Larry Foote Officially Signs with Lions
by Sean Yuille on May 6, 2009 12:22 PM EDT
in Detroit Lions Roster
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PrintThe Lions have confirmed that they have signed Larry Foote to a one-year deal. Foote is now officially a member of his hometown team and likely is already the starter at middle linebacker. With him, Ernie Sims, and Julian Peterson, the Lions' group of linebackers looks pretty darn good. The secondary is also much improved. Now the Lions just need to upgrade the defensive line and this defense will be ready to roll.
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Yeah, me too
I think he would be a solid part of our run defense – playing DE on 1st and 2nd downs and DT on 3rd downs.
now work on that O-line....
Levi jones was just cut by the bengals as they replaced him with andre smith….would this help strengthen the left side, would it be worth it
by NCHonoluluBlue&Silver on May 6, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions
Jones is injury-prone
That’s why he was cut. He used to be great, but he can’t stay healthy anymore.
i figured there was a reason, but at a cheap price might be worth a shot….
by NCHonoluluBlue&Silver on May 6, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
He'd fit right in then...
Given the past formula of patchwork OL, it seems like they’re trying to go younger, as they’ve added quite a few OTs & OGs, most can play other spots or will learn, possibly in an attempt at finding OL that can stay healty. I think Ephraim Salaam still may be a good fit, he’s a monster OT. 6’8" 340.
I am impressed with the roster overhaul in such a short time...
It shows what competent leadership can do. But I was excited when we signed Woody, Pollard, Kennedy in 05. So, it’s on Schwartz (who I Love) to get this moving in the right direction.
When angry, count four; when very angry, swear. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894
Hopefully it's positive
Like you said, we’ve all been excited about changes in the past, that didn’t quite pan out. Last year there were alot of moves made (by Millen), but the results were adverse, as we all know to well. But, I like most of the changes seen so far, let’s hope that translates onto the field & we aren’t just Preseason champs again. I think they’re on the right track now. Keep up the good work.
It's crazy
how much can change in one offseason with a coach and a GM on the same page. We go from Sims- Lenon-Lewis to all of a sudden having Sims-Foote-Peterson! I know we gave up Corey to get J.P. but well worth it to me.Corey never lived up to the hype and definetly not up to his contract. Thanks for the great work brass!
I feel...dare I say...optimistic
I just hope it’s not the same kind of blind, sure to be let down optimism that I feel every off-season.
I am feeling optimistic as well, but this is about the time every year where we say “It looks like we could make the playoffs this year.”
This is so awesome... it's like i'm watching the daily shows version of the draft..
by MatthewDC on Apr 25, 2009 7:35 PM EDT
My point exactly
It feels like we’re moving in the right direction, but this time of year is when the optimism always starts. I guess we just have to hope it’s different this time.
I'm optimistic too
But my optimism is that we can win 5 games ;-)
Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog
Ditto Sean I say 4. Could I see them taking 5 or 6? Now i'm drinking the Kool Aid..
When angry, count four; when very angry, swear. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894
I would be absolutely ecstatic over 8 and 8, so I would say 5 wins is about where my optimism is right now.
This is so awesome... it's like i'm watching the daily shows version of the draft..
by MatthewDC on Apr 25, 2009 7:35 PM EDT
Tough Schedule
We got a pretty tough schedule this year, since it was based on our 7-9 season two years ago. I think a maximum of 4 games is realistic.
Schedules are based off the previous season, not two seasons ago
But it still does have a lot of games we just aren’t likely to win at all.
Pretty sure they're based on two season ago.
Anyone know for sure. I could be wrong but thought I heard that.
They're scheduled years in advance on a rotation
And then there are two games based on where you finish in the standings the previous season.
Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog
This is the last year
This is the last year of that program they were going to review it for the futrue, ( i liked it alot ), plus if they are going to expand the season that format wil not work again. http://www.detroitlions.com/news/index.cfm?cont_id=73110&right_include=/includes/news_model.cfm
Same here
As I noted in a previous thread, there appear to be five games that are more or less winnable from where we stand right now. Anything above four this year, and I’ll be thrilled. Of course, my Kool-Aid drinking side keeps telling me that we could go 8-8. I try to keep him quiet. :)
My real optimism is for the future, not just this coming season. It feels like we’re making the right moves to put the blocks in place to build a contender. We just have to keep on this track.
Right...
expectations should be tempered to be optimistic in comparison to our 2008 results. Five to seven wins is a pretty solid upgrade from the team we fielded last year.
Yes, Going Undefeated in the Preseason was the ultimate fake out!
I knew we should have had the parade then!
This is the time of year I love
When I start believing that we have a shot at the playoffs.
The FO seems like they are making solid moves and real upgrades on the roster. The coaching staff seems to know how to make a great team from non-star players (see Tennessee last year). Now I hope these smoke and mirrors turn out as good as the decision to not draft a MLB worked out.
Go Lions!
Just fix the D-line and I'll be Happy
Bullocks Delmas
Henry Buchanon
Sims Foote Peterson
White Jackson Darby Avril
Okay
When I wrote that out, there were nice spaces and it looked like a 4-3 Defensive alignment. Use your imagination.
I understood
Took me a sec though.
This is so awesome... it's like i'm watching the daily shows version of the draft..
by MatthewDC on Apr 25, 2009 7:35 PM EDT
I wouldn't be suprised if Hawaii 5-0 played a big part this year.
