Walterfootball.com Previews the Lions for 2009
by NorthLeft12 on Jul 10, 2009 10:19 AM EDT
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PrintThe WalterFootball.com site is a favourite of mine. I find it entertaining, informative, and responsive to its readers. They are currently reviewing all the NFL teams and projecting their 2009 results based on their offseason moves to date. Here is the link to the story: http://www.walterfootball.com/offseason2009det.php
Here is his final analysis on the Lions in 2009:
2009 Detroit Lions Analysis: As mentioned earlier, the Lions were largely competitive in the final 12 games of the 2008 season, losing eight of those contests by 10 points or less. With the upgrades Detroit made to the secondary and linebacking corps, could they win about half of those battles this year? I would think so.
And that's precisely why I was so disappointed in the Lions' draft. If they had obtained a solid left tackle, which would have allowed Matt Stafford to play this season, they would have been one of my upstart squads. Instead, Detroit will have to sit Stafford and spend next year's top-10 selection on a blind-side protector instead of a dominant defensive player like Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy or Carlos Dunlap.
Projection: 3-13 (4th in NFC North)
Please read the whole article, Walter Cherepinsky has put a great deal of work into detailing all the off season moves of the Lions. I don't agree with a number of his points and evaluations but it is something to think about and talk about prior to training camp. Comments?
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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3-13 is too low.
Just another writer that’s got his panties in a bunch because the Lion’s didn’t take a left tackle. My argument would be that Stafford/Culpepper got a 6th lineman, and the perfect check down target.
BIGW, I agree with you that this draft decision is being overblown.
While I would have liked to see the Lions take Oher at #20, it is extremely unlikely that he would immediately start at Left Tackle like Eugene Monroe will in Jacksonville. Funny, but the other two big tackles [Smith & Smith] are apparently being converted to Right Tackles. Jason temporarily and Andre permanently [? not sure how anyone can know that, just speculation right now]. Here is my source for that info; http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/ross_tucker/07/08/rookies/index.html
I also agree that his estimate of the Lions final record is a little pessimistic. I have to confess that I predicted 3 and 13 myself in May, but have become more optimistic based on the later FA pick ups and apparent progress of some of our rookies. I will go to 5 and 11 now with a likely change in that prediction based on our roster and starters at the end of training camp.
by NorthLeft12 on Jul 10, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Not sure why you are projecting Gosder to LT.
I checked on five different prospect scouting reports [scout.com, cbssports, si.com,fftoolbox, associated Content sports] and all of them said he was restricted to the right tackle position.
He played LT at BC for his entire senior year.....
The year that Matt Ryan set all the passing records.
When Backus is too old
Then the Lion’s will have a nicely groomed Cherilus to move to the left side. And hopefully Murtha will be ready for a starting right tackle job at that point.
Rev
I think I just had deja vu didn’t we have this talk when we signed Jansen.? And to all T I double Ga rrrrrrrrrrsssssssss fans out there WAY TO GO getting Inge into the All-star game he sure as heck deserved it this year.
Yes, I read that.
I am just telling you what every scouting report I read on him said. They all make it clear that his foot speed and lateral movement is not considered good enough to play LT at an NFL level. It may be possible that he may make the move, but I would like to hear that from the Lions organization.
by NorthLeft12 on Jul 10, 2009 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Very true
He was not projected as a LT in the NFL….but I personally believe he would have been an upgrade over Backus at LT if we had drafted a solid rookie RT. Maybe not, but I think he could do well as a LT from what I have seen of him. I would also like to hear that the FO thinks he could make that switch, because that would mean we do not have to worry about drafting a LT early in round 1. It’s much easier to get a good RT.
I don't think the
3-13 will be accurate, but I still have to agree with not taking a LT at 20 was a mistake. Grew is a beast, but with the depth at the TE position in the draft this year I think Oher would have been the right pick. But all is in the past and we should hopefully shore up a LT early in next years draft. Or as Kdawg has mentioned in the past, if you could get Gos to slide over to the left side that would be ideal.
The 2010 draft is extremely deep in quality LTs
Russell Okung of Okla. St., Trent Williams of Okla., and Bryan Bulaga of Iowa are three of the highest rated prospects. We should get a shot at one of them.
The only thing I don’t like about picking one of them is passing on some outstanding defensive linemen like Suh DT from Nebraska, McCoy DT from Okla., Dunlap DE from Florida, and many others. Might get lucky and see one or two of them drop to the second round.
Here is a 2010 Mock Draft; http://www.walterfootball.com/draft2010.php
by NorthLeft12 on Jul 10, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Ideally...
We could trade down and add a 4th-5th pick to get two picks in the 20-30 range and snag a LT and a DT and then focus on the secondary and LB’s the rest of the draft, that would be ideal and we would have all the Millen era issues addressed. We’ll have excellent depth and the majority of our starters will be under 30 and well have quality veteran depth.
I would think
That in this system with LS and RS we might take 1 of 2 Safeties again next year with a high pick.There are 2 that are suppose to be the second coming of sliced bread. Can’t think of their names but one plays for USC and the other is at Tenn.
Taylor May and Eric Berry
Mays is great, and will be a top 10 pick baring injury…but Berry will probably play his senior year, so he wont be coming out…I only say that because he can’t stop talking about winning an SEC championship with the Vols…and that wont happen this year (Tebow)
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Jul 11, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
in the mid to late rounds of the draft...
you have to select players who can come in and learn the system from the vets and replace them when the time comes. Look at teams like Pittsburgh, they draft players and then sit them for a couple of years and let them develop and learn the system from the stars and once the stars are too old or too expensive they are in a position where the cheaper younger guys can come in and start and become pro-bowlers.
It’s the only way to be a consistant contender and we can’t expect Foote and Petersen to start for the next 5 years, and if we wait, we end up being forced to use the 1st and 2nd round picks on LB’s, when we may have other needs.
by lions_sucker on Jul 12, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions
2010 draft
love to see Lions somehow pick up a 2nd first round pick…
imagine…
Pick #1 Taylor Mays (to combine with Louis Delmas) would make our “right” & “left” safety spots be shut down positions
Pick #2 LT…whoever it is will go a long way to solidifying & laying the foundation of a strong OL for the coming years
Honestly.....
I think DT will be the biggest team need next year….I hope the draft will be deep at that position.
Walterfootball is one of the sites I visit on my daily rounds
It’s a good site and I enjoy reading it, although, their is quite a bit of Lion bashing. (eg. calling Lions game bye weeks for the other team). The preview was pretty solid, although I thought the overall record was pretty low.
On the topic of next year’s draft, I like the idea of picking up a second pick somewhere in that 20-30 range. Hopefully, we can pick up one of the top DT’s with our first pick and then hit a strong LT with the second. Taylor Mays would be nice but I see our needs at DT and T being much more pressing.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
Next year's draft...
We have to get our OWN version of the William’s wall. If a team can’t run the ball against us, that team essentially becomes the 2008 Lions, pass heavy and predictable.
OT's
IMHO Gos will never be anything but a RT. He will be lucky to beat out Jon Jenson for that position. Backus will start again at LT backed up by Salaam. I see Loper and Peterman starting at guard.
I, unlike most, feel the O-line is greatly improved. Mainly due to the addition of good blocking tight ends and good solid backups to give some cohesion to the line. It seemed to me every game last year we had a new line. Review some games and you’ll see a lot of missed assignments especially the left TE and LG. I’m not a Backus lover but on three of his sacks you can clearly see that it was a missed assignment by someone else.
I think Loper will be the best pickup. He was the first backup for the entire Titans line. He is just coming into his prime and is a valued special teams player. Go to the Titans fan sites, they are not happy that he left.
NYLF, I agree with you pretty much right down the line.
Just not 100% about Cherilus. I think he will be a steady, if not great Right Tackle for us for the next eight or ten years.
agree...
I think Backus is mediocre, but looks terrible because he’s never had anyone next to him at LG. If Loper can become the starter that Schwartz believes he can then the blindside should be solidified this year and next at least. Last year we had Oline guys miss games that usually don’t miss games, and like you said, we have solid, quality backups this year. But I also agree with NorthLeft in the fact that Cherilus started to mature alot at the end of the year and look better, and I think the new coaching staff will bring him up to par for years to come.
by lions_sucker on Jul 13, 2009 8:06 AM EDT up reply actions
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