The Official 2014 Lions Draft Thread

[themuzzer]

I usually agree with jd on most things, but we're polar opposites on our opinions of the DEs.

My excitement for this season hinges on DE being the most improved position on the team.

I'm cautiously optimistic because quite frankly we don't know what we have at the DE posistion.

 

[tpaulus_2]

Let the gong show begin at DE. Outside of Ansah I am thinking the Lions have doubts. Jones is a situational guy that will rotate but Young? Lewis? and the others.

Schwartz and Mayhew have added alot of UDFA at DE in hopes of finding a diamond in the rough or just depth!

I think it will come back to be a mistake they didn't resign LoJack.

I read these same thoughts from you on another thread, and I still totally disagree. These UDFAs we're bringing in are for OTAs and Training Camp. Remember the new offseason rules allow us to have 90 guys on the roster now; that's almost 40 more than we'll be able to keep. There's going to be a lot of UDFAs/FAs coming and going now and in the future offseasons because of this new rule change.

I don't think anyone expects them to realistically push for a roster spot... sure, one could really have a stand-out camp and make the team, but in all honesty the best shot these guys really have is to make the practice squad for the season.



I think you're assessment of what we have at the position now is a ways off from what the coaching staff sees. Ansah will start at RDE, just as you said, but Jason Jones is penciled in to be the starter at LDE in Avril's place. I know he's been a rotational guy before, but we brought him in to start. Schwartz and Co. know him as well as anyone in the league does, so if they say he's going to be the starter then there's no reason to think it's smoke and mirrors or something like that.

He'll still rotate, as will Ansah, because that's how we roll with out D-line. Everyone on it rotates pretty often so they all stay fresh. I'm banking on Willie Young being the 3rd DE and primary rotation guy, with Devin Taylor getting the next-most reps as he learns the system. He definitely has future-starter potential with that frame and athleticism he has. Lastly is our 5th DE, Ronnell Lewis, who is more of a speed rushing specialist like Avril. I think we'll see him in there a lot more this year on 3rd-and-long scenarios to take advantage of his speed and explosiveness. If not, then expect him to be gone after the season.

Overall, though, we have a group made op of a lot of young players that we've drafted. Sure, they're not the household names you might prefer, but I assure you this is how the successful teams do it- they draft their players and develop them into good players. Our defense is finally starting to fill up with players Mayhew drafted, rather than a new mix of free agents every year.

Ansah, Taylor, Young and Lewis are all Mayhew picks at DE, Jason Jones is the only one who isn't. Fairley and Suh are Mayhew picks at DT, C.J. Mosley is the only one who isn't. At LB we have Levy, Whitehead, Lewis and Hepburn as Mayhew draftees, Tulloch and Palmer as free agent pick-ups. CB features Green, Greenwood, Bentley and Slay as draft picks, Houston via trade and Bartell as a free agent. Safety is the only area that's less than 50/50 on drafted guys- Delmas and Spievey are the two drafted by Mayhew, Quin, Carey and Wendling are free agent pick-ups (although Wendling is purely a special teams guy in reality).

So out of the 25 "projected" guys on our final-roster defense, 16 have been drafted by Mayhew. That's good, definitely the kind of ratio you want to see. It means we're drafting and developing guys specifically for our system, which will pay off much better in the long run then bringing in free agents by name to fill spots that are instead going to our un-proven young players. I much prefer giving our young guys a shot, otherwise we're never going to find our own stars...

 

[broncosmitty]

I can't decide if DE or RG is the most improved position. KVB provided next to nothing on the field, Cliff Avril fucking sucks, but Peterman he was in his own class of weak link.

 

[Thruthefog]

I can't decide if DE or RG is the most improved position. KVB provided next to nothing on the field, Cliff Avril fucking sucks, but Peterman he was in his own class of weak link.

This is an excellent observation, and I agree with you. Actually I spoke too soon.

However, the upgrade at DE is much more important than the one at G. But I'm tickled shitless that Peterman is gone.

 

[broncosmitty]

It is much more important. IMO, having DEs that actually contribute will change the fortunes of the Tackles, the LB corp and the secondary. And while it would have great to have LoJack pushing Jones for a starting gig, Avrils gone, so I can't really find any negatives about the Dline even if people tell me where to look.

 

[tpaulus_2]

I was all about bringing LoJack back until we drafted two DEs in the 1st 4 rounds.

If we had brought him back it would have been at the expense of Ronnell Lewis or Willie Young. I know they are still pretty high on Young's potential, but LoJack has been far more productive than Young. If the choice had been mine I would have brought Jackson back and let Young go I do believe...

 

[broncosmitty]

I'm not sure what kind of jack LoJack got from the Vikes. But I wonder if the amount factored in us not bringing him back. (?). It very well could have been Willie that lost out if he had returned. I like Young, but he was only a 7th rounder and hasn't exactly been a huge stay guy. But I don't think we drafted whatshisnuts from South Carolina until LoJack had already signed with Minny. Could be that Jackson may have returned had we landed a Tackle or DeeMilly at #5? Idk, I'm just thinking while I wait for my pancakes.

 

[broncosmitty]

Stat guy, not a huge stat guy. Damnit, just like Jerry Rice, I'm always searching for perfection, but never quite get there. It's what keeps me going as a poster. It keeps me hungry. That, and I still don't have my pancakes.

 

[Thruthefog]

If it weren't for my anger management class, I'd probably say something like, 'If it weren't for pancake breakfasts, spagetti suppers, and bingo, the catholics would be worthless'. But now I'm learning not to say shit like that.

 

[tpaulus_2]

I still say things like that...

 

[tpaulus_2]

Let's get this fucker to 1,000 replies.

It'll be the first 1k thread we've had on here.

The old fantasy thread, by comparison, was up over 100k on replies before CBS fucked us all over...

 

[tpaulus_2]

 

[broncosmitty]

These pancakes are selling like hot cakes!!!!

 

[broncosmitty]

What was it that conflicted with the draft next year? Im not sure we can hold it together the extra three weeks this go round. It's a tense time of year.

 

[LionsWhyMe]

What was it that conflicted with the draft next year? Im not sure we can hold it together the extra three weeks this go round. It's a tense time of year.

Speaking of next year draft ...I'm thinking Center with the top pick.

 

[Rollingthndr]

Speaking of next year draft ...I'm thinking Center with the top pick.

LMW...

What about LB? Especially weakside. I agree with you about the center position. Depends how high or low we are picking in the 1st round. Hopefully last.

On paper the weakest positions are

WLB-Levy blows
RT- Depends on how good Fox turns out to be
C- Cryola is old as dirt
#2CB-Until one of those guys establishes himself.

 

[LPinSLC]

Hungover

 

[black_magic]

anybody have any openings in a fantasy football league this yr?

 

[Thruthefog]

I'm a stubborn bastard.

 

[broncosmitty]

I don't like Michael Lewis.