This makes things very interesting. If you haven't heard yet, Peterson supposedly cost around $80,000 for his services in college. Former Texas A&M DB coach (now at Tulsa) reported that he got a call saying that it would cost around $80,000 after a visit from Peterson. What does this mean? This really won't affect his eligibility. There is to much of a gap between NCAA and the NFL for there to be sanctions. This will probably be less of a distraction than the Bush case.
The only thing you can question is his character. I think by the time the draft comes about Peterson will still be looking decent. It's tough to say that Peterson falls based on these allegations. It may help a team like the Broncos that have a very tough choice pass based on this. I still think it is tough to say that he falls past 6. If he does get past 6, I would have to imagine this was a factor, but it is still possible that it wasn't.
It's possible that he doesn't even know money exchanged hands. Peterson's father has already came out and said, "This is my first time hearing this... It Could have happened." Willie Lyles is the guy that supposedly called. Willie is already under investigation from the NCAA. Maybe I'm gullible, but I believe him. Now lets get one thing straight, Peterson's signature is his own and it was his decision alone where he went. These people like Willie probably are in his ear. This guy might be calling all the places a player is considering and saying it costs this much to get him. When the player signs a guy like Willie gets paid and the player and family never knew about it. NCAA teams can call these scouting payments and it doesn't look that bad. When the money comes from random alum, it is tough to follow the money trail especially when it comes in cash. It would be tough to pay someone $80,000 in cash and hold onto it. Probably shouldn't say this, but this is how I would do it. I would deposits of cash in the amounts of $9,000. The dollar amount is a precise amount and those of you that know the law, know the reasoning for that. Getting back to the point though, it is tough for these scouts to make a player sign without knowledge of money.
I would also like to touch upon Chizik's words about the Auburn players receiving money. Now one of the play said he received money from MSU during the recruiting process. Chizik was upset that only one side was reported. Saying that several players were interviewed and said they didn't receive money. I do agree that you should show both sides, but it still only takes 1 case of a player receiving money for this to be inappropriate. In my opinion, good for you if only pay 10% of your players and 90% of your players aren't paid. No, 0% of the players should be paid, zero. That is my biggest problem with Chizik's words, he basically concedes that these guys probably got paid but not all of them do. I am extremely sadden by the allegations against MSU. These Auburn players got paid to talk about this, and most (almost all) receive compensation based on face time. It makes a little sense for them to make this up, but I don't think they would.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
More Draft Talk
Till free agency hits, we don't really have more to talk about. Here are a few guys in the first round I think we need to talk about.
Da'quan Bowers
There has been a few mock drafts that I have seen him falling to the Lions. I realize this isn't a high priority area. This guy is a beast and would give the Lions amazing value at 13. There is some guys you don't pass on no matter where your needs our at, he is one of them. Lets keep in mind that Avril is not signed and it never hurts to have depth at the DL position, because games are won in the trenches. I am definitely the type of guy believes that you target need area guys. Lastly, KVB will eventually and sadly need to be replaced.
Patrick Peterson
We will have to trade up to get to him. If there is the tinniest percentage of Peterson falling to the 13th pick, the Lions shouldn't take that chance. There is a point where the Lions would stupid not to trade up and get him. A 4th round pick has got to be given up for Peterson but that's not likely possible. What is possible is a second round pick to move up to the 6th pick. Teams can get really desperate and not want that pick and take much less for that pick. Now with a rookie wage scale it makes higher picks more valuable. I think you give up a 3rd round pick for Peterson and a 2nd round is questionable. A 3rd round pick according to the ESPN chart is the 9th pick, which really isn't that realistic. I certainly would not have a problem giving up a 2nd round pick for Peterson, I don't believe it is more than likely the best thing to do.
Prince Amukamara
I have seen it and it does make sense where Prince does fall to us. I still believe the Cowboys won't take him, but no way he gets past the Texans. Still believe it makes sense for the Redskins to move back and the Lions to move up if both Julio and Prince are still available. Now according to the chart we have to give up a 3rd round pick and and get a 5th and a 6th. A 3rd round pick might be a little bit high but a 4th round pick might be a steal. Lets keep in mind the Lions get who they want. The Redskins get who they want, a 4th round pick, and also get to pay him less money. It really is a smart move for the Redskins to move down and still get Julio. There only concerns would be about someone trading up and taking Julio.
We need to avoid drafting a tackle at pick 13 and get Wisniewski in the second round to improve our OL.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Production or WIP
Would you rather have a number 3 WR get on the field and produce right away or have a work-in-process? The link below from the NFL network crew got me thinking.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d81eeea1c/Which-receivers-will-be-draft-day-steals?module=HP_headlines
Production
We need a WR that can step in and be a vertical threat. If we have a guy that is so fast that a safety has to constantly be on him, it is going to do a lot of good. You have to double team Megatron, no ifs ands or buts about it. Burleson is a slot receiver, not a number 2. Burleson would kill a nickel CB. Oh yeah, Best out of the backfield with a LB on him. A wheel route with him would be tough for a LB. Oh yeah again, Pettigrew, Scheffler, and Heller are pretty darn good TEs. When you got LBs, CBs, and safeties worried about pass coverage and they have to cheat with their alignment, should, really open up the running game. Stefan Logan is definitely a X factor back. A guy that can get on the field right away would immensely impact this offense.
WIP
With a WIP you may have to carry an extra WR to get production. Maybe you just throw a WR out there like we did this past year that did nothing. Do you take a big risk reward guy and at what round do you take him. We know how Derrick Williams has been nothing but a disappointment. A guy that had everything we are currently looking for coming out of college and that hasn't worked out. These speedy receivers in my opinion it seems like a very small percentage of them work out. Do we really throw away another pick in the first 4 rounds on a speedy receiver. Now 5-7th I really don't mind the risk reward pick there. Hopefully we see some of the WIPs like Jason Fox in the next couple of years. The WIP Willie Young worked well. Andrew Fluellen was another good later round pick. For the reason of getting guys that actually work out. I believe in that later rounds you draft the best possible player. Now the word possible is the key word int there. Not every player fits in your scheme and it includes potential. I don't think we reach for a speedy WIP WR unless he is the best possible player available, maybe as early as round 3.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d81eeea1c/Which-receivers-will-be-draft-day-steals?module=HP_headlines
Production
We need a WR that can step in and be a vertical threat. If we have a guy that is so fast that a safety has to constantly be on him, it is going to do a lot of good. You have to double team Megatron, no ifs ands or buts about it. Burleson is a slot receiver, not a number 2. Burleson would kill a nickel CB. Oh yeah, Best out of the backfield with a LB on him. A wheel route with him would be tough for a LB. Oh yeah again, Pettigrew, Scheffler, and Heller are pretty darn good TEs. When you got LBs, CBs, and safeties worried about pass coverage and they have to cheat with their alignment, should, really open up the running game. Stefan Logan is definitely a X factor back. A guy that can get on the field right away would immensely impact this offense.
WIP
With a WIP you may have to carry an extra WR to get production. Maybe you just throw a WR out there like we did this past year that did nothing. Do you take a big risk reward guy and at what round do you take him. We know how Derrick Williams has been nothing but a disappointment. A guy that had everything we are currently looking for coming out of college and that hasn't worked out. These speedy receivers in my opinion it seems like a very small percentage of them work out. Do we really throw away another pick in the first 4 rounds on a speedy receiver. Now 5-7th I really don't mind the risk reward pick there. Hopefully we see some of the WIPs like Jason Fox in the next couple of years. The WIP Willie Young worked well. Andrew Fluellen was another good later round pick. For the reason of getting guys that actually work out. I believe in that later rounds you draft the best possible player. Now the word possible is the key word int there. Not every player fits in your scheme and it includes potential. I don't think we reach for a speedy WIP WR unless he is the best possible player available, maybe as early as round 3.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Draft talk
There has been a lot of players moving up and down the draft board across mock drafts. It seems like the most consistent pick is sadly the Lions taking Tyron Smith. Bowers dropping to me seems like hogwash, this guy is a beast. QBs taken will decide a lot. Teams know which QB they want. They will stay put and take their guy or they will try and trade down. I think there is going to be a lot of trading. Patriots realistically could trade up for Von Miller and then do there usually trade down with their other pick. Kevin Kolb is a big trading piece for the Eagles and probably will get traded to a team like the Cardinals for their pick. I would expect the Cardinals to get more in return for that trade but we'll see. Akeem Ayers has been really dropping in these mock drafts. Jimmy Smith as should be expected is talked about everywhere, but mock drafts safely put him late first early second.
What should the Lions do? They guy they want most is going to go in the top 6. The next guy they want most will go top 10. Other guys they really need are going 10-30 picks later. Picking at 13 would not be good for them. Thankfully Julio Jones and Mark Ingram will be wanted commodities and will be threatening takers right behind the Lions. I also think their could be traders for a tackle. I think the tackle will be trading up for a is Carimi at this point. Teams over the years seem to see where the first tackle or two is taken. They try and get the guy where they feel there is a big drop off. I think most teams feel the drop off is at Carimi. You don't want a second rate tackle in the NFL. If the Lions can stock up with late first round picks and early second round picks they could have an amazing draft. I'm not only talking trading down, but also up with their second round and other picks.
The Bears desperately need a tackle and the Lions need to stock pile draft picks. I realize the a trade within the division is tough, but it's about the area of a late first round pick. The Bears would give up their entire draft except their 7th round pick. Lions would now be drafting at 29.
I think you would see another 6th round pick traded to another team for a player in the wrong system, but we'll see if they can keep those magical trades going. The Lions move up to 36, giving up their mid second round pick and a fourth rounder.
They use the Bears late second round pick and their mid 3rd round pick to move up to 40. The Lions end up drafting at 29, 36, and 40. Instead of 13 and 44, where every guy they want is gone. Now their 3rd and 4th round picks would be 16 spots lower also. I'll take three guys over two. Guys that we would want here are Akeem Ayers and a CB with the first two. The CB could range from Aaron Williams to Brandon Harris to you guessed it, Jimmy Smith.
It's the 40 pick that is still a high pick that is interesting. The Lions filled two gaping holes. They still have a need at LB and maybe CB. They have a good chance at signing at least one good player at CB and LB. Now they very well could sit back late in the second round and take Mason Foster that would be a good pick. At 40 though you could get a star player. They could take a RB if Mike Leshoure is there. They could get a WR, Titus Young, the Maryland speedster Torrey Smith, or Jon Baldwin. Another option is what they were stuck with at 13 a OL. The tackle would be Benjamin Ijalana. A guard is much more likely. Pouncey would a dream pick, but Wisniewski is a guy I love and should be there. Watkins and Cannon are late second round guys that would be taken if we don't trade the bears pick, especially is Mason Foster is gone.
A guy that could be taken at anyone one of those spots is Martez Wilson out of Illinois. This is a guy I bashed a bit and mock drafts do have him falling. I think a team will love his speed and take him earlier than he should, but he could easily fall. The past few years a LB has really fallen. Rey Mauluga is the best example of a LB falling. I think ILB have been falling because of the 3-4 systems out there, Martez can play in both systems so he shouldn't be hurt. I have seen Martez as late as 61. Which to me is a good value pick there. I also think it's important that he go with a team that is more established to not put too much on his shoulders right away. He needs to become a more instinctive player to be one of the greats and that is going to take time. With the Lions D line it wouldn't be that bad of a fit for him. He's built well and has good combine numbers to prove, but can his speed make up for instincts at the next level. I don't think so, that's why I say he needs more time. He's a guy that could explode in year 2 or 3 of his NFL career.
What should the Lions do? They guy they want most is going to go in the top 6. The next guy they want most will go top 10. Other guys they really need are going 10-30 picks later. Picking at 13 would not be good for them. Thankfully Julio Jones and Mark Ingram will be wanted commodities and will be threatening takers right behind the Lions. I also think their could be traders for a tackle. I think the tackle will be trading up for a is Carimi at this point. Teams over the years seem to see where the first tackle or two is taken. They try and get the guy where they feel there is a big drop off. I think most teams feel the drop off is at Carimi. You don't want a second rate tackle in the NFL. If the Lions can stock up with late first round picks and early second round picks they could have an amazing draft. I'm not only talking trading down, but also up with their second round and other picks.
The Bears desperately need a tackle and the Lions need to stock pile draft picks. I realize the a trade within the division is tough, but it's about the area of a late first round pick. The Bears would give up their entire draft except their 7th round pick. Lions would now be drafting at 29.
I think you would see another 6th round pick traded to another team for a player in the wrong system, but we'll see if they can keep those magical trades going. The Lions move up to 36, giving up their mid second round pick and a fourth rounder.
They use the Bears late second round pick and their mid 3rd round pick to move up to 40. The Lions end up drafting at 29, 36, and 40. Instead of 13 and 44, where every guy they want is gone. Now their 3rd and 4th round picks would be 16 spots lower also. I'll take three guys over two. Guys that we would want here are Akeem Ayers and a CB with the first two. The CB could range from Aaron Williams to Brandon Harris to you guessed it, Jimmy Smith.
It's the 40 pick that is still a high pick that is interesting. The Lions filled two gaping holes. They still have a need at LB and maybe CB. They have a good chance at signing at least one good player at CB and LB. Now they very well could sit back late in the second round and take Mason Foster that would be a good pick. At 40 though you could get a star player. They could take a RB if Mike Leshoure is there. They could get a WR, Titus Young, the Maryland speedster Torrey Smith, or Jon Baldwin. Another option is what they were stuck with at 13 a OL. The tackle would be Benjamin Ijalana. A guard is much more likely. Pouncey would a dream pick, but Wisniewski is a guy I love and should be there. Watkins and Cannon are late second round guys that would be taken if we don't trade the bears pick, especially is Mason Foster is gone.
