Why Okung is probably unlikely
by Mister Gloom on Mar 15, 2010 11:32 PM EDT
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There has been a renewed interest by people for the Lions to take Russell Okung with the second overall pick even if they don't trade down. There's 3 very important reasons that this shouldn't (and thankfully probably won't) happen:
1. To draft an OL within the first 5 picks this player needs to be someone truly extraordinary, someone who'll be an immediate gamechanger (like a Willie Roaf, Johnathon Ogden, etc.) and I just don't see Okung as being that kind of player. Actually, there probably isn't an OL in the draft this year that is that good. I see some nice, mid-1st round players available on the offensive line, just no game changers. This draft is deep in defensive talent, I'd say particularly in the secondary and the DL, so why waste the second overall when you have nearly unlimited to choice among this talent?
2. Since 1998 the Lions have taken 5 Offensive Lineman with-in the first 2 rounds of the draft, and more than a few others in the later rounds (Jonathon Scott a few years ago comes to mind) and have made a determined effort to build through the draft. I just can't see them spending another high pick at this point. Especially considering that, despite his fluke injury, Stafford didn't actually take that many sacks last season (Pro Football Reference says 24 total, which averages out to under 2 1/2 a game, not great, but not horrible either).
3. Lead worst defense every season for the past 2-3 years or so, and no defenses that ranked in the top 15 since around 1995.
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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Nice point but
1st Millen was our G.M. so how do we know good picks when they come.
2nd we have swung and missed with Stocker and Gibson but you can’t let you stop taking a 1st round LT when it comes around
3rd this is one of the deepest drafts when it comes to LT we could miss out of Okung and still get a LT for years to come.
4th we now have a franchise QB and you have to protect him drafting a LT and moving Backus to LG could give him time and running lanes to our RB’s killing two birds with one stone, also Backus at LG would make a rookie LT look better than he would be starting out with no LG.
5th Johathon was taken late in the draft not in the 1st 2 rounds, sorry to burst your bubble but I disagree with most of what you said…
Okung will be looked at because he helps the line, If the lions sign Hargrove start buying Okung jersey’s becuase that’s who that should be going for.
I agree with msivits especially regarding what you said on your point 1.
The “best” LT is routinely drafted in the top five of each draft class. ie. Jason Smith, Jake Long, Joe Thomas, D. Ferguson, Jamaal Brown was # 13 in 2005, Robert Gallery, Jordan Gross was # 8 in 2003, Mike Williams, L. Davis, C. Samuels. I would not call all those guys “truly extraordinary”. Some are very good and maybe great [Thomas] others were not very good [Gallery] and one was awful [M. Williams].
LT is such a high value position that teams will reach some to get a good one. Sort of like a QB.
by NorthLeft12 on Mar 16, 2010 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
I hate to admit it but Hargrove will likley lead to Okung
And not that I am DOWN on Okung…its just that I am sure unless he is Pace or Ogden we will be wishing we had Suh in a few years.
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Mar 16, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
So nobody thinks that an elite prospect at LG could do the same thing.....
as drafting Okung and moving Backus inside (If I had to state an opinion, I would say that this will not happen)?? I think that drafting one of the top 5 guards in the draft could work just as well as drafting Okung and moving Backus inside, plus I believe we could get the guard at a much lower price.
That said, what if Chester Pitts decides to sign here to play LG?? Then what?? If we draft Okung then what happens to Backus?? I’d rather have Pitts and Backus for another year, draft Suh if he is available, or trade down and get Berry than drafting Okung and moving Backus inside. I think Okung is the best LT in THIS draft. I do not think he is ultimately elite. He is a very good player at his position, but if we are in the top 10 again next year…….there are ALWAYS big name LTs in every draft. There are not ALWAYS big name players at DT or S.
Oh you didn't know?? You're ass better CALLLLLLLL SOMEBODY!!!!!
I think that is the short term answer KDawg.
