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What If The Lions Pick McCoy Instead Of The People's Choice Suh?
When the Lions held a "meet and greet" with their fans recently, some started chanting, "Suh, Suh, Suh"
Nebraska defensive tackle Nadamukong Suh has become the choice of the Lions' fans for the second overall pick in the NFL Draft. Thing is, Gerald McCoy, a defensive tackle from Oklahoma, is just as highly rated as Suh. Most of the NFL people I've talked to feel McCoy has a higher ceiling - meaning more long-range potential - than Suh, and the only reason he didn't match Suh's production in college was because he played in a system that required more gap responsiblity.
It is a little bit of dicey situation for the Lions. Appeasing their fans shouldn't be the goal, but they have been incredibly arrogant down through the years, taking their fans for granted often - too often - and have paid the price with a half-empty Ford Field on many Sundays the last two years.
They can't ignore their fans anymore. It will be interesting to see how the Lions handle the situation if the pick is McCoy - or any other player other than Suh.
Random Thoughts
- After all those "Demon Drop" saves registered by Fernando Rodney with the Tigers last year, isn't it amazing how easily he picked up saves against the Tigers the last two nights?
- The best sign for the Tigers: How well Miguel Cabrera is hitting in the clutch. The worst sign: Rick Porcello scuffling through three starts. The Tigers need Porcello to be rock solid like he was the second half of last season to remain in contention.
- The Lions play three of their first four games on the road, with the only home game being against Philadelphia. The schedule maker sure didn't do them any favors.
- Nobody's said anything, but Nicklas Lidstrom was brilliant last night. He keyed the Red Wings' penalty killing unit, which keyed their victory. He also had four shots on goal and played excellent hockey for a team-high 26 minutes. What a great player. And few seemed to notice how well he bounced back from a subpar performance Sunday.
My column in Wednesday's Oakland Press on the Red Wings: http://tinyurl.com/y7oo8s3
Nebraska defensive tackle Nadamukong Suh has become the choice of the Lions' fans for the second overall pick in the NFL Draft. Thing is, Gerald McCoy, a defensive tackle from Oklahoma, is just as highly rated as Suh. Most of the NFL people I've talked to feel McCoy has a higher ceiling - meaning more long-range potential - than Suh, and the only reason he didn't match Suh's production in college was because he played in a system that required more gap responsiblity.
It is a little bit of dicey situation for the Lions. Appeasing their fans shouldn't be the goal, but they have been incredibly arrogant down through the years, taking their fans for granted often - too often - and have paid the price with a half-empty Ford Field on many Sundays the last two years.
They can't ignore their fans anymore. It will be interesting to see how the Lions handle the situation if the pick is McCoy - or any other player other than Suh.
Random Thoughts
- After all those "Demon Drop" saves registered by Fernando Rodney with the Tigers last year, isn't it amazing how easily he picked up saves against the Tigers the last two nights?
- The best sign for the Tigers: How well Miguel Cabrera is hitting in the clutch. The worst sign: Rick Porcello scuffling through three starts. The Tigers need Porcello to be rock solid like he was the second half of last season to remain in contention.
- The Lions play three of their first four games on the road, with the only home game being against Philadelphia. The schedule maker sure didn't do them any favors.
- Nobody's said anything, but Nicklas Lidstrom was brilliant last night. He keyed the Red Wings' penalty killing unit, which keyed their victory. He also had four shots on goal and played excellent hockey for a team-high 26 minutes. What a great player. And few seemed to notice how well he bounced back from a subpar performance Sunday.
My column in Wednesday's Oakland Press on the Red Wings: http://tinyurl.com/y7oo8s3
Labels: Ndamukong Suh Gerald McCoy Miguel Cabrera Rick Porcello Nicklas Lidstrom
posted by Pat Caputo at
10:36 AM
4 Comments:
Pat,
I got the pleasure (well kind of) of watching the Tigers the past couple nights on TV since I'm living in Cali. You are right on about Fernando "The Demon Drop" Rodney. I find it so amusing because for the last couple years all I hear from my mom and dad is complaints about this guy and ugly or not he was successful last year and off to a great start this year. When the guy is on he does have some nasty stuff. On another note, I know you have not been the biggest Damon fan and have questioned Austin Jackson. Here are a couple observations I made from last nights game: 1.) Jackson made a GREAT catch in CF in a clutch moment last night and he made it look easy. That guy can cover some serious ground, but he is not just a guy with wheels, it looks to me like he has some pretty good defensive instincts judging by the jump he had on the ball and his angle of pursuit. 2.) Damon might not put up the #'s he did in NY, but the guy knows how to have quality at bats. When Kazmir was putting everyone down with ease (and making everyone look bad) Damon was putting together some good at bats. Also, I think having him bat 2nd behind Jackson will force pitchers to give Jackson better pitches to hit.
The biggest problem I see with the Tigers is there lack of depth. I know they lack a lot of power but you have seen teams in the past without power win, but it seems like those teams have a lot of interchangeable parts, and the tigers really seem to be lacking there. They don't have any veteran players to come off the bench and really work a count for a good at bat in a time of need.
lil rob
McCoy over Suh? Maybe or maybe not ... longevity is a crap shoot.
Suh is arguably the best d-man in the draft in several years.
I go with the short-term odds .. all the Lion's need is to draft McCoy and have him be above-average and have Suh be a standout franchise player and the fans will be incensed.
If I'm Mayhew or Swartzy, I go with the favorite.
lil rob,
I like what I have seen from Jackson defensively. He's hit OK, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of pop there and k's are alarming. Good athlete, though, who works at it. That's on his side. Good point on depth among position players. Injuries could be an issue.
Caputo
Anonymous,
It is odd. I don't remember a player the fans around here wanted to this degree like Suh, but wasn't necessarily the only viable option.
Caputo
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