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Detroit Lions' Cut List: Hits, Misses, and Surprises

Detroit now knows who will be taking the field against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday.

After the Lions’ cuts, waiver wire acquisitions, and more cuts, the field of 53 is set… for now.

As is the case with every cut list, there are some (mostly) good cuts, some question marks, and a few scrappy players who just drew the short straw.

In case you don’t know which is which, here’s the entire cut list (via NFL.com), broken down into those three categories.

 

The Good

 

Brooks Bollinger - Nothing more than a placeholder while Drew Stanton and Daunte Culpepper were on the shelf for the final preseason game…unless Culpepper becomes trade bait later on this season, then he’s a phone call from being No. 3.

Billy Cundiff - Capable, but no Jason Hanson. Hanson is expected back for the New Orleans game, which leaves no room for Cundiff.

Ramzee Robinson - Had a good run for a 255th "Mr. Irrelevant" pick, and his play had actually picked up some since he was drafted. But he had really only gone from atrocious to below average, without much more upside.

Ikaika Alama-Francis - Too weak and small as a tackle. Too big and slow as an end. Never developed into a better player or improved his technique. Another second-round bust for Matt Millen.

Milford Brown - Veteran guard wasn’t expected to make a lot of noise, and didn’t. Nobody will even notice.

Sean Conover - Came into camp as a third-year converted tight end after spending the first two with the Tennessee Titans as a defensive end.  Conversion unsuccessful.

Keary Colbert - Single-handedly made every Lions quarterback look worse than they were.

Dropped passes, tipped passes (turned into interceptions), and falling down on routes (allowing interceptions) were all themes of Colbert’s preseason. Had he avoided the cut list, rabid fans with pitchforks and torches would have gathered outside Ford Field.

Zach Follett - I like the kid, you like the kid, and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham likes the kid. His attitude is right. The physical skills? Not so much.

That being said, he may have some future potential, and the Lions retained him on the practice squad. If they hadn’t, this would have been a "bad" cut.

Calvin Lowry - Quiet signing, quiet performance, quiet release.

Rufus Alexander - Would have gotten a second or third look on last year’s Lions team. This year, couldn’t find his niche with a very good Detroit linebacker corps.

Cletis Gordon - Was cut by the Chargers and Texans before finding his way to Detroit. Didn’t show anything worth keeping around.

Tristan Davis - I went on the record as saying he might have earned himself a look with his long touchdown run in Buffalo. I was right… but that look landed him on the practice squad.

Speed is always a good thing, but Davis isn’t ready yet. The Lions did well to leave him off the 53-man roster, and equally well to retain his rights.

Adam Jennings - Showed a flash or two, but not nearly enough. Three unimpressive catches in preseason is not good enough for a 5′9″ wide receiver.

Lydon Murtha - Seventh-round tackle selection didn’t show well enough to warrant a roster spot above the veteran group of Jeff Backus, Ephraim Salaam, and Jon Jansen.

Will stick around on the practice squad for now, perhaps to work his way up long-term.

 

The (Potentially) Bad

Dane Looker - Seemed versatile enough to earn a roster spot somewhere.

Was a decent receiver, where the Lions are thin. Was a decent kick/punt returner, where the Lions are undecided. Was an acceptable auxiliary kicker, with Hanson coming off surgery. Didn’t excel in any one area, but was adequate in several.

John Standeford - Came in last season due to injuries and trades as the No.2 receiver, and made some plays. Performed adequately in preseason as a possession guy, but lack of versatility and physical gifts likely spelled his end.

Stuart Schweigert - Was the team’s primary playmaker in the secondary throughout the preseason. Struggled in pass protection, but was an above-average run-blitzer.

With the weak state of the Lions’ safety corps, he deserved a shot. The acquisition of Ko Simpson from Buffalo likely slashed what would have been his roster spot.

Dan Gronkowski - At one point, Gronkowski and Will Heller were the team’s only healthy tight ends. Gronkowski made the most of his time, with four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown, and lots of good blocking.

Gronkowski got caught up in a tight end logjam, with 20th overall pick Brandon Pettigrew, new acquisition Heller, and oft-injured veteran utility man Casey Fitzsimmons ahead of him.

He landed on the practice squad this season, and should replace Fitzsimmons on the roster next season.

 

The Unexpected

Chuck Darby - Not at all an expected cut, but absolutely a good one. Darby was a Marinelli guy, a smaller Tampa-Two tackle, and increasingly not a very good one as his age sapped his quickness.

Was cut in favor of young 300+ pound space eaters like Sammie Lee Hill, Andre Fluellen, and Orien Harris.

Aveion Cason - A long overdue cut, and one that nobody will mourn except Cason himself.

Surprising because he has seemed unusually adept at avoiding Lions cuts when he should be one of the first. News of Cason being cut set off many a celebration in Detroit.

Keith Smith - There’s no question Smith was a below-average player, but it’s surprising to see him cut for the same reason as Cason: we’re used to seeing him stick around, regardless of bad play.

Fun fact: after this season’s cuts, the number of Millen-era draft picks still with the Lions (not including 2008) is six out of 51. Three of those (Drew Stanton, Manny Ramirez, Calvin Johnson) are from 2007, two (Backus, Dominic Raiola) are from 2001, and the other is Ernie Sims, the only draft pick from 2002-2006 to survive.

Shaun Smith - Perhaps the biggest surprise, as Smith was acquired with a starting role in mind. But head coach Jim Schwartz is from the Bill Belichick school of team management, and Smith’s attitude and unrestrained mouth didn’t mesh well with the coach.

The release of Smith, Darby, and Alama-Francis is a testament to the fast progression of Sammie Lee Hill.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit's main writer, Sean, or the site in general. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.

0 recs  |  Comment 23 comments

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I disagree on Cason

Usually he gets released only to be brought back at a later time.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Sep 9, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

oh please no!

And on the shaun issue. He didn’t do anything in any game that I saw, so why keep him around.

by davis0169 on Sep 10, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Also true...

I’m with both of you… but the Lions have enough young talent at RB now, and something feels more final about Cason’s release.

About Shaun Smith, it’s true he had a quiet preseason, but the Lions are crazy thin at defensive tackle (they have four listed right now, one of which is Grady Jackson, who is expected to play 15-20 downs a game, and three others who have a combined four years’ playing experience), and Smith WAS being looked at as a starter when they picked him up. If he had the same production, but with a cool temper and unselfish attitude, Schwartz would have kept him around.

by VoiceoftheLions on Sep 10, 2009 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wasn't saying he's gonna come back this time

Just in the past he usually was released, brought back later in the season, released, and then brought back again.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Sep 10, 2009 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

DT...

Fluellen is listed as an end, but I’m sure he’ll be bouncing back and forth from end to tackle. The Schwartz likes versitility.
It’s good to see the 7th rounders make the practice squad. I think all 3 could be key contributers next season. I like that none of the draft picks were wasted picks.
I really thought Schweigert was gonna make it, dude has great speed and plays hellbent on knocking someone out. I hope he gets a shot somewhere

by JazzyBBP on Sep 10, 2009 2:27 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hope so as well

I was impressed with Schweigert.

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

by Hyperion Ecta on Sep 10, 2009 3:13 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

For the supposed speed he has....

being a former state champion in the 200 meter dash, and beating Chrales Rogers at that, he sure was chasing guys from behind an awful lot during the preseason (and not catching them I might add).

by KDawg on Sep 10, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Another example

of a track star not equating to a good football player. Find a guy who runs contract track, with obstacles and guys trying to take your head off as you pass a baton, and you might find a good football player. And also, that would be a kick-ass sport.

by VoiceoftheLions on Sep 10, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

he made a gesture towards the browns.....

