OT-Nnamdi Asomugha, Lions may reciprocate interest

Submitted by white_pony_rocks on

Seeing as how there seems to be some optimism that there will be NFL football played this season, I figured this story would excite people.  I know you can't believe everything you hear or read but I think we have a good shot of landing him, and with houston looking around I think the lions will make a stronger push than any other team.  We'll see if he chooses us.  If we can keep houston and get nnamdi the nly thing keeping this team from winning it all is th O-line, can they protect stafford and get a decent running game going.  its going to be an exciting season

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2011/6/22/2236872/nnamdi-asomugha-rumors-…

JimLahey

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:14 AM ^

YES PLEASE! Seriously though, it's hard to tell right now. He may just use Detroit as a pawn to jack up offers from other teams. But I really hope we get him.

MGoDC

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:16 AM ^

Even if he does sign Detroit is probably at least a year away from truly contending. Nick Fairley hasn't played a down of NFL football yet and Stafford doesn't have a full season under his belt in terms of actual in-game experience. That being said, the draft alone seems to be turning Detroit around regardless of free agent situations.

BRCE

June 23rd, 2011 at 1:19 PM ^

You can find a number of teams through history that entered a season looking worse on paper than a Lions squad with Asomugha would and they messed around and found themselves in the Super Bowl.

Yes, I know that sounds slappy. Yes, there are still holes but even the best teams in the NFL have a few whodat starters every year.

 

 

jethro34

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:18 AM ^

It seems strange to be this optimistic about the Lions.  It feels nice to finally have a coach I completely believe in.  Schwartz seems like a guy that players genuinely want to go out and bust their butts for, and it's talented players that want to do this.  Thank goodness Mayhew is able to differentiate himself from his old boss.

Mr Mackey

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:19 AM ^

I feel like if Stafford can actually stay healthy, the Lions should be a playoff team in the next couple years. I'm cautiously extremely optimistic..

Tater

June 23rd, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^

Well, the "Curse of Bobby Layne did officially expire a couple of years ago."  Layne was a serious mofo with serious mojo.  Either that, or he was intelligent enough to figure out that WCF, who "celebrated" his promotion in the front office by getting rid of Layne as his first major personnel move, was incompetent, would live a long time, and would hang on past his time.

I think it many have been a little of both...

umjgheitma

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^

the LB core could use some work, not that confident in it at all. Nnamdi obviously would be a huge pickup but I believe TEs will still eat us alive...

JohnnyBlue

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^

we should be able to snag him to help at LB.  

way I see it playing out if we get Nnamdi and Bullock, if Houston wants to get paid and we can get Nnamdi is we let Houston go and sign Nnamdi. can't see them signing Houston or using the tag on him and signing Nnamdi just can't afford it.

Bullock shuoldn't be to expensive and will be a good veteran LB for a few years to shore up things there.

 

SagNasty

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^

I agree Nnamdi and Bullock would be great pickups. It's nice to see the Lions actually building a defense. I still don't like the wr pick this year, I would have taken best available LB there. My personal opinion is that if Stafford goes down this year for an extended period of time, he would have to be considered a bust.

Steve Lorenz

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^

but I'd think Detroit would be a pretty attractive place to play right now, especially if you're a defensive player. Imagine the numbers a middle linebacker would put up with Suh and Fairley manning the interior line. Think about how much pressure will be relieved off of the defensive backs because of how quickly our ends will be able to get to the quarterback. It still blows my mind that there are people out there who disagreed with the Fairley pick. If  anything, it will be the choice that puts Detroit over the top. Why do you think they felt comfortable enough to go WR/RB with their next two picks? 

Rescue_Dawn

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:28 AM ^

Between the D-Line and asomugha shutting down half the field....I think they could pick up the slack for the other defensive deficiencies. Don't forget I still think they would sign another free-agent LB. So I think they would be Playoff contenders

MichFan1997

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^

Stafford getting hurt wasnt an issue of a line who can't pass protect. Detroit was 6th in fewest sacks allowed last season at only 27. Even more impressive when considering this is that the Lions were also 3rd in passes attempted at 39.6 per game. Now I'm not gonna calculate the rates for each team, but I'm betting there is a good chance that comes out to, percentage wise, the best pass protection in the NFL.

