2011 NFL Draft: Quotes From Detroit Lions Pick Nick Fairley
by Sean Yuille on Apr 29, 2011 2:35 AM EDT
in Detroit Lions Quotes
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PrintNew Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley held a conference call with the media after he was picked 13th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. The transcript of the call, via the Lions, is below.
On how he felt when the Detroit Lions drafted him
"Aww man, it was a great feeling. My dream finally came true; to finally play in the NFL, it's been a dream since I was eight-years old. Whoever picked me matters, but I always tell folks that whatever team I go to was going to be my No. 1 pick."
On how much he knows about the Lions' defensive line and the personnel on it
"I know a little bit about it. They have Ndamukong Suh and they've got a guy that's a defensive end that's a hard worker; I'm just looking to come in and work my butt off and contribute to the team."
On being projected in the top-5 and then slipping to 13
"I really didn't know where I was going to go coming into the draft; for Detroit to pick me, I'm very excited and I can't wait to get to the town and get this thing started."
On whether it concerns him that he'll be part of a three- or four-man rotation at defensive tackle
"Aww man, playing with Suh is going to be an honor. That guy was the defensive rookie of the year, so to be able to play next to him... I can't wait to get in and pick his brain for the things he did his rookie year."
On having a breakthrough season last year at Auburn
"We had a great season. We went out there and just did everything we had to do to come out with a win as a team. So basically I just tried to contribute to the team as much as I could."
On whether he'll carry a chip on his shoulder after slipping in the draft
"Not at all. It's just the way (draft) landed. It's been a great experience, it's a great moment and I'm blessed to be a part of the Detroit Lions now. I'm ready to go and ready to come in and get the work done."
On whether he feels pressure to live up to what DT Ndamukong Suh did as a rookie in 2010
"I'm just going to come in and work my butt off and try to earn everything I can and see what happens from there."
On what his meeting was like with Head Coach Jim Schwartz during his pre-draft visit
"My take from it was (that they're a) great group of guys, great group of coaches. I know they've got a game plan for the Detroit Lions and I'm happy to be part of it."
For more coverage of the 2011 NFL Draft (i.e. NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL Draft schedule, etc.), check out Mocking The Draft, SB Nation's NFL Draft hub, SB Nation Detroit's NFL Draft StoryStream and Pride Of Detroit's 2011 NFL Draft archive.
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Hahaha, already making waves
SI_PeterKing Peter King
One last thought before grinding: Can you imagine NFC OCs game-planning for Suh/Fairly on passing downs this fall? Scary. Downright scary.
'The reality is - the police become necessary in human society, only at that junction in a society where it is split between those who have, and those who ain't got' - Omali Yeshitela
"In the absence of logic it is not uncommon that sanity can only be found by embracing lunacy." – Leonuro, circa 2011
absolutely downright scary....
I’m a Broncos guy myself (tho a fan of the lions as well) First and foremost you guys are a highly underrated team. I think the Packers still have the edge, and i think the bears are a joke (especially with Cutler, yuck) and wtf Minnesota? I would not at all be surprised if you guys make it to the playoffs as a wildcard next year. you certainly have the talent to do so. in which case i will def root for you guys cuz im pretty sure broncos have a couple years before they can really compete…
I’m stoked for your pick with Fairley… surprising yes, with needs at OL (please protect Stafford) although my guess was that if Prince fell he’d be the pick… that said Suh and Fairley is a scary rush and absolutely something difficult to account for. I feel the same way about the Von Doom combo. looking forward to a great game this year. and unlike many other people, i know better than to view the lions as a pushover…
p.s. sign Tim Toone that kid is a baller IMO
by veggiezaffer on Apr 29, 2011 4:14 AM EDT up reply actions
I went around and read the other war rooms on SB Nation
I had planned on quoting all of them, and then my browser crashed. Let me suffice it to say this. When we picked Fairley the rest of the NFL collectively took a dump in their pants. I mean hardly anyone had anything bad to say about the pick. No one wants to play us now, we are officially the scariest team in the NFL for a quarterback to face. To give you all a little taste, let me quote the Mocking the Draft thread below.
