2011 NFL Draft Team Needs: Detroit Lions

measured by the percent of total pass plays where the QB was sacked or hit.

(stats compiled from nfl.com)

Jeff Backus actually had a good year last year overall. He was voted top left tackle in the division. Yes, he allowed the sack from Julius Peppers that injured Stafford’s shoulder, but are there any OT’s in the NFL that don’t allow a single sack in a season? especially to the best pass-rushers in the league?

The problem is not that the Lions are allowing too many sacks and hits. They’re allowing very few, actually. Stafford needs to be able to take a hit and stay healthy, just like any QB in the league.

Also, the Lions spent a 4th round pick on Jason Fox last year, who likely would have been a second-rounder if his entire offseason and part of his rookie year weren’t derailed by an injury. This is the year that the Lions will get a better idea what Fox can do, because we still have Backus for at least another year and don’t need to replace him this offseason.

Next year this time, the Lions should know whether Jason Fox, after two years of development, can take over at LT, or whether he’ll be limited to RT or a backup role. Also, they should also know whether Gosder Cherilus can still be our long-term RT, or if this injury is going to hamper his career going forward.

But I’ve seen this knee-jerk reaction in a lot of different places that says: “Stafford’s injured? I guess that means the Lions pass protection sucks. And pass protection means Left Tackle. So, Backus sucks and needs to be replaced right away. Tackle at pick 13!”, and I think the Lions are in a better situation than that, personnel-wise. Of course, if Mayhew sees a tackle he likes, I’ll be all for it. He’s proven he knows what he’s doing over the past few drafts, and maybe the coaches already know that Fox likely isn’t a LT or that Gosder likely isn’t going to be the RT that they hope. It’s just an unknown to those of us outside the organization.

Interior O-Line is a bigger area of need than Tackle, anyway. Not that it’s a concern that will be addressed as high as pick 13 this year, but the Lions will likely need replacements for Raiola and Peterman before too long.

Our biggest need, assuming we can re-sign Chris Houston, is outside linebacker. With both Julian Peterson leaving (and he wasn’t that good this past year anyway) and a Zack Follett likely retiring after his neck injury, we need two starters there.

I stand by these points. Stafford was touched 8 times (four sacks four runs) in the entire 2010 season. Some quarterbacks get hit that much in a half. Aaron Rodgers during the 2010 season was sacked 58 times yet he managed to stay off injured reserve. Your right it is a kneee jerk reaction to draft a offensive tackle at 13 when that isn’t your problem. Its like changing your washer fluid when you need a oil change….yes the washer fluid needs to be changed but you need to change your oil before your car breaks down.

To me the Lions need 3 things to get better at this season

1. Coverage
The Lions need more play making ability in their back 7. Someone has to make a play down the field. At times you had the feeling unless the Lions got to the quarterback there was no stopping opposing offences. Chris Houston is steady but not amazing ..and even though the word “shut down corner” is used to much. The Lions do need someone to make a impact in coverage.

2 Defending the run
You really can’t take any team serious that can’t stop the run. At some point you have to face this issue and you can’t run away from it. Because if you can’t stop the run then statisticlly your chances of winning is drastically reduced. No way around that issue and that is a undeniable fact.

3 Running the ball
Just as i said above if you can’t stop the run you will never be consistant. If you can’t run your offence will never go to the next level. And along with struggles with running the ball come struggles with down and distance situations and when your in 3rd in long constantly your turn over ratio goes up…and with turn over ratio goes winning percentage….this again is a undeniable fact. Note when the Lions ran the ball better at the end of the year they played well. The offence had a identity….can we count on Morris to repeat that 4 game performance over the course of a 16 game season. I am thinking we need further impact in the running game (a healthy Javhid Best and another person to in the mix as a 1-2 punch)

The Lions issues isn’t the offensive line. Some of it is just bad luck with Stafford. And no one on POD can even say with a straight face that anyone we could have drafted in the last 2 drafts would have held Peppers to 1 sack in 2 games. Offensive Line isn’t our issue ..not even remotely. Do we need to prepare for Backus age concerns? Of course we do and for all we know Jason Fox or Hillard could very well be that answer…drafting a tackle is a serious knee Jerk reaction.

Consider this ..out of the top wider recievers they have all stayed pretty much where you woudl project them. AJ Green on top…followed by Jones….followed by Baldwin .. etc. But when it comes to offensive tackles there isn’t even a concensus of who is the best here. During the last few months all of the top 5 tackles have been mocked to detroit. With no consistant name of the bunch…We have heard Nate Solder, Gabe Carimi, Anthony Castonzo, Tyron Smith AND Derek Sherrod as the player the Lions should take. This tells me what?…that none of these guys are seperating themselfs from the pack. That drafting one of these guys would be throwing bodies at a problem that doesn’t exist….not yet. Now if there was a Tackle prospect that people could consider a none project they yes i would consider it stronger. But not this crop. And drafting one of these guys to back up Backus would not impact any of the issues that the Lions need to address.

Give me someone that can make a impact in a pass happy NFC north division and match up with Greg Jennings …Sidney Rice….Johnny Knox twice a year and can capitalize on the very good pass rush the Lions have created. Give me some Linebackers that can impact that dreadfully run defence adding consistancy to a winning formula….because i can’t take a team seriously that can’t…stop the run….run the ball….and have players in the secondary that make plays.

Stafford staying health is luck or bad luck….if he is healthy all of these other things fall into place. But go ask John Elway how much it helped him to have a running game…or ask Tom Brady how much it hurt that the Jets shut out there running game in the play offs this year.

Unpatriotic Defense
 The Jets gained 66 yards on 17 rushes up the middle against New England. The Patriots have struggled all year to stuff the run up the middle in their losses.

                       In Wins In Losses
Rush PG 11.3 21.0
Yards PG 40.4 87.3
Yards per rush 3.6 4.2
1st down pct 6.7 19.0
 
http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=310116017

Same theme…you can’t stop the run your chance of winning drops in the toliet. If you can’t run you can sneak away with a short passing game but it will only go so far against a good defence without balance.

A LT could very well be BAP given the high positional value. A 34 year old Jeff Backus, banged up Gosder Cherilus and a couple of mind round selections are no way to protect your franchise investment. Stafford needs to hold up better, but the Lions are also going to need offensive line depth in the near future.

The Detroit Lions are just a year or two away from their first winning season since the year 2000.

$20 says they could’ve done it this year. They’re not a year or two away, they’ll be in the playoffs next year providing Stafford stays healthy. Bank it.

The whole OLine issue has been beaten to the ground. While they’re apparently letting Keven Smith walk, Maurice Morris and Aaron Berry were excellent last year, along with the occasional flashes from a healthy Jahvid Best, so I don’t think the backs are really the issue here. Detroit really pounded it the last couple of games once Linehan figured some things out. Again, interior OLine could use upgrades. The middle rounds are filled with decent to good interior linemen. But that’s all I’m going to add.

Really, one thing the Lions could, and really should, consider is WR. They have Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson. That combination is pretty dynamic. However, after the two of them, there really isn’t anyone worth mentioning. Derrick Williams hasn’t really produced and Bryant Johnson sucks. They constantly utilize two TE sets because of the lack of depth at WR past their starters. While I don’t see the Lions taking Julio Jones or Jonathan Baldwin, they could consider one of the burners of the class in the second or third round to add to the depth or as a potential deep threat to compliment Burleson in the slot and Johnson as the #1.

Franchise LTs; Joe Thomas, Jake Long, D. Ferguson, and who?

Good LTs; Ryan Claddy, Marcus McNeil, A. Whitworth, and who?

Okay LTs; J. Backus, McKinnie, J. Peters, D. Free, M. Roos, M. Light, C. Clifton, J. Gross,

Developing to questionable LTs; R. Saffold, E. Monroe, D. Diehl, D. Brown, R. Okung, T. Williams, Oher/Gaither, B. Albert, S. Baker,

The rest are worse than questionable in my opinion.

This whole mind set that you draft a Left Tackle to upgrade your O Line is some kind of reflex response anymore. The Lions are developing Jason Fox [4th round pick in 2010] to take over the job. If they are certain he or any other option [Hilliard or Cherilus] can never do that job, then they may take this opportunity to get another Tackle prospect. But it will not be with the # 13 pick. Guys that get picked that early play right away, and if Detroit takes an OT at # 13 he will not play unless they have multiple, catastrophic injuries at the Tackle position.

Think about how many of the players you just mentioned were first round picks. On that list the majority were first rounders with another group of second rounders. The tackle position is one that requires the investment of a high draft pick. You’ve gotta get the big guys early. There’s nothing wrong with drafting a young LT and working him in at RT tackle until he’s ready. Should the Vikings not draft a quarterback because they have Joe Webb? They aren’t completely sure if he’ll develop into a starter, but they trust their scouting department. I’m sure the Lions aren’t comfortable with their tackle depth.

Tackle is a different position. You don’t draft them high and sit them a year or two. If you draft a tackle your likely going to move your current one. If that means move either play to another position or just to the bench. Makes no sense considering the play level of Backus right now.

Looking at just tackles in the draft it is fairly easy to draft one high and start them. So considering that Backus just came off one of his best seasons i don’t see the rush. Draft a tackle next year from a crop higher rated than this current group.

Point is all Lions fans and the world knows that they do need to address the tackle position because of Backus’s age but NOT because of his performance…. This can be addressed in the 2012 draft. I mean if your thinking like a person balancing a budget or managing value then this is what you would do.

Quarterback is different…you draft a QB with the intent of having them ready in a few years. This same concept isn’t something you apply to a Tackle. You draft them you start them. And no one can look me in the eye with a straight face and tell me that any of the top prospects this year would hold Julius Peppers to 1 sack in 2 games….you just can’t get me to believe that. No there are other presssing needs outside of repairing a position that isn’t broken. Does anyone go buy spare windshield because they have a small chip in their glass…..no they change it out. Just doesn’t seem to be a good use of resourses to me…but that is my opinion.