn it around quickly. Especially with 5 of the top 82 picks. It doesn't seem that the Lions set themselves up to win, either short-term or long-term, with this draft.
Its impossible to judge the Lions draft. Too soon. And everyone knows that.
But one of the things that's been bugging me is fans comparing this draft to Millen's drafts because the Lions didn't go in the direction the "draft experts" thought they should.
In actuality, what the complaining fans wanted is what Millen would've given them. Millen usually went with the highest rated guys by the "draft experts". Guys like Mel Kiper's #1 ranked Mike Williams. Guys that other teams passed on (like the MLBs last year).
If their goal was to make fans happy on draft day and to please the experts, the Lions didn't have a good draft. Millen would've for sure taken Malaluga and he'd probably get high draft grades like he often did.
Instead the new staff was going by what their scouts told them, and doing their best to find quality players with each pick to help the team in the future. You know ... like real NFL teams do ...
Well Pat, look like the Lions want to give the opposing QB lots of time to throw. What I do not understand is they just spend 78 million dollars on a QB, would it not be wise to draft OT to protect him and give him time to throw?
Book,
I followed Venezuala through the WBC and was dissapointed by both Mags' and Guillen's offensive impotency. If I remember right, Mags hit .230 and Guillen .210.
And not much has changed since then. The numbers have come up slightly, but not to where they should be.
We have known Guillen was struggling since the last half of 07. The decline. I think the same is true of Mags. And both seem to be dropping this year like lead balloons.
Fan favorites? You bet!. Mine too.
But Mags may still have some value on the market - and it breaks my 'homer-tiger-lovin' heart to say - but now Mags has moved to the weaker link side of the roster.
I hope he can prove me wrong.
Maddog52,
I agree with you about the tight end. Didn't seem to be the right pick at the right time. Time will tell.
Caputo
Deano,
I wonder when the Lions will start to display that urgency. Peterson and Foote are players that can help them win now. Maybe they are moving more in that direction.
Caputo
Mike,
It is impossible to judge any draft right after it, but I still found it curious. Guess I can't get over the fact they have had 12 first-round draft choices the past decade and taken 11 offensive players. And then wonder why they don't have a good defense.
Caputo
Barry,
They feel more comfortable with their offensive line than a lot of their fans do.
Caputo
Fred Brill,
I don't know how much value Mags will have on the trade market, Fred. It looks like he has really slowed down - and in just about every way. The Tigers don't have many options to replace him, either. They can only hope he turns it around.
Caputo
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