Fairley to Detroit
Wow
I think the Bears need a OL for sure now
Not that they didn’t already
oh dear…
Fairley?
NICK FAIRLEY
gee i thought for sure it would be ayers
the Lions aren’t dumb enough to reach for a LB
That D-Line is scary
The Lions Defensive line will be impregnating the NFL’s QBs
I can’t wait to rub this in det32’s face
I’m a little scared of Suh and Fairley though…
LOL!
another pick of gratification
haha right
we probably won’t see him on this website for a while though, he was sayng no way do they pass on Akeem Ayers for some reason lol
“the FO says the’ll draft a LB”
"they need a LB"
the other one, skankdaddy I think was his name, writes a bout 40 lines saying the same thing.
THo I’m happy for the Lions. Biggest steal of the draft so far. Amukamara will be the next
Yeah
I’m not sure what to make of this pick. I thought Prince would have been better, but Fairly makes that DL scary.
With that DL
I don’t think they’ll have to worry about QB’s throwing the ball too much lol
THIS makes no sense either: Fairley to Detroit?
Lions needed Corner… if anything a DE or OLB would have made more sense… so this anchors the middle of the D-line, but the rest of the D is gonna suck.
teams that draft well, don’t draft for need
Suh and fairley?
You uh..don’t pass that up.
Yeah,
Corey Williams isn’t a star but he’s more than serviceable. They only have 1, maybe 2 good LBs and their CBs are FAs.
you just scurred for Aaron Rodgers life
This is one of the most mild ones. Most actual team sites collectively shit a bigger brick. For instance at the Baltimore Beat down they even quoted Fabian Washington making a tweet about it. And then speculated that he would try to sign with Detroit LoL. I could not pass up the humor you all will see there with Ayers love that Det32 and Skank spread around the virtual world.
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!
I'm actually putting together a mega-fanpost
With war room response highlights from every team in the league, including every reaction from our NFCN neighbors.
Nice, looking forward to that
I was just on The Daily Norseman reading Minny’s fans’ reaction to Ponder. Surprisingly, they seem to like it.
Until Fairley and Suh kill the poor kid.
'The reality is - the police become necessary in human society, only at that junction in a society where it is split between those who have, and those who ain't got' - Omali Yeshitela
"In the absence of logic it is not uncommon that sanity can only be found by embracing lunacy." – Leonuro, circa 2011
by Nate D. on Apr 29, 2011 3:14 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
lol
RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.
by Hyperion Ecta on Apr 29, 2011 5:14 AM EDT up reply actions
I Can't Believe He Fell To Us
Fairley is an immense talent that I don’t believe any of us saw falling to us. I mean, how do we pass on a guy that gives us arguably the best defensive line in football? Personally, I’m elated over this pick. Every team we play is going to have fits trying to figure out how to block our front four. Our line has the potential of ranking with the “Fearsome Foursome” and the “Steel Curtain” of the legendary 70’s teams. I only got about an hour sleep as I am too damn pumped up over this pick. We can address the LB and CB needs today, or in free agency. Man, there is no way we could pass on Fairley. He is just too talented. Did anyone else notice that we turned in our pick with 5:38 still left on the clock? I thought this was a no brainer pick. I got a kick out of seeing both Chicago and Green Bay picking offensive lineman. They are already trying to beef up their protection in anticipation of playing us.
I think they were trying to beef up the line protection based on us with Suh last year
All this does is still leave them fucked. We are winning that arms race in the NFC North
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!
I'm sorry
I realize I’m probably in the minority here, but this pick just sucked. To use a quote from this site, I believe Mayhew Mayhew’d himself. From everything I’ve seen/read/heard, Fairley had 1 good year. Apparently that was enough to convince the masses. Nevermind that we drafted from a position of strength. I mean, who do we sit? I’ve got to believe that their rationale was having this wild belief that a dominate front makes up for a so-so backfield (minus Delmas of course), but it wont mean jack if they’re still getting passes off. Teams (towards the end of the year) were able to neutralize Suh to some degree with 3 step drops and quick throws. I love my Lions though and i’ll stand behind them. I just felt with Prince and Jimmy sitting there you would go after a need instead of a strength.
Knowledge is Power.
Why, though?