A guy that could be taken at anyone one of those spots is Martez Wilson out of Illinois. This is a guy I bashed a bit and mock drafts do have him falling. I think a team will love his speed and take him earlier than he should, but he could easily fall. The past few years a LB has really fallen. Rey Mauluga is the best example of a LB falling. I think ILB have been falling because of the 3-4 systems out there, Martez can play in both systems so he shouldn't be hurt. I have seen Martez as late as 61. Which to me is a good value pick there. I also think it's important that he go with a team that is more established to not put too much on his shoulders right away. He needs to become a more instinctive player to be one of the greats and that is going to take time. With the Lions D line it wouldn't be that bad of a fit for him. He's built well and has good combine numbers to prove, but can his speed make up for instincts at the next level. I don't think so, that's why I say he needs more time. He's a guy that could explode in year 2 or 3 of his NFL career.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Jimmy Smith
Jimmy has been all across the media. We know that he is a possibility as our pick at 13 and in the second round. There has been a media wide consensus that he is a top 15 talent with a bad past. I am going to tell you why the media does not know crap when it comes to Jimmy.
Jimmy was originally assessed as a mid to late first round talent. The problem is the media took this as he is rated there because of his character issues. So, when the media reports on him he is a top 15 talent that could drop down to the second round because of character issues. The problem is he isn't a top 15 talent. His talent rates in the bottom 1/3 of the first round.
Rating:
-Big CB that excels at press coverage
-Hesitant tackler, but keeps his responsibility in the running game
-Needs to come up looking to hit someone, which is tough to teach
-Can make bonehead penalties
-Doesn't get off blocks well
-Good footwork
-Excellent hands
-Excellent while the balls in the air
A top 15 talent needs to be better in the running game and an overall tackler.
Character issues have to be considered in there. I don't know if you move up to an early second round pick to get him and it's not all his fault. Jimmy definitely made bad decisions in college. People like man formerly known as Pacman, Gholston, and others are hurting him. He can very easily drop into the second round. He in my opinion is the guy that is falling into what I call the "Tim Tebow rule." The Tim Tebow rule just simply states in only takes one team to like you or willing to take a chance on you. He doesn't quite fit the Tebow rule exactly, because Tebow could have been taken anywhere really. There were several people that wouldn't have taken Tebow in the first 3 rounds. I don't know if that's true with Jimmy boy here. I know what your thinking Tebow had good character and it's the opposite for Jimmy. The Tim Tebow rule is all about it only takes one team to like you and you really could fall. Jimmy is one of the closest fits to this in the 2011 draft.
Back to the issue of Jimmy. I saw Gholston as one fine talent coming out of college and I was clearly wrong. You need to have a love for the game to be great. You can be good without a love of the game, but it's the ones that work hard are the ones that separate themselves. Now I don't go to every practice of every team, so I in no way am in a position to say who has a good work ethic. I think Haynesworth might be a good example. He had great seasons, but will not have a Jerry Rice like great career. Gholston is on the tip of the tongue of NFL teams and people will think of him and Pacman before they draft a Jimmy. Pacman showed us that your off the field issues can affect you on the field. These issues can keep you from playing all together and people really do have a problem changing. It probably isn't fair to say Jimmy can't change because Pacman couldn't, but it will come across decision makers brains when deciding.
As far as picking Jimmy I think every team is in a different situation on if they can take a chance on him or not. A team like Patriots might entirely rule him out. Lions have a good locker room and may not want to bring a guy like this in period. I wasn't in there for the interview, but it was something he had to nail for me to take him in the second round. I think teams in good situations can take him in the 20's. A team like a the Eagles would be a good fit.
Jimmy was originally assessed as a mid to late first round talent. The problem is the media took this as he is rated there because of his character issues. So, when the media reports on him he is a top 15 talent that could drop down to the second round because of character issues. The problem is he isn't a top 15 talent. His talent rates in the bottom 1/3 of the first round.
Rating:
-Big CB that excels at press coverage
-Hesitant tackler, but keeps his responsibility in the running game
-Needs to come up looking to hit someone, which is tough to teach
-Can make bonehead penalties
-Doesn't get off blocks well
-Good footwork
-Excellent hands
-Excellent while the balls in the air
A top 15 talent needs to be better in the running game and an overall tackler.
Character issues have to be considered in there. I don't know if you move up to an early second round pick to get him and it's not all his fault. Jimmy definitely made bad decisions in college. People like man formerly known as Pacman, Gholston, and others are hurting him. He can very easily drop into the second round. He in my opinion is the guy that is falling into what I call the "Tim Tebow rule." The Tim Tebow rule just simply states in only takes one team to like you or willing to take a chance on you. He doesn't quite fit the Tebow rule exactly, because Tebow could have been taken anywhere really. There were several people that wouldn't have taken Tebow in the first 3 rounds. I don't know if that's true with Jimmy boy here. I know what your thinking Tebow had good character and it's the opposite for Jimmy. The Tim Tebow rule is all about it only takes one team to like you and you really could fall. Jimmy is one of the closest fits to this in the 2011 draft.
Back to the issue of Jimmy. I saw Gholston as one fine talent coming out of college and I was clearly wrong. You need to have a love for the game to be great. You can be good without a love of the game, but it's the ones that work hard are the ones that separate themselves. Now I don't go to every practice of every team, so I in no way am in a position to say who has a good work ethic. I think Haynesworth might be a good example. He had great seasons, but will not have a Jerry Rice like great career. Gholston is on the tip of the tongue of NFL teams and people will think of him and Pacman before they draft a Jimmy. Pacman showed us that your off the field issues can affect you on the field. These issues can keep you from playing all together and people really do have a problem changing. It probably isn't fair to say Jimmy can't change because Pacman couldn't, but it will come across decision makers brains when deciding.
As far as picking Jimmy I think every team is in a different situation on if they can take a chance on him or not. A team like Patriots might entirely rule him out. Lions have a good locker room and may not want to bring a guy like this in period. I wasn't in there for the interview, but it was something he had to nail for me to take him in the second round. I think teams in good situations can take him in the 20's. A team like a the Eagles would be a good fit.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
CBA
Honestly, if your worried about no NFL this year, don't be. Now lets keep one thing in mind NFPLA no longer exists, the other side is the players not the union (difference of rights). The players have filed lawsuits I have been told. 10 players have filed a lawsuit. Personally, I find this all to be interesting. I completely side with the owners, and after watching Robin Lundberg hit the streets of New York I don't know if most people understand all of it. The most interesting litigation is going to be Von Miller's rookie salary cap.
Even though there has been lawsuits claimed, you have to look at as a court case. There can still be meetings of negotiation, mediation, or even arbitration outside the courthouse. We all know that court cases can take forever. The DT Williams from the Vikings could still be fighting their claim for masking PEDs since October of 2008. How many of you think it's fair that the Viking players are allowed to use fail a drug test and not face NFL suspensions? The state actually sided with the players. It's absolutely ridiculous that they did. The NFL brought it to the Minnesota Supreme Court and basically said the judge that made that ruling was an idiot and overturned it. Court cases can keep on going higher and high up the ladder all the way to the Supreme Court. The state supreme court and the Supreme Court won't always hear your case. There are judges out their that have their CPA and understand disclosure. It would only be fair if they got a judge with his CPA. Will this happen, no. The players are filing lawsuits, so they get to pick the region. Shocker they chose Minnesota. Now we could give Minnesota fans an extremely hard time about this and the Williams lawsuit, but a high majority of them are not smart people. They have their fare share of smart people don't get me wrong. When you go a game at the Metrodome the intelligent level is low.
I think a lot of you believe that the players deserve their fair share of the revenues. I think you all know why the players deserve and want what they do. For that reason I don't believe I need to waste time talking about that side. If you find this article to be biased or do want the players reasoning in here, I am more than willing to add it after one request.
Both sides are trying to look good to the people. Drew Bress in fact tweeted, "Not once have the players asked for more money during this negotiation. That is a FACT. I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for us." Come on Drew. This I find funny, I think Drew is a class act and does so much for his community. Drew I don't want to call you out but I am. It sounds to me that the players put their proposal out on the table and maybe never even did that. Once their proposal was on the table the only other people moving closer was the owners. Now Drew, if you want a share of the revenues, your asking for more money. Now maybe they never even put a proposal out on the table, okay Drew your telling the truth. Negotiate in good faith should work both ways, it doesn't even sound like the players were willing to budge it all. Now I don't know all the players litigation, but if I hear one about revenue sharing or the players end up getting revenue sharing. Clearly Drew was full of crap on that comment.
John Mara the Giants owner has said that they basically split difference and offered that to the players. Players clearly did not accept and decertified. Now who knows what exactly "basically" means. If that also dealt with the 18 game schedule and offered 17, I have no problem with the players not accepting. I would love to know what that last offer was. If I had a guess they proposal was 16 games. If it didn't the players would have came out talking about it and they didn't. Sounds like to me that the owners put a pretty serious offer on the table and the players said that our best bet is in the court room. I completely agree with them. Lets be honest we all for the most part try to do what is best for us. I am not trying to slam the players for taking this to litigation. They feel they can do better there and most of us including myself would do that. The one thing I don't get is the rookie salary cap. This should have been a willing yes for the NFLPA who has come out and said rookies make to much. With a rookie salary cap veterans would make more. There is no ifs ands or buts about that. When it came time to talk about money, apparently they couldn't agree on it a year after bashing the NFL for allowing rookies to make so much. This is so clear cut and dry that the NFLPA wants as much money in everyones pocket as possible, but what they don't get is there isn't a infinite amount to go around.
After watching New York give their opinion on the issue, most of you might believe that the owners make a lot of money of the NFL. Our Lions reported a NOL (net operating loss) of 2.9 million. First of all this hurts that our Lions can't make money. Back to my point not all these owners are making a bunch of money to go around. The Lions could not offer more money to players. Ford has a long term contract he needs to pay off for the beautiful stadium that is Ford Field. One of the more recent new stadiums around the midwest went to the Minnesota Twins. This really is a prime example to my point. Jim Pohland is absolutely loaded. I have talked to people that have negotiated with this guy and just say he is ruthless and really knows how to make money. Now Pohland had and still does have the money to build the new stadium they have in the twin cities. Here's the thing, he didn't pay for it, taxes got raised. When I say he's not paying for it, that's not true. He is a taxpayer just like anyone else. Now I don't know of a professional stadium that an owner actually owns. You think why not own it? It makes no sense to own it. The property tax on stadiums is awful high. Look at your cities property tax on local businesses. Ford on the other hand has money at stake and needs to pay off the loan, because nobody is going to give him another one especially if there is no NFL season. Owners aren't making as much as people think they are. They do have their own side businesses lets keep that in mind.
I have been trying to think of the best way to explain the NFL and the owners and it is a tough one. The best way I can explain is you have to look at the NFL as a big encompassing circle with very little risks actually. Now the NFL has subsidiaries if you will, which are the owners, except that owners are the ones who really bear the risk. Now TV negotiations and stuff are revenue that go to NFL, which is for the teams that get on TV get paid. The bigger the contract the more money the teams make. Monday night football being the biggest regular season winner. The NFL keeps a good chunk of that to. Goodell made $9.76 million is was reported in 2009. To laugh at Goodell a little bit about his $1 salary, some of his compensation has been deferred to future years. Don't worry about him and his $1 salary if there is a work stoppage, he will still make more than most of us.
I don't see why feel sorry for the players either. Are we suppose to feel sorry for them because their financial idiots. Mark Brunell had to file chapter 7 bankruptcy. Which is absolutely ridiculous. You had to have made less than the median in your city. No way was he able show that in New Orleans. So he had to prove that paying off his debts would prove an undue hardship. This is really tough to do. He just won a Super Bowl a couple of years ago. Carson Palmer on the other hand has $80 million dollars in the bank. Knowing a player can have $80 million in the bank and still be in the prime of his career, how many of you feel bad for the players now? Now, I had someone email me saying no way Palmer has that kind of cash in the bank. Players can easily get this kind of cash in the bank. I'm going to do what I do best and that is crunch some numbers.
-When you have the kind of cash the players have you get a lot more financial leverage. You can afford to invest in that investment that a lot of us can't afford.
-He also played at USC. We know they pay their players, but we will exclude this from the calculation
-These are salary numbers, which means they are the bare minimum he got. (numbers are in millions)
-2003 - $1.07
-2004 - 1.3375
-2005 - 3.75
-2006 - 15.75
-2007 - 7.25
-2008 - 7.75
-2009 - 9.5
-2003 he received a signing bonus of $10.01 million
-Carson Palmer also made money off advertisements and contract incentives.
Through 2009 mind you he made $56.4225 million. I want to do this with as very little money as possible, to really prove my point.
Now 35% is eventually going to be taken out for tax purposes, but he was allowed to still play with his money before he paid for his taxes. Also, when you make more money, you can afford some of the best CPAs to really minimize your tax amount (trust me). I'm going to take out $5 million for cost of living. This includes a house which is an investment and can easily turn around for a profit.
How many of you couldn't live nicely on $5 million?
Now Carson easily got 10% for just putting his money into a savings account. Also, can take out a nice loan on the house or whatever. He is a smarter guy than that and had someone guarantee him 25%. I am being very conservative on these numbers too.
2003
11.08(1.25)-1.75=12.1
This represents his income times interest earned minus cost of living
Then take out taxes
12.1(.65)=7.865
2004
1.3375(1.25)-0.5=1.171875
7.865(.25)=1.96625
This represents interest income on last years money which is taxable
(1.96625+1.171875)=3.138125(.65)=1.821875
7.865+1.821875=9.036875
2005
3.75(1.25)-2.75=1.9375
Which is the remainder of the cost. Just easier to get rid of it right away.
