I came across this piece that I started to write back on April 10th of this year. It has some thoughts that are just as relevant heading into camp as they were leading up to the draft, so I updated/finished it and here we are!!
Enjoy!
I have a customer who, every time he calls, begins his phone conversation with "It all began when I was a child..." and, if you don't say "Hello *NAME*" -- he will keep going. He has stated he can go on for over 45 minutes without stopping (and I believe him!). To me, that is what many Lions fans do, and it is just as irritating.
"it all began in 2001, when Millen was named GM....his drafts....his coaches...his mustache...his record"and on...and on....and on....
After listening to Ford's interviews (both Sr and Jr, though both rare), Millen, and Rod for two years - I have come to the conclusion that when he hired Rod, (right after getting his extension) that Millen was essentially starting over. He had 5 years of "on the job" training, and had found a coach with a vision he could buy into, and understand.
I referred to something similar yesterday, but will expand upon the metaphor. In ancient Dynasties, you had the Dynasty (the overall ruling family) - but you also had individual Eras that were influenced by whomever was emperor, and in many cases, their most trusted advisers. In the biggest sense, you have Ford and the Lions as the country. Currently, the Millen Dynasty is running Lions country. After going through the Mornhinweg Era, the Mariucci Era, and a brief caretaker Era under Juron, in 2006 the Millen Dynasty entered the Marinelli Era.
This is significant, because what one emperor did, another would often undo -- and while the Emperor ruled, he was still subject to the elders of his own family, and the empire. Think of this as Marinelli is emperor of the Lions, but still subject to the constraints of being a member of the Millen Dynasty. Marinelli is basically the guy who got the throne after the treasury was empty, and the country was engaged in a war with ill-trained troops who had endured loss after loss until many felt losing was all Lions country was headed for, and the only thing keeping their enemies from looting the capital weekly was a bunch of overpaid guys with some talent and no loyalty. But, he (unlike some of his predecessors) has the full support of Lions Country, and the guts to make the hard calls. So he has to do three things:
1. Train what he's got, and hope it works until he can get something better
2. Change the Culture
3. Fix the finances
4. Ditch the Overpaid Mercenaries
5. Develop his own troops
In 2006, the Lions made a few cuts, and re-signed guys who had the potential to emerge as leaders and great players. He also moved to fill some glaring needs as he could, put was hampered by the cap implications of 3 sour top ten picks, who were no longer with the team, and fat FA contracts on the books. So he focused on #1. (so much so, someone filed a complaint with the league) and #2.
He really has to continue to make #4 and 5 work to make 2 and 3 happen. Thus far, it looks like he is making a lot of progress, but that does not mean the Lions Country has established any kind of dominance.
They have shown that they can win well at home (5-3 in home games last year) but that they could still do better at protecting their borders. That is one thing that needs to be improved on even more this coming season.
After protecting your borders, it comes down to invading thy neighbors and beating them down at home to get any further. I.E. - they must win on the road. 2-6 there last season, so not doing great on the whole invasion thing. Until they can consistently bring it to others in their own house, they will be a middle of the pack country holding tight and trying to protect their borders.
It will be interesting to see, heading into camp, how the players are practicing. In order for this team to succeed, the last 3 years of draft picks and FA really need to step everything up a notch. From unknowns like IAF, the rookies, Bullocks from injury -- to the new backbone of White, Redding, Bodden... How well will everyone elevate their game? Will they be able to take it on the road and hand out some good old fashioned butt whoopin??
IF the players come together, and that culture is changed, and the list of 5 is closing in on improving -- then they may be able to march into at least enough victory to enter the postseason. At the worst, they shall be able to hold even. (8-8). IF not....
Can't wait until the Ifseason is over, and the "roll the tape and see what you got season begins..."
Monday, July 14, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Guest Blog: Brett Favrve
With all fo the talk about the 'ol gunslinger holding up the Pack for a chance to come back and play somewhere else, or start again, I dug through my hard drive and found this piece. It was posted on the Mlive forum a while back, but unfortunately, I realized that I didn't catch the name of the poster in my copy. So if anyone knows who it was, or can find out somehow, than please post in the comments below so I can give proper credit. Thanks!!
From the Mlive Forum:
http://www.sunherald.com/sports/story/663221.html
Interesting read – one I agree with, but have never had the time to research. Yes, he’s the former QB of our division rival, but in the 90’s we got to watch future Hall of Famer’s on the field for both offenses twice a year when the Lions and Packers met.
We interrupt the continued deification of Brett Favre -- a first-ballot Hall of Famer and the most durable player in NFL history -- with the following reality check.
Yes, Favre played long enough to throw the most touchdown passes and collect the most wins by an NFL quarterback. But let's examine the second half of No. 4's career. The truth is, Favre did little over the past decade to earn the gushing praise heaped upon him by our fawning brethren in the media.
In his 17 seasons, Brett Favre set numerous NFL records, including most yards passing (61,655) and most touchdowns (442).
But do those numbers, combined with Favre's three MVP awards and one Super Bowl victory, put him among the top 10 quarterbacks of all time?
After beating the San Francisco 49ers in the 1997 NFC Championship Game, Favre won just three of his last 10 playoff games. Eli Manning had more postseason wins in a 29-day span this past season than Favre had in his last decade with the Green Bay Packers.
Yes, Favre won a Super Bowl -- 11 years ago! But as his career arc spiraled downward, the blind adulation only got worse.
Favre's passer rating in his last 12 postseason games was a pedestrian 77.8. In his last five wild-card games, he went 2-3 with more interceptions (nine) than touchdown passes (seven). In his last three divisional playoff games, he went 1-2 with seven TDs and seven interceptions. That's a 3-5 record with 14 touchdown passes and 16 picks.
In two of his last four postseason appearances, Favre threw two of the most unthinkable playoff interceptions in NFL history, both in overtime -- to Brian Dawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003 and to Corey Webster of the New York Giants in January. In fact, Favre is the only quarterback in NFL history to throw overtime interceptions in two playoff games. In his last nine playoff games, Favre threw 18 interceptions.
Brett Favre's career playoff record was 12-10. Fellow Packer star quarterback Bart Starr, above, was 9-1.In the first 81 years of the Green Bay franchise, the most hallowed in all of pro football, the Packers were 13-0 at home in the postseason. But since 2002, the Packers have gone 2-3 in playoff games at Lambeau Field, with Favre losing to three not-quite Hall of Fame quarterbacks: Michael Vick, Daunte Culpepper and Manning.
If Manning had a decade like that, he'd be run out of New York. If Philip Rivers kept chucking ridiculous overtime interceptions in the postseason, he would be branded a first-round bust. If Drew Brees came up short in three out of five home playoff games, he'd be mocked.
But no matter how many dumb passes he threw and how many playoff games he lost, Favre remains immune to criticism.
Favre isn't even the greatest quarterback in the history of the Packers. It's not even close. Bart Starr won five NFL championships -- four more than Favre -- and retired as the NFL's most accurate passer.
Oh, you say Starr was surrounded by a Hall of Fame roster with a legendary coach. But Starr still is the NFL record holder with a 104.8 career playoff passer rating, nearly 20 points higher than Favre's. That wasn't Vince Lombardi or Ray Nitschke throwing those passes for Starr, whose career postseason passer rating, by the way, is 38 points higher than Johnny Unitas'.
Favre's career playoff record was 12-10. Starr's was 9-1 -- without the benefit of wild-card games. Favre threw 28 interceptions in 22 playoff games. Starr threw three in 10. Think about that -- just three picks in 213 postseason attempts.
But Bart Starr gets the Ringo Starr treatment -- underappreciated and overlooked. Favre gets put on a pedestal. Yes, he had a Pro Bowl season in 2007 with the youngest roster in the NFL. But his final moment on Lambeau Field was a wildly errant pass that turned into the NFC title for the Giants.
Indeed, a decade after his last moments of glory, the football hype machine continues to paint Favre as a hallowed icon of Americana, a symbol of all that is right with sports, a Wild West gun-slinging good ol' boy. There's Brett on the farm! There's Brett with his family! There's Brett on the cover of Sports Illustrated! There's Brett throwing another overtime interception!
Favre was among the best in the game, once upon a time. Those days are long gone. Only the idolatry remains.
From the Mlive Forum:
http://www.sunherald.com/sports/story/663221.html
Interesting read – one I agree with, but have never had the time to research. Yes, he’s the former QB of our division rival, but in the 90’s we got to watch future Hall of Famer’s on the field for both offenses twice a year when the Lions and Packers met.
We interrupt the continued deification of Brett Favre -- a first-ballot Hall of Famer and the most durable player in NFL history -- with the following reality check.
Yes, Favre played long enough to throw the most touchdown passes and collect the most wins by an NFL quarterback. But let's examine the second half of No. 4's career. The truth is, Favre did little over the past decade to earn the gushing praise heaped upon him by our fawning brethren in the media.
In his 17 seasons, Brett Favre set numerous NFL records, including most yards passing (61,655) and most touchdowns (442).
But do those numbers, combined with Favre's three MVP awards and one Super Bowl victory, put him among the top 10 quarterbacks of all time?
After beating the San Francisco 49ers in the 1997 NFC Championship Game, Favre won just three of his last 10 playoff games. Eli Manning had more postseason wins in a 29-day span this past season than Favre had in his last decade with the Green Bay Packers.
Yes, Favre won a Super Bowl -- 11 years ago! But as his career arc spiraled downward, the blind adulation only got worse.
Favre's passer rating in his last 12 postseason games was a pedestrian 77.8. In his last five wild-card games, he went 2-3 with more interceptions (nine) than touchdown passes (seven). In his last three divisional playoff games, he went 1-2 with seven TDs and seven interceptions. That's a 3-5 record with 14 touchdown passes and 16 picks.
In two of his last four postseason appearances, Favre threw two of the most unthinkable playoff interceptions in NFL history, both in overtime -- to Brian Dawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003 and to Corey Webster of the New York Giants in January. In fact, Favre is the only quarterback in NFL history to throw overtime interceptions in two playoff games. In his last nine playoff games, Favre threw 18 interceptions.
Brett Favre's career playoff record was 12-10. Fellow Packer star quarterback Bart Starr, above, was 9-1.In the first 81 years of the Green Bay franchise, the most hallowed in all of pro football, the Packers were 13-0 at home in the postseason. But since 2002, the Packers have gone 2-3 in playoff games at Lambeau Field, with Favre losing to three not-quite Hall of Fame quarterbacks: Michael Vick, Daunte Culpepper and Manning.
If Manning had a decade like that, he'd be run out of New York. If Philip Rivers kept chucking ridiculous overtime interceptions in the postseason, he would be branded a first-round bust. If Drew Brees came up short in three out of five home playoff games, he'd be mocked.
But no matter how many dumb passes he threw and how many playoff games he lost, Favre remains immune to criticism.
Favre isn't even the greatest quarterback in the history of the Packers. It's not even close. Bart Starr won five NFL championships -- four more than Favre -- and retired as the NFL's most accurate passer.
Oh, you say Starr was surrounded by a Hall of Fame roster with a legendary coach. But Starr still is the NFL record holder with a 104.8 career playoff passer rating, nearly 20 points higher than Favre's. That wasn't Vince Lombardi or Ray Nitschke throwing those passes for Starr, whose career postseason passer rating, by the way, is 38 points higher than Johnny Unitas'.
Favre's career playoff record was 12-10. Starr's was 9-1 -- without the benefit of wild-card games. Favre threw 28 interceptions in 22 playoff games. Starr threw three in 10. Think about that -- just three picks in 213 postseason attempts.
But Bart Starr gets the Ringo Starr treatment -- underappreciated and overlooked. Favre gets put on a pedestal. Yes, he had a Pro Bowl season in 2007 with the youngest roster in the NFL. But his final moment on Lambeau Field was a wildly errant pass that turned into the NFC title for the Giants.
Indeed, a decade after his last moments of glory, the football hype machine continues to paint Favre as a hallowed icon of Americana, a symbol of all that is right with sports, a Wild West gun-slinging good ol' boy. There's Brett on the farm! There's Brett with his family! There's Brett on the cover of Sports Illustrated! There's Brett throwing another overtime interception!
Favre was among the best in the game, once upon a time. Those days are long gone. Only the idolatry remains.
Scout.com: Cliff Avril Signs
I've been indicating in ocmments that, as per Netrat, he expected Lions draft picks to start gettign signed about the 12th. Lo and behold, Cliff Avril signs...on the 12th. Way to go NetRat! Cap and contract guru still. Last week Lewand said he expected the Lions draft picks to start signing soon, and that they should all be signed in time for camp.
