Draft some damn cornerbacks in 2010

by n4ry4 on Oct 19, 2009 11:44 AM EDT

Since we just had a "look forward to the draft" kind of game...

From seeing how horrible we've been doing on pass coverage, I wouldn't be disappointed if we drafted a corner in <em>both </em>of the first two rounds, or at least in rounds 1 and 3. Get two young guys at the same position to motivate each other.

We will have, probably, somewhere between the 4th and 8th overall pick. That's a position it's pretty easy to trade down from (unlike the #1 overall was). For example, in 2009, Cleveland traded down from #5 to #17 and got an extra mid-second-rounder plus a handful of players. In 2008, New England traded down just three spots from 7th to 10th and got a high third-rounder.

Now that we finally have a front office and coaching staff where 2nd- and 3rd-rounders aren't a foregone waste of a pick, I would LOVE to pick up an additional future starting-material guy. Lord knows we need it, we have so little depth at too many positions.

The average selection position of the top cornerback in the past ten drafts (2000-2009) was 12.3. Obviously the value of Joe Haden or whoever the top CB ends up being could be valued anywhere, but if we assume historical averages, and we need to trade down to about the #12 spot, using the traditional draft value chart, and assuming the team with the 12th overall pick has the 12th pick in each round (a "mid-high" pick in each round):

If we end up at #4...Trading down from the #4 (1800) overall to the #12 (1200) overall would net us something like an extra mid-high 2nd-round pick (#44) and a 4th, 5th, and 6th. Or, we'd trade down from #4 to #12, and we'd get the 2nd-rounder (#44) plus their 3rd (#76) for our 5th and 6th.

This might be too optimistic. The team at #12 would have to REALLY want somebody specific at #4 to give up all of that. Heck, I'd trade from #4 to #12 and just take the extra 2nd rounder, but the more we could get, the better.

If we end up at #8...Trading down from the #8 (1400) overall to the #12 (1200) overall would net us something like an extra mid-high 3rd-round pick (#76), but we may have to bundle a 7th or 6th-rounder to make it happen.

I know, too much depends on who-wants-who and who's-available-where, but this is a scenario I'd really like to see, and it's not too far-fetched. We move down a few spots in the first round, pick up an extra 2nd- or 3rd-round pick, take the top corner in the draft, use the extra 2nd- or 3rd-round pick on another starting-quality corner, and use our other 2nd- and 3rd-rounders on BPA D-Line, unless there's a big OL available in rounds 2-3 with a lot of upside who could play Guard until he eventually/hopefully replaces Backus.

Of course, I won't complain if we end up with a big lineman, like Okung or Suh, with our first pick. But I really want some secondary players who can cover. It shouldn't be too much to ask. Plus, 4 picks in the first 3 rounds would be nice too. Thoughts?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit or its writers. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.

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Comments

Still too early

to even think about draft strategy. We may not have a chance of making the playoff but it’s important to evaluate the guys we have. Dependent on what we see from the young guys on our d-line could greatly affect what we do, not to mention what kind of pick we’ll have.

by seven.twentytwo on Oct 19, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions

For the cornerback position, we don't have "young guys" to evaluate

Anthony Henry is in his 9th year.
Phillip Buchannon is in his 8th year.
William James is in his 9th year.
DeMarcus Faggins is in his 8th year.
Eric King is in his 5th year, I suppose.
Kevin Hobbs is younger, but he’s been just an on & off the practice squad guy.

Not the youngest bunch, and none of them really has much upside to speak of at this point.