We were 6-10 this year and in every game, mere seconds from being a 0.500 or better team. A single catch here, an obvious touchdown called correctly, and we’re 8-8 flat out.
That was WITH that mediocre secondary, the part we “need” to fix so badly. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers become such run stuffing phenoms by dropping a safety down into the box. We have the reasonable expectation to completely jam up the run and have an elite pass rush with our front seven alone. Why would we ever pass up that opportunity?
We can fix needs later in the draft or in free agency. The opportunity to essentially free up Delmas and Spievey for entire games at a time is once in a decade or more. We’re talking Steel Curtain good here.
Drafting for need here would have been a grievous mistake. We may have been better this year, but in the long run we will be much better off for this pick. The value we gained in picking Fairley with the 13th pick will surpass the value of picking a cornerback at 13th in a very short time.
By 2013, you will not be going “maaannn, if only we had picked Prince Amukamara instead of that best in the draft guy.” It’s going to be the same thing as it was with Pettigrew vs Oher. Yeah, it might sting a little, but we’ll be better off in the long run.
Erm
About the 8-8 flat out…
If the final pass of the Bears game was ruled a TD we would have won one.
If Hanson hadn’t gotten injured against the Jets OR had Suh been able to make an extra point kick we would have won a second.
It wouldn’t even have taken a single catch.
"Aside from the stuff I haven’t been diagnosed for yet, I don’t have a problem."- Phil Coke
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Apr 29, 2011 6:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Was thinking Buffalo game
But yes, you get the point.
by Mavyrk on Apr 29, 2011 6:18 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'll explain it another way
We were 16th against the pass and 24th against the run. Fairley should help both categories The luxury of picking Fairley is that if he doesn’t get off to a quick start like Suh, we can just start Corey Williams.
Plus, Amukamara fell waay farther than most people anticipated. If he was such a great talent then teams should have been swarming to move up or a team like the Pats with real need at corner would take him
House of Spears | My Detroit Lions/NFL Blog
by Latif Masud on Apr 29, 2011 7:54 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
what is your thinking about Delmas and Speivey being freed up?
that Fairley brings so much heat on the QB that they don’t have to drop back in deep zones?
"His lateral agility is unprecedented. Reports claim he has literally been seen in two places at once."- Mav
I mean not having to drop down into run or blitz support
They’re free to play deep zones, man up, etc. Of course, when we want to put a QB’s dick in the dirt, Gunny will dial up a blitz that’ll make you cringe.
It puts more pressure on our at this time, almost non-existent OLB's..
You have safties playing deep zones, we’ll get nickel and dimed with dumpoffs until the cows come home on the flats to beat the blitz.
You can see the game plan….Dumpoff,dumpoff,screen,dumpoff,dumpoff, screen,(cb’s and safeties start to cheat), and we get cooked for one over the top in the 3rd or 4th quarter.
.Does your momma have a Big Ass like your head?
I don't see many cover 2 looks
I see a lot of cover 1 and cover 0 looks, not many cover 2 looks unless it’s prevent. At the end of the day, I don’t think it’ll be that simple. Yeah, you’re gonna say “okay, no deep ball, just max protection bubble screens and dumpoffs all day,” in the board room and then come game time the defense has something dialed up to use that against you.
Have you seen the Sports Science where Fairley can get to a QB in 2.2 seconds and that is in about a two step drop? Don't sell this kid short until he at least has a season or two to show you what he has. He may just be better than Suh at pass rushing.
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!
Especially if Suh's progressing more into his 2-gap stuffing.
Fairley’s a great penetrator when he’s single blocked.
true
I want Suh in the 3, but Suh does have more ability to be that 2-gap stuffer, like he was in college. Fairley has that uncanny first step. He can struggle with double teams in he can’t use his athleticism/quickness & technique to beat it…so that would make sense.
"His lateral agility is unprecedented. Reports claim he has literally been seen in two places at once."- Mav
You can only double-team one guy, though...
and both can beat just about any center or guard one-on-one. Going to be a fun year!
Schwartz gave some insight into our d-line scheme.
We don’t have a 3 technique and a nose, we have a right DT and a left DT used interchangeably. That’s, obviously, some of the mix and match flipping that we saw last year. Depending on the game state and downs and yardage and blah blah, we could see Suh lining up nose and taking up center + their best guard while Fairley goes hard at the open guard free. We could see Fairley playing the over and taking a double team to let Suh get through real quick, etc.
I see a lot of fun in the defensive line schemes, switching RDT/LDT, playing over/under, mixing gaps around, might see some 5 technique on running downs with Levy clogging up the center, might even see some 4 technique with calls to anchor a gap just to confuse opposing o-lines, etc. I can’t wait to see it.
The draft is not over. This is only one pick.
And Free Agency is yet to come. I have to admit that a DT and Fairley were not in my top twenty of picks to make, but the fact is that Mayhew, Schwartz and the Lions organization know a hell of a lot more than me regarding what they have, where they are going, and what the prospects have to offer.
At # 13 you don’t try and fill “needs”, you take the best player available and he will help you in the long run. I think a lot of Lions fans have been Millenized where he went into the draft trying to fill a particular spot and usually reached to do it.
Result? EPIC FAILURE. Not on Mayhew’s watch.
"I read one article, I said, 'This guy doesn't know what he's talking about,' " Mayhew said. "Then I read another one, and I thought, 'Wait a minute, they're all saying the same thing.' -Martin Mayhew 2011 regarding Draft Gurus.
I think Detroit just moved up every free agent line backer and corner backs target list :P
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!
no kidding
who wouldn’t want to play behind that chaos?
"His lateral agility is unprecedented. Reports claim he has literally been seen in two places at once."- Mav
Exactly.
Now everyone is freaking out after day 2 but we still have free agents we can sign to fill other needs. Our Dline will entice back 7 free agents to play here.
"We're looking to improve this team every day, every week, every month until we get to our ultimate goal which is to win a championship."
-Martin Mayhew Detroit Lions GM, Master of the Universe
by Home in Cleveland, Heart in Detroit on Apr 30, 2011 9:21 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You hit this one perfect, North
This wasn’t a panic pick, reach pick nor need-based pick. This was a “hey, one of the best and most dominant college players just fell about 8 spots too many right in our lap and we have the chance to create THE most dominant defensive line the league has seen in over a decade” type of pick. You CANNOT pass on that type of player. I have said for a while now that MANY people have thought that Amukamara was over-valued…. and guess what? Not just the Lions were thinking that.
This was a great, great, great pick, IMO. This pick sold me on everything that Mayhew and Schwartz have done and pre-sells me on everything they will do. No more sleepless nights for me. We get one linebacker in this draft and Asomugha in free agency (which I don’t believe is at all a pipe dream)… I am no longer hoping for the post season next year… I am thinking Super Bowl. Dead fucking serious.
I'd be serious about that too if we came up with 10mil extra and grabbed Aso
seriously, at LEAST 1/2 the field would be shut down, because either, 1. the QB doesn’t have time to get the ball in those areas (down field), or 2. Aso is shutting down the #1 target..that would free up Delmas to reak havoc in the run game, roam the field, and occassionally use our exotic blitzes (who’d have NO blockers because Suh, KVB, & Fairley will be DEMANDING extra blockers)
"His lateral agility is unprecedented. Reports claim he has literally been seen in two places at once."- Mav
Don't forget a DOMINANT offense led...
by Matthew Stafford! So many weapons on both sides… how can we not contend for it. Just a few pieces away from being seriously, seriously dangerous. Remember, the Packers won the big game last year after only winning 10 regular season games.
More Press Clippings
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/120936824.html
WINNERS
Detroit Lions – Opposing offensive lines, including the unit protecting Aaron Rodgers’ backside, had better bring their “A” games when they face the Lions. With the 13th pick, Detroit took Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley (27½ tackles for loss, 13 sacks last year). He will team with consensus 2010 rookie of the year Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch to give the Lions what should be a dominant defensive line. Fairley was ranked fifth on Mel Kiper’s board.
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!
No LoL, not much :P maybe 2 hours at a time usually
Doug Farrar, Yahoo! Sports: “Well, you can pencil Ndamukong Suh in for about 20 sacks next year. Who on earth are the Lions’ opponents supposed to block?”
