The Lions SLIPPED an Offensive Guard right by us!!!

by Deadcable3 on Mar 25, 2009 10:43 PM EDT

Am I the only Lions fan... on the planet... that didn't know we picked up a Guard from W. Michigan, James Blair 6'4" 334. Who is this guy? I see they got him from Cincy but, c'mon... It didn't even make a posting about him and then blip here he is! Can someone tell me about this kid? Is he any good? Since he's coming from cincy... does he have a criminal record?

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I didn't hear that.

Where is the source that you heard it from?

by MatthewDC on Mar 25, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

Weird

Lions signed him on March 19, according to their transactions page. Also released Reggie Ball. Nobody ever reported on this. I’ll make a note on it tomorrow.

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by Sean Yuille on Mar 25, 2009 10:55 PM EDT reply actions

Source detroitlions.com

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by Deadcable3 on Mar 25, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions

He was a rookie last year played for Western. Was signed by Cinncy in late April and was waved on August 30th. Im guessing the guy won’t make the team. I am saddened by the release of Reggie Ball think he could of run the wildcat. Also the one roster move the Lions need to make is remove Cory Smith from their free agent list it looks very bad.

by Curse of Bobby Layne 50 Years Strong on Mar 25, 2009 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

Reggie couldn't throw from under center!

let alone in the wildcat haha

by marknebo on Mar 26, 2009 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Blair

undrafted free-agent. practice squad player at best. But he is big and only 23 years old.

by JCruize on Mar 25, 2009 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

He's a project

Looks like he has the size but needs a lot of coaching. Who knows? Maybe we’ll get lucky.

Here’s SI’s scouting report for him from last year:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2008/draft/players/20135.html

by wumanchu01 on Mar 25, 2009 11:29 PM EDT reply actions

Rod must have wrote that

it mentioned pad-level….scary

by JazzyBBP on Mar 25, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Lol

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by Sean Yuille on Mar 25, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I tried finding info on Blair

Looks like he’s spent his one year in the NFL on and off the Cincy practice squad.

While looking for info, I noticed that Cincinnati has signed former Lion QB J.T. O’Sullivan.

by James L on Mar 25, 2009 11:30 PM EDT reply actions

Solid Sign

Lets face it, our guards and will use a politically correct word in sucks. Tackles are not great but with Gosder and Yarno as our o-line coach, tackles are alright. Though backus wish would go cause he holds people 3 times a game min. I dont know what other people think but Rioala is pretty solid and decent at that position. Its the LG in particular and sorry i dont like Peterman. Blair’s got size and with alot of coaching, we could get more out of him than we ever did Manny Ramirez. Who? haha

by Liontotheextreme on Mar 26, 2009 9:19 AM EDT reply actions

I have alot of hope for Loper

Clean injury history, played back-up to probowl players in Tenn. Only 27, started a couple games for them.

When angry, count four; when very angry, swear. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894

by Leapin Lion on Mar 26, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

big boy and young may just work out at least for a backup to add depth and a fresh set of legs i mean any help for the OL is welcomed at this point. you can coach technique but you cant coach is size and ablility who knows cincy may not of even give a chance or a second look lets hope at this point he can at least be a descent backup

by WAYNIEMAN on Mar 26, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions

Gotta be an improvement ove Mulitalo

by JazzyBBP on Mar 26, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

Like other Lions fan

all Lions fans are optimistic until you take one in the jugular. But this is a solid sign, he has ability, size, needs to work on balance but most important young. I think he would be a decent backup until he shows us something and if its the Lions we are talking about its when Loper gets injured.

by Liontotheextreme on Mar 26, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

If LG is our biggest concern on the line

Why is there no discussion of taking a guard/ center (i like Mack personally) with the #20. Why, if we take Curry for instance, do we take the 5th best tackle rather than THE best interior lineman? I don’t get it. Why fixate on OT when we can get a better player at the position we need?

by WBL on Mar 26, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with you WBL

Take a dominate interior linemen with the 20th pick, take a DT with 33. If we are talking about Curry at #1. We can get Backus’ replacement next year. We will be drafting in the top 5 again.

When angry, count four; when very angry, swear. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894

by Leapin Lion on Mar 26, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

I have been saying...

the same thing. If the Lions go with Curry. There is Mack, Unger, and Duke Robinson. That could play LG today. All could be drafted in the 2nd round. No matter what the Lions do. They will still need to address the LG position in the next two years anyway.

by JCruize on Mar 26, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions