OT: Thoughts on the draft
Here are my thoughts:
Worst draft- Vikings
Best draft- lions or Bucs
Dumbest pick- Christian ponder
Best pick- Da'Quan Bowers
Biggest surprise- mouton in 2nd round
Cam Newton at number 1.
April 30th, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^
Andre Ware was supposed to be great too.
I just don't see Newton's style of play being successful in the NFL.
I'm actually kinda sad for Claussen. I thoguht he could win at the pro level...if he had, you know, Steve Smith healthy, Williams./Stewart healthy, and an OL that actually bblocked. Now Smith wants out, and Carolina didn't exactly address WR in the draft. And we all know how bad a disgruntled WR can be on a football team.
I know he was the "wow" player coming into the draft. But I thought they should have used their pick to fill a need or get a better player rather than just trying to fill the seats.
What about "you don't want your QB getting hit much" is so hard to understand? He's a runner based on running through people. He's not running through anything other than a corner in the NFL.
He will get hurt. He will be unsuccessful when he's playing. Two contracts max for that kid and the second won't be starter money.
Hopefully for his sake he at least has the sense to hire a good financial advisor who will make sure he's not an Antoine Walker story.
obviously so happy with the first few picks the lions had!
but like most other people i'm still worried about the linebacker and cornerback situation. linebackers only need to not be subpar because with that defensive line they literally will just have to not mess up. cornerback - still scary.
But the way I see it they could just blitz 4 and drop 7 most plays.
I don't think it counts as a blitz when it's the defensive line.
It's going to feel like a blitz everytime the QB is carted off the field.
I can't see it, but must be pretty high in your post. Seems like a Michigan fan would realize what happens to a defense that has next to nothing in the back 7.
a) Bringing four would have been considered an all-out blitz last year
b) The "rush 4, drop 7" theory works a hell of a lot better when the 4 can get home, and when the 7 know where the hell they are supposed to be.
Are you suggesting that skill and execution is more important than scheme?! Well now I've heard everything...
April 30th, 2011 at 11:18 PM ^
Theres still free agency. Being optimistic i'll say Delmas was hurt last year and we can expect Spivey and Alphonso Smith to be improved along with Delmas. Hopefully they re-sign Chris Houston. The defense as a whole SHOULD be improved.
Offensive Line - They actually werent that bad in the pass last year however they could have done a better job of run blocking. I liked the Mikel Leshoure pick. They could have drafted an OL in the 3rd or 4th but its possible there wasnt one there that they felt would be a big contributor and felt having a Leshoure/Best backfield was too good to pass up, so they traded with Seattle. I can see the OL regressing but the running game improving with the Best/Leshoure combo. I know we had dreams of K Jones and K Smith but hopefully these are the guys.
They addressed OLB and OL in 5th and 7th rds but how realistic can we be in expecting them to be huge contributors. Only thing we can hope for is that they're the diamond in the rough and get developed properly.
Overall I liked this draft for the Lions. We have to see what they do in free agency too.
Cincy and Buffalo had solid drafts too.
Why was the Lions one of your best drafts? I really thought they had a glaring need at O-line and corner. Neither were met.
Some lean towards filling needs, and others lean towards drafting quality
I've said this a lot since Thursday, but the Lions do not have a glaring need at O-Line. Yes, they weren't so good at running the ball (20th in YPC), but that can be attributed in part to injuries to the RBs. But the line was solid at QB protection (6th in sacks allowed and 10th in QB hits allowed).
That said, I agree that they should have taken a CB. They basically shored up three positions of relative strength at the expense of addressing some serious holes in the defense.
Overall, I'm ambivalent about the Lions' picks. The D-Line is going to be terrifying, I think Leshoure was a good pick-up, but here's hoping to some good free agent pick-ups or trades.
Well, if you left early for the draft like you were projected to, mayyyyyyyybe the Lions would've addressed their linebacker need.
I would like to have seen them draft Amakumura from Nebraska instead of Fairley.
will determine how i feel about the lions draft...if we can pick up players like LB Stephen Tulloch from tenn and asomugha from oakland this draft will be great. otherewise the lions back 7 is going to be in trouble
Completely agree. The Lions picked up some good guys, but they still have holes to fill. Free agency and possible trades will be key. I don't know that their draft will be considered "bad" even if they blow picking up anyone else, but this draft could be considered pretty great if they do.
EDIT: I've removed my snarky joke about his double post, because now I just look like an asshole.
my bad
I also really like Cincy's draft for some reason.
Me too, actually. They seem to have looked at their offense and basically said, "fuck that, we're starting over." Which, after last season, isn't that bad of an idea.
I really like Moch, and Boling will probably be solid. I really wish the Lions had got Moch, but I still like their draft a lot as well.
San Diego had one helluva draft.
Biggest surprise for me was a tie between New England drafting Mallet relatively early despite defensive secondary holes and Atlanta basically giving up 2 drafts to pick up a wide receiver with so-so hands (but amazing physical tools and blocking) in Julio Jones.
