Today is the most important day for NFL fans other then a Super Bowl.  Today is the NFL Draft.  It is unlike any other draft by professional sports, and more watched and panned over then any other draft.  I am going to include my thoughts about the Detroit Lions, my NFL team, there needs, wants, and what or who they will pick.  I do this because most of us, being either from Michigan, Michigan alums, or Michigan Fans, are probably a majority Lions fans.  I know there are other fans on here too, including Miami and Pittsburg among others.  I am going to put my anaylisis on here, and if you feel you would like to add, or put your anaylisis of your team on here, I and others should feel free to discuss those options, not only with the Lions, but others teams as well.  I know there is a few hours before my pick( 10 min. a pick, 16th pick equals over 2 and half hours)  So lets discuss, disect, and have fun!  HAPPY DRAFT DAY!

Most experts believe that the DLions will be picking up RB R.Mendanhall from Ill. with the 16th pick overall.  With the release of Mike Martz as OC, and JC as the new OC, the offensive plan is to run more this year.  The Lions placed dead last in run attempts and rushing YPG in the league last year, and they would want nothing more then to grab a vicious RB this year.

The Lions released former first round pick and accident prone Kevin Jones from the team.  Along with that, one year contract with MSU alum TJ Duckett expired, and without resigning him, he received a 5 year deal in Seattle.  So, during free agency the Lions looked and were dealing hard.  When Dallas released Julius Jones, the Lions were on it, but did not offer as good of a deal as the Seahawks, where he eventually landed.  So what do the Lions do?  They resign RB T. Bell, a trade aquired from Denver last season.  T. Bell didnt receive much time last year, and publically announced his distaste for the way the coaching staff was hanldling him.  Not only were the Lions the last in all aspects of the run last year, but they started K. Jones over Bell when he was healthy again (I believe it was the 4th or 5th game).  With the release of K. Jones, it opened up contract talks with T. Bell for a starting postion.  the Lions are not deep in RB, and have only B. Calhoun who have actually seen the field.  T. Bell signed, and so here we are.

Many say that T. Bell was a bad trade last year.  I will tell you this:  He had 2 consistant 1000 yard + years with Denver before he was traded.  This guy is a beast, and I believe that he can still run.  The problem is, like Kevin Jones, if he gets free from the line, he has great breaking speed, but he needs A LINE!  I believe, just like many did about KJ, that he could break a 1000 yards this year.  But, he needs a line.  There are still a few RB out there in the FT floating, or waiting to be traded with.  S. Alexander is still out there as well.  So, with 4 picks in the first 3 rounds, we should be focusing on OL, DE, DT.  This draft is laced with great backs, and picks in the late rounds could bring backs like Kevin Smith from S. Florida(funny, he missed B. Sanders rushing title in the NCAA by 61 yards) as well as even M. Hart!  But in order to help our offensive by giving Kitna (or maybe, Godwilling, D. Staton) throw to our great receivers (The OL gave up more sacks then any other line in the NFL last year) or give our RB some holes to create a diverse rush/pass attack, we need OL! Perhaps Otah?!

People will argue that with the offseason aquisition of so many defensive players that defense is the last we should look at.  R. Marinelli talked about why he brought those guys in, and part of it was to "teach as veteran leaders."  VETERAN being the key word here.  Who are you going to lead, without some good, YOUNG defensive players in there.

Thats the "State of the Lions" from my point of view, but this is what I believe will happen: GM M. Millen will go big.  With the exception of E. Sims Millen has always drafted skill postion players.  He will select R. Mendenhall.  UnLESS, he either is not there(unlikely) or D. Mcfadden drops to 16 where they can pick him up (again, unlikely)  One other possibility, listening this morning, Dallas wants a RB in the first round, and are looking to work their way up the draft board for it.  There is a possibility that Det. could trade their pick for a alot from Dallas so they can recieve their running back.

And thats my anaylisis.  Discuss.

Millen takes skill players that fans recognize so when his staff doesn't develop them, he can call them a bust. I get angry typing about the guy. How on God's green earth does he have a job?
 
As for needs, I'm right with you. They don't NEED a RB, at least not with their first pick. This draft is so deep at that position for the first time in years, it would be my stance to wait until at least round 2. A guy I really liked from the bowl game and the combine is Chris Johnson from ECU. I'm still not sure why he's not getting more love. He's a beast, and returns kicks with his 4.28 speed, and racked up over 2,000 yards. Oh, and if I remember correctly, didn't fumble until the bowl game last year.
 
I love the draft though. It's always fun.

“If we’re not committed 100 percent to everything we do in our lives, we start to fall short of our dreams.”
Mike Barwis

ORIGINAL: OC Michigan Fan

Millen takes skill players that fans recognize so when his staff doesn't develop them, he can call them a bust. I get angry typing about the guy. How on God's green earth does he have a job?

I dont know...if we dont make the playoffs this year, maybe another "brown out?"

Lions Needs?  The list is too long to even entertain.  There's a 90% chance that whomever Millen goes with will be a bust.  That's problem 1.  They need a back and an entire offensive line.  That will take 3 years right there and that's assuming he gets it right. 
 
T. Bell had a couple good years in Denver but EVERY back that has played for Denver the last 10 years has rushed for 1,000 yards.
 
They have an average QB in Kitna, who is not the future of the franchise by any stretch of the imagination .
 
The smartest thing they can do (and 'smart' and 'Lions' don't go together well in the same sentence) is load up on defense.  Both Tampa Bay and the Ravens have won Super Bowls with zero for an offense and a good defense can cure a lot of ills on offense.  And let's face it, the Lions are LOADED with offensive ills.
 
The fact of the matter is the Lions will never be a legitimate playoff team as long as Ford owns the team.  We're coming into our 50th year of total and complete ineptitude and there's only one consistent factor in all of that.  Now, throw in the double-wammy of Millen, potentially the worst GM in the history of all sport, and you've got another 10 years of zip.  Just look at every coach we've had-none of them ever went on to coach another team.  This is the last stop before the scrap heep. 
 
I could not be less interested in this draft or any other draft, past or future, that involves this team as it will never matter.  We can list all of the potential names out there at every conceivable position, but only 2 things will happen:  They'll be a complete bust or it won't be enough to matter in the first place.  If I were any of these potential picks I'd be scared to death to get picked by the Lions.  It's just too bad the starving fans of Detroit keep showing up only to see the same show for the past 50 years.  This franchise is one of the most embarrassing franchises in history and this is the longest amount of time I will ever spend discussing them.
 
Sorry for the rant-not trying to trash your post Michigan Man   I just can't take anymore of this team or anyone associated with it.  They're a disgrace and the draft is just a magnifying glass for the rest of the nation to wonder how Millen can keep this job, when the answer is quite simple: it's the Detroit Lions.  You expected something else?

"I have marked down losses for Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State. And then there could be others such as Illinois".-BigHouseFootball March 08

ORIGINAL: TK23Blue


Sorry for the rant-not trying to trash your post Michigan Man   I just can't take anymore of this team or anyone associated with it.  They're a disgrace and the draft is just a magnifying glass for the rest of the nation to wonder how Millen can keep this job, when the answer is quite simple: it's the Detroit Lions.  You expected something else?

Its cool, but I guess my question to you is this:  are you or were you a Lions fan?  It seems like you know alot about the team, so my guess is your just fed up with them after all these years.  Your right, Ford is the problem, and the only thing that is going to bother him is if he loses money, and he isnt.  This is just another "investment" in his pocket and could care less.  Unless clueless fans, who keep paying big money stop going in droves, we will never see a change in upper management.

And, if I were also in the draft, I would be scared too!  But I most stick by their side.  They are my team, and I have to believe that at least from a coaching stand point, and talent we are doing fine.  I think we have underacheivers, I think who ever works S/C should be fired, way too many injuries amongst other things.  I find it also hard to believe that the Lions will trade R. Williams, though if they were smart, they could probabaly get a bit for him...maybe a line.  Either way, its interesting to see what they will pick up.  And, like I said before, Millen will take some high profile, vs. needs of the team.

ORIGINAL: The_Michigan_Man

... but I guess my question to you is this:  are you or were you a Lions fan?  It seems like you know alot about the team, so my guess is your just fed up with them after all these years.

 
The Lions have perfected losing as a culture.  Given the law of averages, you would have thought more success could have fallen into the Lions' lap.  All these years had turned into ... all these decades ... and the Lions are making the turn towards a full century of futility.
 
As Art Wregner would say on Detroit sports radio, it is just better to deal with the unhealthy addiction and become "Lions-free."

Wow, what a great pick the Lions made, no starting RB but we take a scrub linemen

"When you coach at Michigan, you walk on water, period. There's a difference."-Don Nehlen

I thought there was nothing the Lions could do anymore that would make me angry.

Today, they proved me wrong.

Burn, Lions. Burn, Millen. Boycott is in effect. I'm through watching these no counts until Millen is gone and Ford sells the team. Screw them.

ORIGINAL: EFWolverine

I thought there was nothing the Lions could do anymore that would make me angry.

Today, they proved me wrong.

Burn, Lions. Burn, Millen. Boycott is in effect. I'm through watching these no counts until Millen is gone and Ford sells the team. Screw them.

I`m with you, don`t know that I can take anymore from the Lions. They aren`t even attempting to improve the team, that I can accept.

"When you coach at Michigan, you walk on water, period. There's a difference."-Don Nehlen

Oh man I'm so hoping Manny n Hart will get picked up by the Fins, would be kinda funny and possibly fun to watch. Definately helped by just Long n Henne.