Long term we need an LT to replace Backus. Okung seems to have the tools and demonstrated [college] performance to be that guy.
We could wait until later in the draft this year or next year or the year after that, but eventually we need to do something.
I like getting a durable, athletic, high quality, “low” risk, LT now to protect Staff and upgrade our O Line significantly.
I don’t like passing on Suh or McCoy who would do the same for our D Line.
A compromise option would be to take Rodger Saffold in the second round. Put him at Guard this year and groom him for LT in a couple of years. Of course that means passing on a good CB or Safety or RB.
Man, if Okung were in a Lions jersey come draft day, I'd be baffled
As dude said, defense was dead last by wide margins the last couple years. If we don’t do something to stop that it doesn’t matter who’s keeping Stafford on his feet. I understand the need to protect a 70 million dollar investment, but isn’t the idea to win games? Only way that’s going to happen is if we stop being the worst defense in the league, and to do that we need to start investing more on that side of the ball.
As far as Hargrove goes, I think he’s a good rotational player, but not really worth a 3rd rounder and the extra cost of signing him. I don’t see it happening.
Check out the Free Agents and trades we have made.
Outside of Burleson and Shaun Hill, they are all on defence. Two CBs, a DT and DE. Three of them are likely starters. They will still use a couple of picks, at least, on defence. They are also still working in three rookies from last year on defence [Levy, Hill, and Delmas].
The defence is already improved and will get better. We do need to protect Staff better.
+1
It’s a quarterback-driven league, and the Lions need to provide Stafford with the tools he’ll need to succeed. The Lions will only go as far as Stafford can take them. As unpopular as it will be, Okung should be the pick.
and..
all we talk about is how we wanna move Backus to Guard. well if we draft Okung we can do that. i say do it.
by Twincities88 on Mar 16, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Key word you just said is "we"
with “we” meaning “the fans”……..
What we “the fans” want and what the front office and coaches believe we need may be two very different things……keep that in mind.
Oh you didn't know?? You're ass better CALLLLLLLL SOMEBODY!!!!!
VERY TRUE
the front office prefers best available player over need.
by Twincities88 on Mar 16, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Hargrove
I thought he was a defensive end not a DT so i wouldnt totally rule out Suh then but it would seem less likely. I think they should take a OT later because a player like Roger Saffold could be there later. BTW I dont believe the Lions will sign hargrove so Suh is still likely a Lion.
well said
I agree with pretty much everything you said. Not really carzy about Okung myself. He’s not a Jake long or joe thomas type tackle where you can say THATS THE GUY. He can anchor are O-line fore years. I don’t get that from him.
How do you keep a running back out of your secondary? You put up a LEVY.
i wouldnt be mad if Okung was the pick
No one can really be upset if the Lions did grab Russell Okung # 2 overall,wev’ve upgraded the defense,ALOT.. One of the Lions biggest “needs” is still OL
Draft Okung,start him at LT,move Backus to guard is like 2 guys for 1 pick.
Okung would be ok at # 2
You guys are forgetting Schwartz's man love for Backus
Remember how Schwartzie thinks Backus should of made the pro bowl, We aren’t going for Okung imo. If we trade down I see us targeting Haden or Berry to help solidify the DB’s. If we don’t I see us going SUh if he is available. We aren’t going to upgrade a position that in our front offices mind is "a should of been pro bowler.) Not gonna happen.
agree completly
How do you keep a running back out of your secondary? You put up a LEVY.
by The Profiler on Mar 16, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Schwartz also loves his interchangable safeties
If there’s no realistic trade-down that gets us Berry before KC at #5, then the trade won’t happen. Sometimes the deal isn’t there to be made. Schwartz has publically stated he won’t trade down just to get more picks. He doesn’t trade picks then target players; he targets player(s) and then decides if he needs to trade up or down to get them. Schwartz targets specific players. If Berry is the player that he’s targeting, in the end Schwartz will stay at #2 and Mayhew will draft Berry. BPA that fits.
