SB Nation Writers Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick #20

by Dan Kadar on Mar 31, 2009 3:00 PM EDT in SB Nation Writers Mock Draft

No. 20

DETROIT
LIONS
Pick by Pride of Detroit

Peria Jerry
Defensive tackle
Ole Miss

This is a strange position for the Lions. They have an advantage in something. In this case, Sean Yuille of Pride of Detroit has the advantage of taking whomever he pleases with the team's second first-round pick.

Many different possibilities exist for this pick, but I ultimately decided on upgrading the defensive line. There was a need at defensive tackle going into the offseason, and that became even greater after Cory Redding was traded. The Lions did sign Grady Jackson during free agency, but he isn't someone you can count on as an every-down player. Besides, the chances of him lasting more than a couple years in Detroit are slim, so it was necessary to address that position.

I strongly considered addressing the need for a defensive end, offensive lineman or cornerback and would have been happy with picking a player at one of those positions. Since the Lions will be back on the clock to start the second-round, though, it gave me the opportunity to take Peria Jerry and quickly look ahead to pick No. 33. There will still be good players available at each of those positions, giving the Lions the chance to pick up another potential starter.

MTD thoughts: This is certainly a daring pick, given Detroit's needs. Again, this is another team that could use Michael Johnson. Also with Vontae Davis still available, I'm a little curious why he wasn't the selection.

Mocking the Draft's Top Five Remaining Prospects - WR Jeremy Maclin, CB Vontae Davis, RB Chris Wells, QB Mark Sanchez, DE Michael Johnson

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Comments

Wow. Totally thought Sanchez would go here. It’s beginning to look like Sanchez might drop out of the first round entirely! We’ve got Minnesota, Eagles, Patriots, Falcons, Dolphins, Ravens, Indy, Philly again, Tennessee, Arizona, and Pittsburgh. Of those teams, only Minnesota and Tennessee even have a chance of drafting a QB, unless someone pulls a Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers (Maybe Indianapolis?)

by math_geek on Mar 31, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

That's what I was thinking to

I think if the Lions don’t take Stafford #1 and Sanchez falls this far they take a chance on him here. He’d be in a good position to sit on the bench behind Culpepper and start in a year or so.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Mar 31, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea i can understand not taking him at #1, but at number 20 sanchez is a steal(and i doubt that the jets and the bucs would both pass on him.)

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Mar 31, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Stupid Lions

Peria Jerry belongs in Indy.

I got Summer hatin' on me cuz I'm hotter than the sun. Spring hatin' on me cuz I ain't never sprung
Winter hatin' on me cuz I'm colder than Y'all. And I will never, I will never, I will never Fall.
-Lil Wayne, Mr. Carter

by shake n bake on Mar 31, 2009 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

I doubt he'll drop that far

After BJ Raji, there’s no-one else and DT is rapidly becoming a high priority decision

by math_geek on Mar 31, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

For a team running Cover 2

The Lions would shape up well defensively with these picks. Curry, Peterson, and Sims make one helluva LBing trio, and Jerry at DT could be Hayneswoth-like.

If you are building your team defense first, this is a solid way to go.

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by Brad Wells on Mar 31, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

but by all accounts

The Lions are no longer running cover 2. Schwartz is not a cover 2 coach.

by math_geek on Mar 31, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, he is

They ran Cover 2 in Tennessee.

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by Brad Wells on Mar 31, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Link

Meant to add this. Sorry. http://www.musiccitymiracles.com/2008/11/7/656135/tennessee-titans-midseason

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by Brad Wells on Mar 31, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't see how this implies the Titans ran cover-2

hat kind of scheme does Schwartz run? Whatever he needs to. The past two seasons, with good depth, he has been able to vary his schemes dramatically from game to game with specific defenses for each type of opponent. The Titans are a base 4-3 defense, and though they believe in pressuring the quarterback, they do not blitz all that often. Don’t confuse what they do with Rod Marinelli’s preferred Tampa-2 scheme, though. The Titans have played a lot of press-man coverage when they can but also will drop into cover-2, cover-3, even cover-6 zones when needed.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/NFC/NFC+North/Detroit/Spin/2009/wwhi011509.htm

That doesn’t sound much like a Cover 2 scheme to me… more like the 4-3 Scheme that Marvin Lewis runs with the Bengals and did with the Ravens. Which makes sense because Schwartz’ first job as a defensive coach in the NFL was under Marvin Lewis from 1996-1998. He then went on to serve in Gregg Williams’ defense in Tennessee which was also not really a Cover 2 scheme. I mean Jerry can play perfectly well in a non-cover 2 defense, but still.

by math_geek on Mar 31, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

They run Cover 2 base

Not Tampa-2. There is a difference. The “Cover-2” in Tennessee had the d-line plays a lot of three technique. The NT engages two linemen while the other tackle plays three tech, shooting the gap and attacking the backfield. Jerry is ideal for three tech DT.

In Tampa-2, the d-line scheming is very similar. The difference between the two is how the LBers and DBs cover. Tampa-2 requires the MIKE to make a deep drop into coverage. Cover-2, not so much. MIKE stays closer to line of scrimmage.

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by Brad Wells on Mar 31, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions