COS: Post-Draft Edition

First of all, I had a great time trading comments with everyone (when I had power, that is -- or tapping them out on Mrs.DetFan1979's iPhone) on the draft days.

NetRat had his followup piece on the players that the Lions picked, and I would consider it mandatory reading -- so take a few moments and do so. Also, he has started his normal annual depth-chart predictor. That will be useful, as always, as we as a blog attempt to project the final 53 guys. We as a consensus group were very close last year. It will be fun to look again!

I'll mock our mocks, as well as adding my own continuing draft analysis, plus any thoughts from the rookie minicamp this weekend as well in the coming days. As a note -- Mrs. DetFan1979 is sick (doc said lots of rest, and she needs it) which leaves me carting our girls everywhere, and making a not so successful attempt to keep the house at least a quarter as well as she usually does. Let me take a moment to point out how much I appreciate all the things -- big and little -- that my wife does to enhance the life of our family, and to keep our household running. I have no idea how she does it, but I want to thank her!! Get well soon.

Now - on to the weekly blogger Q&A hosted by the Church of Schwartz. As per usual, you will find the link to all the answers here once it is posted.

This week's questions are short and sweet.

1. What was the Lions worst pick of the draft?

This one is tough for me, mainly because I liked the draft from top to bottom because they chose talent. I am also quite happy with the quantity, quality, and type of UDFA's they brought in both those they signed and the tryouts. Since I have to choose one, I'll say Lyndon Murtha in the 7th. He is a very long-shot to beat out George Foster as the backup swing tackle, but at least they get first crack at him for the practice squad. I would have preferred to see them take a flier on an additional S or LB here. (Otis Wiley, the S I wanted them to pick here, actually went undrafted, and they have now signed him as an UDFA, along with Holtzclaw, the LB I wanted. Guess it's hard to complain when they still got the other two guys anyways... I tried gentlemen. I tried.)

2. What was their best pick?

All of them. NetRat did a great piece, which I also added to on my blog, about the strategy the Lions used this year while drafting -- and they did not deviate from their plan. If you read that, my answer will make more sense (also read TheNetRat's follow-up piece). My favorite pick was Pettigrew. Why? Three reasons:

#1. It let me know the Lions were going to take the best player available at a position of need no matter what (and really -- who can name a TE in the last 15 years worth anything on the Lions?)

#2. It let me know they were not going to "reach" for need/name players as Millen was prone to do on draft day, ignoring all the time and effort put into the board.

#3. He will add dimensions helping out the O-line, helping Smith in the run game, and helping in short yardage, 3rd down conversions, and the red zone as a real threat underneath. No more will a team be able to say "run" or "pass" based on which TE is in the game for the Lions. It also fills the starting TE position for the foreseeable future, eliminating that as a need when drafting next year.

I was so excited at this pick, that I actually pulled into a Dunhams (my wife an I were heading elsewhere, and it was right there) to look for the Lions' new logo gear. Sadly, all they had was "throwback" bubbles 40% off. So I picked up the only shirt in my size and called it good.

Only time will tell if my boundless optimism is warranted, but no sense raining on my parade yet, right? And no, I don't think they make the playoffs in 2009. I said I was optimistic, not insane.

3. Which of the 2nd day picks will have the biggest impact on the team next year?

This is a tough call for me. I would have initially said Levy, as I think he will work out at MLB but if the Lions secure Foot, he will be learning and rotating in for a couple of years, making a lesser impact immediately. I would have to say at this point Williams, based on my belief that he will make a solid impact on the return game. For 2010, I will say Sammie Hill -- He has loads of natural talent, and form all accounts wants coaching and is hungry to step up his game into a true pro- not coast by on natural talent. My gut says he blooms quickly and explosively -- enough to make us fans forget a certain attitude-wielding big guy that wears Brown now... Imagine a motivated big-man in the middle crushing the run -- leaving the LB free to seek, and destroy.