It seems that there is a record number of NCAA juniors opting to stay in college for their senior year rather than chance getting drafted by the Lions. I gues Ford’s money must not be green or something.
Bernie
It seems that there is a record number of NCAA juniors opting to stay in college for their senior year rather than chance getting drafted by the Lions. I gues Ford’s money must not be green or something.
Bernie
The Detroit Lions have destroyed many an NFL prospect over the last few years (not to mention coaching careers). These young guns may be seeing green, but, they aren’t stupid. They would rather be the next Matt Ryan or Joe Flaco, not the next Joey Harrington.
It’s so sad to know that 5 years from now we will still be having this same discussion. I wish I was born in Pittsburgh. 
This was from last week’s bill simmons column:
Like everyone else, I did a quintuple take upon seeing that NBC had trotted out failed Lions GM Matt Millen as one of its pregame studio guys. Like everyone else, I was confused about what NBC thought my reaction should be – should I be nodding intently as Millen broke down the Cards-Falcons game and saying, “That’s a great point, Guy Who Single-Handedly Murdered The Lions?”
It seems that there is a record number of NCAA juniors opting to stay in college for their senior year rather than chance getting drafted by the Lions. I gues Ford’s money must not be green or something.
Bernie
Tim Tebow just announced he was staying for his senior year. Florida fans may well have the Lions to thank!
If Tebow were to enter the draft this year, he would be my projected #1. I hadn’t thought about the Detroit factor.
So SOMEBODY has got to be drafted #1. What would you do: pull an OJ and sit out a year, or do what Eli Manning did with the Chargers before the draft happened: tell them “I won’t sign,” and persuade them to trade you?
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Detroit have to trade their #1 pic before the draft even takes place.
Elway said the same thing when the Colts drafted him.
From hearing him speak about it, I think Tebow just really likes colege football, being in a dominant program and is in no hurry to get to the NFL and have skeptical prospects at being an NFL starting QB, and playing for a losing team.
Ryan and Flaco hit the jackpot … playing on teams that primarily run the ball, and field position football. Flaco, right now, is getting a lot of credit … for example, he threw a deep ball into double coverage, the 2 defenders slipped/fell and/or got turned around, and the receiver mad a great adjustment to the ball … and the broadcasters/analysts were talking about what a great throw it was. Still, he has played well as a rookie, but the NFL hype machine is in full force.
***From hearing him speak about it, I think Tebow just really likes colege football, being in a dominant program and is in no hurry to get to the NFL and have skeptical prospects at being an NFL starting QB, and playing for a losing team. ***
I tend to agree. I’m sure he’s hoping for a shot at that 2d Heisman too…
No point in drafting a QB number 1 unless you have a front line that can protect him. Did you notice how good Miami got this year? Thank Jake Long. A great front line can make an average QB look much much better.
No point in drafting a QB number 1 unless you have a front line that can protect him. Did you notice how good Miami got this year? Thank Jake Long. A great front line can make an average QB look much much better.
I was watching one of those analysis type shows earlier in the season and the Detroit Lions were the focus, particularly their lack of ability to consistently protect the QB. They showed seveal side-by-sides of the Lions and other teams and consistently the other QB’s has 2-3 seconds longer before the pocket closed in than the Lion’s QB. That pretty much says it all.
I still would bet that they are going to take the QB from Oklahoma with their #1 pick. THey’ll use their second 1st round pick for a O Lineman.
Bernie
“I still would bet that they are going to take the QB from Oklahoma with their #1 pick.”
You’d lose that bet, Bradford stated yesterday he’s returning for another season with the Sooners. Another thing I thought of Bern; If the Cardinals make it to the Superbowl that leaves only the Lions and Saints to have never made it to the big one. I know the Jaguars haven’t yet but they are still fairly new. At least the Lions can hang their hats on the 1949 Championship right? I say this as a lifelong Saints fan so is that reason to pull against the Cards?
Trav
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Detroit have to trade their #1 pic before the draft even takes place.
This would probably be the best thing that could happen to them. They need to get rid of that pick and get some lower 1st round or high second round picks instead. A few extras in rounds 3-4 can help, too.
Don’t forget the 57 title under Wilson. At least that happened in my lifetime.
You’d lose that bet, Bradford stated yesterday he’s returning for another season with the Sooners.
I read that this morning. F-ing hilarious. The Lions are probably doing more to keep kids in college right now than any other organization in the country.
Bernie
This would probably be the best thing that could happen to them. They need to get rid of that pick and get some lower 1st round or high second round picks instead. A few extras in rounds 3-4 can help, too.
I am not sure what the NFL rules are about this. You can check back on some older threads, but I was a proponent early on of the Lions trading all of their picks to completely own the 3rd round. Then they could just draft the next 15-20 players in line. Don’t even worry about their positions…that can be sorted out in training camp.
There has been a lot of talk lately on the radio that the NFL will probably not allow the top-5 draft picks to “trade down.” I know this has been done in the past. But it sounds as if there is a new rule in place (I am not sure about this, it is only what I am gathering on my limited listening time to sports talk radio which I abhor). The problem is that the uncertainty in the draft has posed many problems for teams lately. Also the top draft selections garner HUGE salaries. Getting those top picks is actually more of a burden than a help. The fact is the NFL wants those picks to go to the less-successful teams for ratings purposes.
I agree that more picks in lower rounds is exactly what the Lions need.
Bernie
I think the Lions would be smart to realize that an improved defense would help the team more then an improved offense, at least at this point. The Lions can score points and they do have a good WR. But they obviously could not hold onto a lead last year (nor do a heck of a lot of other things). So I hope they concentrate on defense and hire a defensive minded coach and draft some defensive players.
I just assumed you guys were going to draft Crabtree.
Looks like the best of the WRs.
And we all know, you just can’t have enough high first-round WRs.
I just assumed you guys were going to draft Crabtree.
Looks like the best of the WRs.
And we all know, you just can’t have enough high first-round WRs.
You know, that joke was funny about 3 WR’s ago!
Bernie
I think Bradford went back to college, because after the game against Florida it was apparent that he was not “NFL ready”. If you can financially afford to stay in college another year and improve significantly, then that will greatly help your NFL career.
Strange that Stafford (UGA) is projected as the #1 QB. I guess that may be from an athletic or potential standpoint … but with Moreno is his backfield, GA shoulda been a lot better than they were (especially given their #1 pre-season status).
I think guys realize that if they go top 5 pick as a QB, they better be damn sure they are ready to impact right away, otherwise end up as the Leafs, Harringtons, and McNowns (Cade) of the world.
The guys that hit it right are the guys that get drafted with an already solid nucleus or one-side of the ball already legit (like Baltimore). Ryan hit the jackpot when Atlanta signed Turner to relieve some of the pressure from Ryan.
I think teams should know by now that if you have a strong defense, you’ll be in most games. You may still lose them, but instead of it being 35-21, it’s more like 17-13, where one play here and there can be the difference. As the Bears have shown, defense (with an emphasis on turnovers and returns) and specialteams can score quite a few points in a season. You just need your offense to not give away field position or turn the ball over, and make 1-2 key plays per game.
I don’t see many teams that bring in a young QB and expect them to throw the ball all over the field, having consistent success. What we see (Cutler, Rivers, etc) is a great week, a poor week, etc. The more you ask your young rookie Qb to do, the more costly mistakes he’s gonna make.
I think Detroit is expecting waaaay too much out of a rookie QB. At this point they’d be better off (IMO) having a veteran that controls the ball, and concentrate on playing stiff D and not being your own worst enemy.