9.036875(.25)=2.25921875
4,196,718.75(.65)=2,727,867.19
2,727,867.19+9,036,875=11,764,742.19
2006
(11,764,742.19+15,750,000)*.25=6,878,685.5
6,878,685.5+15,750,000(.65)=14,708,645.58
11,764,742.19+14,708,645.58=26,473,387.77
2007
(26,473,387.77+7,250,000)*.25=8,430,846.95
8,430,846.95+7,250,000)*.65=10,192,550.52
26,473,387.77+10,192,550.52=36,665,938.29
2008
(36,665,938.29+7,750,000)*.25=11,103,984.57
(7,750,000+11,103,984.57)*.65=12,255,089.97
36,665,938.29+12,255,089.97=48,921,028.26
2009
(48,921,028.26+9,500,000)*.25=14,605,257.07
(9,500,000+14,605,257.07)*.65=15,668,417.09
48,921,028.26+15,668,417.09=64,589,445.35
Through 2009 using very safe numbers. No advertising or other deals are included in on this. This is easily possible. The players have signed a contract to play for x amount of dollars. It's their chose how they spend it. Now I know $80 mil will cover their expenses after football. It's their chose to buy an expensive vehicle, go to the strip club, gamble, and etc. while they play. If they need more money to play football flat and simple don't sign the contract and go do something else. These players are no more entitled to the revenue than any other worker unless it is built into the contracts. You look at famous actors and actresses it is built into their contract that they signed, that they get a share of the profits. They aren't as selfish either they sign for profits, not revenue. Now the actors and actresses that don't have profit share in their contracts aren't entitled to a share of the profits. They are the ones on TV that we watch just like the players and neither one should be entitled to it. I believe that factory workers and coal miners are more deserving of the share of profits than football players. These guys are work under harsh conditions and have effects when they retire. They don't get a share of the profits unless it's in their contracts (it isn't).
My opinion the players don't even have a case. The problem is the players get the judge they want and have sided with them several times. Seeing as the owners have been willing to push on some issues and not players. It looks like to me that the players will probably get a great deal out of this and the NFL will not appeal the decision based for the reason that they don't want to delay the season any longer. The big risk that the judge has to look at real hard is optimizing revenue. The NFLPA accused the owners of not optimizing revenue, which appears to be true. Then again I was always toward to look long term not short term. Now with players unwilling to go to a 18 game schedule, which will be out of their hands if they go litigation. That makes you really think, if your not willing to do 18 games, but your willing to take that chance. It must not be that big of deal, especially when the owners did offer you something decent at least. The judge better look hard at what the players deserve, they have contracts that they have signed and they are unwilling to improve revenue. Now according to Brees, they never asked for revenue, so that isn't an issue. If it's about the 18 game schedule and rookie wage scale. The players should win, even though veterans were for that just a year ago. If Brees is being honest and ethical, this shouldn't be a long court case and the players should win. The revenue will stay the same, 16 game schedule, and rookie wage scale is tough to say.
Even though there has been lawsuits claimed, you have to look at as a court case. There can still be meetings of negotiation, mediation, or even arbitration outside the courthouse. We all know that court cases can take forever. The DT Williams from the Vikings could still be fighting their claim for masking PEDs since October of 2008. How many of you think it's fair that the Viking players are allowed to use fail a drug test and not face NFL suspensions? The state actually sided with the players. It's absolutely ridiculous that they did. The NFL brought it to the Minnesota Supreme Court and basically said the judge that made that ruling was an idiot and overturned it. Court cases can keep on going higher and high up the ladder all the way to the Supreme Court. The state supreme court and the Supreme Court won't always hear your case. There are judges out their that have their CPA and understand disclosure. It would only be fair if they got a judge with his CPA. Will this happen, no. The players are filing lawsuits, so they get to pick the region. Shocker they chose Minnesota. Now we could give Minnesota fans an extremely hard time about this and the Williams lawsuit, but a high majority of them are not smart people. They have their fare share of smart people don't get me wrong. When you go a game at the Metrodome the intelligent level is low.
I think a lot of you believe that the players deserve their fair share of the revenues. I think you all know why the players deserve and want what they do. For that reason I don't believe I need to waste time talking about that side. If you find this article to be biased or do want the players reasoning in here, I am more than willing to add it after one request.
Both sides are trying to look good to the people. Drew Bress in fact tweeted, "Not once have the players asked for more money during this negotiation. That is a FACT. I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for us." Come on Drew. This I find funny, I think Drew is a class act and does so much for his community. Drew I don't want to call you out but I am. It sounds to me that the players put their proposal out on the table and maybe never even did that. Once their proposal was on the table the only other people moving closer was the owners. Now Drew, if you want a share of the revenues, your asking for more money. Now maybe they never even put a proposal out on the table, okay Drew your telling the truth. Negotiate in good faith should work both ways, it doesn't even sound like the players were willing to budge it all. Now I don't know all the players litigation, but if I hear one about revenue sharing or the players end up getting revenue sharing. Clearly Drew was full of crap on that comment.
John Mara the Giants owner has said that they basically split difference and offered that to the players. Players clearly did not accept and decertified. Now who knows what exactly "basically" means. If that also dealt with the 18 game schedule and offered 17, I have no problem with the players not accepting. I would love to know what that last offer was. If I had a guess they proposal was 16 games. If it didn't the players would have came out talking about it and they didn't. Sounds like to me that the owners put a pretty serious offer on the table and the players said that our best bet is in the court room. I completely agree with them. Lets be honest we all for the most part try to do what is best for us. I am not trying to slam the players for taking this to litigation. They feel they can do better there and most of us including myself would do that. The one thing I don't get is the rookie salary cap. This should have been a willing yes for the NFLPA who has come out and said rookies make to much. With a rookie salary cap veterans would make more. There is no ifs ands or buts about that. When it came time to talk about money, apparently they couldn't agree on it a year after bashing the NFL for allowing rookies to make so much. This is so clear cut and dry that the NFLPA wants as much money in everyones pocket as possible, but what they don't get is there isn't a infinite amount to go around.
After watching New York give their opinion on the issue, most of you might believe that the owners make a lot of money of the NFL. Our Lions reported a NOL (net operating loss) of 2.9 million. First of all this hurts that our Lions can't make money. Back to my point not all these owners are making a bunch of money to go around. The Lions could not offer more money to players. Ford has a long term contract he needs to pay off for the beautiful stadium that is Ford Field. One of the more recent new stadiums around the midwest went to the Minnesota Twins. This really is a prime example to my point. Jim Pohland is absolutely loaded. I have talked to people that have negotiated with this guy and just say he is ruthless and really knows how to make money. Now Pohland had and still does have the money to build the new stadium they have in the twin cities. Here's the thing, he didn't pay for it, taxes got raised. When I say he's not paying for it, that's not true. He is a taxpayer just like anyone else. Now I don't know of a professional stadium that an owner actually owns. You think why not own it? It makes no sense to own it. The property tax on stadiums is awful high. Look at your cities property tax on local businesses. Ford on the other hand has money at stake and needs to pay off the loan, because nobody is going to give him another one especially if there is no NFL season. Owners aren't making as much as people think they are. They do have their own side businesses lets keep that in mind.
I have been trying to think of the best way to explain the NFL and the owners and it is a tough one. The best way I can explain is you have to look at the NFL as a big encompassing circle with very little risks actually. Now the NFL has subsidiaries if you will, which are the owners, except that owners are the ones who really bear the risk. Now TV negotiations and stuff are revenue that go to NFL, which is for the teams that get on TV get paid. The bigger the contract the more money the teams make. Monday night football being the biggest regular season winner. The NFL keeps a good chunk of that to. Goodell made $9.76 million is was reported in 2009. To laugh at Goodell a little bit about his $1 salary, some of his compensation has been deferred to future years. Don't worry about him and his $1 salary if there is a work stoppage, he will still make more than most of us.
I don't see why feel sorry for the players either. Are we suppose to feel sorry for them because their financial idiots. Mark Brunell had to file chapter 7 bankruptcy. Which is absolutely ridiculous. You had to have made less than the median in your city. No way was he able show that in New Orleans. So he had to prove that paying off his debts would prove an undue hardship. This is really tough to do. He just won a Super Bowl a couple of years ago. Carson Palmer on the other hand has $80 million dollars in the bank. Knowing a player can have $80 million in the bank and still be in the prime of his career, how many of you feel bad for the players now? Now, I had someone email me saying no way Palmer has that kind of cash in the bank. Players can easily get this kind of cash in the bank. I'm going to do what I do best and that is crunch some numbers.
-When you have the kind of cash the players have you get a lot more financial leverage. You can afford to invest in that investment that a lot of us can't afford.
-He also played at USC. We know they pay their players, but we will exclude this from the calculation
-These are salary numbers, which means they are the bare minimum he got. (numbers are in millions)
-2003 - $1.07
-2004 - 1.3375
-2005 - 3.75
-2006 - 15.75
-2007 - 7.25
-2008 - 7.75
-2009 - 9.5
-2003 he received a signing bonus of $10.01 million
-Carson Palmer also made money off advertisements and contract incentives.
Through 2009 mind you he made $56.4225 million. I want to do this with as very little money as possible, to really prove my point.
Now 35% is eventually going to be taken out for tax purposes, but he was allowed to still play with his money before he paid for his taxes. Also, when you make more money, you can afford some of the best CPAs to really minimize your tax amount (trust me). I'm going to take out $5 million for cost of living. This includes a house which is an investment and can easily turn around for a profit.
How many of you couldn't live nicely on $5 million?
Now Carson easily got 10% for just putting his money into a savings account. Also, can take out a nice loan on the house or whatever. He is a smarter guy than that and had someone guarantee him 25%. I am being very conservative on these numbers too.
2003
11.08(1.25)-1.75=12.1
This represents his income times interest earned minus cost of living
Then take out taxes
12.1(.65)=7.865
2004
1.3375(1.25)-0.5=1.171875
7.865(.25)=1.96625
This represents interest income on last years money which is taxable
(1.96625+1.171875)=3.138125(.65)=1.821875
7.865+1.821875=9.036875
2005
3.75(1.25)-2.75=1.9375
Which is the remainder of the cost. Just easier to get rid of it right away.
9.036875(.25)=2.25921875
4,196,718.75(.65)=2,727,867.19
2,727,867.19+9,036,875=11,764,742.19
2006
(11,764,742.19+15,750,000)*.25=6,878,685.5
6,878,685.5+15,750,000(.65)=14,708,645.58
11,764,742.19+14,708,645.58=26,473,387.77
2007
(26,473,387.77+7,250,000)*.25=8,430,846.95
8,430,846.95+7,250,000)*.65=10,192,550.52
26,473,387.77+10,192,550.52=36,665,938.29
2008
(36,665,938.29+7,750,000)*.25=11,103,984.57
(7,750,000+11,103,984.57)*.65=12,255,089.97
36,665,938.29+12,255,089.97=48,921,028.26
2009
(48,921,028.26+9,500,000)*.25=14,605,257.07
(9,500,000+14,605,257.07)*.65=15,668,417.09
48,921,028.26+15,668,417.09=64,589,445.35
Through 2009 using very safe numbers. No advertising or other deals are included in on this. This is easily possible. The players have signed a contract to play for x amount of dollars. It's their chose how they spend it. Now I know $80 mil will cover their expenses after football. It's their chose to buy an expensive vehicle, go to the strip club, gamble, and etc. while they play. If they need more money to play football flat and simple don't sign the contract and go do something else. These players are no more entitled to the revenue than any other worker unless it is built into the contracts. You look at famous actors and actresses it is built into their contract that they signed, that they get a share of the profits. They aren't as selfish either they sign for profits, not revenue. Now the actors and actresses that don't have profit share in their contracts aren't entitled to a share of the profits. They are the ones on TV that we watch just like the players and neither one should be entitled to it. I believe that factory workers and coal miners are more deserving of the share of profits than football players. These guys are work under harsh conditions and have effects when they retire. They don't get a share of the profits unless it's in their contracts (it isn't).
My opinion the players don't even have a case. The problem is the players get the judge they want and have sided with them several times. Seeing as the owners have been willing to push on some issues and not players. It looks like to me that the players will probably get a great deal out of this and the NFL will not appeal the decision based for the reason that they don't want to delay the season any longer. The big risk that the judge has to look at real hard is optimizing revenue. The NFLPA accused the owners of not optimizing revenue, which appears to be true. Then again I was always toward to look long term not short term. Now with players unwilling to go to a 18 game schedule, which will be out of their hands if they go litigation. That makes you really think, if your not willing to do 18 games, but your willing to take that chance. It must not be that big of deal, especially when the owners did offer you something decent at least. The judge better look hard at what the players deserve, they have contracts that they have signed and they are unwilling to improve revenue. Now according to Brees, they never asked for revenue, so that isn't an issue. If it's about the 18 game schedule and rookie wage scale. The players should win, even though veterans were for that just a year ago. If Brees is being honest and ethical, this shouldn't be a long court case and the players should win. The revenue will stay the same, 16 game schedule, and rookie wage scale is tough to say.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Drafting a RB
There has been a lot of speculation that the Lions will use a draft pick on a RB in the upcoming draft. Best is not an every down back and nor do we want him to carry a heavy load. The problem is that you bring a power RB in to carry the load. We don't want that either, when we believe we have a stud RB already. We don't know that home run hitter. In my opinion are backup RB should be an all around back, but excel in pass protection. Now I saw Morris come in late in the season and play well. He got some good yardage when he got the ball. Felton also looked good carrying the ball. Felton definitely did have a key fumble against Dallas. I would say between Felton and Morris we have the backup RB we're looking for. I don't think you can include Aaron Brown in this discussion. Clearly he was unable to get himself on the field, because he wasn't talented enough. Now, I'm going to put it on the coaching staff to share the carries more with Morris. When Morris came in, he played well. I feel like the coaching staff fell in love with Best too much. I realize I just bashed Brown and it's the coaching staff that puts him in, but I am going to trust the coaching staff on that one. Honestly they should almost consider trying to make Brown the 3rd WR.
People are wanting to use a 3rd-5th round pick on a power RB. This would be huge mistake unless the coaching staff find a guy that is just extremely dynamic. Which in the later rounds takes luck. Lions staff doesn't know too much more than anyone else. Now a 3rd round pick is just absolutely an absurd place for us to take a RB. 3rd round is a for sure starting LB for us. 4th and 5th round your talking about taking a RB over Mark Herzlich or Casey Matthews. A speedy WR has more upside in the 4th or 5th round than a RB. Now you also have to realize that RBs average career in the NFL is 5 years. For this reason I am not to high on drafting RBs early. We really need a good draft this year and drafting a RB doesn't make sense. There are plenty of RBs decent RBs in free agency that can easily be signed. The Lions front office must have a plan if they have currently passed on Kevin Smith.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Lion's Realistic Ideal Starters 2011 (Bonus for the first followers)
I have decided if you do read this post or at least this paragraph and become a follower, you will get at least one question answered. I am a few months away from taking my CPA exam for the first time. If you have a tax question or a financial question I will answer it. I may restrict this to the first ten. Depending on how many questions I get and how many people I offer it to, will determine how many questions get answered. The first follower will definitely get the highest priority, then the top 5, and then the top 10 for sure.