Mouton in the second round was wonderful though, happy for him and his family.
You would think with the kinda DL they will have that free agent CBs and LBs will be interested in the Lions.
I agree that a big-er name LB or CB might really want to sign with Detroit at this point. They see how good the DL will be, they see how much talent we have on offense, so they realize that we're a stud LB and/or CB away from being a real contender.
Bowers was the best pick, to me he is the biggest risk. Like they said during the draft, he could have to have a major knee surgery because he has a degenerative condition from a previous knee operation. He could play for 10 years on it with no problems, or he could tweak it in training camp and never play again.
April 30th, 2011 at 10:19 PM ^
Bowers in the top 15 is a big risk, sure. But at No. 51? With his skill-set? That's a great pick up. Yes he is an injury risk, but a good gamble on many accounts.
Ponder was quite a reach. I think the Colts did pretty well in getting a monster LT to protect Manning. Giants with Amukamara and Austin in the first two rounds looks like a nice haul as well.
I was very shocked by the Ponder pick. They must have seen something in him we didn't. Rumors are that the cuckolds are going to get mcnab in FA. Does that mean the cuckolds used a 1st round pick for a backup?
April 30th, 2011 at 10:17 PM ^
Back-up, learn, and develop, rather than get thrown to the Wolves right away.
after day 1, and even more boring when there are few Wolverines involved. Also I'm glad the 4 months of pre-draft analysis can end, except now comes the post draft analysis.
I did find it interest that the first 4 or 5 Big Ten picks were all lineman type guys.
April 30th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
Ponder and Ricky Stanzi are the exact same player to me. They're both roughly the same size and have a tendancy to make horrible reads that lead to really ugly interceptions. Why you'd waste a first rounder on him is beyond me.
Stanzi might be the poor man's Ponder, but they are not on equal footing talent wise. I think Ponder has a much higher ceiling than Stanzi. Sure it was a risk to take Ponder so high, but Stanzi is actually a 5ish round pick. Ponder's talents would have never let him go beyond the second round.
April 30th, 2011 at 10:17 PM ^
Mouton taken 4 rounds ahead of Greg Jones
Thought this comparison showed great college player vs great talent very well. There is no disputing that Jones was the better player in college, however Mouton has the athleticism that Jones could only wish to have.
I've watched him for four years and i've just never seen the consistency to be an every down linebacker in the NFL. I think he ends of being a pass down blitzing lb and a special teams stud. Hopefully i'm wrong and it was just switching defenses every couple of weeks that slowed his mental development. Congrats to him and i hope he doesn't get caught up in the lifestyle and end of bankrupt like 75% of the nfl
I'm curious to see how he'll do with some solid coaching. I think Mouton's ceiling is very high.
April 30th, 2011 at 10:37 PM ^
Worst draft- Vikings maybe, but New England needed defense and got one player before the 6th round, took 2 RBs in a row, and took a QB when Brady had 4 years left on his contract. Falcons gave up way too much for a receiver too.
<br>
<br>Best draft- Bucs maybe; not Lions. Their 2nd round picks are now must be impact picks. I thought the Saints did a really good job too. Browns for being on reverse side of Atlanta.
<br>
<br>Dumbest pick- Christian ponder, for the reach, but I can't help feel Cam Newton has nothing that makes a good NFL QB, and they spent an overall 1 on him.
<br>
<br>Best pick- i thought Bowers would be a steal, but the more they got into why he was sliding, the more scary he got. Might need 8 months rehab after surgery before he even plays a down? I'll go with Fairley. That's just huge value at that pick. People say it was his attitude that made him slide, but it was just as much 4 QBs going. That doesn't happen, he's at least top ten, "problems" and all.
<br>
<br>Biggest surprise- "mouton in 2nd round". I'll go with this. I never would have guessed this in a million years. Though I'm thrilled by it.
I feel like Cam newton isn't as big of a risk as so many people think. IF 3/4 years down the road he hasn't developed into a competant QB he is still a fucking stud athlete. They could move him TE and use him as an h-back/ slot guy and he still could be very productive
Do you really think that he would be okay with moving to h-back? If you watched any of the 'year of the quarterback' stuff on espn it seems like he has a pretty huge ego. I don't think that he would accept a move like that. After all, how could he be an 'entertainer and icon' at tight end? If he doesn't work out as a QB than I believe Carolina is in real trouble.
Well at some point, if he isn't a QB and won't change positions, he'll be out of a job.
He'll be more on an "entertainer and icon" as an role player than whatever BS job an Auburn booster will give him.
It is going to be awfully tough for Cam Newton to succeed in Carolina. They don't have a whole lot of playmakers around him. They have two respectable RBs, but with Steve Smith wanting out they have no WRs. Andrew Luck has got to be pleased he didn't come out this year, but theres a good chance Carolina has the #1 pick next year too.
