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.
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