Chris Hope

[Kreton]

I didnt see this before now, but the Lions signed Chris Hope. Probably as insurance for Delmas. He started at S for the Falcons in the playoffs last year, and looks like he played for Schwartz in Tennessee. He's started over 100 games, so he has experience.

 

[RobBase]

Decent insurance blanket for Delmas. Why not.

 

[black_magic]

just hope he has some skill. The magic number for DB's is 30 i believe. Their skill declines rapidly after than. Hope is 32 now

 

[tpaulus_2]

I disagree on the magic number for DBs being 30.

That age has been the end for a ton of RBs over the last 15 or so years do to the nature of their position, but 30 shouldn't scare people at pretty much any other position.

QBs and OL seem to play well into their late 30s. DL and LBs just a little less, and then WR and DBs, who rely on their speed a whole lot fall next in line which seems to be mid 30's, favoring the lower side of that (34-35).

I think Hope certainly isn't the athlete he has 5 or 6 years ago, but at safety particularly, veteran savvy and experience can really help offset declining skills.

Basically, what I'm suggesting is not to let that number (30 years old) scare you at any position but RB.



As for what Hope brings to the team, it's just like you guys are already saying- he provides good veteran depth in the event of an injury. Same thing he did for the Falcons last year.

I wouldn't call it a huge impact signing, but what we got for the $$ makes it at least a very solid signing, imo...

 

[Kreton]

TP makes a good point about age. S is generally where older DB's go. Backup S at 32 doesnt worry me any. I am more worried about Delmas getting injured and not having a decent backup back there. We all have seen what happens when that does.

 

[Old Lion]

Kiss either Silva or Wendling goodbye.

 

[black_magic]

silva showed some flashes last year, and the organization is really high on him. He's not going anwhere

 

[tpaulus_2]

I can't see Silva making the roster, unless he beats out Hope.

Our #1 through #3 safeties are pretty much set in Delmas, Quin and Carey. Spievey, Silva and Terrell Johnson will be competing with Hope for that #4 spot. Wendling's spot is pretty safe, and he basically serves as a #5 safety, but he's here for special teams, we definitely don't want to see him on the field.

I like Silva, his size is especially nice back there, but unless he has a great camp he's looking at an uphill battle to make the roster...

 

[Quackerjacked]

I really want Wendling off the team. There has to be someone with the possibility of becoming a contributor outside special teams that can play ST in his place.

 

[broncosmitty]

Three years in a row I've had a Lions fan next to me at Ford Field confuse Wendling for Delmas. "Man.... Delmas is an absolute missile out there!" Was one of the times. It hurt me to have to point out that the skinny guy, with awesome hair, in sweatpants on the sideline was in fact Louis Delmas. I like Wendlings effort, but I liked Mike Furreys effort level too.

 

[broncosmitty]

Maybe it was only twice... I tend to embellish.

 

[Quackerjacked]

I really want to really like Wendling, he is just so bad as a safety. Can't cover, can't take the right angles.

 

[tpaulus_2]

I really want Wendling off the team. There has to be someone with the possibility of becoming a contributor outside special teams that can play ST in his place.

But Wendling is so good on coverage... he's got a real knack for downing punts at or near the goal line... But I understand what you mean about having a guy who can contribute somewhere besides special teams.

I suppose that in his defense he plays all four phases of st, so that's a bonus...

 

[broncosmitty]

I was about to say I'd rather keep Wendling over Osgood as a special teams specialist, then I remembered we already did that.

 

[Vader]

I can't see Silva making the roster, unless he beats out Hope.

Our #1 through #3 safeties are pretty much set in Delmas, Quin and Carey. Spievey, Silva and Terrell Johnson will be competing with Hope for that #4 spot. Wendling's spot is pretty safe, and he basically serves as a #5 safety, but he's here for special teams, we definitely don't want to see him on the field.

I like Silva, his size is especially nice back there, but unless he has a great camp he's looking at an uphill battle to make the roster...

Johnson is awful and Spievey is one more concussion away from his career ending just like Best. The Lions would be smart to invest more into developing Silva than keeping disappointing career back ups on the roster. They may need him in 2014 once we release Delmas after he plays in only a handful of games again this season. I would not agree that Wendling's job is safe. Silva can play all four ST as well.

 

[Thruthefog]

I wonder who's more evil. Vader - master of evil, or Dr. Evil-er.

 

[tpaulus_2]

Big difference between being able to play special teams and being considered a coverage ace. Wendling also signed a 3 year deal with us, which is pretty rare for a special teams player.

I'm not trying to rain on Silva's parade at all- I really like the kid and of all the options I hope he wins that 4th safety spot. I love his size and length back there, and having just turned 25 he's got a lot more football in the tank than Hope does. I think it will come down to those two for that spot.

I still think Wendling is safe- we've been making all kinds of moves to shore up the special teams units this offseason, so cutting one of the top few kick coverage guys in the league would be a big step back. I know he only does ST, but he's just so damn good at it that he warrants a roster spot.

He can, in theory, play safety in an absolute pinch, but he's shown that he's a big liability in coverage. Basically he's a special teams ace and nothing more, but he's great at what he does. Maybe last season, with our horrible punting situation, diminished his value as far as the plays we saw him make, but remember back in 2011 it seemed like any punt that bounced inside the 5 he was right there to make sure it didn't cross the goal-line.

It's too bad he couldn't figure out the coverage part on defense, though. He's a fantastic athlete with solid size for the position at 6'1", 222 lbs. At the combine in '07 he ran a 4.48, put up 22 reps on the bench and had a 38.5 in vertical. Just goes to show you, I guess, that there's more to it than being a great athlete playing safety in the NFL. He has seemed to figure out how to put his physical gifts to use on the st coverage units though...

 

[tpaulus_2]

I wonder who's more evil. Vader - master of evil, or Dr. Evil-er.

I thought Vader was the guy who turned out to be Dr. Evil-er... I have no idea who Vader is...

 

[Quackerjacked]

I would love to keep him on the team off he wasn't a safety. We are just always down safeties and he keeps us from carrying one. I guess since we don't have Robiskie or Osgood I feel better about it. It just seems that we had too many ST aces that brought nothing to any other phase.

 

[Dr. Evil-er]

I wonder who's more evil. Vader - master of evil, or Dr. Evil-er.

Well, when I created Dr. Evil, which was done only to attack that fucking douche IrishEntourage back on CBS and I got banned in one day, so I'm going to go out on a limb and pick Dr. Evil-er. No offense to Vader, I'm sure he's evil, just not evil enough.