It hadn't occurred to me until your comment, but swap QBs for WRs and Carolina could be turning into Detroit, in terms of drafting. Two QBs last year, one QB this year, and it doesn't seem unreasonable that they'll be terrible again and pick up Luck next year.
Obviously QBs are more important than any one WR, but it's still the same principle of just picking the same position year after year without addressing why those picks aren't working out.
That being said, I'm not as down on Newton as most people seem. I think he's a hugely risky pick and he shouldn't have been picked #1 overall, but I don't think he's the ill-prepared non-NFL QB that a lot of people seem to think he is. His career will probably suffer from inevitably getting put in before he has a chance to develop, but I could see him working out.
A 6'6" back? Seems a little tall. I could see tight end but still, that wouldnt happen until at least 3-4 years into his career. He'll be in his mid 20's, headed to the back end, and learning a new position.
April 30th, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
1) Mouton going so earl says to me that the scouts saw a solid player that could excel if he had any decent coaching.
2) does anyone like the Thursday-Sat draft these days? I just don't consider it must see TV and don't understand why they are puching for primetime.
April 30th, 2011 at 11:49 PM ^
Unlike most Pat fans, I liked our draft. We got a couple of potential top-line future lineman, a good CB in Dowling, and of course, Mallet. We took a couple of RBs too, and even though I thought we took Ridley too early, we needed a big back, so I'm okay with it. I know a lot of people wanted us to improve our pass rush, but with an improved secondary including Dowling and a healthy Bodden, a ton of players on the D-Line returning from injury, a young front 7 progressing, and free agency, our front 7 should inherently improve.
Best pick- Mallet =)
Worst pick- Kenrick Ellis by the Jets in the third. Dude is facing up to 20 years in jail.
Best draft- Bills
Worst draft- Vikings
Biggest surprise- Ponder going 12th
Here are my thoughts:
Worst draft- Carolina
Best draft- Cincy or Detroit
Dumbest pick- Ponder
Best pick- Ryan Mallett
Biggest surprise- Mouton in 2nd round
Bucs could potentially find themselves down the line as having the best draft or the worst draft. Bowers isn't playing this year, that's almost guaranteed, so the book is out on him. If Clayborn can terrorize the NFL like he has the Big Ten, he's gonig to be a good pick. A lot of ifs though.
Carolina threw Claussen under the bus because of last year, even though Steve Smith was hurt for almost half the year, so he had nothing to throw to, Williams and Stewart were prone to injuries, so no running game, and he had NO PROTECTION. So they drafta kid who is a project with huge question marks on and off the field. He has the off the field sheet of Mallet, but no where near the crisp mechanics and NFL readiness. Yet, Cam goes no. 1 and Mallett falls to the third round.
I really like what Concy and Detroit did. Cincy now has the possibility of trading Palmer to a team and getting some first round picks to build even more on their new youth movement. A.J. Green with Gresham and Shipley can make Dalton, who has been a terrific passer in college, very dangerous. Detroit now potentially has the most devastating defensive line in the NFL, and possibility to be ever.
And Mallet falling to the Pats in the third round is the best possible scenario for him, but also a STEAL for New England. They get possibly the best NFL ready QB already from this draft, and can have him sit on the bench a few years to learn from one of the greatest QBs of all time. Unless, of course, Brady pulls a Favre and elects to have hardly anything to do with his probable successor. But, he's in the best possible organization (Colts would also have been an amazing landing point for Mallett, and the Steelers do not need a QB, god willing Ben stays out of trouble) to keep him out of trouble, and to learn the most he possibly can.
I also really dug my Steelers draft. Although I REALLY wanted them to draft Aaron Williams, getting Cameron Heyward gives them their two DEs for the future with Ziggy Hood (Aaron Smith is 35 and Brett Keisel is 32), and drafting Gilbert in round 2 was fantastic. Since Harris from Miami was gone, drafting the next best Florida OL, who has plenty of experience playing along side our Pouncey, makes the OL that much more stable, sometihng the Steelers havent had since Faneca was there. Brown out of Texas may not be as talented as Aaron Williams, but he is still pretty good, and should be a great improvement of the abysmal Willie Gay.
And no offense to Mouton, I loved the guy, but the fact that San Diego came out and said "We look at him as a great Special Teams guy" is astounding to me that they would draft him in the SECOND round. However, I eat it up that he got drafted 4 rounds before Jones. Congrats Jonas!
And finally, I would like to congradulate Schillnig for getting drafted, and will still have the pleasure of being Mouton's teammate in San Diego!
Nice place for an NFL career to start.
Lions should reap in FA, if Fairley pans out what LB would not want to play there if he protected by that DL. Same for DB’s, Detroit should stop the run like Minny used to do with the Williams boys. Does anyone know how the Tackle Detroit got in last year’s draft (Jason Fox 4thrnd) pan out? If he develops OL should have depth.