MichFan1997

June 23rd, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^

right in the middle in completion percentage. But there is so much that goes into these numbers that they don't completely coorelate to just one person. For example, our sack/attempt ratio was awesome. But we also have to consider the completion percentage was driven down by Stanton throwing 119 passes as well. Hill was at a respectable 61.8 percent, which on his own, would have landed him near the top 10 teams. (8th in the league was 62.7)

NorthSideBlueFan

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^

Give him whatever he wants and get him in Honolulu Blue and Silver! He has the abiltiy to shut down the opposition's top WR and eliminate whole chunks of the field that QB's can throw to. He's an amazing talent at the NFL level!

MichFan1997

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^

shut down a top WR. He almost literally shuts down his side of the field. I dont' remember the exact number, but teams were only throwing something like 2 passes per game at him and completed under 16 passes ALL YEAR on him. He's by far the best CB in the NFL.

DingleberryFinn.

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^

On NFL Network a few weeks ago they were talking about best cornerbacks in the league. Nnamdi was thrown at 33 times last year and 13 of those passes were completed, and 0 touchdowns allowed as well. 13 completed passes, in 16 started games. Not to mention he's great in run support. Goodluck getting the ball in Jennings hands, Greenbay. God I hope we get this guy.

yoopergoblue

June 23rd, 2011 at 1:57 PM ^

Um, this rivalary was back last year.  Detroit had a legitimate chance to beat the Packers in Lambeau last year until the very end.  28-26 close game and the Lions were driving at the end.  Then there was the game in Detroit which the Lions won and took Rodgers out of the game.  I am very much looking forward to the two games this year.  Both land on holidays and the New Years day game will have playoff implications IMO

Michigan4Life

June 23rd, 2011 at 5:04 PM ^

a team that has 3rd string QB starting for them.  3RD STRING QB!!!!! You can't use that excuse with Rodgers injury.  The Lions were without both starting CBs, one starting LB, 2 QBs, an injury riddled RB, MLB and S who has to play through groin injury and constant cycling of S opposite Delmas.  The Lions were the better team, simple as that.  Even if Rodgers played the whole game, he didn't have a good game before he got hurt.

Broken Brilliance

June 23rd, 2011 at 11:36 PM ^

Please....

You ignored my point that Flynn didn't have the week to really prepare to play in that game. You saw how much he improved against the Pats the next week, right? Stanton was not thrown in spur of the moment like Flynn was, he had been preparing to start the prior two weeks to that game.

turtleboy

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^

defenses Gunther cunningham has coached they had a corps of all pro pass defenders to anchor them. Also if you look at his track record he has a history of replacing Gerg Robinson and turning around bad defenses, lol. Antonio Cromartie, and Ike Taylor are also FAs, as is MIchael Huff, Danieal Manning, Quinten Mickell, Roman Harper, and Roy Williams (safety.) Theres good young talent out there too to pick if the Lions want to spend money. They also need OLBs.

JohnnyBlue

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^

It would be something to for the lions to have arguably the best player at multiple positions.  would be just a manner of getting a couple starting quality servisable LBs and a smattering of depth at various positions and talent wise Swartz and Mayhew have turned one of the the worst teams talent wise in the NFL to argualbly top 5, now if that pans out on the field its anyones guess, but I would be shocked if we don't atleast get back to where we were in the 90s.

jethro34

June 23rd, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^

It's been a couple years since I was really on top of the Lions salary situation.  With the CBA expiring I don't know if anyone has a good number, but any insight on how they're loojking relative to other teams?

mackbru

June 23rd, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^

He would be the ideal free agent for Detroit. Being a longtime fan, I'd be shocked if he signed here. But, hey, you gotta have dreams.