Yeah, it’s a long way to the draft, but cornerback is one massive, glaring need, and I hope we get two of them in the first few rounds.

by n4ry4 on Oct 19, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

I’ve been saying they need to draft, trade for, buy a secondary for years. We’ve got an amazing set of LB’s and we’re solid with Delmas at Safety. I’d like to see an upgrade at CB next and some pass rush from the D-line.

by vanman on Oct 19, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions

draft

Round one, if we pick at #4, is the best lineman available. OL, DL, DE…these are the studs we need. Many pro bowl DB’s have been taken in the second and third rounds, and I think we should pick two DB’s in these rounds. Rounds 4 and on are best talent available…
Defense gives you the best chance to win games…especially for rebuilding teams. Witness Denver and Miami…

by Brefstink on Oct 19, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

I put up a Lions 2010 draft on Mocking The Draft [just three rounds]

Link: http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2009/10/14/1085530/how-to-fix-the-detroit-lions-in

I had the Lions finishing with the seventh pick and taking Eric Berry S in round #1 and Trevard Lindley CB in round #2. I also liked Kyle Wilson or Javier Arenas as CBs in the second round. Those two are great punt returners as well.

Although if the Lions have a shot at Russell Okung LT in round #1, it will be very hard to pass him by. Ditto for N. Suh.

I like n4ry4’s idea of trading down from there and picking up another second rounder, at least. Nate Allen from USF is another talented safety who looks to be second round material and there are a few other CBs [D. Warren, I. Dowling, C. Butler] who could be second or third round prospects.

A final note, I DO NOT WANT THE #1 PICK AGAIN!

to #8 will be fine.

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 19, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

#1 pick

ditto.

Fortunately, even after our brutal first 6 games, we have one more win at this point than Tampa Bay and Tennessee, we still have home games against Cleveland and St Louis, and KC and Oakland are still out there floundering in the AFC.

We may even have a shot at edging out one of the many current 2-win teams out there like Washington or Buffalo.

I have to think that out of all those teams, the odds are in our favor to beat at least beat three of them down the draft board and end up no higher than #4 overall. I don’t want to speak too soon, though.

by n4ry4 on Oct 19, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

That should say "#4 to #8"

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 19, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

The past two years I've said

“could this secondary get any worse?” We got Leigh Bodden, and I figured we’d be better. We weren’t. We got Buchanon and Henry this year, and I figured we couldn’t be worse. We are. Nothing about this team is more frustrating.

Read my Lions analysis at: http://www.studyofsports.com/?cat=142

by simscity on Oct 19, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

CB's I think are work while....no all 1st round picks, but have at least a punchers chance of being good...

First of all…

Patrick Robinson, Florida State and Kyle Wilson, Boise State are the best of the group…with Joe Haden, Florida being very good too, but he is a Junior.

I also like Javier Arenas, Alabama Trevard Lindley, Kentucky, Alterraun Verner, UCLA, Walter Thurmond III, Oregon and Syd’Quan Thompson, California

All should be top 64 picks…Only Robinson/Wilson/Haden would be worth a early 1st round pick……

This all of course very early in the year, and before the combine.

http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/

by CapitolLions on Oct 19, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

I have been reading that P. Robinson is not having a good season and is slipping.

I saw that on Walterfootball.com. They concede he has the physical tools, just has not shown how he can use them. NFLDRAFTSCOUT.com has Robinson rated the #1 corner for 2010.

Thurmond of Oregon also suffered a serious knee injury and is out for the season.

I am sure a lot will change between now and April.

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 19, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Walt Thurmond is still good...Cromartie had a knee injury too

http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/

by CapitolLions on Oct 19, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

trading down to get a cb?

that wouldnt make sense. the 2010 class has a good bunch of corners, we could find one in the second round. i say we take nebraska dt ndamukong suh if we get a top 6 pick. i dont think he will make it farther than that. should we make it out of the top 10, we need help on the line of scrimmage, either side. okung is top 10, but what about bulaga from iowa? he’s a solid player. i still think the lions could salvage a 6-10 season.

by bighitter5 on Oct 19, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

It would make sense if the value is right

If we’re sitting there at #8, with both of the linemen we wanted already off the board, and we can make the right offer to move down, get an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick, and get the top CB in the draft, somewhere around #10 or #15, wherever, since it’s a position of great need, I’d be all for it.

by n4ry4 on Oct 19, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Something that will help the Lions trade down is all the teams that need QBs.

A partial list: Washington, St. Louis, Buffalo, Carolina, San Fran, Oakland, Tennessee all will [may] be in the market for a first round QB. If Bradford, Locker, and Clausen come out, some teams may want the first shot at their guy. Tebow and McCoy will also generate some interest.

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 19, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

delmas

delmas needs to tackle a little more instead of looking for the big hit

by timmy20 on Oct 19, 2009 7:07 PM EDT reply actions

I've been pretty happy with his play

He’s second in tackles for the team behind Foote. He does seem to eye the big hit more often than not though.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on Oct 19, 2009 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Honestly...

He has dialed it down some, and is wrapping up more…but you don’t want to cage the animal too much…I like his killer instict

http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/

by CapitolLions on Oct 20, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the idea of trading down

Personally, if we are around pick 4 or 5 and Suh and or Okung are off the board I say we trade down and get an extra pick or two. I know I’ll be keeping a very close eye on the corner prospects this draft season.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on Oct 19, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

For me, it's Suh, Okung, and S Eric Berry (IMO the best player in the draft)....the Big 3

If all 3 are gone by the time we pick (#8?), trade down.

What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.

by GRLion on Oct 19, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. Not sure what order I would rank these three guys though.

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 20, 2009 6:03 AM EDT up reply actions

I have a feeling Berry man not come out though...

http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/

by CapitolLions on Oct 20, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

No offense, n4ry4

but I don’t even want to think about discussing the draft. Even on the worst seasons, we usually wait until late November. Can’t take it……

by DrewsLions on Oct 19, 2009 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

sorry, I guess it’s a knee-jerk reaction to games like Sunday.

I’ll star becoming excited to beat St Louis as soon as we start getting good news on guys back to practice from injury over the next few days, I will.

by n4ry4 on Oct 19, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I know, man...

Sunday was a real downer. Lots of season left though. We’ll get to the draft soon enough as I’m sure we’ll be looking at another top 4-8 pick. It’s gonna be tough handling all these contracts in a few years. Not that we don’t need the talent…..

by DrewsLions on Oct 19, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

# 1 pick

taylor mays. 2nd rounder: O-tackle. 3rd: CB

by beef99 on Oct 19, 2009 9:01 PM EDT reply actions

If we draft in the top 5, no to mays unless we move down some...

Hes good, but he isn’t worth top 5 money…unless he is planning on returning kicks and punts too…for TDs HAHA

http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/

by CapitolLions on Oct 20, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

It wont matter who we have at CB

If u dont get pressure on the QB thats are main need!!!!!!!!!

by zeke313 on Oct 20, 2009 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

5 sacks and a forced fumble.... how much pressure do you want?

by CLF on Oct 20, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

thats great but when u dont put up points

those stats are kinda useless aren’t they??

by zeke313 on Oct 21, 2009 3:22 AM EDT up reply actions

It's the offense's job to get points

The defense got good pressure yesterday, like they’re supposed to, which I think was CLF’s point.

We need corners who can cover and we need a pass rush. Right now, our pass rush is definitely better than our secondary (though I’d still like to see it improve)

by n4ry4 on Oct 21, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions

right on.

by CLF on Oct 21, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Yea they got pressure against the worst OL in

football, we still need help in every phase of the game..

by zeke313 on Oct 21, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Detroit is 11th best in the league in sacks/pass play right now

from ESPN.com stats:

Detroit has 15 sacks on 213 pass plays (pass plays = pass attempts + sacks, because a sack prevents a pass)

15/213 = 7.04% sack rate

Also, we have the NFL worst opponent passer rating. And we only have 4 interceptions, one of them by a linebacker.

What does it mean when your defense has the 11th best sack ratio, but you’re allowing an opponent passer rating average of 118.7 and not making picks? Your pass rush is okay, but your secondary is terrible at coverage.

by n4ry4 on Oct 22, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions