Archive
But I’m hoping for an early Spring
- (NFL.com) Stafford: Lions’ #1 pick
Mitch Albom wrote a masterful piece in Sports Illustrated several months ago that captured the essence of what Detroit has gone through after the 0-16 season, as well as the tough economic hardships the city has suffered over the years. Most fans would have long lost hope, but the Detroit faithful are loyal to a fault. After half a century of mediocrity, all this town asks for is a team that embodies the spirit of its people: a tough, blue-collar football team that is dedicated to running the ball and puts out a ferocious defense. In essence, we just want something similar to the situation in Baltimore and in Pittsburgh. The reason a person can’t walk a mile without hearing buzz about their team is because the Steelers and Ravens understand how to build a team the way their fans would build one.
We aren’t asking for flash or glitz, or even annual playoff berths, all we want is a team with whom we can identify.
Now, William Clay Ford, the man who apparently doesn’t understand that we are in a recession, ended up running Ford Motors into the ground, and has not ever been able to relate to the fans because of his upbringing, has put together a front office that absolutely doesn’t understand us. If they did, I have little doubt that they would have ever flirted with picking Matt Stafford, the boy who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He grew up in Highland Park, Texas for heaven’s sake. That is the creme de la creme of Dallas’ high society. It’s not his fault for having that life. But it most certainly is the Lions’ fault for choosing him as the face of this franchise.
Is it any accident that Lions fans were head over heels in favor of selecting Aaron Curry as the number 1 overall pick of the 2009 Draft? Absolutely not!
- (NFL.com) Aaron Curry-the People’s choice for #1
Was it a good business decision? Well, maybe not the best, but Curry was the kind of man that perfectly symbolized Detroit in every manner. The Lions could have rallied the fans around this young man, and they had the opportunity to demonstrate what should be most valued by this organization. Picking Curry would have stuck it to all the pundits and said “we value our fans, and we will build this team starting with a foundation of defense.” The number one pick symbolizes the direction that this team is headed in, and what the organization values most.
In an era where a sound understanding of the salary cap is king, the Lions threw more guaranteed money than the Falcons gave Matt Ryan last year. In a state where there is 12% unemployment, the Lions are spending money like there is no tomorrow. To put things in perspective, Tom Brady’s contract entitles him to somewhere around $25 million guaranteed. Stafford will be receiving $41 million over 6 years.
The Lions could have scored extra brownie points with fans by selecting Curry for somewhere around $15 million less than Stafford.
Instead, the Lions took the shortcut again and made strides to alienate the fans even more than 0-16.
It cannot be stressed enough, the fans of Detroit need signs that this time will be different than the Millen era (and all the eras before that). And the draft picks over the weekend gave little indication that we should expect much better out of Martin Mayhew than we did from Matt Millen.
The new regime said they ‘would build this team from the inside out,’ that they wanted to build through the trenches. How can you do that when you select only 2 linemen (4th round and 7th round). And what about that defense? Just one defender has been chosen in the first round since 2000, and this year did nothing to change that statistic. The selections were not bad by any means: Brandon Pettigrew, Matt Stafford, and Louis Delmas were the best at their positions in the draft. But the picks were not what was promised. The front office isn’t creating a team that represents us. And they haven’t reached the point where they are beyond reproach. Guys like Belichick and Parcells, you just don’t question because they have the rings to back up their decisions. The Lions have yet to earn such confidence. Until then, we will be skeptical, for better or for worse….
A friend created a site around the idea that the Lions are in a state of winter since they cannot escape the dire situation that has faced them for so long.
It might be a long winter…but I’m hoping for an early spring.
Pete Prisco of NFLDraftscout.com raved about the Lions’ draft, ultimately giving them an “A,” the second best grade of all the teams (then again, last year we got a grade of A, too). Sure it’s early to give out grades because we all know that it takes about 3 years to know what you have. But, besides me, there are those who are very positive about the Lions’ future. I sure hope that optimism can rub off on me sooner rather than later. Someone please give me a ray of sunshine because I want to believe that better days are on the horizon.
