So THAT was our problem drafting this past decade...

by n4ry4 on Jan 15, 2010 2:22 PM EST

I didn't know this story until today, but it makes perfect sense. This little nugget was in Killer's Q&A on MLive today:

(question): " ... What is it about general manager Martin Mayhew's approach to the draft that is different than Millen's approach considering that there was very little turnover in the scouting department?"

Tom Kowalski: "...I've often recounted the Brian Calhoun story, about how the Lions were debating about whether to take an offensive lineman at that spot in the third round. The argument was whether the Lions would be "reaching'' for him at that spot. They went back and forth without resolution and then, as the clock was about to expire, a coach yelled "Take Brian Calhoun.'' And that's what they did.
That situation won't happen with Mayhew running the show..."

So while some (coincidentally, more successful) teams would rely on their scouts' research, and iron out their draft board ahead of time, our previous regime would get everybody together to argue back and forth, and then draft the guy whose name was shouted at the right time.

I can't think of a more fickle, haphazard way to make critical decisions short of randomizing the whole thing. unbelievable.

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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That explains a lot about our shit drafts

by Usmarine0341 on Jan 15, 2010 2:29 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, I read that story too.

Let’s see Calhoun was drafted in 2006 in the third round with pick #74.

Guys who were picked after him:

Jerious Norwood RB Atlanta Falcons Still in league and contributing.
Clint Ingram OLB Jacksonville Starting and doing very well.

Listen to the guys in the fourth round of 2006

Owen Daniels TE Houston Was starting last two years.
Gabe Watson NT Arizona
Jahri Evans RG New Orleans Pro Bowl
Jason Avant WR Phila.
Stephen Tulloch LB Tenn. Starter
Leon Washington RB Jets
Brandon Marshall WR Denver
Elvis Dumervil DE/OLB Denver This years sack leader.
Ray Edwards DE Minn. Starter
Willie Colon RT Pitts. Starter

As long as Detroit treated the later round picks like a joke, we were always going to be losers.

by NorthLeft12 on Jan 15, 2010 2:59 PM EST reply actions

I think Jerious Norwood has the talent to be a stud...

He might be Michael Turner’s Michael Turner!

http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/

by CapitolLions on Jan 16, 2010 9:19 AM EST up reply actions

Things seem to have changed now (about time)

by Usmarine0341 on Jan 15, 2010 3:12 PM EST reply actions

wow.....

I bet other teams sitting near the Lions staff we’re laughing their assess off!

by vanman on Jan 15, 2010 3:16 PM EST reply actions

I have to believe that that "intelligent" discussion took place in the Lions' War Room.

I would hope the Lions would not discuss their draft pick in front of the other teams in the draft room. If I was the Ford [or whoever] on the other end of the phone in the draft room and got told to say “Brian Calhoun”, I might have thought it was a crank call from those bastards in Green Bay or Chicago and hung up.

by NorthLeft12 on Jan 15, 2010 3:53 PM EST up reply actions

I hate the "Reach" thing.

Obviously there are instances where teams do but in the 3rd round if the Lions wanted Brian Calhoun and they thought he was the best player then take him. The story is terrible, Millen’s regime is terrible. Under Schwartz/Mayhew I will never complain about them taking a guy to early. It is so nice to have competent people running the team.

by doctorjcmu on Jan 15, 2010 6:19 PM EST reply actions

I agree

And I only say its a reach if you know he’ll be gone by your next pick and its a guy you really want. Otherwise how can it be a reach?

by vanman on Jan 16, 2010 2:13 PM EST up reply actions

+1

You go by your own evaluation of the player’s value, not what other teams think of him. The only part where other teams’ evaluation comes in is in guessing if he’ll be on the board by your next pick. If you think a guy is a 3rd Round talent who might be gone by the time you pick in the 4th, but other teams think he’s a 4th Round talent……screw the other teams, take him in the 3rd if you want him.

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

by GRLion on Jan 17, 2010 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

I seriously believed Millen was doing keg stands, thew a blindfold on, had the coaches spin him in circles and he threw a dart at various names taped up on walls all over the room.

by JazzyBBP on Jan 15, 2010 8:01 PM EST reply actions