Here's hoping he's right on, and at the current time, I don't see why not.
Avril Details:
The Detroit Lions have signed third-round pick Cliff Avril to a three-year deal, Scout.com has confirmed.
The former Purdue University defensive end will receive the following base salaries: (2008) $295,000 (2009) $385,000 (2010) $470,000 along with a signing bonus of $484,000.
If he turns into even a decent situational pass rusher in his 2nd or 3rd year, the Lions will have quite a bargain. Camp approaches!
side note: Scoring & Rosters are up on the Dynasty site. I sent out invites for the free league (using ESPN) and will send the invites for the two Pay Leagues this weekend.
Here's hoping he's right on, and at the current time, I don't see why not.
Avril Details:
The Detroit Lions have signed third-round pick Cliff Avril to a three-year deal, Scout.com has confirmed.
The former Purdue University defensive end will receive the following base salaries: (2008) $295,000 (2009) $385,000 (2010) $470,000 along with a signing bonus of $484,000.
If he turns into even a decent situational pass rusher in his 2nd or 3rd year, the Lions will have quite a bargain. Camp approaches!
side note: Scoring & Rosters are up on the Dynasty site. I sent out invites for the free league (using ESPN) and will send the invites for the two Pay Leagues this weekend.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Guest Blog: Grading Lions Players
Wanted to share an interesting idea I got in an email -- I've edited out personal information, and with his permission posted it here. Thought it would be an interesting discussion piece over the weekend here (that isn't related to Brett Favre... more on that if I can find the stats I'm looking for) This post does two things: grades players, and tries to predict the final 53. Both are, I think, monumental tasks. I haven't had time to give it my take properly yet, but since I have a bevy of opinionated Lions fans from whom to draw excellent observations, I give you the graded 53, courtesy of lbJackieMoon.
(from this point on is the edited email from lbJackieMoon. I will post my thoughts in the comments with everyone else. Be sure to come back throughout the weekend, and into next week to read the updated comments, and to agree/disagree or expound on new observations)
I just wanted to suggest a post where you grade the Lions individually based on past performance and (for rookies) expected performance. Maybe you could throw in a bit of commentary on why they received their grades or whatever. Granted there probably won't be a lot of A grades but I feel Calvin and K. Smith should contribute significantly towards the Lions success. Take it or leave it It was just an idea I had floating around in my head, and it should make for some great reading. I have posted my grades below and would like to know what you think.
These are based on who I think makes the 53 man roster.
O line
1. Backus B-
2. Scott C
3. Cherilus B (NASTY MEAN AND NICE SIZE)
4. Foster C-
5. Mulitalo B
6. Peterman C+
7. Ramirez C
8. Hulsey C
9. Davis C
10. Raiola B
WRs
11. Johnson A- (SHOULD HAVE A BETTER SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN)
12. Williams A-
13. McDonald B
14. Furrey C+
15. Moore B-
16. Ellis C
RBs
17. Smith B+ (A LOT IS RESTING ON HIS SHOULDERS)
18. Bell C
19. Calhoun C (DISAPPOINTMENT SO FAR, HOWEVER I HAVE HOPE IN THIS GUY)
20. Felton B-
21. Bradley C
QBs
22. Kitna B
23. Orlovsky C
24. Stanton C+
TEs
25. Campbell B+
26. Gaines C+
27. McHugh C (NICE ROSTER FLEXIBILITY HERE)
D Line
28. Redding B-
29. Darby C+
30. Fluellen C
31. Cody C+
32. White B
33. DeVries C
34. Avrill C+ (LIKE HIS SPEED, HATE HIS SIZE)
35. Francis B- (HOPE FOR MORE PLAYING TIME HERE)
LBs
36. Sims A
37. Dizon B-
38. Lenon C
39. Lewis C
40. Fincher C
41. Campbell C (LOVE HIS SPEED)
CBs
42. Kelly B-
43. Bodden B (LOVED THIS TRADE 6 PICKS LAST YEAR AND NICE SIZE)
44. Fisher C
45. Smith C+
46. Wilson C-
Safety
47. Smith B-
48. Bullocks B (I EXPECT BIG THING FROM HIM THIS YEAR)
49. Alexander C+
50. Pearson C+ (WILL HELP SPECIAL TEAMS)
Special Teams
51. Hanson B- (AGE MIGHT BE CATCHING UP TO HIM, BUT STILL SOLID)
52. Harris B
53. Muhlbach B
(from this point on is the edited email from lbJackieMoon. I will post my thoughts in the comments with everyone else. Be sure to come back throughout the weekend, and into next week to read the updated comments, and to agree/disagree or expound on new observations)
I just wanted to suggest a post where you grade the Lions individually based on past performance and (for rookies) expected performance. Maybe you could throw in a bit of commentary on why they received their grades or whatever. Granted there probably won't be a lot of A grades but I feel Calvin and K. Smith should contribute significantly towards the Lions success. Take it or leave it It was just an idea I had floating around in my head, and it should make for some great reading. I have posted my grades below and would like to know what you think.