Hybrid Mock Draft Results (picks 17-32)
17. New York Jets
–Fan Pick- Other*
–My Pick- Jeremy Maclin (WR/Missouri)
18. Denver Broncos (from Chicago)
–Fan Pick- Everette Brown (DE/Florida St)
–My Pick- Rey Maualuga (ILB/USC)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
–Fan Pick- Jeremy Maclin (WR/Missouri)*
–My Pick- Peria Jerry (DT/Ole Miss)
20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas)
–Fan Pick- Other
–My Pick- Michael Oher (LT/Ole Miss)
21.Philadelphia Eagles
–Fan Pick- Brandon Pettigrew (TE/Oklahoma St)
–My Pick- Brandon Pettigrew (TE/Oklahoma St)
22. Minnesota Vikings
–Fan Pick- Percy Harvin (WR/Florida)
–My Pick- Percy Harvin (WR/Florida)
23. New England Patriots
–Fan Pick- Connor Barwin (DE/Cincinnati)
–My Pick- Trade Down
24. Atlanta Falcons
–Fan Pick- Darius Butler (CB/Uconn)
–My Pick- Darius Butler (CB/Uconn)
25. Miami Dolphins
–Fan Pick- Aaron Maybin (DE/Penn St)
–My Pick- Aaron Maybin (DE/Penn St)
26. Baltimore Ravens
–Fan Pick- Tyson Jackson (DE/LSU)
–My Pick- Tyson Jackson (DE/LSU)
27.Indianapolis Colts
–Fan Pick- Brian Robiskie (WR/Ohio St)
–My Pick- Brian Robiskie (WR/Ohio St)
28.Buffalo Bills (from Philadelphia)
–Fan Pick- N/A
–My Pick- William Beatty (LT/Uconn)
29. New York Giants
–Fan Pick- Clay Matthews Jr (OLB/USC)
–My Pick- Clay Matthews Jr (OLB/USC)
30. Tennessee Titans
–Fan Pick- Alphonso Smith (CB/Wake Forest)
–My Pick- Alphonso Smith (CB/Wake Forest)
31. Arizona Cardinals
–Fan Pick- Larry English (DE/Northern Illinois)
–My Pick- Larry English (DE/Northern Illinois)
32. Pittsburgh Steelers
–Fan Pick- Trade Down*
–My Pick- Trade Down
Note: An asterisk * indicates the fan selection was not the choice that received the highest number of votes.
Hybrid Mock Draft Results
I promised that I would take the results of the fan poll and compare them to my own predictions for the draft. Thanks to everyone who participated by voting. It made the entire process much more enjoyable for me, and hopefully for you too! Please note that my picks are based on who I believe will be chosen, not based on who I prefer to be selected. Those results will come after the draft.
Also notice that no player will be chosen twice, so it may be possible that a player who received the most votes may not be be the selection in rare instances.
1. Detroit Lions
-Fan pick– Aaron Curry (LB/Wake Forest)
-My pick–Matthew Stafford
2. St. Louis Rams
-Fan pick–Jason Smith (LT/Baylor)
-My pick–Jason Smith (LT/Baylor)
3. Kansas City Chiefs
-Fan pick–B.J. Raji (NT/Boston College)
-My pick–Aaron Curry (LB/Wake Forest)
4. Seattle Seahawks
-Fan pick–Michael Crabtree (WR/Texas Tech)
-My pick–Michael Crabtree (WR/Texas Tech)
5. Cleveland Browns
-Fan pick–Brian Orakpo (DE/Texas)
-My pick–B.J. Raji (NT/Boston College)
6. Cincinnati Bengals
-Fan pick–Eugene Monroe (LT/Virginia)
-My pick–Eugene Monroe (LT/Virginia)
7. Oakland Raiders
-Fan pick–Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR/Maryland)
-My pick–Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR/Maryland)
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
-Fan pick–Malcolm Jenkins (DB/Ohio St)
-My pick–Andre Smith (OT/Alabama)
9. Green Bay Packers
-Fan pick–Other
-My pick–Trade down (with Denver to select Knowshon Moreno)
10. San Francisco 49ers
-Fan pick–Mark Sanchez (QB/USC)
-My pick–Brian Orakpo (DE/Texas)
11. Buffalo Bills
-Fan pick–Everette Brown (DE/Florida)
-My pick–Robert Ayers (DE/Tennessee)
12. Denver Broncos
-Fan pick–Rey Maualuga (ILB/USC)
-My pick–Trade up (for Mark Sanchez)
13. Washington Redskins
-Fan pick–Brian Cushing (OLB/USC)
-My pick–Trade down
14. New Orleans Saints
-Fan pick–Knowshon Moreno (HB/
-My pick–Brian Cushing (OLB/USC)
15. Houston Texans
-Fan pick–Peria Jerry (DT/Ole Miss)
-My pick–Vontae Davis (CB/Illinois)
16. San Diego Chargers
-Fan pick–Other (3rd choice)
-My pick–Malcolm Jenkins (DB/Ohio St)
Please vote here on the final 16 selections by tomorrow. Those pick results will be revealed tomorrow.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers
-Trade Down
The reason there is no consensus on how the Steelers will draft, I think it’s safe to say there are no players that “fit” well enough to select at 32. I know it’s not the popular thing to do, but Pittsburgh has very few needs, and since the value may not be there with their first pick, expect a trade to somewhere in the middle of the second round. A huge part of Pittsburgh’s draft success comes from their self-restraint, not reaching excessively based on need.
There will be several interior linemen available to them, but correct me if i’m wrong, Pittsburgh is stock full of guards and right tackles. They need a quick left tackle to protect Ben Roethlisberger, and they could also use a replacement for Bryant McFadden at CB. Nearly every single position has a solid starter penciled in, minus those two positions. What is needed is additional depth behind a few aging starters along the defensive line. The second round is precisely the time to grab those future starters (Jarron Gilbert DL, Ron Brace NT) on the d-line and at center (Alex Mack, Eric Wood).
The simple truth is this: the Steelers could use a few linemen, but only 5 OL have been chosen by them in the first 2 rounds since 1990 (2 OG, 3 OT). Only one of those OT’s was chosen in round 1 (1996). Pittsburgh likes to get impact players in the first round, but there aren’t many around at the end of round 1. Expect lots of help in the trenches to come in round 2-7.
-Percy Harvin (WR/Florida)
- Percy Harvin (NFL.com)
Word on the street is despite a jaw-dropping workout, the character of Percy Harvin is scaring off quite a few potential suitors. If he falls as far as some have speculated (to the end of the first round), watch out AFC North because the Steelers could have themselves a player as dangerous as Devin Hester. Assuming Pittsburgh has to move up only a few spots, it is entirely possible they will snatch a player that could take their offense to another level. If they are lucky, they might not even have to trade up to get him.
-Alex Mack (C/California)
- Alex Mack (NFL.com)
Steeler nation missed their beloved running game last year. Ben Roethlisberger was involved in more passes than usual. The injury to rookie HB Rashard Mendenhall hurt a great deal, too. Judging from the players brought in to the team facility, the Behind the Steel Curtain blog reports that there is
“an emphasis on improving the running game, particularly power running. [Phil] Loadholt, the only OT, is a massive RT candidate whose strength is run blocking. [Herman] Johnson is the biggest guard prospect in the draft and [Louis] Vasquez is not far behind. The only TE brought in, Richard Quinn, is a superior blocker with limited receiving ability. The only RB, Frank Summers, is a miniature tank who Steelers RB coach Kirby Wilson described as one of the toughest guys to tackle he has seen.”
Among the group of visitors were 3 centers: A.Q. Shipley (Penn St), Max Unger (Oregon), and Alex Mack (Cal). The latter is an accomplished run and pass blocker, and has the great intelligence expected of centers in the NFL. He has been described by NFLdraftscout as possessing an aggressive football mentality:
once he steps on the football field, that nice persona is left in the locker room and his nasty demeanor takes over….Mack is the type who will do whatever it takes to finish his blocks. He plays and practices with true aggression and is the type that will play through pain. He has strong leadership qualities on and off the field. He is an intense competitor on the field who loves the game, likes the challenge and will leave his all on the football field. His tenacity is evident and he will not hesitate to throw an elbow to put a defender down.
However unlikely it may seem, if the Steelers stay at home with the 32nd pick, they might fall in love with Alex Mack. He is one heckofa football player.
See entire Hybrid Mock Draft here
This is the last pick of the mock draft. Make sure to vote because over the next few days I will tally up all the votes and reveal my picks compared to your own! Also, thanks to all of you who followed this experiment in its entirety. It means a great deal to me.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