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!
Brandon Jackson Tweeted some respect
bjackson32 Brandon Jackson
Wow Detroit gettin rite!!!!
9 hours ago
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!
I think that was based on last year and Mr. Suh and KVB, they better keep drafting O-Line now that we have Fairley
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!
Not really, they both have real weak O Lines and a QB that can win games on his own if he has some time.
Rodgers proved it and Cutler has flashed that ability as well. I would have been really surprised if they had gone in a different direction, especially with those two guys available [Carimi and Sherrod].I liked the guys they got a lot more than Solder and Castonzo. Castonzo is a good fit for the Colts though, and Solder is a project. I think the Pats blew that pick, but that is only my biased opinion.
"I read one article, I said, 'This guy doesn't know what he's talking about,' " Mayhew said. "Then I read another one, and I thought, 'Wait a minute, they're all saying the same thing.' -Martin Mayhew 2011 regarding Draft Gurus.
I wouldn't call Packer's o-line weak at all.
They just need get younger and they had a bit of an injury bug. They have one of the best Gs in the game and their tackles are NOT slouches.
I'm with you
Sherrod and Carimi were very solid in college, so you should have a better idea of what you’re getting. I hope they put Gabe at RT and Avril just uses his speed to blow past him!
"His lateral agility is unprecedented. Reports claim he has literally been seen in two places at once."- Mav
donno if this is posted but check this out and not get choked up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWX7DzCEti8
RIP KURTIS CHAIVRE
love it!!!
anyone found the Suh Chrysler commercial from last night yet?
"Lemme Tell you why I have confidence in the long term future of this team... It's #9, That's why I have confidence in the long term future of this Team." - Jim Schwartz
I was concerned about his attitude
But it seems from what I have read Mayhew spoke to a lot of people and he was fine.
Seems everyone likes this pic. Mike and Mike this morning on ESPN said Detroit came out the best in the first round.
"My Mama once told me don't argue with fools, cause people from a distance can't tell who is who" - Jay Z
skip and dana were saying the same on first take.
If you spell Ndamukong Suh in Scrabble, you win. Forever...
by DetroitDrew1980 on Apr 29, 2011 11:10 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm kind of concerned, but Mayhew did address that
by talking to his coach Tracy but I think his better point was that KVB and Suh and COry are extremely hard workers on & off the field and will set the example.
I also think Fairley won’t be asked to take more than 45 snaps a game, so I’m not too concerned about him putting it all out there for those snaps.
"His lateral agility is unprecedented. Reports claim he has literally been seen in two places at once."- Mav
I think Schwartz said it best
Something about aren’t being mean and violent good qualities in a d-lineman?
Bears may lose their 4th round pick LoL!
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/29/ravens-want-fourth-round-pick-from-bears/
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!
We Have Arrived.
Just imagine Shwartz, Mahew and Co. sittin in the green room laughing at every team in the NFL.
Shwartz -“Can you believe this?”
Mahew – “They’re Mayewing themselves.”
Shwartz – “We don’t even have to trade.”
Mahew – “Did you hear what Rich Eisen said?”
Shwartz – “yeah, I thought he was gonna shit himself on live t.v.”
Both – “Laughing hysterically”
"WR Brandon "I'll stab you bitch" Marshall (who finally got stabbed himself for once) had 10 catches for 102 yards and no TDs". - KDAWG
Thats great!
"We're looking to improve this team every day, every week, every month until we get to our ultimate goal which is to win a championship."
-Martin Mayhew Detroit Lions GM, Master of the Universe
by Home in Cleveland, Heart in Detroit on Apr 30, 2011 9:25 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Nick, meet Kyle, Kyle meet Nick. Go to work.
Fairley: “They have Ndamukong Suh and they’ve got a guy that’s a defensive end that’s a hard worker”. Yeah notFairley, you’ll get to know that hard worker real quick. Good luck with that.
"We're looking to improve this team every day, every week, every month until we get to our ultimate goal which is to win a championship."
-Martin Mayhew Detroit Lions GM, Master of the Universe
by Home in Cleveland, Heart in Detroit on Apr 30, 2011 9:29 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
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