Honorary Driver of the Kyle Wilson Bus and Keeper of the Dreadlocks!
The 313 Missile Squadron: Delmas, Berry, Wilson, Houston......seek and destroy!
Hey, as long as Zack Follett keeps hitting people, he can rap to Barney the Dinosaur for all I care.
schwartz also said that backus could play offensive guared or ot that he has to fix the left guared spot so if your the lions gm and you have 2pick in the draft you might want to get the top ot in draft . beause you had your starting qb that you drafted with1pick last get hurt in his 1st year . and you not pick up any help in fa for the offensive evean if you pickup pitts he is coming off a knee surgery and would be stop gap player at ot or g he can both spots
we wouldn't have interviewed Okung this many times
and taken him out to dinner if there wasn’t serious interest in him. I think us taking him is very realistic, but if Suh is still on the board I’ll be a bit frustrated with the decision.
Of course
they brought him in. They wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they didn’t. I just don’t see us going after him.
by Usmarine0341 on Mar 16, 2010 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions
We don't need Okung in the 1st round
The stats on Suh are absolutely unbelieveable. He is just too good to pass on for a LT that we could get later in the draft. John Jerry, Mitch Petrus, John Asamoah, to name a few would do just fine. Our defense has definitely improved thanks to Mayhew, but I feel that Suh would complete the line, and free us up to solidify the defensive backfield later in the draft. I think I’m more excited about this draft than any other in my 45 years. I hope we’re not disappointed after it’s all said and done.
I'm through trying to guess who we are gonna end up with
I’m just gonna continue researching everyone so that I’ll at least know what I like and dislike about our future Lions. I’m fine with Okung, Suh, McCoy, Berry etc. I just want some new Lions who can help.
"Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind." - Pride Leader, Sean Yuille, wielder of the Ban Hammer.
2010 Wests Tigers : Current record - 1-0 : Current Position - 8th : Last game - Defeated Manly Sea Eagles 26 -22
Gaither?
I’ve been thinking about all the possibilities Lions have with the 2 pick and the value of Suh =the need for a LT and the whole you’d fill 2 spots with Backus sliding over deal.
Then I seen that Ravens would have no problem accepting a 1st for Gaither. Well Lions 2nd round pick is like a late 1st at worst add a late pick to the deal. It seems Ravens want to move Oher into the LT spot and Ozzie would get the prospect he wants instead of 2LT’s that want LT money (it’s all about the money) Lions get Suh and fill there LT need and LG need. Pick up a CB with the 3rd and there on there way………..PLAYOFFS BABY!!!!………..or maybe they could win a few more games and Stafford won’t end up a pancake and a could’ve been.
I think I would love that whole deal...
I just have to check with the POD powers that be first to make sure I don’t get called stupid for saying it.
Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I'll win a pennant every year....Sparky Anderson
Honestly..
They might each have positives and negatives, but at the end of the day any player that they draft at #2 overall is going to be a significant upgrade for the team.
As much as I might rather see one area addressed sooner than another, I really can’t say I will be disappointed by them addressing the other glaring need first.
unless he busts
Pick the right player. Don’t pick the wrong player. Gerald Warren was a DT who was a bust at #3. Robert Gallery and Tony Mandarich were busts at LT who were both drafted #2. There are guys like this every year, at just about every position. Make smart choices, pick the right player. Don’t draft for need. Don’t draft to placate the media hype. Don’t draft to please impatient fickle fans in the short run. Schwartz will make the smart choice and get the right player, not the hyped or popular one. I trust Schwartz.
Honorary Driver of the Kyle Wilson Bus and Keeper of the Dreadlocks!
The 313 Missile Squadron: Delmas, Berry, Wilson, Houston......seek and destroy!
Hey, as long as Zack Follett keeps hitting people, he can rap to Barney the Dinosaur for all I care.
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