How to fix the Detroit Lions in 2010

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 14, 2009 8:39 PM EDT Comment 15 comments

First a disclaimer. The Lions will not get fixed in one or two drafts. They are slowly coming back to respectability thanks to the leadership and teamwork of Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz. The 2010 draft could provide three or more starters plus some much needed depth. I will approach this draft as if the Lions were selecting from the #7 position. I think six of St. Louis, Tampa, Cleveland, Oakland, KC, Buffalo, Tennessee, or Washington will finish worse than Detroit.

Detroit has a shortage of frontline talent across the board so I see them continuing with drafting the best player available.

Round One at #7 - Eric Berry - S I would like to see Russell Okung here but unless Detroit has a higher pick, he will be long gone. Berry is a great fit for Detroit's horrific secondary.

Bryan Bulaga is an outside chance at Left Tackle as is Gerald McCoy at DT.

Round Two at #39 - Trevard Lindley - CB Another piece of the puzzle for the Lions. A shutdown corner.

If Lindley is gone, an LT like Anthony Davis or another CB like Ras I Dowling, Javier Arenas, or Kyle Wilson may be available.

Round Three at #71 - CJ Wilson - DE A solid Left End for Detroit's weak D line.

Guard Sergio Render or LTs Zane Beadles or Jason Fox might fill this spot.

At this point the Lions will continue picking the best player on the board with an emphasis on defensive players who could also play on special teams. A returner, especially a punt returner, would be especially valuable.

Personally my preference is for an LT that might be ready to step into the starting spot immediately, but I think Okung is the only prospect who is ready to do that.

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They need lineman.

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 14, 2009 9:09 PM EDT reply actions

I agree but................

The Lions organization is all about Best Player Available so in my review, I think the secondary players will be the best prospects when the Lions come to pick. I hope that the teams ahead of Detroit are foolish enough to let Okung or Suh drop to them, but I doubt it.
I am hoping all the top QBs [Clausen, Bradford, McCoy, Tebow, Locker, Snead] all have great years so that more teams ahead of Detroit will be enticed to pick them. I see Oakland, Cleveland, St. Louis, Seattle, San Fran, Buffalo, Washington, Jacksonville, and Tennessee all potentially looking for a franchise QB. Some more urgently than others. The Lions may be in a good postion to trade down and still get an elite defender or O lineman if that comes to pass.

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 15, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Okung would be a good start...

and I think they really need to go into FA and sign a few quality OL.

Drafting defense in this draft would be better, there are too many potential superstars that you just can’t pass up.

Eric Berry, paired with Louis Delmas? That would be a great tandem.

I see that Stafford is probably not gonna be a bust..which is good How good he actually gets depends on who you surround him with.

How is Pettitgrew? Is Kevin Smith getting any better? What about any of the other picks from last year, are they playing?

The Lions need to simply HIT on 4/7 of their picks this year. Easier said, but they need to start drafting well.

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 15, 2009 8:06 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks for checking in FB.

Pettigrew is getting better every week he plays with Staff. I am close to admitting I was too negative about his selection at #20.
Kevin Smith is not running very effectively. I think he is still banged up and our O line is not opening too many holes for him. He is becoming an effective receiver out of the backfield.
Levy, the first third round pick, is a very pleasant surprise and he is pushing Ernie Sims and Peterson for the starting OLB positions. I admit that I was wrong on this pick too.
D. Williams is finally in the lineup and had an excellent game against the Steelers. A couple of good kick returns and two big catches on our final drive to the Steeler 20 before the flood of sacks occurred.
Sammie Lee Hill was starting at DT for the first three games but has missed the last two due to injury. He is doing pretty well as a run stuffer in the middle. Not much of a penetrator though. That pick is working out very well.
Aaron Brown is our third string RB and sometime KR. He is a great change of pace back who is very explosive. Needs to learn how to block.
Follet [ILB], Murtha [OT] and Gronkowski [TE] were put on the practice squad, although Follet played on special teams against the Steelers. I would not be surprised to see Gronk back if one of our TEs gets injured.
All in all a very good 2009 draft for Detroit………….so far.

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 15, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Even if they go BPA

It has to be a left tackle in the first round. That line is terrible.

Mocking the Draft: Your NFL Draft source.

by Mocking Dan on Oct 17, 2009 1:56 AM EDT reply actions

Like I said Dan, if the Lions pick seventh or later Okung will be gone

and no other LT will be worthy of that pick. Bulaga is an outside chance but even he is a reach around seven.
I do not disagree with your assessment of the Lions need for an LT, but the Lions have other needs that are almost as important [secondary and D line] that Berry and McCoy could fill.
I guess that is the idea of the BPA strategy, right?

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 17, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

draft

i think the lions should trade up for okung because he is the biggest need. If u ever watch this team u can see defense and o-line r huge needs but since they invested so much money into stafford, the need okung. personally i think the lions should trade their second and third round for a late first round pick and try to get a DT if one of the great ones fall or a MLB such as Rolando Mcclain or Brandon Spikes because they need a leader on defense, even though I didnt c your other picks I like the mock draft. if okung is gone i definetly like eric berry as the pick.

by David7 on Oct 19, 2009 6:47 PM EDT reply actions

There is a good chance you wont need to trade up.

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 19, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Unfortunately, you may be right TRSS.

If Stafford does not get back on the field, things are looking pretty bleak. We may get a top three pick in which case we will get either Suh or Okung.

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 19, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I see the Lions as picking in the top 5, and I there is a very good chance that he will be available for you all.

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 19, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I am a little worried that KC or Buffalo will pick Okung if they draft ahead of the Lions.

I don’t see many other of the bottom feeders needing an LT as badly as those two. St. Louis needs a QB and Tampa Bay needs defensive players and Tennessee…….. man, who would of thought we would be talking about the Titans picking in the bottom four or five this year? I still can’t get my head around that.

by NorthLeft12 on Oct 20, 2009 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions

you could possibly trade back to say 10 or so

and still fill a need.

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by TheTealDeal on Oct 20, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions