It's definitely tough to say who will be available in the second round for the Lions. I want to look at about everyone available, because I think the Lions will not be afraid of move up or down if there's a guy they really like. Several of these guys I've talked about in the first round that could possibly be day two kind of guys. I truly believe that there's going to be a slew of tackles taken in the late second round.
Second Round prospects:
Tackles
Gabe Carimi - He's not going to overpower anyone in the NFL and seems to lack that power punch. I love his footwork and it looks completely natural to him. Several of the bigger tackles you can seem them having good footwork, but because it isn't natural they tend to take to many steps and to much room for athletic DEs. I don't see him blowing anyone five yards back, but he always seems to have his head in the right place. He engages second level guys and stays attached very well. I think he's going to be taken in the first round, but I believe he's an early second round kind of guy.
Benjamin Ijalana - He's a big tackle that I think that come in and play but lacks athleticism. He has trouble getting on second level guys. He should be given some leeway there because part of the problem was the offensive scheme. I first saw him, I thought they were passing on every play which was wrong. He does a good job of setting up the same way every time, but because they were a shotgun team he head very little pressure on his down hand. He seemed to gulf up DEs in the passing and running game and had his way with them in D1 AA. I'd say he's a little raw in the passing game. He tends to let people into him and then engulfs them instead of throwing his big old bear claws at them.
Centers
Mike Pouncey - Doubt he'll be a day two guy, but if he is he's just as good as his brother. His brother has only been in the league for the year, but I truly believe that this is the kind of guy you draft in the second round and he's with you for the next 15 years as a pro bowl caliber center. A Jason Hanson at the center position. High reward minimal risk kind of guy. You'll probably hear that he might have trouble with QBs under center, I highly doubt that.
Stefen Wisniewski - This guy his flat out going to be a stud in this league, which translates into his name won't be mentioned. He's an intelligent guy. He has a 4.0, but lets put that in context. He's a secondary education major. He's a guy that looks like he loves playing the game. Pouncey is a little more athletic, but that's not a knock on him by any means. I got to imagine coming form Joe Pa he'll have that old school mentality like his LBs do.
Safeties
Rahim Moore - I absolutely love this guy. He's not an athletic enough to be a top ten pick, but man he seems to have a high football IQ. I'll say this you really can't see a guys football IQ by watching him on film. I've never really seen a safety that wasn't keying in the backfield, but when I asked myself why his he missing stepping there and sure enough the Guard and center gave him that look. I don't know their scheme and probably shouldn't guess, but they way it looked to me is he's reading center or guard depending on alignment to the backfield. UCLA's defense just looked like an atrocity. He made way to many tackles in the running game, too many blockers were allowed to get to him, but yet he made just about every tackle. This guy is a sure tackler. He comes into the lane and hits RBs before they even get going sometimes. I was really impressed with his speed. He seemed to be 15 yards back and on a WR screen he was there in a heart beat to make the solo tackle for a very minimal gain on 2nd and 3. He's good in the pass game as well, good hips, decent balls skills, great instincts, good athleticism, and seems to be where he needs to be. Would be a fantastic addition to the Lions.
Quinton Carter - He's a guy that loves to hit. My personal opinion is that this guy is a early to mid second round guy, but doesn't fit the Lions need. This guy is very similar to Delmas likes to really smack someone. Good in the running game and rushing the QB. I'd prefer more of a ball hawk at FS. He'd be an upgrade. He's a guy that was mentioned has having extremely high character. Donates his time and started his own Non-profit company. To some people that might not sound like to big of a deal, but the time commitment is unbelievable. A high percentage of these guys struggle with time management with playing football and academics and honestly it's a tough thing to do. To have time to start a company and run it and then on top of that voluntary his time, really is amazing and should get praise for that. As far as football he's an athletic guy, with great speed, and tacklers like Ed Reed. The difference between the Lions trying to lay the boom on someone and this guy, is that this guy wraps up while he hits you. The downsides are while the balls in the air. He doesn't always look to separate his man and the ball with his hands. He uses his shoulder pads, which isn't going to work as much as it did in college.
CBs
Aaron Williams - Cunningham says he doesn't like to draft CBs but we'll see. Here's a guy that can be physical. I just don't know if he's a sure tackler in the NFL, I think you can certainly coach him up to be one. He made the tackles in college, so it's hard to knock him on that. He'd be a good second round pick if he's there. He really does everything well. He does a fantastic job of reading the WR while the balls in the air. He looks like a safe pick to me, with minimal potential. I really like this guy, it's hard to find a knock on him. I can list everything a CB needs and it's going to be good. He has an arrogance about him on the field I think you need as a CB. He doesn't look nearly as raw as a lot of the other CBs. Him and Houston would be great duo and alphonso at nickel.
Rashad Carmichael - Extremely athletic really sums him up well. He can make mistakes and make up for it with his speed. Doesn't like to wrap up when he tackles. He's good when the balls in the air. Less polished than Aaron Williams, but has much more upside.
Kendric Burney - The last CB I'll be mentioning, because I think at least one of the previous mentioned CBs will be available and I think you go with on of them. Loves to hit people, loves sticking his nose in the run game, and good speed. Seems to has tight hips, but makes up for in balls skills. He needs to learn how to turn around though in the NFL. Needs to learn how to close in better while the balls in the air on underneath routes.
LBs
Bruce Carter - It sounds like several LBs are turning into third round selections, so I will mention most of them there. Here's a guy with great footwork in both running and passing. He seems to be keying in on the backfield instead of his read. Doesn't look like a big play guy, but he has the ability to. He's athletic and a big guy. I thinks he's absolutely phenomenal in the passing game. He seems to understand his responsibility is to make tackles and to turn the RB inside to the MLB. He just seems to lack the wow factor. Projecting to be a mid-late second round guy.
Mason Foster - Boy do I love this guy. He's projected to be a second to third round pick. If he's there in the third round you take him. He's everything the Lions haven't been at defense. He's a sure tackler. Who would hate the idea of having a guy that's going to make the tackle when he puts himself in the right situation. Seems to have trouble shedding blocks. He has great instincts and seems to get the concept of a team. Every time it seems like he plugged the gap when he was play-side and kept his outside should free. I truly believe he's reading his keys, because he just seems to get to the right spot in a hurry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZJ69c8Wcj4&feature=related go to 1:49 and play it and let me know if you like his tackling technique. He's not bad in zone or man coverage but not great. When I watched the tape on Stanford it seemed like he was a patient pass rusher and seemed to get the QB. If can get him in the third round or get two second round picks and get him, I'll be ecstatic. Just watching the Stanford game I fell in love with him. He's not going to be a big contributor in the passing game and that's why he's projected to be this low in the draft.
Round three guys coming to you later and there's going to be a few LBs including one from MSU. The Detroit Roar over and out.
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