Thibodeaux vs Hutchinson for Top Pick

Submitted by vondonation on December 4th, 2021 at 8:44 AM

Watched the Pac 12 championship game and watched Thibodeaux on most every play. He is not in Hutchinson’s league. Even Herbie said as much at one point. T came into the game saying he was going to essentially make a name for himself in this rematch game. Ended with 3 tackles and 1 sack. Come on Loins don’t screw this up, again.

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blueheron

December 4th, 2021 at 9:03 AM ^

Seriously. It's one of the most obvious things in the sports world.

I love how people say "Well, the Lions just haven't hired the right people." I think they're missing something obvious. For many years the word has been out that the Fords are dysfunctional owners. Maybe they can't get the right people because the *right* people know not to work for the Fords.

Joined: 03/26/2009

MGoPoints: 30927

wildbackdunesman

December 4th, 2021 at 9:04 AM ^

Under Harbaugh, Michigan has always been good to decent except for the weird Covid year where we followed all of the Covid rules and protocol (and allegedly not all teams did to their advantage).  We weren't expecting much because of the horrid Covid year, however, if you toss that year out, 2021 is not surprising based on Harbaugh's track record.

I am in my 40s.  The Lions have 1 playoff win in my lifetime.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 30273

JonnyHintz

December 4th, 2021 at 9:48 AM ^

How many Lions players have been drafted under the pretense that they can be the catalyst to their “resurgence”? We’ve had generational talents such as Barry and Calvin and turned that into a whole lot of nothing.
 

Let’s also not compare a down year for Michigan with the utter incompetence for decades from the Lions.

I like Hutchinson. Both as a player and a leader. I want more for him than to end up on the Lions.

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48345

One Armed Bandit

December 4th, 2021 at 8:50 AM ^

I've always thought that regardless of physical attributes, how much a guy is a physical freak, nothing can substitute for production. You want to draft the guys that show up in big games and could singlehandedly lead a team to victory. Those are the guys that are going to be successful in the NFL.

If Hutchinson balls out today, it's (should be) a no-brainer. He's the consensus top pick. Now, going to the Lions is a fate worse than death, but maybe he's the spark for the future.

But that's down the road. I just want him to destroy today.

 

 

Joined: 12/23/2010

MGoPoints: 5016

vondonation

December 4th, 2021 at 8:58 AM ^

Agree with the production reasoning. And I would add leadership. Oregon came out after getting their pants pulled down and given a public spanking. And came out and got their pants pulled down again and were given the same spanking. And watching the Utah Tackle barrel roll Thibodeaux multiple times. Go back to the weight room son.

Joined: 11/22/2021

MGoPoints: 675

LeCheezus

December 4th, 2021 at 10:30 AM ^

That was such a laugh from Herbie and Fowler.  Multiple times they seemed so surprised that Utah...did pretty much exactly what they did to Oregon 2 weeks ago.  This isn't the NFL, I wouldn't expect a drastically different result with games that close together.  

Side note, there was a clear PI in that game where Herbie said "yep, wrapped his arm around the back and got there early" and Fowler said something like "so interesting how that gets called differently in different conferences, other places you wouldn't see that flag."  Herbie audibly scoffed at him and basically said "bro, do you even football?"  Fowler is just a platitude and storyline robot, he is so terrible at adding any analysis.

Joined: 06/11/2017

MGoPoints: 9852

outsidethebox

December 4th, 2021 at 8:52 AM ^

This is not a cut-and-dry call-certainly not when it comes to the pro game. I take Hutch because the sum of his game is greater than the whole. The Lions should take Hutch because the Lions have demonstrated, for decades on end, that they cannot coach up talent-so this is a no brainer...take the self-motivated young man. Here, I feel badly for Hutch.  

Joined: 01/23/2017

MGoPoints: 18816

Midukman

December 4th, 2021 at 8:52 AM ^

Thibedaux takes plays off as where Hutchinson doesn’t. Also the tackle from Utah made himself a few bucks cause he handled him all night. Not 1 player Hutchinson has faced can say that. I just don’t see how this is close anymore and I’d say the same thing if Aiden didn’t play for us. It’s not homerism, it’s fact. 

Joined: 09/13/2018

MGoPoints: 15906

Midukman

December 4th, 2021 at 9:26 AM ^

There in lies the difference. Hutchinson is a human highlight reel while Thibedaux is Rashan. High ceiling and an athletic freak. Projectability is where it’s at now days. My son was offered several D1 scholarships for baseball because he was 6 3” and routinely threw in the 90s. Didn’t matter that he couldn’t pound the strike zone consistently, where as one of his travel ball teammates was a 5 10” lefty who topped out at 83, but understood the craft of pitching. My son is working on a crab boat in Alaska (trying to find himself) I guess. His teammate was the Friday night guy for the mountaineers. Projectability is a huge risk for the number 1 pick. 

Joined: 09/13/2018

MGoPoints: 15906

Midukman

December 4th, 2021 at 2:21 PM ^

Throw in the fact that Hutchinson did against teams traditionally known for their line play, versus doing it in the pac. Hutch has been double teamed and chipped by running backs while being held on every other play. I see so much Strahan in Aiden it’s unbelievable. Neither one ever took a play off and had a motor that only knew one speed. Barring injury we could be looking at a future NFL hall of farmer. The first time he took the field I knew we were looking at a potential all timer. So happy for this young man and his great family!

Joined: 09/13/2018

MGoPoints: 15906

Don

December 4th, 2021 at 9:19 AM ^

If Hutchinson is drafted by the Lions he should do what John Elway did when Frank Kush wanted to draft him for the Colts: declare that he will not sign with the Lions.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148358

Bill Brasky

December 4th, 2021 at 9:28 AM ^

I echo the comments above wholeheartedly. I’ve been a Lions fan my existence. This team will ruin anyone who comes here. Any coach, any player. There is no “player” or “coach” that will turn this ship around. Therefore, for Aidan’s sake, I wish him the number one pick, a hefty contract, and I wish the lions get that pick, but somewhere along the way, the Lions will trade that pick for 2 7th round picks and the rights to sign Maurice Clarett.

Joined: 06/28/2018

MGoPoints: 6226

Scout96

December 4th, 2021 at 10:09 AM ^

Everyone is missing the masterful strategy, Thibedaux feared being drafted by the Lions and realized he just needed to play worse than Hutchinson to drop down to 2nd overall, thus forcing the Lions into taking the local hero.  Thibedaux goes on to play for the Texans and avoids paying a state income tax for home games and ends up earning slightly more as a 2nd overall pick as a result.

Joined: 12/02/2012

MGoPoints: 1924

njvictor

December 4th, 2021 at 10:11 AM ^

Thibodeaux may have higher upside, but Hutchinson is already a more well rounded and complete player. He's the only DE in PFF history to grade out at above an 85 in both run and pass offense and he actually grades out at above an 88 in both. We've also seen Hutchinson drop into coverage in the flat when absolutely necessary. Dude impacts basically every play. I've seen Thibodeaux play a few times and he's athletic for sure, but he's more of a speed rusher on passing downs and not much of a run defender. Hutchinson can do both and on passing down, even when he's not getting to the QB he's completely collapsing the pocket and taking 1-2 lineman into the face of the QB

Joined: 07/20/2017

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