OT: Lions Draft - Day Two and Beyond: What's your take?
Not super happy the Lions went TE at #10 last night. I know he's a good player, but definitely not a position of need, nor the best player available at the time.
We know CB is a position of need, but doesn't look like there is a CB prospect worthy of the Lions' second round pick (45th) overall. Seemingly the best CB prospect right now is a guy out of Utah, Keith McGill.
28. Keith McGill, CB, Utah
Hot 100 rank: 58
In addition to his height, McGill (6-foot-3 1/8, 213 pounds) has long arms (33 inches) and big hands (10 inches). He had 37 tackles and 12 pass breakups in 2013 and played well at the Senior Bowl. One question for him is why he didn't have more interceptions at Utah (one in two seasons).
I'm not sold on Mr. McGill but not sure where the Lions will look next.
Who do you WANT the Lions to take in the 2nd round and beyond, and who do you THINK the Lions will actually (inexplicably?) take?
Defense defense defense defense.
I'm not horribly upset at the Ebron pick, but I really hope they focus on defense now. It should be clear to them by now that just having offense is not going to win us enough games.
I don't know who I want them to take or who they actually will take. I just want some defense.
Obviously I am not privy to the Lions' war room and trade discussions. However, with Gilbert and Barr gone, I was really hoping the Lions would trade back - pick up another draft pick, and get Dennard or Dix at a more "palatable" draft slot.
If nothing else, Stafford no longer has any excuses.
Raiola is done after this year.
Schofield.
mind that pick at all - say 5th or 6th round? He and Wofford would make an excellent pair of Guards!
good players.
is only signed through 2015. Schofield can backup Guards and Right tackle until he's ready to take over after 2015.
For every richard sherman there are hundereds of 5th round corners who never see the field. For every undrafted free agent that becomes an all start there are thousands more that never even get a contract.
To me saying it happens all the time mischaracterizes the likelyhood of it happening, it happens rarely or occasionally. I saw a tweet yesterday that 70% of hall of famers were drafted in the first 3 rounds, found this breakdown today http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/round.aspx
Those diamonds in the rough happen but they are very rare, we just hear about it because the announcers talk about it every single game/espn segment.
But the defense is moldy swiss cheese.
I can picture Cutler and Marshall after seeing the Lions draft Offense again:
http://www.freep.com/article/20140402/SPORTS01/304020044/detroit-lions-gab
It's the offense that let the team down, not defense. In fact, I'd credit the defense for playing really well especially on TOD, RZ and getting off the field.
from that freep article
"The Lions finished the season allowing a third down conversion ratio of 30.3%., which was the best ratio in the league ... since 2006. That’s right. Not only did the Lions have the best third down defense in the league, they had the best third down defense since the 2006 Baltimore Ravens."
holy shitsnacks batman thats freakin crazy
The defense was ranked 16th in the league last year.. Too many close games where the offense should have prevailed.
I will admit to having to talk myself into the Ebron pick after it was made - it wasn't exactly where I was expecting them (really, wanting) to go, but Gilbert and Barr were both off the board by then as well and my assumption (which might be wrong) is that it might have been one of those two otherwise.
In any case, let's hope that we now give defenses this season a reason to worry about, well, everything basically. If Mayhew didn't feel as if they'd addressed the offense sufficiently through acquisitions, then I think using your 10th pick on a TE hopefully answers whatever the final question was.
From this point forward, I would think defense - at least in the 2nd and 3rd round, I believe this is now where they have to go for a CB and/or and LB and there are still some serviceable guys out there too, particularly among the linebackers.
the Lions know what they're doing. Seems we score like crazy, but game ends up a 3-point loss as time expires because we can't ever stop them.
I think LB is up next too, but the pickings seem slim there as well. I am guessing he won't be there at 45, but I really like Kony Ealy from Missouri:
Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
Hot 100 rank: 20
Ealy (6-foot-4, 273 pounds) is a very athletic player with great quickness and a lot of upside. He came to Mizzou at 217 pounds; at his pro day he weighed 265. A two-year starter, Ealy had one good year, in 2013, which included a great game against Auburn: two forced fumbles and three tackles for loss. Heran the 40 in 4.69 seconds at his pro day.
With a 4.69 40, he might be able to drop into zone coverage as an OLB, or just be a terror off the edge opposite Ansah.
Ealy at 45 would be a steal on the order of Larry Warford last year. I would love to see that pick.
I hope the board remembers that Brian Xanders is still in the draft room this year. That gives me a lot more faith in the Lions' collective brain trust than what I'd have in prior years.
(I'm not hating the Ebron pick, btw. Seems like a classy and smart guy, and with Megatron's size and speed plus Ebron's size and 4.5 speed, I think the much ballyhooed match-up problems are real. I just hope Ebron's blocking ability develops.)
2012 was more of the lions not being able to stop anybody, last year the defense kept us in games for sure but the offense would poop the bed and either have a game ending turnover or just not be able to do anything. look at the tampa bay game, game ending pick on the 5 yardline when the ball bounces of CJ's hands or the Ravens game where we lost 16-13 i think cause the ravens hit a 60+ yard field goal to take the lead and then stafford throws a pick on the potential game winning drive.
The Lions desperately need to upgrade their pass rush. Ansah is a bullrusher at this point as are the DT's. What they need is an explosive player off the edge. This in turn should help their young CBs(Green, Bentley, Slay, and Greenwood).
They need some help in the secondary and (maybe) on the defensive line if they don't think they'll bring back Fairley. But at this point, I don't have a great read on what the Lions are doing as it pertains to the draft. Ebron looks like he'll play in this league for a decade and that's all you can really want in a 1st-rounder, so even though it wasn't essential I'd rather they get a solid player who'll start han roll the dice with a lesser guy at a position of need.
