Lions Notes: Martin Mayhew Talks About Upcoming Offseason

the 6th rounder they got for trading a 7th rounder in the draft last year? I don’t recall it.

How many years does he have left? I saw rayner hit 3 in a row in warmups before the vikings game. Just sayin.

but you’re not exactly a hot commodity right now. Seems like he should maybe quit his bitchin’ and be glad he’s got a job. Fullback is not exactly a difficult position to find a replacement for, unless you’re elite, which he ain’t. I do think we could give him some more carries, but venting to the newspapers isn’t the way to get it done.

As for Dizon, he’s a guy that’s never been impressive, but he knows the defense, and right now doesn’t seem like the best time to part with LB’s. Cutting ties with Peterson makes sense financially, but Dizon seems like a guy who should be a solid back-up at a position of need.

A quote off of Wikipedia from LB coach Matt Burke:

Jordon’s probably been one of the hardest workers I have. He works really hard at it. He wants to do better, he wants to do it right and he really works at it. I’ve been really pleased with the work he’s done.

Doesn’t this sound like the kind of guy you want on your team? The only thing I can think of is that his knee injury is worse then we realize.

Anyword on Avril yet I am getting antsy already..haha…Really any updates? I am suprised as tight lipped as the Lions are that Mayhew would do this….Hey Mi**en we all knew that stop bragging about it.

I have no concerns when it comes to player aqcuisition. Mayhew has proven himself to be a master at the trade. He’s not the type of guy to release a player unless he has zero value to the team be it trade value or personnel.

I can’t wait for free agency to begin. (provided of course we have a new CBA) WWMD?

The Grass is Green.

Stanton and his injuries coming into play affecting his decision to resign him or not?….lol

And the glass cannon with his string of injuries doesn’t faze him?

Lots of competition at LB at the moment so it looks as though he’s the unlucky one.

Anyways, is anyone else as awed and amazed this guy Mayhew worked for Millen? I love how is pretty much kicking players out who don’t have passion or aren’t good enough.

And what the heck is with the tough schedule?!

didn’t anybody catch the part where Mayhew said he’s worried about Stanton being injured so much…….LOL…………….

Don’t expect to hear anything worthwhile from him until after the draft. The disinformation machine will be turned onto high as Mayhew and Schwartz make sure no one has a clue what we are going to do in the draft.
Some of the mock draft predictions that I am seeing from the “reputable” outlets make me think that they have already started spreading the lies and BS about our intentions.

I know everyone will say “But Backus is good…”. And you’re right. He usually does step up AFTER he gets the quarterback hurt. I love when he misses the snap count and just stands there as the defensive end runs buy and crushes the quarterback. I think the guy is a joke. Him and Riaola. Millens boys. “Hey, lets get a Center thats smaller than every DT in the league! That’ll show ’em!” What an idiot. I love the guys heart, but he needs guard help on every play they don’t roll him out on. Theres a butt ton of decent O-linemen in this draft. We need at least 3 (RG,C,LT)

reading the end of season grades shows the Lions made huge strides in terms of turning the team around in the last half of season and really showed major improvement of coming together as a team. most have the Lions at like 14-15 or giving a B\B+ for the overall season. given so many close games they lost and way they pulled out at end seems reasonable.

Thing that is really impressive is end of year surgery about to happen. Delmas, Levy, Suh, Houston, Peterman. which is really good given they know that the corner is being turned and really want to play to win. especially Suh, I mean he’s turning down a pro bowl in his rookie year to insure he comes back better next, talk about having confidence he can do it again and do it better .. but that also tells another tale.

which is the list on the FA/UFA situation in the off season. Schwartz has already been quoted as saying he doesn’t feel the need to do this mass overhaul this season. W/ JP being gone, which you could see coming at beginning of season when the talk about JP possibly having to take a pay cut but didnt have too and Dizon now on that list as well it shows up a sure thing that LB will be a special place of interest probably above all other positions probably followed by a CB. But you can already tell where their thinking of their possibilities are for re signing or what direction they ll be taking .

according to the list on m-live though Tom actually forgot one key player to all this Logan. But for the sake of my post here Ill add him to that list. Players I think that will be definitively trying to be kept are :
Logan, Avril, Houston, Mcbride, Stanton, Carpenter, Gandy, Hilliard, Wendling* and Rayner* .. asterix because pending what off season plan is general but Wendling is a special teams player as well seems ok for depth and Hanson coming back good from the IR after off season naturally w/ Rayner.

of the restricted rights/exclusive rights Avril and hilliard are only ones worth keeping for sure based on this years performance and hilliard for nice filling in. I would also watch the Avril signing very closely because of the RFA detroit has, he would be the one that could have other offers, at same time knowing that LoJack and Mcbride w/ Kvb next year could easily fill the line and keep it going as it was this year the lions could actually go just high enough to let a team beat them out in hopes of wrapping up a draft pick in compensation. just a thought i guess. Felton is suspect only because of him wanting a bigger role in a FB position. And Smith is officially suspect now and unfortunately for Fluellen seems that show is Suh, Williams, Hill to dominate in middle of line. practice squad maybe ??

Now taking what most know as glaring needs I see Carpenter going for depth or possible starter next year which means draft and get a cheaper FA LB w/ Levy in middle and whoever they want for depth which would include currently Follett and Palmer under contract for sure and you have your depth at LB in a sense maybe Vinny? or someone else for depth. W/ a stud or one more solid CB and resigning of Houston w/ Smith coming back the players who filled in would have less of a chance in play time next year so see them as being more expendable and there’s a lot of CB that were brought in. So really just a matter of figuring out who #4 and possible 5th if they carried 5 CB’s next year. and they could grab that I guess from the list of FA they brought in. I think that next year Delmas and Speivey will be ok at the safety positions if they went w/ their 3rd rounder which means they would only need some rotation or depth.

anyhow just some thoughts i guess of what i kind of got out of the list and what will really be looked at in off season based off this article….

It is very interesting on what Mayhew said about Dizon and JP. I know JP played just to get a check. But he was a starter all season. And I really thought Dizon( with is added weight and strenght) had a shot at starting or some depth. We do not know whether Follett can come back. So now we are down to Levy as the only true starter. I am thinking that Carpenter and Palmer must have made an impression the Mayhew and the coaching staff. Not saying both will be starters. Palmer seemed to be all over the field against Minny. And Carp showed that he can be a good LB in this league. I am still hopeful in drafting Bruce Carter or Greg Jones. I just found it interesting that the first cuts will be linebackers. A position that we are already thin at.

The nick name ’Glass Cannon" is funny but its not you know…You call him that long enough and he will never recover.

so what’s the verdict, what exactly are the 6 picks?

The Lions played in the only two overtime games this year in which the new OT format, in which the team winning the toss can’t win with a FG on the first possession, would have applied.

Good news for MSU fans….lol

After seeing what the hawks are doing to the champs theirs no doubt we will make the playoffs next season .With or without the glass cannon !lol Go MSU!!