What I am LMAO at, and hoping Mario is slapping his face at leaving early for, is the App.State WR that got picked and he is still a spectator

And Detroit, even though I will always watch and pull for ya (but bet against) maybe you should trade a few picks and pick up some DRAFT Researchers, damn your draft people suck

ORIGINAL: MaizeinTN

And Detroit, even though I will always watch and pull for ya (but bet against) maybe you should trade a few picks and pick up some DRAFT Researchers, damn your draft people suck

Hell, I would do it for about 100k less then they are paying Mel Kiper...er, whoever they got in there telling them things.  Had Otah right there, but no....had all kinds of defense, but, nah, we dont need em!  We are the LIONS!  My money is on a RB at pick 66 tomorrow, any takers??

ORIGINAL: The_Michigan_Man

ORIGINAL: TK23Blue


Sorry for the rant-not trying to trash your post Michigan Man   I just can't take anymore of this team or anyone associated with it.  They're a disgrace and the draft is just a magnifying glass for the rest of the nation to wonder how Millen can keep this job, when the answer is quite simple: it's the Detroit Lions.  You expected something else?

Its cool, but I guess my question to you is this:  are you or were you a Lions fan?  It seems like you know alot about the team, so my guess is your just fed up with them after all these years.  Your right, Ford is the problem, and the only thing that is going to bother him is if he loses money, and he isnt.  This is just another "investment" in his pocket and could care less.  Unless clueless fans, who keep paying big money stop going in droves, we will never see a change in upper management.

And, if I were also in the draft, I would be scared too!  But I most stick by their side.  They are my team, and I have to believe that at least from a coaching stand point, and talent we are doing fine.  I think we have underacheivers, I think who ever works S/C should be fired, way too many injuries amongst other things.  I find it also hard to believe that the Lions will trade R. Williams, though if they were smart, they could probabaly get a bit for him...maybe a line.  Either way, its interesting to see what they will pick up.  And, like I said before, Millen will take some high profile, vs. needs of the team.

 
Yep, grew up in and around Detroit-lived in Michigan until 2003 so I've been thru the Greg Landry years, Bill Munson, Joe Reed, Eric Hipple, Gary Danielson, Rodney Peete, Eric Kramer, Scott Mitchell and every stiff in between.  Barry Sanders is the only good thing that had come out of this organization in 50 years and what a wasted talent.  The guy should be the leading rusher in NFL history by 10 miles over anybody else but I digress.
 
Yesterday was classic Lions: move up 10 spots in the 3rd and get an extra pick in the 5th and draft a tackle that is a complete stretch and big-time iffy, skipping Otah and Mendenhall in the process.  Of course, that pick in the 5th is the real bonanza because the Lions do such a good job of scouting and developing 5th round picks. (gag, choke, puke.)  But this guy has character, according to Marinelli.  Of course, that's what he said about his new starting safety who just got arrested on assualt and battery charges, as well as running from police yesterday.  So, the Lions didn't pick up anything that will help in the next 2-3 years but I guess you have to start somewhere.  And when you start over every single year, the O line is as good a place as any I suppose.  But building for the future is not exactly our forte'.  We spend 4 #1's on WR's and a QB, but now we've decided to be a running team instead and we....skip a RB.  They should have traded Roy Williams for anything they could get for him.  They then could have taken a RB plus got their guy on the O line.  It's a 3-ring circus in Detroit: a totally disconnected owner who is clueless and has no real interest in results; an incompetent ring leader in Millen who couldn't find his a$$ with a map and a flashlight; and another in a long line of less-than-brilliant coaches who gets to play the guy who get's shot out of the cannon.  It's the only Detroit sports franchise in my lifetime (and I painfully experienced the Dead Wings era, yet never came close to giving up on them) that has been able to get me to root against them every Sunday, just so I can hear the latest excuses.  Because if nothing else, they DO excel in the excuse dept.  We have the Red Wings, Tigers, Pistons, and UM football-how anyone could plunk down money to see the Lions is mind boggling.  When any of our other pro teams we're way down, people didn't show up.  The Tigers couldn't put 10,000 people in the place just 3 short years ago.  Yet, for whatever reason the Lions will still put people in the seats.

"I have marked down losses for Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State. And then there could be others such as Illinois".-BigHouseFootball March 08

I used to do my best to try and help Lions fans escape from futility and disavow supporting such a #%$ owner.

But after years of trying I've come to the conclusion that it's burned into their DNA- they can't help it.  It's like people who get addicted to gambling, they know the odds are against them but just can't stop.

I usually let sleeping dogs lie, unless someone starts going off on how great the Lions will be...then I let them have it.

One one hand, the Lions fans desere so much better then they get from the Lions, on other hand their devotion ensures that it will continue.  Someone I know was just bragging to me about how they were upgrading to 4 seats in the lower bowl at Ford Field from the upper deck.  I think someone needs a drug test

The only thing the Fords respond to is being embarrassed.  Tons of empty seats would do it or top draft pick telling them to pound sand might have the same effect.

Whenever I see someone drafted by the Lions I think- "So this is the next guy to have his career ruined."

Whenever a free agent signs with the Lions I think- "Well this guy obviously had no other options and/or doesn't care about winning."

Phil Callihan
Editor-in-Chief
UMGoBlue.COM

Lambuth College? Bethune-Cookman? Hillsdale college? Looking for the diamond in the rough eh....lol

 
RB Allen Ervin (Lambuth College)
LB Tyronne Pruitt (Boston College)
S Bobbie Williams (Bethune-Cookman)
QB Mark Nicolet (Hillsdale College)
LS Jonathan Weeks (Baylor)
S Justin Sanders (Illinois) tryout
 
 

ORIGINAL: TK23Blue

ORIGINAL: The_Michigan_Man

ORIGINAL: TK23Blue


Sorry for the rant-not trying to trash your post Michigan Man   I just can't take anymore of this team or anyone associated with it.  They're a disgrace and the draft is just a magnifying glass for the rest of the nation to wonder how Millen can keep this job, when the answer is quite simple: it's the Detroit Lions.  You expected something else?

Its cool, but I guess my question to you is this:  are you or were you a Lions fan?  It seems like you know alot about the team, so my guess is your just fed up with them after all these years.  Your right, Ford is the problem, and the only thing that is going to bother him is if he loses money, and he isnt.  This is just another "investment" in his pocket and could care less.  Unless clueless fans, who keep paying big money stop going in droves, we will never see a change in upper management.

And, if I were also in the draft, I would be scared too!  But I most stick by their side.  They are my team, and I have to believe that at least from a coaching stand point, and talent we are doing fine.  I think we have underacheivers, I think who ever works S/C should be fired, way too many injuries amongst other things.  I find it also hard to believe that the Lions will trade R. Williams, though if they were smart, they could probabaly get a bit for him...maybe a line.  Either way, its interesting to see what they will pick up.  And, like I said before, Millen will take some high profile, vs. needs of the team.

Yep, grew up in and around Detroit-lived in Michigan until 2003 so I've been thru the Greg Landry years, Bill Munson, Joe Reed, Eric Hipple, Gary Danielson, Rodney Peete, Eric Kramer, Scott Mitchell and every stiff in between.  Barry Sanders is the only good thing that had come out of this organization in 50 years and what a wasted talent.  The guy should be the leading rusher in NFL history by 10 miles over anybody else but I digress.

Yesterday was classic Lions: move up 10 spots in the 3rd and get an extra pick in the 5th and draft a tackle that is a complete stretch and big-time iffy, skipping Otah and Mendenhall in the process.  Of course, that pick in the 5th is the real bonanza because the Lions do such a good job of scouting and developing 5th round picks. (gag, choke, puke.)  But this guy has character, according to Marinelli.  Of course, that's what he said about his new starting safety who just got arrested on assualt and battery charges, as well as running from police yesterday.  So, the Lions didn't pick up anything that will help in the next 2-3 years but I guess you have to start somewhere.  And when you start over every single year, the O line is as good a place as any I suppose.  But building for the future is not exactly our forte'.  We spend 4 #1's on WR's and a QB, but now we've decided to be a running team instead and we....skip a RB.  They should have traded Roy Williams for anything they could get for him.  They then could have taken a RB plus got their guy on the O line.  It's a 3-ring circus in Detroit: a totally disconnected owner who is clueless and has no real interest in results; an incompetent ring leader in Millen who couldn't find his a$$ with a map and a flashlight; and another in a long line of less-than-brilliant coaches who gets to play the guy who get's shot out of the cannon.  It's the only Detroit sports franchise in my lifetime (and I painfully experienced the Dead Wings era, yet never came close to giving up on them) that has been able to get me to root against them every Sunday, just so I can hear the latest excuses.  Because if nothing else, they DO excel in the excuse dept.  We have the Red Wings, Tigers, Pistons, and UM football-how anyone could plunk down money to see the Lions is mind boggling.  When any of our other pro teams we're way down, people didn't show up.  The Tigers couldn't put 10,000 people in the place just 3 short years ago.  Yet, for whatever reason the Lions will still put people in the seats.

 
Agreed his talent was wasted--however, there were other Lion greats in the last 50 years to name a few - Charlie Sanders, Lem Barney, Dick LeBeau, Dick Lane, Yale Lary.... 

"I don't want our team to expect to win. I want our team to deserve to win."

Rich Rodriguez

Amen! These were just HOF!