Best available defense, either CB, SS, FS or one of the LB positions.
Maybe pick up a Jeremy Gallon in the late rounds, possibly??
Schoffield and Gallon in the 5th and 6th round respectively. Use the other rounds and free agency/trades to build up the D
Lions don't have a pick in the 5th.
Gotta go defense in 2nd round. I'm hoping BYU OLB Van Noy is available or maybe even a SDE like Truitt, if not, I guess they reach for the best available CB.
C/G Martin from USC would be a steal if he makes it to the 12th pick of the 3rd Round.
I would be fine with Van Noy from BYU in the second, but I would love to get some defensive secondary help. I think I'm hoping for Joyner from FSU in the second. Martin in the 3rd would be an absolute steal.
won't be a popular opinion, but I want a WR in the 2nd, especially if Lee, Adams, Matthews or Moncrief is there for the taking. I believe the Saints ran a lot of three WR sets with Lombardi, and in situations where they play Ebron truly at TE, they'll be forced to play Broyles or Durham as the 3rd WR. I get that Ebron can be split out, but the Lions' depth at WR still sucks. If Tate or CJ gets hurt, what's left? Just the healthy one and then Broyles and Durham. Still need a WR and I think the value of the guys who might be there at 45 is quite high. Also wouldn't be opposed to trading down a few slots in the 2nd to pick up another 4th or 5th round pick.
You dont waste a 2nd round pick on a player, that right now at this moment is the 3rd/4th string WR; Maybe a 4th rounder on someone like Allen Robinson but nothing any higher. At the very least the Lions could snag a veteran FA to fill that roll in someone gets hurt.
assumption based on whoever the hypothetical 2nd round WR is being behind Broyles or Durham? If not, I'd say that the 2nd Rd WR would probably see a good amount of snaps, and that's if everybody stays healthy. Broyles has only played in half of the Lions' games the last two years. I just don't think any of the defensive options are worth picking over a WR who would definitely get some use.
Golden Tate?
I stated that the Saints ran a fair amount of 3 WR sets under Lombardi. CJ, Tate, Ebron is fine with Pettigrew at TE, but if they don't always want to do that, a 3rd WR is a must unless you trust Broyles or Durham, who I think are barely NFL quality wideouts at this point.
EDIT Not to mention if Tate or CJ gets hurt then you're left with Broyles or Durham out there almost full-time.
Ah, sorry, was just responding to who he may have been putting hypothetical receiver behind of to say 3rd or 4th.
Guess it also comes down to definition of "3rd string". I guess I see the top two WRs as 1st string, and then the 3rd WR as 2nd string.
most teams if they lost their top two recievers would suffer a drop off, everybody cant be as stacked as the packers/broncos have been. if the bears lose marshall or jefferies who do they have, julio jones and roddy white were both hurt for the falcons and they blew chunks this year.
I would hope lombardi would be able to adapt to the strengths of the personal, lions have dynamic recievers at running back and now TE with ebron. I'd look for us to be more like the pats were with gronk/hernandaz and rock more 2 TE sets.
had a 1,000 yard season for the Falcons with White and Jones limping/out. Would be nice to have a guy like that. Falcons sucked because they can't stop anybody and they have no running game. I get the 2 TE argument, but unless one of the top defensive guys left on the board falls to 45 (Ealy, Tuitt, Attaochu, etc.), the best value at 45 will likely be a WR. Could easily get Baptiste or Roberson at CB in the 3rd.
All I can do is lolz at those who care.
DB and LB seem to be a weakness on the Lions. They should have picked a first rounder to fill this need.
But this is typical Lion's strategy and is why they will not make the playoffs for years to come!
They will fuck it up. LOL to anyone who thinks Mayhew or the Ford family has a clue on how to build a championship team. It hasn't happened in 50+ years and it probably is not going to.
You offer nothing whatsoever to the conversation besides the message board version of bitter beer face.
I offer the truth to Lion's koolaid drinkers. This team has no hope and will never have hope.
If he somehow falls far enough and the Lions take Marqise Lee in the 2nd round, would the entire fanbase lose its mind?
Probably.
Have to go D 2nd and 3rd at least. Maybe Stanley Jean-Baptiste?
do Lions fans have to see a team make the same mistake? The fact some of you think this a good pick further shows why the Lions are garbage. The stadium will be sold out and filled with people who "Have talked themselves" into thinking TE was the way to go.
than people who have been in the game their entire lives is unadulterated hubris.
Why wasn't an athletic TE who presents matchup problems the way to go in a system that is at it's best when it utilitzes such a TE? Why do you think drafting a safety who isn't a playmaker and a CB who is grabby is better than drafting a playmaking TE?
The simple truth is none of us know what will happen. The Lions could have taken a defensive player and that guy turns out to be awful. The same goes for Ebron. Either way it's a crapshoot that offers no guarantee of success on the field either way.
People hated the Ansah pick last year and all he did was collect 8 sacks as rookie despite admittedly being "raw". The kid has star written all over him. The Lions later added a future All Pro guard in Larry Warford in the third round,a very solifd OT as a UDFA in Waddle, and a solid backup TE in Fauria. Good players can and are found everywhere.
TE was basically a complete non-factor on offense last season besides Fauria's TD's and most of that was just throwing fades to him on the other side of CJ. An impact player at TE would be a major boost to the lions offense and they got the consensus best recieveing TE avaliable. other TE's are waaayyy better blockers but Ebron seems to be the best reciever which is a need for the lions. Now if CJ goes out with tate and bush and ebron you still have 3 solid options hopefully to run the offense through.
Michael Williams, who missed all of last year with an injury, is known for his blocking ability. The Lions hace 4 TEs right now on their roster.
Hopefully this time we'll take somebody whose name I recognize.