These are based on who I think makes the 53 man roster.
O line
1. Backus B-
2. Scott C
3. Cherilus B (NASTY MEAN AND NICE SIZE)
4. Foster C-
5. Mulitalo B
6. Peterman C+
7. Ramirez C
8. Hulsey C
9. Davis C
10. Raiola B
WRs
11. Johnson A- (SHOULD HAVE A BETTER SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN)
12. Williams A-
13. McDonald B
14. Furrey C+
15. Moore B-
16. Ellis C
RBs
17. Smith B+ (A LOT IS RESTING ON HIS SHOULDERS)
18. Bell C
19. Calhoun C (DISAPPOINTMENT SO FAR, HOWEVER I HAVE HOPE IN THIS GUY)
20. Felton B-
21. Bradley C
QBs
22. Kitna B
23. Orlovsky C
24. Stanton C+
TEs
25. Campbell B+
26. Gaines C+
27. McHugh C (NICE ROSTER FLEXIBILITY HERE)
D Line
28. Redding B-
29. Darby C+
30. Fluellen C
31. Cody C+
32. White B
33. DeVries C
34. Avrill C+ (LIKE HIS SPEED, HATE HIS SIZE)
35. Francis B- (HOPE FOR MORE PLAYING TIME HERE)
LBs
36. Sims A
37. Dizon B-
38. Lenon C
39. Lewis C
40. Fincher C
41. Campbell C (LOVE HIS SPEED)
CBs
42. Kelly B-
43. Bodden B (LOVED THIS TRADE 6 PICKS LAST YEAR AND NICE SIZE)
44. Fisher C
45. Smith C+
46. Wilson C-
Safety
47. Smith B-
48. Bullocks B (I EXPECT BIG THING FROM HIM THIS YEAR)
49. Alexander C+
50. Pearson C+ (WILL HELP SPECIAL TEAMS)
Special Teams
51. Hanson B- (AGE MIGHT BE CATCHING UP TO HIM, BUT STILL SOLID)
52. Harris B
53. Muhlbach B
D-Line Analysis: Bubble Balance
After thinking about your responses to the Rogers piece, it really got me thinking about the Dline this ifseason, and how it has changed. So, after taking about 2 hours to slog through my favorites and actually organize them a bit, I looked over a host of articles from the last few months in regards to the Dline.
This is an older article from DetLions.com regarding the veterans on the Dline. Another article later on also dealt with Avril joining the line, and here is an interview with Chuck Darby from earlier this ifseason. Another DL.com piece on the defense in general also was of interest.
(BTW -- as you can tell from the joke post about the Mayan Apocalypse, reading the articles I hyperlink to can be helpful in understanding these posts at times. Plus, it allows you to form your own opinions so you can point out what a moron I am on occasion.)
After rereading those, I took a look at the current depth chart, and feel that my earlier assessment of the Dline -- from before the draft -- was pretty close.
They drafted a fun-stuffing DT to learn from and rotate in with Darby in Fluellen. They drafted a LB/DE edge rusher in Avril in 3 as well. I'm not including Cohen, because his best shot is to make the practice squad. If he does make the practice squad, it will be to see if he can develop to replace the spot Fleuellen will vacate when Darby goes. If not, they will draft another DT to learn/rotate in behind Fluellen. Not a big loss as Cohen was a 6th or 7th rounder, which seldom stick anywhere in the league, as is/was worth a shot at that price with his potential.