This is not going to be based on a generic offensive set. We don't run too many sets with two RBs. For the most part a TE is motioned into the backfield as the FB. The Lions will get a speedster somewhere. They will run a lot of 3 wide and one tight end sets. If the speedster doesn't work out, it will be a lot of two TE sets. The chances of the speedster working out aren't high (ex. Tim Toone). There is a decent chance they have someone like Derrick Williams play as the third wide out. It would help tremendously in the hurry up to vastly improve that 3 WR spot. I think based on the resources at hand, it makes the most sense to just bring in a fast guy to camp.
X X X X X X X X X
WR2 TE2 LT LG C RG RT TE1 WR1
X
QB
X
RB
Could also be a shotgun formation.
WR2 - Nate Burleson
TE2 - Tony Scheffler with Heller
LT - Jeff Backus
LG - Rob Sims
C - Dominic Raoila
RG - Stefan Wisniewski (2nd round pick)
RT - Gosder Cherilus
TE1 - Brandon Pettigrew
WR1 - CJ
QB - Matthew Stafford
RB - Jahvid Best complimented with Clinton Portis (FA)
Heller will come in more on goal line situations. Now I originally had a 3 Wide set with WR2 being Steve Breaston and Burleson in the slot. Seeing as we have 3 good TEs it doesn't make sense to me to put that much resource toward another WR. Part of me wants me to say put Logan in there. More than likely when you take a chance on a guy later in the draft or undrafted (seeing has we don't have a late late pick) free agent it won't work out.
I still don't quite get brining Kevin Smith back. I realize it has to do with the injuries, but he would be an excellent fit. There is still a possibility of re-signing him, but it doesn't appear to be likely. I think Portis is realizing he doesn't have much left. If he does realize it, I think he will accept a backup role. He would be an excellent third down back that can do everything which includes blocking. I do think that Maurice does an excellent job as the backup role, but I think you need a more dynamic RB. Carries need to be taken away from Best and Morris had trouble doing that. We all fell in love with Best and you wonder why would you ever take him out. Portis is clearly just a gap player, but he would be an excellent fit. I really don't think Portis will even be a target considering he probably only has a couple years left in the tank. Brandon Jackson from the packers might be a better option, but I just don't see the Lions getting him.
X X X X X X
CB1 LDE DT DT RDE CB2
X X X
LOLB MLB ROLB
X X
FS SS
CB1 - Chris Houston
LDE - Cliff Avril
DT - Corey Williams
DT - Ndamukong Suh
CB2 - Prince Amukamara (1st and 4th round pick)
LOLB - Mason Foster (3rd round pick)
MLB - Stephen Tulloch (acquired through free agency)
ROLB - DeAndre Levy
FS - Erik Coleman
SS - Louis Delmas
Seeing how the Lions don't switch sides and have a Sam (strong side OLB) and a Will (weak side OLB), I just labeled them L and R. Just to clarify the first DT (left side) will play more like a 3 techinque, while the other plays a 1 technique. This is about where they line up. A NT that goes head to head with a center plays a 0 technique. Then the centers shoulder (gap between guard and center) is the 1 technique, center of guard is a 2 technique, outside should of guard is 3 technique and so on. Now the Lions DT really play with their alignment and don't show a generic look all the time. Cunningham wants them to get to the QB and for that reason they probably both play a 3 technique more often then not. Which puts out LBs (specifically MLB) on the bubble, meaning he has to deal with OL getting to him. Now Warren Sapp is a guy you don't play on the bubble and Suh appears to be doing a great job of that as well. I still think they have far different responsibilities and you really shouldn't compare the two.
I truly believe we can get Tulloch. He isn't expected to re-sign with the Titans and there is the Schwartz connection. Hopefully Schwartz can pull off another KVB deal again. Now Tulloch would take over in the middle and put Levy at one of the OLB positions. That doesn't sound ideal, but when you get a guy that wants to play for you and has been in your system it is a great fit. Especially considering this probably is the best LB available and oh yeah, he is 26 years old. Now Foster might be a stretch getting him in the 3rd round. Greg Jones would probably be the next guy there and it's not because he is a State guy. He would be the best available OLB more than likely.
Erik Coleman really isn't a bridge player at 28 years old. He should be a decent starter and you hope Spievey eventually comes around, but who knows. The competition between the two should be good. It definitely is nice to have depth at that position. If Spievey isn't the starter he will be asked to play special teams. Coming out of college they said he was an excellent tackler. Hopefully he can step up and make tackles on special teams. Alphonso Smith would probably be your Nickel CB. Smith is a guy who needs to improve. It is a position that experience will help you out a lot. Hopefully he listens to guys like CJ, Burleson, Houston, and the coaching staff. Clearly he can make big plays. Now if he can stop the big play he will be a great nickel CB.
I have to say, I think this is very possible. Scroll up again and look for that hole. I know some say OT. Now OT is not a glaring need right now and if we can carry this same roster the following year we can get a OT with our first pick. Now for you people talking about Raiola, Wisniewski could eventually replace Railoa at center. Cherilus does need to continue to improve. I believe he has gotten better every year. You need to give him at least one more year before you move him. He doesn't cut it at tackle next year, you draft a tackle kick him to play guard. Wisniewski eventually takes over for Raiola and the tackle drafted next year replaces Backus when he retires. The project Jason Fox is ready to go and he plays RT. The one spot that stays the same is Sims, who is 6 years younger than Backus.
How possible is this really? Prince needs to fall to 10 or maybe the Cowboys would be willing to trade with us also. Now Wisniewski is very likely to be available at 44. Foster might be a stretch, but Jones should be there. Now Tulloch signing seems like a possibility. We cannot possibly know what is going through his head, but it does appear he won't be playing with the Titans next year.
This is not going to be based on a generic offensive set. We don't run too many sets with two RBs. For the most part a TE is motioned into the backfield as the FB. The Lions will get a speedster somewhere. They will run a lot of 3 wide and one tight end sets. If the speedster doesn't work out, it will be a lot of two TE sets. The chances of the speedster working out aren't high (ex. Tim Toone). There is a decent chance they have someone like Derrick Williams play as the third wide out. It would help tremendously in the hurry up to vastly improve that 3 WR spot. I think based on the resources at hand, it makes the most sense to just bring in a fast guy to camp.
X X X X X X X X X
WR2 TE2 LT LG C RG RT TE1 WR1
X
QB
X
RB
Could also be a shotgun formation.
WR2 - Nate Burleson
TE2 - Tony Scheffler with Heller
LT - Jeff Backus
LG - Rob Sims
C - Dominic Raoila
RG - Stefan Wisniewski (2nd round pick)
RT - Gosder Cherilus
TE1 - Brandon Pettigrew
WR1 - CJ
QB - Matthew Stafford
RB - Jahvid Best complimented with Clinton Portis (FA)
Heller will come in more on goal line situations. Now I originally had a 3 Wide set with WR2 being Steve Breaston and Burleson in the slot. Seeing as we have 3 good TEs it doesn't make sense to me to put that much resource toward another WR. Part of me wants me to say put Logan in there. More than likely when you take a chance on a guy later in the draft or undrafted (seeing has we don't have a late late pick) free agent it won't work out.
I still don't quite get brining Kevin Smith back. I realize it has to do with the injuries, but he would be an excellent fit. There is still a possibility of re-signing him, but it doesn't appear to be likely. I think Portis is realizing he doesn't have much left. If he does realize it, I think he will accept a backup role. He would be an excellent third down back that can do everything which includes blocking. I do think that Maurice does an excellent job as the backup role, but I think you need a more dynamic RB. Carries need to be taken away from Best and Morris had trouble doing that. We all fell in love with Best and you wonder why would you ever take him out. Portis is clearly just a gap player, but he would be an excellent fit. I really don't think Portis will even be a target considering he probably only has a couple years left in the tank. Brandon Jackson from the packers might be a better option, but I just don't see the Lions getting him.
X X X X X X
CB1 LDE DT DT RDE CB2
X X X
LOLB MLB ROLB
X X
FS SS
CB1 - Chris Houston
LDE - Cliff Avril
DT - Corey Williams
DT - Ndamukong Suh
CB2 - Prince Amukamara (1st and 4th round pick)
LOLB - Mason Foster (3rd round pick)
MLB - Stephen Tulloch (acquired through free agency)
ROLB - DeAndre Levy
FS - Erik Coleman
SS - Louis Delmas
Seeing how the Lions don't switch sides and have a Sam (strong side OLB) and a Will (weak side OLB), I just labeled them L and R. Just to clarify the first DT (left side) will play more like a 3 techinque, while the other plays a 1 technique. This is about where they line up. A NT that goes head to head with a center plays a 0 technique. Then the centers shoulder (gap between guard and center) is the 1 technique, center of guard is a 2 technique, outside should of guard is 3 technique and so on. Now the Lions DT really play with their alignment and don't show a generic look all the time. Cunningham wants them to get to the QB and for that reason they probably both play a 3 technique more often then not. Which puts out LBs (specifically MLB) on the bubble, meaning he has to deal with OL getting to him. Now Warren Sapp is a guy you don't play on the bubble and Suh appears to be doing a great job of that as well. I still think they have far different responsibilities and you really shouldn't compare the two.
I truly believe we can get Tulloch. He isn't expected to re-sign with the Titans and there is the Schwartz connection. Hopefully Schwartz can pull off another KVB deal again. Now Tulloch would take over in the middle and put Levy at one of the OLB positions. That doesn't sound ideal, but when you get a guy that wants to play for you and has been in your system it is a great fit. Especially considering this probably is the best LB available and oh yeah, he is 26 years old. Now Foster might be a stretch getting him in the 3rd round. Greg Jones would probably be the next guy there and it's not because he is a State guy. He would be the best available OLB more than likely.
Erik Coleman really isn't a bridge player at 28 years old. He should be a decent starter and you hope Spievey eventually comes around, but who knows. The competition between the two should be good. It definitely is nice to have depth at that position. If Spievey isn't the starter he will be asked to play special teams. Coming out of college they said he was an excellent tackler. Hopefully he can step up and make tackles on special teams. Alphonso Smith would probably be your Nickel CB. Smith is a guy who needs to improve. It is a position that experience will help you out a lot. Hopefully he listens to guys like CJ, Burleson, Houston, and the coaching staff. Clearly he can make big plays. Now if he can stop the big play he will be a great nickel CB.
I have to say, I think this is very possible. Scroll up again and look for that hole. I know some say OT. Now OT is not a glaring need right now and if we can carry this same roster the following year we can get a OT with our first pick. Now for you people talking about Raiola, Wisniewski could eventually replace Railoa at center. Cherilus does need to continue to improve. I believe he has gotten better every year. You need to give him at least one more year before you move him. He doesn't cut it at tackle next year, you draft a tackle kick him to play guard. Wisniewski eventually takes over for Raiola and the tackle drafted next year replaces Backus when he retires. The project Jason Fox is ready to go and he plays RT. The one spot that stays the same is Sims, who is 6 years younger than Backus.
How possible is this really? Prince needs to fall to 10 or maybe the Cowboys would be willing to trade with us also. Now Wisniewski is very likely to be available at 44. Foster might be a stretch, but Jones should be there. Now Tulloch signing seems like a possibility. We cannot possibly know what is going through his head, but it does appear he won't be playing with the Titans next year.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Mock Draft 1.0
1. Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton
When You pay a guy this much and it doesn't matter what position he plays, it's hard not to pick a QB. When Cam has his pro day he will look good. A DT is tough to pick and. Blaine Gabbert could move ahead of Newton with both pro days still ahead.
2. Denver Broncos
Marcell Dareus
Their going back to the 4-3 and like their DEs. With a slew of backup QBs they might take Gabbert.
3. Buffalo Bills
Patrick Peterson
They want Cam Newton, but he isn't there.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Blaine Gabbert
They will want a guy to build around. This pick seems like it's between the QBs, Bowers, and AJ Green.
5. Arizona Cardinals
Von Miller
I don't think they're disappointed in not getting a young QB, because they'd rather get a veteran like Kolb or McNabb.
6. Cleveland Browns
Da'Quan Bowers
This really could be anyone. They may want to build around Colt and draft Green. When push comes to shove they have to realize they have nobody at DE, and a freak like Bowers dropped to them because of the two QBs already taken.
7. San Fransisco 49ers
AJ Green
To me this is between Quinn, Green, and Prince. I think they will want to build around their QB.
8. Tennessee Titans
Nick Fairley
They will build their defense. They would consider a QB is there was one available.
9. Dallas Cowboys
Julio Jones
This one seems to be between Prince, Julio, and Quinn. I don't think CB is flashy enough for them. Quinn is definitely a very viable option. They need to improve their pass rush off the end, but they do not have an immediate need there. They really only have an immediate need for good character. Jones has already said he doesn't need a CB. Now teams try to make teams believe that they will take anyone. Jones saying CB isn't a need doesn't do that. I truly believe that he believes that it isn't a need with Terrence Newman. Newman doesn't haven't anymore. Now if they don't go with the flashy Jones, I think they will take Quinn. Your looking at Dez, Julio, Austin, Williams, and Witten as their receivers. Now I think they try to trade Williams away, because he just has not worked out in Dallas.
10. Washington Redskins
Traded to the Lions swap first round picks. Lions give up their 3rd round pick. The Redskins give up their 5th and 6th round pick.
10. Detroit Lions
Prince Amukamara
Nothing more needs to be said.
11. Houston Texans
Robert Quinn
They wanted Prince, but are happy with Quinn.