When angry, count four; when very angry, swear. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894
Feeling good about the direction
Being optomistic feels good so I am going with it. Week 1 … the first time we stop a Saints drive on 3rd down I am going to go nuts! I cant wait!
why was foote let go?
Not to be a downer, but are the negatives on Foote? I read that he can’t pass-cover anymore but he still thinks he can. Is that the only ding?
I am guardedly optimistic now about the team. (I almost switched to the Dolphins, at least for this year.) I’m thinking we might win the first two games. I already had us down for beating Minnesota but now I’m thinking we can beat the Saints at their place. I’m thinking we can possibly win seven games and keep building from there next year. Before the draft (not that the picks alone changed my thinking) I had us down for three wins. Things are definitely looking up.
Timmons took his spot...
And that’s how the steelers work…. they rarely resign veterans.
by CLF on May 6, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry to rain on your parade but......
Farrior is 34.5 years old and Harrison is 31. They do resign veterans, but they do it very carefully. I think they were over budget for their linebackers. Woodley and Timmons look very good and they were not prepared to pay Foote starter money to sit on the bench.
You see what happens is
The Steelers keep drafting defensive players year after year. Stockpiling. Finding new pieces. As one piece gets a little older and/ or looks for a new contract, they have another right behind him, ready to replace him and the defense doesn’t miss a beat.
Just look at the LBs they’ve let go over the last 10 – 15 years. G Lloyd, C Brown, J Porter, Foote (and I know I’m missing a few others in there). They had an immediate replacement for all of them. How? Because their priority has always been a kick ass defense. It’s how they prioritize. Oline and Defense. Now… if only… ah never mind…. no need to rehash.
by WBL on May 6, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Their priority is defense
Their system works. No argument there whatsoever.
O-Line, not as much. Check this out. It’s interesting to see how sub-par their o-line is considering they’ve won two Super Bowls in four years. There’s a reason for the saying: defense wins championships.
Yeah. True.
That’s because they had some retirements and losses over the last few years (like Hartings, Faneca) that are hard to recover from. But prior to that it was one of their strengths and one of their focuses (foci? focii? whatever).
by WBL on May 6, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
As a Steeler fan, Michigan fan, and Metro-Detroiter
Foote was let go because he asked to be let go. It appeared that Timmons was going to take most of the playing time, and Foote wanted to play more,even if that meant elsewhere.
There’s nothing physically wrong with him, and I believe this was a dumb decision by the Steelers (a rare one, at that).
But he’s still a baller, no doubt about it, and you got yourselves a good LB in Foote.
Also, to add to the list of LBs we’ve released, there was Kevin Greene, Levon Kirkland, Ernie Holmes, Jason Gildon, Kendrell Bell, and Clark Haggans, all of them very, very productive LBs.
This is bulls%&$.
I’m starting the bring back Paris Lenon protest. We don’t need no productive LB who can tackle. What fun is that? It’s like playing golf from the middle of the fairway. No adventure.
lol....
imitation Tommy Chong voice Hey man….I didn’t know that John Lennon was is Paris this year….heck yeah we should bring him back man!! Oh, you are talking about a linebacker? What does music have to do with the telephone company man? Since when did Tiger Woods have to worry about tackling man? I thought the fairway was a car that Ford used to make in the 60’s bro….and it definitely wasn’t big enough to play golf out of. Who likes golf anyway man? Let’s protest golf man. Golf….that’s a funny word man….
+1 WBL
by KDawg on May 6, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Everyone knows there's nothing like Paris in the fall.
by Runnin' Rebel on May 7, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I Think He's Going To Be #55
Thats what it says on the Lions official roster. I guess Follet is going to have his number changed.
I'm glad we get Foote the year we play the AFC North
A seven-year starter who’s gone against four of the teams we play against twice a year for most of his career oughta help us too.
Liking this move
ok, so Foote isn’t the same linebacker that starred for the Steelers in their 05-06 championship run, but even a championship backup who still contributed a lot to their 08-09 run is a big upgrade over what the Lions had there before. Add to that the fact of the homecoming, and there’s potential there for a couple of good years before a draftee from next year’s class is ready to take over….
He was the starter
Timmons was still the backup, and also played on passing downs. The Steelers like his athleticism, and they only let Foote go because of cap reasons and the fact that they have a guy that they feel can step right in and replace Foote, who is 5 years younger.
Bahaha
Jimmy “I mean, I’m a happily married man, but it doesn’t hurt to look…”
I want a Jim Schwartz jersey
HOORAY!!
I mean, I knew it was coming, but to have it official now makes it better. We know have one of the better LB corp’s in the league. Now, let’s get this season started.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
foote!!
kudos to the front management for getting the deal done!! now i wont be as angry for not drafting maualuga or lauranitis.
i hear the knock on foote is that he cant cover the pass, but then again, there aren’t too many middle backers that excel against the pass. what im excited about is the tenacity he will bring against the run!! with foote in the middle, delmas at free safety, this defense is really starting to take shape. all we need is some pressure from our d-tackles, and i think the season may not be so bad.
as a long time lions fan, this has arguably been one of the best offseasons in recent memory!
thank jesus!
I was losing confidence- if Mahew didnt get this done, I would have doubted his effectiveness for the rest of his lions tenure
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