Looking back over the current depth chart, here is how the Dline stands now:
97 Alama-Francis, Ikaika DE 6-5 280 23 2 Hawaii
92 Avril, Cliff DE 6-3 252 22 R Purdue
70 DeGrate, Victor DE 6-3 294 23 1 Oklahoma State
95 DeVries, Jared DE 6-4 275 31 10 Iowa
94 Hardie, Rudolph DE 6-2 269 22 R Howard
90 Harriott, Claude DE 6-3 271 26 1 Pittsburgh
93 Smith, Corey DE 6-2 250 28 6 North Carolina State
99 White, Dewayne DE 6-2 273 28 6 Louisville
75 Cody, Shaun DT 6-4 310 25 4 Southern California
98 Cohen, Landon DT 6-3 274 22 R Ohio
91 Darby, Chuck DT 6-0 297 32 8 South Carolina State
96 Fluellen, Andre DT 6-2 296 23 R Florida State
79 Moore, Langston DT 6-1 305 26 4 South Carolina
78 Redding, Cory DT 6-4 295 27 6 Texas
Looking at this grouping, I'll make my first look at roster cuts/who makes it for this unit.
To begin with, I think that they will still keep 9 Dlinemen this year, although I expect one of them to be on the inactive list most weeks. The key question is whether they are going to keep 5 DT and 4 DE, or the opposite.
I think that camp decides how this plays out. Lets look at the locks. According to our 30 lock,
IAF-Redding-Darby-White are the starters, left to right. We also locked in Avril at DE and Fluellen at DT. It seems pretty clear that Fluellen is the guy to learn from, and eventually replace Darby. That is 6 spots filled.
If they do keep 9, that only leaves 3 spaces for the other 8 guys currently on the roster. That is where your competition will be toughest. There will be at least 4 DT's, so lets look at that battle first.
My gut says they keep Moore at DT. There are only 6 total DT's on the roster, and unless things have changed drastically, I don't see Cody being ahead of him on the depth chart, not matter how pumped he is for this season. (there was story on him on DL.com, but I couldn't find it going back. That right there is another sign...)
The 4th DE spot -- and possibly 5th is another heavily contested spot. For the record, it is nice to see the Lions have spots on the team now where the starters are talented enough, and there is enough depth, that there is true competition for the back-up spots. With Avril taking up a DE spot, but still an unproven rookie rusher (3rd round) -- a position that has a history of struggling -- I see the Lions keeping 5 DE's. The only way I don't see this happening is if they either don't keep 9 Dlinemen due to keeping additional safeties/CB/LB for ST play, or if Cody has such an awesome camp that they decide to keep him and slide him around as a DT/DE...
I don't foresee the second scenario happening, but the first is possible.
First off, who will be most likely to snag that coveted 4th DE spot? DeVries is listed as a starter right now, but I see IAF taking it over before the end of camp. That leaves DeVries, who is a 10 year vet, competing with Smith primarily for the 4th spot. If both of them do really well, that is the scenario I see them keeping 5 DE's. If one of them struggles, then unless one of the other DE's on the roster really steps up, I see them going with 8 linemen, and having Cohen on the practice squad as their backup Dlineman.
The potential of the Line, as Nubsnobber pointed out, is there -- as is that of the defense as a whole. But right now it is the dreaded P word still -- potential. IF IAF steps up, Redding elevates his game, White returns to pre-injury form and stays healthy, and Darby & Fluellen are able to do a better job in their gaps stopping the run up the middle than Rogers did -- this line could stop the run cold, and force pressure on the QB to throw quickly into the much-improved secondary...
A very hopeful picture, IF...which is what the Ifseason is all about!!
This is an older article from DetLions.com regarding the veterans on the Dline. Another article later on also dealt with Avril joining the line, and here is an interview with Chuck Darby from earlier this ifseason. Another DL.com piece on the defense in general also was of interest.
(BTW -- as you can tell from the joke post about the Mayan Apocalypse, reading the articles I hyperlink to can be helpful in understanding these posts at times. Plus, it allows you to form your own opinions so you can point out what a moron I am on occasion.)
After rereading those, I took a look at the current depth chart, and feel that my earlier assessment of the Dline -- from before the draft -- was pretty close.
They drafted a fun-stuffing DT to learn from and rotate in with Darby in Fluellen. They drafted a LB/DE edge rusher in Avril in 3 as well. I'm not including Cohen, because his best shot is to make the practice squad. If he does make the practice squad, it will be to see if he can develop to replace the spot Fleuellen will vacate when Darby goes. If not, they will draft another DT to learn/rotate in behind Fluellen. Not a big loss as Cohen was a 6th or 7th rounder, which seldom stick anywhere in the league, as is/was worth a shot at that price with his potential.
Looking back over the current depth chart, here is how the Dline stands now:
97 Alama-Francis, Ikaika DE 6-5 280 23 2 Hawaii
92 Avril, Cliff DE 6-3 252 22 R Purdue
70 DeGrate, Victor DE 6-3 294 23 1 Oklahoma State
95 DeVries, Jared DE 6-4 275 31 10 Iowa
94 Hardie, Rudolph DE 6-2 269 22 R Howard
90 Harriott, Claude DE 6-3 271 26 1 Pittsburgh
93 Smith, Corey DE 6-2 250 28 6 North Carolina State
99 White, Dewayne DE 6-2 273 28 6 Louisville
75 Cody, Shaun DT 6-4 310 25 4 Southern California
98 Cohen, Landon DT 6-3 274 22 R Ohio
91 Darby, Chuck DT 6-0 297 32 8 South Carolina State
96 Fluellen, Andre DT 6-2 296 23 R Florida State
79 Moore, Langston DT 6-1 305 26 4 South Carolina
78 Redding, Cory DT 6-4 295 27 6 Texas
Looking at this grouping, I'll make my first look at roster cuts/who makes it for this unit.
To begin with, I think that they will still keep 9 Dlinemen this year, although I expect one of them to be on the inactive list most weeks. The key question is whether they are going to keep 5 DT and 4 DE, or the opposite.
I think that camp decides how this plays out. Lets look at the locks. According to our 30 lock,
IAF-Redding-Darby-White are the starters, left to right. We also locked in Avril at DE and Fluellen at DT. It seems pretty clear that Fluellen is the guy to learn from, and eventually replace Darby. That is 6 spots filled.
If they do keep 9, that only leaves 3 spaces for the other 8 guys currently on the roster. That is where your competition will be toughest. There will be at least 4 DT's, so lets look at that battle first.
My gut says they keep Moore at DT. There are only 6 total DT's on the roster, and unless things have changed drastically, I don't see Cody being ahead of him on the depth chart, not matter how pumped he is for this season. (there was story on him on DL.com, but I couldn't find it going back. That right there is another sign...)
The 4th DE spot -- and possibly 5th is another heavily contested spot. For the record, it is nice to see the Lions have spots on the team now where the starters are talented enough, and there is enough depth, that there is true competition for the back-up spots. With Avril taking up a DE spot, but still an unproven rookie rusher (3rd round) -- a position that has a history of struggling -- I see the Lions keeping 5 DE's. The only way I don't see this happening is if they either don't keep 9 Dlinemen due to keeping additional safeties/CB/LB for ST play, or if Cody has such an awesome camp that they decide to keep him and slide him around as a DT/DE...
I don't foresee the second scenario happening, but the first is possible.
First off, who will be most likely to snag that coveted 4th DE spot? DeVries is listed as a starter right now, but I see IAF taking it over before the end of camp. That leaves DeVries, who is a 10 year vet, competing with Smith primarily for the 4th spot. If both of them do really well, that is the scenario I see them keeping 5 DE's. If one of them struggles, then unless one of the other DE's on the roster really steps up, I see them going with 8 linemen, and having Cohen on the practice squad as their backup Dlineman.
The potential of the Line, as Nubsnobber pointed out, is there -- as is that of the defense as a whole. But right now it is the dreaded P word still -- potential. IF IAF steps up, Redding elevates his game, White returns to pre-injury form and stays healthy, and Darby & Fluellen are able to do a better job in their gaps stopping the run up the middle than Rogers did -- this line could stop the run cold, and force pressure on the QB to throw quickly into the much-improved secondary...
A very hopeful picture, IF...which is what the Ifseason is all about!!
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