12. Minnesota Vikings
Cameron Jordan
I think they make the wise chose and say we can get the same QB now as we can in the second round. I believe they will trade up to the 33 pick and take Locker or Mallet. The Patriots will be happy doing what they always do and trade down.
13. Washington Redskins
Mark Ingram
They wanted Julio and ended up with Ingram. If Julio is available at 10 it would make sense for them to trade down and they would still get Julio here.
14. St. Louis
Traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They swap first round picks. Bucs gave up their 3rd and 4th round pick.
Rams really wanted Julio, but he isn't available. Teams would rather trade with Miami and Jacksonville. The Bucs fear that the Rams would end up taking the best pass rusher available.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Aldon Smith
They need a pass rusher.
15. Miami Dolphins
Traded to the Giants. The swap first round picks and the Giants give up their 3rd round pick.
Miami wanted Ingram. Now that Aldon Smith is off the board teams want to move ahead of the Patriots. The only problem is Jacksonville is the team right ahead of the Patriots. Jacksonville is overpricing their pick and would essentially be the same trade for the Giants.
15.New York Giants
Tyron Smith
They get a young talented upgrade at the position. They move up to get the top tackle available for the long term and not a second tier tackle behind the Patriots. The Giants were also worried about someone else moving up to take Tyron and the Patriots take Solder.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars
Traded to the Chargers
Chargers desperately need a RT. The Jags can still move back and get the guy they want.
16. San Diego Chargers
Nate Solder
They get a whole lot of potential. They wanted to get ahead of the Patriots for obvious reasons.
17. New England Patriots
Anthony Constanzo
They want to do the usual and trade down, but the problem is the Colts are fine with Carimi.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars
Ryan Kerrigan
Traded down and still got their guy.
19. Miami Dolphins
Mike Pouncey
They think they can get him a later bit later still, but trades have calmed down and this is a need for them. Miami gets a guy that is going to be praised for his brother's work.
20. St. Louis Rams
Corey Liuget
Like the Dolphins they feel like they could get him a few picks later. Rams desperately need a DT. They traded back once and still got their guy. They would have rather stayed and taken Julio.
21. Kansas City Chieffs
Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. They swapped first round picks and the Eagles give up their 4th round pick.
Chiefs absolutely know they can trade back a couple of spots and get their guy.
21. Philadelphia Eagles
Gabe Carimi
They wanted to move ahead of the Colts to get their guy
22. Indianapolis Colts
Derek Sherrod
They basically swap picks with the Eagles.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Phil Taylor
They get their 3-4 NT that is absolutely needed.
24. New Orleans Saints
JJ Watt
They take the best available pass rusher. They are surprised the high rising stock of Watt is still available.
25. Seattle Seahawks
Jimmy Smith
I think they consider Clayborn. I think his inability to stay on the field will kill Clayborn especially in late game situations.
26. Baltimore Ravens
Torrey Smith
They take the guy they desperately need. They feel like their on the fringe of winning the Super Bowl. So, they take no chances and take their guy.
27. Atlanta Falcons
Justin Houston
This seems like a perfect fit. Clayborn still continues to drop. Houston is a guy that can drop into coverage which is a thing they like their DEs to do.
28. New England Patriots
Muhammed Wilkerson
They want to trade down, but this guy is a tremendous fit. The Jets would take him if he is available.
29. Chicago Bears
Benjamin Ijalana
They need to upgrade the OL. They consider trading down and the Lions want to move ahead of the Jets and take Ayers.
30. New York Jets
Adrian Clayborn
They will take Wilkerson if the Patriots trade down. This pick will be between Wilkerson, Ayers, and top DE. They would have wanted Houston if he was available. Ayers is a really good possibility. I think they might look at Clayborn as a top 15 talent that somehow dropped to them.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stefan Wisniewski
Yes, there is the Pennsylvania connection. The Steelers need to upgrade their OL and this is the best OL left.
32. Green Bay Packers
Traded to the Tennessee Titans. Swap this pick for Titans early second round pick. The Titans also give up a 4th round pick.
This pick could easily be traded. I think teams that wanted a QB and didn't get one in the first round will take their QB in the second round or move in late in the first round. The Packers and Patriots are both good trading partners for teams and the both of them want to trade down. The Patriots will want a future first round pick at 33. I think the Packers will take the best available WR here, but they feel like they can get him in the early second round and trade this pick.
32. Tennessee Titans
Colin Kaepernick
Rather inexpensive they get the guy they want. They were worried about teams like the Bills taking their guy and the Vikings moving up to get their guy.
Bonus pick
33. New England Patriots
Trade to the Minnesota Vikings. Vikings give up their first round pick next year along with a 7th rounder this year.
It's tough to value a future first round pick. Some people would think it has the same value as a first round pick this year. The problem is you know what pick your getting, who is in the draft, and you get production out of a player this year. Consider it a business, we trade machines but you can't use yours till a year from now. I've already produced a years worth of product before you even begun.
33. Minnesota Vikings
Ryan Mallett
Building a new stadium you need a franchise QB. Afraid of the Bills taking him and the Patriots love trading down. They both get what they want.
Julio and Ingram are going to be a big part of what happens. If they are not available the Rams and Dolphins don't want their pick. Also, if they are available several teams will be interested in trading to where the Lions are at to get ahead of the Dolphins and Rams. Prince being available at 10 is a very likely scenario. The Redskins shouldn't be to worried about Houston or the Vikings taking Julio. The Vikings may consider it with Rice a FA and a CBA not being signed will be a big factor there. I don't see Julio getting past the Redskins at 10 if they stay. Meaning it will be tough for the Lions to trade down unless there is interest in Ingram. The problem there is Ingram is not a threat to be taken by the Rams.
Cam Newton
When You pay a guy this much and it doesn't matter what position he plays, it's hard not to pick a QB. When Cam has his pro day he will look good. A DT is tough to pick and. Blaine Gabbert could move ahead of Newton with both pro days still ahead.
2. Denver Broncos
Marcell Dareus
Their going back to the 4-3 and like their DEs. With a slew of backup QBs they might take Gabbert.
3. Buffalo Bills
Patrick Peterson
They want Cam Newton, but he isn't there.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Blaine Gabbert
They will want a guy to build around. This pick seems like it's between the QBs, Bowers, and AJ Green.
5. Arizona Cardinals
Von Miller
I don't think they're disappointed in not getting a young QB, because they'd rather get a veteran like Kolb or McNabb.
6. Cleveland Browns
Da'Quan Bowers
This really could be anyone. They may want to build around Colt and draft Green. When push comes to shove they have to realize they have nobody at DE, and a freak like Bowers dropped to them because of the two QBs already taken.
7. San Fransisco 49ers
AJ Green
To me this is between Quinn, Green, and Prince. I think they will want to build around their QB.
8. Tennessee Titans
Nick Fairley
They will build their defense. They would consider a QB is there was one available.
9. Dallas Cowboys
Julio Jones
This one seems to be between Prince, Julio, and Quinn. I don't think CB is flashy enough for them. Quinn is definitely a very viable option. They need to improve their pass rush off the end, but they do not have an immediate need there. They really only have an immediate need for good character. Jones has already said he doesn't need a CB. Now teams try to make teams believe that they will take anyone. Jones saying CB isn't a need doesn't do that. I truly believe that he believes that it isn't a need with Terrence Newman. Newman doesn't haven't anymore. Now if they don't go with the flashy Jones, I think they will take Quinn. Your looking at Dez, Julio, Austin, Williams, and Witten as their receivers. Now I think they try to trade Williams away, because he just has not worked out in Dallas.
10. Washington Redskins
Traded to the Lions swap first round picks. Lions give up their 3rd round pick. The Redskins give up their 5th and 6th round pick.
10. Detroit Lions
Prince Amukamara
Nothing more needs to be said.
11. Houston Texans
Robert Quinn
They wanted Prince, but are happy with Quinn.
12. Minnesota Vikings
Cameron Jordan
I think they make the wise chose and say we can get the same QB now as we can in the second round. I believe they will trade up to the 33 pick and take Locker or Mallet. The Patriots will be happy doing what they always do and trade down.
13. Washington Redskins
Mark Ingram
They wanted Julio and ended up with Ingram. If Julio is available at 10 it would make sense for them to trade down and they would still get Julio here.
14. St. Louis
Traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They swap first round picks. Bucs gave up their 3rd and 4th round pick.
Rams really wanted Julio, but he isn't available. Teams would rather trade with Miami and Jacksonville. The Bucs fear that the Rams would end up taking the best pass rusher available.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Aldon Smith
They need a pass rusher.
15. Miami Dolphins
Traded to the Giants. The swap first round picks and the Giants give up their 3rd round pick.
Miami wanted Ingram. Now that Aldon Smith is off the board teams want to move ahead of the Patriots. The only problem is Jacksonville is the team right ahead of the Patriots. Jacksonville is overpricing their pick and would essentially be the same trade for the Giants.
15.New York Giants
Tyron Smith
They get a young talented upgrade at the position. They move up to get the top tackle available for the long term and not a second tier tackle behind the Patriots. The Giants were also worried about someone else moving up to take Tyron and the Patriots take Solder.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars
Traded to the Chargers
Chargers desperately need a RT. The Jags can still move back and get the guy they want.
16. San Diego Chargers
Nate Solder
They get a whole lot of potential. They wanted to get ahead of the Patriots for obvious reasons.
17. New England Patriots
Anthony Constanzo
They want to do the usual and trade down, but the problem is the Colts are fine with Carimi.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars
Ryan Kerrigan
Traded down and still got their guy.
19. Miami Dolphins
Mike Pouncey
They think they can get him a later bit later still, but trades have calmed down and this is a need for them. Miami gets a guy that is going to be praised for his brother's work.
20. St. Louis Rams
Corey Liuget
Like the Dolphins they feel like they could get him a few picks later. Rams desperately need a DT. They traded back once and still got their guy. They would have rather stayed and taken Julio.
21. Kansas City Chieffs
Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. They swapped first round picks and the Eagles give up their 4th round pick.
Chiefs absolutely know they can trade back a couple of spots and get their guy.
21. Philadelphia Eagles
Gabe Carimi
They wanted to move ahead of the Colts to get their guy
22. Indianapolis Colts
Derek Sherrod
They basically swap picks with the Eagles.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Phil Taylor
They get their 3-4 NT that is absolutely needed.
24. New Orleans Saints
JJ Watt
They take the best available pass rusher. They are surprised the high rising stock of Watt is still available.
25. Seattle Seahawks
Jimmy Smith
I think they consider Clayborn. I think his inability to stay on the field will kill Clayborn especially in late game situations.
26. Baltimore Ravens
Torrey Smith
They take the guy they desperately need. They feel like their on the fringe of winning the Super Bowl. So, they take no chances and take their guy.
27. Atlanta Falcons
Justin Houston
This seems like a perfect fit. Clayborn still continues to drop. Houston is a guy that can drop into coverage which is a thing they like their DEs to do.
28. New England Patriots
Muhammed Wilkerson
They want to trade down, but this guy is a tremendous fit. The Jets would take him if he is available.
29. Chicago Bears
Benjamin Ijalana
They need to upgrade the OL. They consider trading down and the Lions want to move ahead of the Jets and take Ayers.
30. New York Jets
Adrian Clayborn
They will take Wilkerson if the Patriots trade down. This pick will be between Wilkerson, Ayers, and top DE. They would have wanted Houston if he was available. Ayers is a really good possibility. I think they might look at Clayborn as a top 15 talent that somehow dropped to them.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stefan Wisniewski
Yes, there is the Pennsylvania connection. The Steelers need to upgrade their OL and this is the best OL left.
32. Green Bay Packers
Traded to the Tennessee Titans. Swap this pick for Titans early second round pick. The Titans also give up a 4th round pick.
This pick could easily be traded. I think teams that wanted a QB and didn't get one in the first round will take their QB in the second round or move in late in the first round. The Packers and Patriots are both good trading partners for teams and the both of them want to trade down. The Patriots will want a future first round pick at 33. I think the Packers will take the best available WR here, but they feel like they can get him in the early second round and trade this pick.
32. Tennessee Titans
Colin Kaepernick
Rather inexpensive they get the guy they want. They were worried about teams like the Bills taking their guy and the Vikings moving up to get their guy.
Bonus pick
33. New England Patriots
Trade to the Minnesota Vikings. Vikings give up their first round pick next year along with a 7th rounder this year.
It's tough to value a future first round pick. Some people would think it has the same value as a first round pick this year. The problem is you know what pick your getting, who is in the draft, and you get production out of a player this year. Consider it a business, we trade machines but you can't use yours till a year from now. I've already produced a years worth of product before you even begun.
33. Minnesota Vikings
Ryan Mallett
Building a new stadium you need a franchise QB. Afraid of the Bills taking him and the Patriots love trading down. They both get what they want.
Julio and Ingram are going to be a big part of what happens. If they are not available the Rams and Dolphins don't want their pick. Also, if they are available several teams will be interested in trading to where the Lions are at to get ahead of the Dolphins and Rams. Prince being available at 10 is a very likely scenario. The Redskins shouldn't be to worried about Houston or the Vikings taking Julio. The Vikings may consider it with Rice a FA and a CBA not being signed will be a big factor there. I don't see Julio getting past the Redskins at 10 if they stay. Meaning it will be tough for the Lions to trade down unless there is interest in Ingram. The problem there is Ingram is not a threat to be taken by the Rams.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Talking Cap, Contracts, and Roster
With the recent news of Kevin Smith not getting an offer, I think we need to look at free agency. Now I have debated about talking contract and cap numbers. The problem is I really don't know how much people will sign for and without the CBA I don't the know cap number. These contracts are so complex they are really tough to gauge, but as an accountant I do believe that I could really help show you guys what it would do to the cap. You can raise the signing bonus to reduce the contract number or have future escalators and there is always player performance type incentives in there. There really is about an infinite amount things you can put in a contract. Now the Raiders gave Stanford Routt 3 years $31.5 million, I would have thought $8 million. Now everyone has said what a ridiculous contract this is, but they are tough to predict, but I will do my best. Now I am going to estimate the salary cap at $150 million. With Dallas already at $136.6 million before free agency and the draft it is tough to go below $150. It appears the latest number for the Lions to be $113.8, but with plenty of spots to be filled.
QB
You want to sign Drew Stanton back. If that happens Robinson would be cut.
RB
I don't see a point in keeping Aaron Brown around. He was just kind of specialty player and Logan can fill that role that is unnecessary but a nice thing to have. Maurice Morris played well when he got in and should be kept. Now a power RB is needed whether it is Kevin Smith or Mark Ingram through the draft. The other RB really could be about anyone. I certainly don't think you draft Ingram. Do you sign a third RB behind Morris, I don't think so. I think you sign a backup RB, but is good enough to get in on every series. Best really is not your ideal starting RB. You like to pound the ball up the middle on first and second downs. I think your looking at a short yardage type guy. I think Jason Snelling is your ideal free agent. His contract would probably be around $2.5 mil. Tim Hightower would be another consideration around $2 mil. I think Kevin Smith would be an excellent fit, but obviously there injury issues there. Maybe resigning Jerome Felton could fill this role and you would still want to bring in another cheap guy. Ladell Betts is a guy you can get signed for under a million or a Mewelde Moore around $1.5 mil. These guys would put Morris as option number three. I think it's unlikely that the Lions get someone late in the draft or sign someone real cheap after the draft whether it is a undrafted rookie or not.
WR
Without a doubt need a third guy. The only two guys you can count on the roster is Megatron and Burleson. Everyone else really could be gone. Plaxico probably would be the best fit and at a great price more than likely. Steve Breaston is a guy I really like. He would cost around $3 mil maybe more. Burleson makes $5 mil and you probably want a guy that is going to be less than that. Sidney Rice and Santonio Holmes are wanting big paydays and will probably want around $5 mil. Now Rice is a guy that may want to beat the Vikings up and would be an excellent addition to the Lions. I don't think anyone will give him a huge payday because of the injury. Push comes to shove these two are signing based on the dollar amount. A fifth round speedster is a very viable option.
TE
Done
OL
If your looking at bringing someone in it has to be guard. Really can't sign a tackle or a center. Atlanta has two on the market they both deserve a big payday. Harvey Dahl is one of those guys and probably wants $5 mil. He is 30 and will probably end up with a 3 year contract around $10.5 mil. Justin Blalock is the other Falcon and he would be a huge addition to the Lions. He is 27 years old and coming off a 4 year $5 mil contract. I think you offer him 5 years $12.5 mil. Every Packer free agent will be hard to sign with the LBs they have on run their roster currently. Daryn Colledge would be an excellent fit, but he would cost around $2 mil.
DE
With Avril having a tender offer. We are pretty well set if he signs, especially with a 1st and 3rd round tender on him. I think the people that you sign here are extremely young guys that add depth. Lawrence Jackson is 25 you keep him, Turk McBride at 25 you bring back, and Willie Young at 25 you keep. Now one of these guys can be cut for bigger and better things. About the only bigger and better thing is Vernon Gholston and I don't know if you want a guy like that on your team. He also could fill a void at LB, but his character would have to be proven. If you put him around a KVB (Kyle Vanden Bosch) who knows though.
DT
I think I will be the only person to say that Corey Williams needs to be looked at long and hard. This guy had way to many penalties.Andre Fluellen got a tender offer which I think was a good move. Sammie Lee Hill has improved every year and has looked good. You could look at bringing one guy in to add depth. Now Suh has an excellent motor and is an every down DT and proved he had the endurance. Compare that to Shaun Rogers who is a stud, but can only play a third of the downs. You don't need as much depth there. They should consider bringing in a project like Jason Fox at the OT position. They want to stay young and wisely so. I think we are set at this position, but I would consider trading Williams and getting a guy that fills another spot. Then in free agency you sign a guy like Mike Patterson.
LB
We know Levy has one of the spots filled, but I don't think you can chalk him in at MLB. Follett would be a decent starter and an excellent backup/special teams guy if he returns healthy. Best wishes to him and he needs to worry about himself first. A LB will be drafted and I am penciling the LB in as a starter. Manny Lawson wants to play in the 4-3 and with few teams running the 4-3, there isn't as much competition for probably the best OLB left in free agency. Then you move to signing an inside LB. I have to say that we have an excellent shot at getting a top young LB. Stephen Tulloch has ties with Schwartz obviously and hopefully he can pull off another KVB signing. Then Paul Poluszny is a guy that is going to want out of Buffalo. Nothing has been said about the Bills franchising him, but they really need to rebuild around this guy. I can't see him wanting to stay in Buffalo if he gets the chance to leave. Between OLB Lawson, ILBs Poluszny, and Tulloch, I think we have an excellent shot at getting one if free agency starts. Guys like Palmer and Vinny would be good backups and special team guys. I'm hoping Tulloch, Levy, and Follett are our guys. Now there is a lot of contingency there with Follett and Tulloch.
CB
Simple enough, sign one and draft one. As I posted Prince is possible at a great deal. We need to sign Houston or someone else. Then in the draft we need to get a starter that Spievey did not turn out to be.
S
John Wendling needs to be a high priority. This guy is a special teams beast. I know people making tackles on special teams and downing the ball isn't flashy, but it is a vastly underrated part of the game. I think we are set at this position and won't consider anyone else if the Lions believe that Spievey will come around in a year or two. With the signing of Coleman that will bring some competition to the table for the Spievey and Coleman and hopefully make them better. Surprisingly enough this is secondary position that is filled.
Now I will be doing my first mock draft sometime this weekend.
QB
You want to sign Drew Stanton back. If that happens Robinson would be cut.
RB
I don't see a point in keeping Aaron Brown around. He was just kind of specialty player and Logan can fill that role that is unnecessary but a nice thing to have. Maurice Morris played well when he got in and should be kept. Now a power RB is needed whether it is Kevin Smith or Mark Ingram through the draft. The other RB really could be about anyone. I certainly don't think you draft Ingram. Do you sign a third RB behind Morris, I don't think so. I think you sign a backup RB, but is good enough to get in on every series. Best really is not your ideal starting RB. You like to pound the ball up the middle on first and second downs. I think your looking at a short yardage type guy. I think Jason Snelling is your ideal free agent. His contract would probably be around $2.5 mil. Tim Hightower would be another consideration around $2 mil. I think Kevin Smith would be an excellent fit, but obviously there injury issues there. Maybe resigning Jerome Felton could fill this role and you would still want to bring in another cheap guy. Ladell Betts is a guy you can get signed for under a million or a Mewelde Moore around $1.5 mil. These guys would put Morris as option number three. I think it's unlikely that the Lions get someone late in the draft or sign someone real cheap after the draft whether it is a undrafted rookie or not.
WR
Without a doubt need a third guy. The only two guys you can count on the roster is Megatron and Burleson. Everyone else really could be gone. Plaxico probably would be the best fit and at a great price more than likely. Steve Breaston is a guy I really like. He would cost around $3 mil maybe more. Burleson makes $5 mil and you probably want a guy that is going to be less than that. Sidney Rice and Santonio Holmes are wanting big paydays and will probably want around $5 mil. Now Rice is a guy that may want to beat the Vikings up and would be an excellent addition to the Lions. I don't think anyone will give him a huge payday because of the injury. Push comes to shove these two are signing based on the dollar amount. A fifth round speedster is a very viable option.
TE
Done
OL
If your looking at bringing someone in it has to be guard. Really can't sign a tackle or a center. Atlanta has two on the market they both deserve a big payday. Harvey Dahl is one of those guys and probably wants $5 mil. He is 30 and will probably end up with a 3 year contract around $10.5 mil. Justin Blalock is the other Falcon and he would be a huge addition to the Lions. He is 27 years old and coming off a 4 year $5 mil contract. I think you offer him 5 years $12.5 mil. Every Packer free agent will be hard to sign with the LBs they have on run their roster currently. Daryn Colledge would be an excellent fit, but he would cost around $2 mil.
DE
With Avril having a tender offer. We are pretty well set if he signs, especially with a 1st and 3rd round tender on him. I think the people that you sign here are extremely young guys that add depth. Lawrence Jackson is 25 you keep him, Turk McBride at 25 you bring back, and Willie Young at 25 you keep. Now one of these guys can be cut for bigger and better things. About the only bigger and better thing is Vernon Gholston and I don't know if you want a guy like that on your team. He also could fill a void at LB, but his character would have to be proven. If you put him around a KVB (Kyle Vanden Bosch) who knows though.
DT
I think I will be the only person to say that Corey Williams needs to be looked at long and hard. This guy had way to many penalties.Andre Fluellen got a tender offer which I think was a good move. Sammie Lee Hill has improved every year and has looked good. You could look at bringing one guy in to add depth. Now Suh has an excellent motor and is an every down DT and proved he had the endurance. Compare that to Shaun Rogers who is a stud, but can only play a third of the downs. You don't need as much depth there. They should consider bringing in a project like Jason Fox at the OT position. They want to stay young and wisely so. I think we are set at this position, but I would consider trading Williams and getting a guy that fills another spot. Then in free agency you sign a guy like Mike Patterson.
LB
We know Levy has one of the spots filled, but I don't think you can chalk him in at MLB. Follett would be a decent starter and an excellent backup/special teams guy if he returns healthy. Best wishes to him and he needs to worry about himself first. A LB will be drafted and I am penciling the LB in as a starter. Manny Lawson wants to play in the 4-3 and with few teams running the 4-3, there isn't as much competition for probably the best OLB left in free agency. Then you move to signing an inside LB. I have to say that we have an excellent shot at getting a top young LB. Stephen Tulloch has ties with Schwartz obviously and hopefully he can pull off another KVB signing. Then Paul Poluszny is a guy that is going to want out of Buffalo. Nothing has been said about the Bills franchising him, but they really need to rebuild around this guy. I can't see him wanting to stay in Buffalo if he gets the chance to leave. Between OLB Lawson, ILBs Poluszny, and Tulloch, I think we have an excellent shot at getting one if free agency starts. Guys like Palmer and Vinny would be good backups and special team guys. I'm hoping Tulloch, Levy, and Follett are our guys. Now there is a lot of contingency there with Follett and Tulloch.
CB
Simple enough, sign one and draft one. As I posted Prince is possible at a great deal. We need to sign Houston or someone else. Then in the draft we need to get a starter that Spievey did not turn out to be.
S
John Wendling needs to be a high priority. This guy is a special teams beast. I know people making tackles on special teams and downing the ball isn't flashy, but it is a vastly underrated part of the game. I think we are set at this position and won't consider anyone else if the Lions believe that Spievey will come around in a year or two. With the signing of Coleman that will bring some competition to the table for the Spievey and Coleman and hopefully make them better. Surprisingly enough this is secondary position that is filled.
Now I will be doing my first mock draft sometime this weekend.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
12 picks in front of us (post combine)
I'm considering trades and I'll be using the ESPN trade chart value. These are the most reasonable picks that could happen. Now lets keep in mind not many trades happen in the top 12. I can't imagine there will be to many trades in the top 12. I think teams will want to move back but can't. Lets get to it.
Carolina Panthers
Possibilities:
Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Nick Fairley, Da'Quan Bowers, and Marcell Dareus
DL and QBs, this looks like a good thing for us. Every time a player we don't want isn't picked, I think we can give ourselves a point. Who is it going to be?
I think this pick is Cam Newton.
Denver Broncos
Possibilities: Patrick Peterson, Da'Quan Bowers, Nick Fairley, and Marcell Dareus
Now we can't lock in a point here. Peterson is a bona fide stud and I would trade up for him in a heart beat. If I could say here's my second round pick and give me Peterson, but according to ESPN he needs to fall to 6. He is pretty much a consensus pick across mock drafts here but I don't know with Champ resigned. It's impossible to say what the rookie wage scale is going to be like, but at this point I don't think they will invest that much money in two CBs. I think Peterson is honestly out of the picture here.
The pick is Nick Fairley.
Buffalo Bills
Shut up Boomer. Oh wait, the TV isn't on. Doesn't anyone else hear Boomer's voice when they hear the team mentioned above.
Possibilities:
Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Marcell Dareus, Nick Fairley, Patrick Peterson Von Miller, and Da'Quan Bowers.
This is a tough one. I don't think they will go QB here. Poluszny is a FA, which makes Miller more of a viable option. Do you really spend this much money on a CB? It's a pass happy league.
The right chose would be Patrick Peterson.
Cincinnati Bengals
Possibilities:
Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbet, Da'Quan Bowers, AJ Green, Nick Fairley, and Marcell Dareus.
I think it would be Green if they had a QB. They may choose to build around a defense, but most people don't.
The pick is Blaine Gabbert.
Arizona Cardinals
Possibilities:
AJ Green, Da'Quan Bowers, Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, Robert Quinn, Patrick Peterson, Blaine Gabbert, and Cam Newton.
They really could take just about anyone to be honest. I think if a QB is here they probably take him.
The pick is Von Miller.
Cleveland Browns
I was all excited if I could have Peterson here and then I could have the Lions trade up and say we don't need to get to 12 anymore.
Possibilities:
Nick Fairley, Marcell Dareus, Da'Quan Bowers, Robert Quinn, Von Miller, and AJ Green.
One of these guys is going to be here. I think they would want Fairley, Dareus, Miller, Bowers, Green, and then Quinn.
So the pick is Da'Quan Bowers.
San Fransisco 49ers
I think a QB is going to be gone by now, so I am going to take Newton out of consideration. I also think other top 6 locks are Fairley, Dareus, and Peterson.
Possibilities:
Blaine Gabbert, Prince Amukamara, Robert Quinn, Da'Quan Bowers, and AJ Green.
I think they build around the QB they have. I know a lot of people have them taking Gabbert. I don't think they take him if he is here right now.
The pick is AJ Green.
Tennessee Titans
Possibilities:
Blaine Gabbert, AJ Green, Da'Quan Bowers, Robert Quinn, and Prince Amukamara.
I think a QB is the pick if there is one available. Which means I'm taking Gabbert and Bowers off the possibility list. I don't think this what they would want to happen.
