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Some Thoughts To Consider About The Lions Trading for QB Shaun Hill
Reminder: I will have a live chat Tuesday morning at 11:30 at theoaklandpress.com
The Lions reportedly are in the process of trading a seventh-round draft choice to San Francisco for quarterback Shaun Hill.
At 30, Hill is the ideal backup for Lions' quarterback Matthew Stafford. Here's why:
- He is just 30 years old and has a 10-6 record in the NFL as a starter.
- He has completed better than 61 percent of his NFL passes.
- He has a touchdown pass-to-interception ratio of better than two-to-one during his career.
- He played Lions' offensive coordinator Scott Linehan when both were with the Vikings, so he knows the offense.
Why he was available:
- After getting off to an impressive start, Hill played two bad games last season and was replaced by former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith.
- He is not signed long term. He is in the final season of a three-year deal that reportedly will pay him $1.5 million in 2010.
- The 49ers agreed to terms with the more physically-gifted David Carr last week, giving them two No. 1 overall draft choices at QB, neither of whom has had much success in the league.
The Skinny on Hill:
- He has always been undervalued because of a lack of arm strength and overall athleticism, but all Hill has ever done is win.
- He wasn't recruited by Division I schools out of high school and went to junior college.
- He didn't win the starting job at Maryland until his senior year, but then led Maryland its best season in a long time - and to heights it hasn't reached since.
- Hill is not a long-term solution. If he were to start for an extended period, he would be exposed. What he can do is win a few a games if your starter goes down. He is always ready for opportunity and is a cerebral player. And he is in his prime years for an NFL QB, not an aging veteran with little tread remaining.
Question, though:
Would the Lions have been better off with Derek Anderson?
My column in Sunday's Oakland Press about the Lions utter need to draft defensively in the upcoming draft: http://tinyurl.com/yzlqhs4
My column in Monday's Oakland Press about Oakland University getting a disappointing seed, but a great draw in NCAA tournament: http://tinyurl.com/yl4ej2m
The Lions reportedly are in the process of trading a seventh-round draft choice to San Francisco for quarterback Shaun Hill.
At 30, Hill is the ideal backup for Lions' quarterback Matthew Stafford. Here's why:
- He is just 30 years old and has a 10-6 record in the NFL as a starter.
- He has completed better than 61 percent of his NFL passes.
- He has a touchdown pass-to-interception ratio of better than two-to-one during his career.
- He played Lions' offensive coordinator Scott Linehan when both were with the Vikings, so he knows the offense.
Why he was available:
- After getting off to an impressive start, Hill played two bad games last season and was replaced by former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith.
- He is not signed long term. He is in the final season of a three-year deal that reportedly will pay him $1.5 million in 2010.
- The 49ers agreed to terms with the more physically-gifted David Carr last week, giving them two No. 1 overall draft choices at QB, neither of whom has had much success in the league.
The Skinny on Hill:
- He has always been undervalued because of a lack of arm strength and overall athleticism, but all Hill has ever done is win.
- He wasn't recruited by Division I schools out of high school and went to junior college.
- He didn't win the starting job at Maryland until his senior year, but then led Maryland its best season in a long time - and to heights it hasn't reached since.
- Hill is not a long-term solution. If he were to start for an extended period, he would be exposed. What he can do is win a few a games if your starter goes down. He is always ready for opportunity and is a cerebral player. And he is in his prime years for an NFL QB, not an aging veteran with little tread remaining.
Question, though:
Would the Lions have been better off with Derek Anderson?
My column in Sunday's Oakland Press about the Lions utter need to draft defensively in the upcoming draft: http://tinyurl.com/yzlqhs4
My column in Monday's Oakland Press about Oakland University getting a disappointing seed, but a great draw in NCAA tournament: http://tinyurl.com/yl4ej2m
Labels: Shaun Hill Scott Linehan David Carr Alex Smith Derek Anderson
posted by Pat Caputo at
9:01 PM
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