…..owners box after the game I guess……not very professional.

by BennieBladesFan on Sep 10, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think that is the only reason he was cut

Because other than that, Schwartz said he was a “model citizen” for them during the preseason. Schwartz went on to say that he just decided to go with some of our younger players with bigger upsides.

by KDawg on Sep 10, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

VotL, Did you watch any of the practices? What are you basing your evaluations on?

Cletis Gordon played in one preseason game against Buffalo and knocked away two passes in the end zone. The first was a very good fade to the corner, the second was a comeback route at the goal line that he nearly intercepted except for a lunge by the WR.

I am not sure what else the guy can show in less than a half a game.

I respect your opinion and agree with most but it is obvious that a lot of this evaluation of players was based on practicing and earlier scouting. Why else would we replace some of our roster with final cuts then?

by NorthLeft12 on Sep 10, 2009 6:18 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I actually agree with you.....

……But I do think he was a longshot to make the team anyway

by BennieBladesFan on Sep 10, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes I agree BBF

I would wonder if they kept him on the roster if he just made one or two plays against third stringers.

by NorthLeft12 on Sep 10, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree about the defense of the fade in the endzone

But the comeback route was simply knocked down by Gordon, coming up from behind the receiver…..he swatted it down with his left hand. If he would have had another step or two, he might have been able to get in front of the receiver and pick the ball off. I thought he played decently too, from what I saw of him, but he didn’t do anything special.

by KDawg on Sep 10, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

No argument necessary

Did you watch the game? I did. If I am mistaken, so be it. Any way to review the play?

by KDawg on Sep 10, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Schweigert and Davis

I to was a bit surprised at the release of Schweigert. I looked to be at least a searvicable backup. Loved his hits and speed. I am not an expert on DBs, I admit, but I thought he made a case for a spot.
Davis has great speed. Glad to see he made the practice squad. Hopefully he can sharpin his game and be a solid RB for the Lions.
Nice evaluations Voice. Especially on Caison and Colbert. Good redense to them.

by Lead Hunter on Sep 10, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I agree

I thought Schweigert played well enough to solidify a roster spot as a backup and on special teams. He could have been a good solid tackler on special teams for sure….I would even go so far as to say that he would have been better than Darnell Bing on special teams. If they were not going to keep Follet over Bing, then why not let Dizon play backup to both OLB positions and keep Schweigert? Maybe because they did not want to carry 5 safeties when Anthony Henry is a player that should (and could) be playing safety. I’m not so sure we really needed 6 corners either, but I suppose they did that in order to have enough depth to have backups for every position while in the nickel or 3-3-5 defenses. Was Schweigert better than Manuel or Pearson? Is he better than Ko Simpson? We all knew Delmas was a lock to start….so was Schweigert cut because we already had 3 other safeties (four if you count Henry) to take up that role?

by KDawg on Sep 10, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I would argue...

that Schweigert WAS better than Pearson. Kalvin Pearson is a Marinelli holdover, which doesn’t automatically make him bad, but he had a horrid preseason. He’s a solid tackler if he can get there, but getting there is half the battle, and he didn’t seem able to this preseason.

Consider Schweigert’s affinity towards playing the run, and Schwartz coming from Bill Belichick’s philosophy of finding guys who are good at one thing, and using them for that. I could have seen Schweigert coming in on a third/fourth and short package, cheating up on the line to try and disrupt a power run. Four of his five tackles in the Buffalo game were two yards or less from the line of scrimmage.

Still, if you throw out preseason, Pearson is historically a better player than Schweigert, and I agree that the Lions just ran out of space to fill. Without the Ko Simpson trade, Schweigert sneaks in on the last spot, though.

by VoiceoftheLions on Sep 10, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

Except I think Pearson is a lackluster tackler…..I watched him try to arm tackle Turner and Jamal Lewis….two guys you absolutely can not arm tackle.

by KDawg on Sep 10, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Stadeford dropped too many balls in preseason

When your a marginal player, like Stadeford is, you can’t afford to drop passes. Recall Mike Furrey 3 -4 years ago was the same kind of player but never, ever dropped passes.

I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver

by NYCLionsfan on Sep 10, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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