The pick is Robert Quinn.
Dallas Cowboys
Possibilities:
Robert Quinn, Prince Amukamara, JJ Watt, AJ Green, Julio Jones, Tyron Smith, and Nate Solder.
This really could be anyone. I'm half tempted to every razorback under possibilities and have the front runner be Mallet. Character issues never seems to derail Jerry Jones. I honestly think this pick is not going to be Prince.
The pick is Julio Jones.
Washington Redskins
Possibilities:
Robert Quinn, Julio Jones, Prince Amukamara, Ryan Kerrigan, JJ Watt, an AJ Green.
I WR would be taken here, if there were any. AJ Green won't fall past the Redskins. There top choices are gone. This is a tough one and realistic Prince could continue to fall, but he won't get past the Texans sadly enough. The Redskins don't want this pick after seeing who is available.
The pick is traded to the Lions.
The Lions select Prince Amukamara.
Lions fans across America, we won the Super Bowww, I mean the draft? I mean we got our CB. Yes! we got our CB. Well, about the America part, we can dream we are all across America anyways.
We gave up a 4th round pick to move up according to the chart and also got a 5th and a 7th and they would still be getting the better trade according to the chart. Now it wouldn't take the 5th and 7th for me to give up a 4th rounder here.
Now Houston won't let Prince get past them unless someone like Miller is there and he won't be. Even if Julio is still there the Redskins will want to move back. They aren't worried about the Vikings and Lions taking Julio. They would be a little worried about Houston, but Houston will go defense.
Now I did this all based on what I think will happen, not how can we can Prince. You have to look at the Cowboys pick long and hard. I honestly believe believe they will go with Julio right now. I know I'm the only person out there with this thought. I could have put someone like Watt there and not received the criticism but think about it. We are familiar with Roy Williams, need I say anymore point one. Point two they run most their sets with 3-5 wide outs. They ended the year with 3 WR on the IR. I'm not joking when I say they ended the year with Austin Miles and Jason Witten. Dez Bryant is obviously be coming back next year. Honestly they don't have a number one WR. They like to worry about their offense. Their offense could use a tackle or a WR and I think Tyron Smith is also a very viable option here. Jerry Jones is going to fall in love with this SEC football player the more ESPN he watches and sees this guy.
Now before we get our hopes up to high. Prince ran an excellent 40 time and the knock on him was his speed. Teams will want him.
Carolina Panthers
Possibilities:
Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Nick Fairley, Da'Quan Bowers, and Marcell Dareus
DL and QBs, this looks like a good thing for us. Every time a player we don't want isn't picked, I think we can give ourselves a point. Who is it going to be?
I think this pick is Cam Newton.
Denver Broncos
Possibilities: Patrick Peterson, Da'Quan Bowers, Nick Fairley, and Marcell Dareus
Now we can't lock in a point here. Peterson is a bona fide stud and I would trade up for him in a heart beat. If I could say here's my second round pick and give me Peterson, but according to ESPN he needs to fall to 6. He is pretty much a consensus pick across mock drafts here but I don't know with Champ resigned. It's impossible to say what the rookie wage scale is going to be like, but at this point I don't think they will invest that much money in two CBs. I think Peterson is honestly out of the picture here.
The pick is Nick Fairley.
Buffalo Bills
Shut up Boomer. Oh wait, the TV isn't on. Doesn't anyone else hear Boomer's voice when they hear the team mentioned above.
Possibilities:
Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Marcell Dareus, Nick Fairley, Patrick Peterson Von Miller, and Da'Quan Bowers.
This is a tough one. I don't think they will go QB here. Poluszny is a FA, which makes Miller more of a viable option. Do you really spend this much money on a CB? It's a pass happy league.
The right chose would be Patrick Peterson.
Cincinnati Bengals
Possibilities:
Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbet, Da'Quan Bowers, AJ Green, Nick Fairley, and Marcell Dareus.
I think it would be Green if they had a QB. They may choose to build around a defense, but most people don't.
The pick is Blaine Gabbert.
Arizona Cardinals
Possibilities:
AJ Green, Da'Quan Bowers, Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, Robert Quinn, Patrick Peterson, Blaine Gabbert, and Cam Newton.
They really could take just about anyone to be honest. I think if a QB is here they probably take him.
The pick is Von Miller.
Cleveland Browns
I was all excited if I could have Peterson here and then I could have the Lions trade up and say we don't need to get to 12 anymore.
Possibilities:
Nick Fairley, Marcell Dareus, Da'Quan Bowers, Robert Quinn, Von Miller, and AJ Green.
One of these guys is going to be here. I think they would want Fairley, Dareus, Miller, Bowers, Green, and then Quinn.
So the pick is Da'Quan Bowers.
San Fransisco 49ers
I think a QB is going to be gone by now, so I am going to take Newton out of consideration. I also think other top 6 locks are Fairley, Dareus, and Peterson.
Possibilities:
Blaine Gabbert, Prince Amukamara, Robert Quinn, Da'Quan Bowers, and AJ Green.
I think they build around the QB they have. I know a lot of people have them taking Gabbert. I don't think they take him if he is here right now.
The pick is AJ Green.
Tennessee Titans
Possibilities:
Blaine Gabbert, AJ Green, Da'Quan Bowers, Robert Quinn, and Prince Amukamara.
I think a QB is the pick if there is one available. Which means I'm taking Gabbert and Bowers off the possibility list. I don't think this what they would want to happen.
The pick is Robert Quinn.
Dallas Cowboys
Possibilities:
Robert Quinn, Prince Amukamara, JJ Watt, AJ Green, Julio Jones, Tyron Smith, and Nate Solder.
This really could be anyone. I'm half tempted to every razorback under possibilities and have the front runner be Mallet. Character issues never seems to derail Jerry Jones. I honestly think this pick is not going to be Prince.
The pick is Julio Jones.
Washington Redskins
Possibilities:
Robert Quinn, Julio Jones, Prince Amukamara, Ryan Kerrigan, JJ Watt, an AJ Green.
I WR would be taken here, if there were any. AJ Green won't fall past the Redskins. There top choices are gone. This is a tough one and realistic Prince could continue to fall, but he won't get past the Texans sadly enough. The Redskins don't want this pick after seeing who is available.
The pick is traded to the Lions.
The Lions select Prince Amukamara.
Lions fans across America, we won the Super Bowww, I mean the draft? I mean we got our CB. Yes! we got our CB. Well, about the America part, we can dream we are all across America anyways.
We gave up a 4th round pick to move up according to the chart and also got a 5th and a 7th and they would still be getting the better trade according to the chart. Now it wouldn't take the 5th and 7th for me to give up a 4th rounder here.
Now Houston won't let Prince get past them unless someone like Miller is there and he won't be. Even if Julio is still there the Redskins will want to move back. They aren't worried about the Vikings and Lions taking Julio. They would be a little worried about Houston, but Houston will go defense.
Now I did this all based on what I think will happen, not how can we can Prince. You have to look at the Cowboys pick long and hard. I honestly believe believe they will go with Julio right now. I know I'm the only person out there with this thought. I could have put someone like Watt there and not received the criticism but think about it. We are familiar with Roy Williams, need I say anymore point one. Point two they run most their sets with 3-5 wide outs. They ended the year with 3 WR on the IR. I'm not joking when I say they ended the year with Austin Miles and Jason Witten. Dez Bryant is obviously be coming back next year. Honestly they don't have a number one WR. They like to worry about their offense. Their offense could use a tackle or a WR and I think Tyron Smith is also a very viable option here. Jerry Jones is going to fall in love with this SEC football player the more ESPN he watches and sees this guy.
Now before we get our hopes up to high. Prince ran an excellent 40 time and the knock on him was his speed. Teams will want him.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Who you taking?
We know the guys we are taking if for some reason they fall to us, but today I was asked who would I take in the first round. Now I would like to mention AJ Hawk is available for negotiations. I am going to looking at other drafts to base on who is available. I would like to mention that I have finally seen someone else put Cam as the first pick, I had it pre-combine.
Aldon Smith
All of sudden people have available. This guy is a beast and great athleticism. I know what your thinking. He's a 3-4 guy. Now I won't say this about every 3-4 LB, but him being a 3-4 guy makes him a safer pick. He's a safer pick because if he doesn't work out at LB, he can put his hand in the dirt and be a successful DE. This guy is a freak. While I don't know this, I read that he could have possibly been a top 5 pick had he gone back to school. I believe that looking at his frame he could bulk up and I don't know that we would want him to unless he plays DE. Now he has about an inch taller and about 5 pounds heavier than Ayers in comparison. In one mock draft I saw him as late as 28 and as early as 14. Now what has really hurt him is Julio. Which as much Julio would tremendously help this team, we need to start building a young athletic and physical defense.
Tyron Smith or Nate Solder
Now lets face there's a chance that Aldon isn't there. I think he is the guy you take if he is there that is most likely to be there. Now I'm all for trading down for Ayers to, but at 13 I think your looking Solder and Smith if Aldon is gone. I have to say I've been flip flopping in my head for a while about this one. I watched Solder in some of the drills and it was beautiful. Tyron sat out with a knee injury and I could change my mind after his pro day, but he is an excellent run blocker. I think they are both projects. I think Solder will become an excellent pass blocker in this league and Tyron will be more well rounded and be a good run blocker. Solder is a bigger project by far. Here's a guy who is extremely athletic, converted from TE. Who am I taking? I'm taking Smith, he's big and athletic. The measurements on him were great too by the way before he dropped out.
These aren't the best fit guys for us. We need to trade down and get value.
Aldon Smith
All of sudden people have available. This guy is a beast and great athleticism. I know what your thinking. He's a 3-4 guy. Now I won't say this about every 3-4 LB, but him being a 3-4 guy makes him a safer pick. He's a safer pick because if he doesn't work out at LB, he can put his hand in the dirt and be a successful DE. This guy is a freak. While I don't know this, I read that he could have possibly been a top 5 pick had he gone back to school. I believe that looking at his frame he could bulk up and I don't know that we would want him to unless he plays DE. Now he has about an inch taller and about 5 pounds heavier than Ayers in comparison. In one mock draft I saw him as late as 28 and as early as 14. Now what has really hurt him is Julio. Which as much Julio would tremendously help this team, we need to start building a young athletic and physical defense.
Tyron Smith or Nate Solder
Now lets face there's a chance that Aldon isn't there. I think he is the guy you take if he is there that is most likely to be there. Now I'm all for trading down for Ayers to, but at 13 I think your looking Solder and Smith if Aldon is gone. I have to say I've been flip flopping in my head for a while about this one. I watched Solder in some of the drills and it was beautiful. Tyron sat out with a knee injury and I could change my mind after his pro day, but he is an excellent run blocker. I think they are both projects. I think Solder will become an excellent pass blocker in this league and Tyron will be more well rounded and be a good run blocker. Solder is a bigger project by far. Here's a guy who is extremely athletic, converted from TE. Who am I taking? I'm taking Smith, he's big and athletic. The measurements on him were great too by the way before he dropped out.
These aren't the best fit guys for us. We need to trade down and get value.
As of a March 1st No trades pick 13
Who are you taking? I think there are guys if they fall you don't pass up and I think some of them are obvious while some might not be.
Don't pass on
A.J. Green - I know I'll get a lot of Millen comparisons here, but just wait till later and then you will really start ripping into me. This guy is a freak. He is no CJ, but he is AJ and this guy is just a few steps below CJ. Colleges players like this will not come around often. No way he falls.
Patrick Peterson - Explanation really needed? No way he falls.
Prince Amukamara - We might be dreaming. There is a small chance. DB are starting 40 times as I write. Prince's 40 time will really affect him. Two teams need to pass on him, but the won't.
Guys you take
Von Miller - To me he is a speed rush DE and did not change my opinion at the combine. He is still an athletic beast and you don't obviously take him, but probably based on the board if he is still there, you take him. He won't be there and that is fine, because he is not that good of fit. There's a reason I didn't put him in the don't pass on.
Aldon Smith - Another 3-4 type of guy. I think he had a good combine. I am not hearing his name much, but he impressed me. There is a decent chance he is there.
Da'Quan Bowers - The only reason he is not in the can't pass on is because we have a good DL. No chance he is there.
Robert Quinn - Guy is an athletic freak. Small chance he is there.
Tyron Smith - Who is the best tackle? If he is he will probably be here and wouldn't be a bad pick
Nate Solder - Same as Tyron. He will probably be here. He's a lot more raw.
Mark Ingram - I am no doctor and don't know Kevin Smith's position. I truly think Kevin will be back to where he was before and he was good player if you remember. If he is not in plans for the future you have to consider taking Ingram, because he will be there.
Julio Jones - This guy is worthy of the 13th pick. Why reach for a Akeem Ayers and get a late 1st round guy and pay him 13 money when we can get a 13 guy. Julio is a great player and has great body control. He would help out the Lions tremedously. He will be available. I know it is a sexy pick, but it is something that should be at least considered. I am not one that goes with the sexy pick, but go ahead and bash me on this one.
Lets face it the guys you take category just aren't looking good. The Lions need to trade this pick.
Don't pass on
A.J. Green - I know I'll get a lot of Millen comparisons here, but just wait till later and then you will really start ripping into me. This guy is a freak. He is no CJ, but he is AJ and this guy is just a few steps below CJ. Colleges players like this will not come around often. No way he falls.
Patrick Peterson - Explanation really needed? No way he falls.
Prince Amukamara - We might be dreaming. There is a small chance. DB are starting 40 times as I write. Prince's 40 time will really affect him. Two teams need to pass on him, but the won't.
Guys you take
Von Miller - To me he is a speed rush DE and did not change my opinion at the combine. He is still an athletic beast and you don't obviously take him, but probably based on the board if he is still there, you take him. He won't be there and that is fine, because he is not that good of fit. There's a reason I didn't put him in the don't pass on.
Aldon Smith - Another 3-4 type of guy. I think he had a good combine. I am not hearing his name much, but he impressed me. There is a decent chance he is there.
Da'Quan Bowers - The only reason he is not in the can't pass on is because we have a good DL. No chance he is there.
Robert Quinn - Guy is an athletic freak. Small chance he is there.
Tyron Smith - Who is the best tackle? If he is he will probably be here and wouldn't be a bad pick
Nate Solder - Same as Tyron. He will probably be here. He's a lot more raw.
Mark Ingram - I am no doctor and don't know Kevin Smith's position. I truly think Kevin will be back to where he was before and he was good player if you remember. If he is not in plans for the future you have to consider taking Ingram, because he will be there.
Julio Jones - This guy is worthy of the 13th pick. Why reach for a Akeem Ayers and get a late 1st round guy and pay him 13 money when we can get a 13 guy. Julio is a great player and has great body control. He would help out the Lions tremedously. He will be available. I know it is a sexy pick, but it is something that should be at least considered. I am not one that goes with the sexy pick, but go ahead and bash me on this one.
Lets face it the guys you take category just aren't looking good. The Lions need to trade this pick.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
DBs Combine
Here are the first round selection CBs. There really isn't much to say. Not much moving really happened.
Patrick Peterson
He had a great combine and really solidified himself as a top ten pick. We would have to trade up to get him.
Prince Amukamara
He ran an excellent time with a 4.43. I think we had a chance at getting Prince at 13 if he ran a slow time. If he had I could had convinced myself that he isn't flashy enough for Jerry Jones. There is a small chance, it players fall to teams that like certain players better. These is such a small chance. We would have to trade up to get him.
Jimmy Smith
We won't be taking him in the first round. Second round he will get consideration, but still may pass. He is getting good reviews as a CB, but terrible reviews as far as character.
Brandon Harris
Really kind of was non existent. I think right now he is a second rounder.
CBs are one of those areas where there are a lot of them. So many of them look extremely raw, but have the speed. Every once in a while you can run into a gem CB late in the draft. I think it looks best if the Lions draft a guy later, that will sadly be a developmental guy. He won't step on the field right away, but he will have high potential kind of guy once he gets coached up. That is where the interviews and background checks will come in big for the Lions to find out who can be easily coached, love for the game, and great work ethic.
Patrick Peterson
He had a great combine and really solidified himself as a top ten pick. We would have to trade up to get him.
Prince Amukamara
He ran an excellent time with a 4.43. I think we had a chance at getting Prince at 13 if he ran a slow time. If he had I could had convinced myself that he isn't flashy enough for Jerry Jones. There is a small chance, it players fall to teams that like certain players better. These is such a small chance. We would have to trade up to get him.
Jimmy Smith
We won't be taking him in the first round. Second round he will get consideration, but still may pass. He is getting good reviews as a CB, but terrible reviews as far as character.
Brandon Harris
Really kind of was non existent. I think right now he is a second rounder.
CBs are one of those areas where there are a lot of them. So many of them look extremely raw, but have the speed. Every once in a while you can run into a gem CB late in the draft. I think it looks best if the Lions draft a guy later, that will sadly be a developmental guy. He won't step on the field right away, but he will have high potential kind of guy once he gets coached up. That is where the interviews and background checks will come in big for the Lions to find out who can be easily coached, love for the game, and great work ethic.
Combine LBs
This seems as good as any to explain a few things about the 4-3 LBs. The strong side player is the sam, while the weak is called the will, and the middle is called the mike. Now in a true tampa 2 you want your playside LB on a run play to be ahead of the RB to make him turn up or continue to string it out of bounds. You want your mike running with the RB, so when he turns up a gap he's right there for a tackle. The non play side LB trails the RB for to be ready for the cutback. The two OLB on pass need to open to a 45 degree angle towards the side line and drop into coverage. The mike should back pedal in coverage. Where they all sit in their zone. Now in Cunningham's scheme he has the DL getting the RB on their way to a QB. They are always pass rushing. Now what that means is that the LBs will have to play in the bubble. Which means they are not protected basically by a Warren Sap as much, they are going to have OL getting to them. Which means they need to shed the blocker, get up in the hole, and make a tackle. A little more different then the scheme funneling around the mike. It's basically go make a play. The LBs are still reading their keys in front of them. If you would like to go over reads of a LB let me know. Here are the notes about the LBs now that they have gone.
Martez Wilson
I have to say I had no idea this guy was that fast. He ran a 4.49. Considering I watch a lot of the big ten players during the season, that is really not a good thing. He is that fast and didn't show up fast in games you really have to question is instincts. He is 6'3 and 250 pounds. I really think he solidified himself in the first round at the combine. He is a guy that will probably play the Sam position in a 4-3, but can play inside in a 3-4. So, this a guy that most teams could use. It makes sense to me that we really target 4-3 guys, because there are so many 3-4 defenses in the league that aren't going to take 4-3 guys and we could get them at an extremely good value. To me this is a guy you trade back and you feel he is the best PLAYER available you take him.
Colin Mcarthy
Mooch really praised this guy and I just don't see it. I think a lot of times coaches get impressed with numbers too much and I should watch the film on this guy before I bash him. I will save that for a later date. He started 4 years at Miami and produced. I don't really fall in love with production and I think that has to do with Ernie Sims. Ernie was praised as a great LB because of his tackles. I wanted the Lions to trade him while the league didn't know that he wasn't that good. All his tackles came 10 yards down field or more and he had the speed to outrun RBs. He made tackles, but not where you want them to be. Colin moved well in the drills and had some good numbers with a 4.65 40, 36 and 1/2" vertical, 238 pounds, and he is 6'1.
Von Miller
I would not say he helped himself, but he don't know that he hurt himself. His 40 time is what is going to save his butt I think running a 4.53. Really kind of struggled in the drills. He tripped up on bags and what he should look good at he looked awful in space. He had trouble opening up his hips and dropping back. You have to realize these guys have been training for this and only this. Personally he solidified my thoughts about him in my mind that he is a speed rusher of the end.
Akeem Ayers
This is the guy we're looking at getting. He is probably going to be a first rounder and hopefully we can move back and help ourselves out. He is a guy that would play sam, so that fits with a need. He is 6'2, 254 pounds, and ran a 2.88. Vertical, broad jump, and bench press were mediocre. I thought he looked great in the drills.
Justin Houston
Guy that is a fringe first rounder, but can play in a 4-3 or 3-4. He is 270 pounds and ran a 4.68. He doesn't look anywhere close to 270 pounds, he is just a brick of muscle clearly. Not a guy you want to get into a fight with. He bench pressed 225 30 times. Looked good in defending the run footwork drills. He really struggled on dropping back running to a point. Twice he tripped over his feet and there was only two teams he had to change direction. This is not the safest pick for the Lions as he might be a DE kind of guy. The Lions certainly shouldn't look at him in the first round, but if he falls in the second round you start to really consider. He caught the ball well and was able to drop back.
Casey Matthews
He is really going to have a tough time moving up rounds as he didn't compete. I think he is two small to play inside LB and He is a pass rusher like his brother. He is kind of a guy where do you put him. You give consideration to him in the fourth, but you definitely take him in the 5th. The 5th round it is okay to miss on. I think at worst you get a special teams all star.
Dontay Moch
WOW. He ran a 4.44 officially and had a vertical of 42". He ran with the DL and just stuck out like a sore thump. He is an outside LB in the NFL, no doubt about it.
Lets look at he had the best numbers of the LBs
40 yard dash
Martez Wilson 4.49 (Moch would have been first with a 4.44, but he ran with the DL)
Von Miller 4.53
Brain Rolle 4.56 (He is a smaller guy and really needed to run a good number)
Would like to mention the bigger Justin Houston tied for 7th with a 4.68
Bench Press
Ross Homan 32
Justin Houston 30
Mark Herzlich 29
Would like to mention the smaller Brian Rolle came in 4th with 28 reps
Vertical
Scott Lutrus 38
Akeem Dent 37.5
Von Miller 37
Justin Houston tied with Colin McCarthy at 36.5 putting them in 4th place
Broad Jump
Von Miller 10'6"
Justin Houston 10'5"
Martez Wilson 10'4"
Greg Jones came in 9th with 9'9" and Akeem Ayers 10th with 9'8"
3 Cone Drill
Von Miller 6.7
Mike Mohamed 6.7
Scott Lutrus 6.89
Brian Rolle 6.89
Justin Houston tied for 6th with a 6.95
20 yard shuttle
Nick Bellore 4.00 (Central Michigan guy)
Mike Mohamed 4.00
Von Miller 4.06
Greg Jones 9th with 4.27 and Akeem Ayers, Kelvin Sheppard, Martez Wilson, and James Thomas 10th with 4.28
60 yard shuttle
Von Miller 11.15
Scott Lutrus 11.25
Mike Mohamed11.25
Justin Houston 6th place with 11.46 and Greg Jones tied with James Thomas with a 11.84
For you guys about to scroll up and your asking yourself as you read this or before, Von Miller did not place in the top three in the bench press and that is it. It probably didn't take you guys to long to scroll up and see that if you scrolled up immediately after it was done.
There is big guys and fast guys in this LB group. For 270 pounds, I just cannot believe the numbers Houston put up. Colin McCarthy was around 4th a lot. I don't want to say it before I watch film on him cough Teddy cough Lehman cough.
Martez Wilson
I have to say I had no idea this guy was that fast. He ran a 4.49. Considering I watch a lot of the big ten players during the season, that is really not a good thing. He is that fast and didn't show up fast in games you really have to question is instincts. He is 6'3 and 250 pounds. I really think he solidified himself in the first round at the combine. He is a guy that will probably play the Sam position in a 4-3, but can play inside in a 3-4. So, this a guy that most teams could use. It makes sense to me that we really target 4-3 guys, because there are so many 3-4 defenses in the league that aren't going to take 4-3 guys and we could get them at an extremely good value. To me this is a guy you trade back and you feel he is the best PLAYER available you take him.
Colin Mcarthy
Mooch really praised this guy and I just don't see it. I think a lot of times coaches get impressed with numbers too much and I should watch the film on this guy before I bash him. I will save that for a later date. He started 4 years at Miami and produced. I don't really fall in love with production and I think that has to do with Ernie Sims. Ernie was praised as a great LB because of his tackles. I wanted the Lions to trade him while the league didn't know that he wasn't that good. All his tackles came 10 yards down field or more and he had the speed to outrun RBs. He made tackles, but not where you want them to be. Colin moved well in the drills and had some good numbers with a 4.65 40, 36 and 1/2" vertical, 238 pounds, and he is 6'1.
Von Miller
I would not say he helped himself, but he don't know that he hurt himself. His 40 time is what is going to save his butt I think running a 4.53. Really kind of struggled in the drills. He tripped up on bags and what he should look good at he looked awful in space. He had trouble opening up his hips and dropping back. You have to realize these guys have been training for this and only this. Personally he solidified my thoughts about him in my mind that he is a speed rusher of the end.
Akeem Ayers
This is the guy we're looking at getting. He is probably going to be a first rounder and hopefully we can move back and help ourselves out. He is a guy that would play sam, so that fits with a need. He is 6'2, 254 pounds, and ran a 2.88. Vertical, broad jump, and bench press were mediocre. I thought he looked great in the drills.
Justin Houston
Guy that is a fringe first rounder, but can play in a 4-3 or 3-4. He is 270 pounds and ran a 4.68. He doesn't look anywhere close to 270 pounds, he is just a brick of muscle clearly. Not a guy you want to get into a fight with. He bench pressed 225 30 times. Looked good in defending the run footwork drills. He really struggled on dropping back running to a point. Twice he tripped over his feet and there was only two teams he had to change direction. This is not the safest pick for the Lions as he might be a DE kind of guy. The Lions certainly shouldn't look at him in the first round, but if he falls in the second round you start to really consider. He caught the ball well and was able to drop back.
Casey Matthews
He is really going to have a tough time moving up rounds as he didn't compete. I think he is two small to play inside LB and He is a pass rusher like his brother. He is kind of a guy where do you put him. You give consideration to him in the fourth, but you definitely take him in the 5th. The 5th round it is okay to miss on. I think at worst you get a special teams all star.
Dontay Moch
WOW. He ran a 4.44 officially and had a vertical of 42". He ran with the DL and just stuck out like a sore thump. He is an outside LB in the NFL, no doubt about it.
Lets look at he had the best numbers of the LBs
40 yard dash
Martez Wilson 4.49 (Moch would have been first with a 4.44, but he ran with the DL)
Von Miller 4.53
Brain Rolle 4.56 (He is a smaller guy and really needed to run a good number)
Would like to mention the bigger Justin Houston tied for 7th with a 4.68
Bench Press
Ross Homan 32
Justin Houston 30
Mark Herzlich 29
Would like to mention the smaller Brian Rolle came in 4th with 28 reps
Vertical
Scott Lutrus 38
Akeem Dent 37.5
Von Miller 37
Justin Houston tied with Colin McCarthy at 36.5 putting them in 4th place
Broad Jump
Von Miller 10'6"
Justin Houston 10'5"
Martez Wilson 10'4"
Greg Jones came in 9th with 9'9" and Akeem Ayers 10th with 9'8"
3 Cone Drill
Von Miller 6.7
Mike Mohamed 6.7
Scott Lutrus 6.89
Brian Rolle 6.89
Justin Houston tied for 6th with a 6.95
20 yard shuttle
Nick Bellore 4.00 (Central Michigan guy)
Mike Mohamed 4.00
Von Miller 4.06
Greg Jones 9th with 4.27 and Akeem Ayers, Kelvin Sheppard, Martez Wilson, and James Thomas 10th with 4.28
60 yard shuttle
Von Miller 11.15
Scott Lutrus 11.25
Mike Mohamed11.25
Justin Houston 6th place with 11.46 and Greg Jones tied with James Thomas with a 11.84
For you guys about to scroll up and your asking yourself as you read this or before, Von Miller did not place in the top three in the bench press and that is it. It probably didn't take you guys to long to scroll up and see that if you scrolled up immediately after it was done.
There is big guys and fast guys in this LB group. For 270 pounds, I just cannot believe the numbers Houston put up. Colin McCarthy was around 4th a lot. I don't want to say it before I watch film on him cough Teddy cough Lehman cough.
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