Detroit Lions FA Thread

[LKP]

They were very unlucky in 2012 but less talented (even more injuries and one less ofseason to acquire talent). Lions 2012 offseason all the resources was to keep the playoff team together. Mayhew accomplished that.

There is a grantland article on it too on the recovery rates in 2012. Offensively they weren't as good in 2012 becaus the offense wasn't complete without a Best/Bush type and Burleson missed 9 games, Pettigrew missed 4. 2012 DE play was very poor (and was thus reloaded in 2013) and Delmas missed half the season and Bentley got hurt (Houston played well though).

Bears and Packers dealt with injuries and it cost them wins too. Just like injuries cost the Lions wins. Most of the Lions losses,not all, but most the Lions were the more injured team. There are 3 double digit winning capable teams in this division and the Lions are one of them.

Depth is hit or miss each game. Sometimes the Lions had good depth, I gave examples above. Sometimes the depth didn't show (Fox for example, Bentley on the outside CB spot, WR depth of Durham/Ogletree). Green and Greenwood did fine, Bell did well, Waddle was a huge find, Slay did well his last 2 games, Hill was always a good backup. Impossible to have depth at every position. And the turnover problems were talented players that were turnover prone. Injuries in the 1-6 finish and depth needed is bad combo.

 

[LKP]

And this league is tough and close. You can be very talented but go 7-9. Recovery rate, I'm talking 3 more fumbles recovered for Detroit. That could have made a huge difference in the game.

I was watching the Ravens game last night. They stripped Flacco on a big play early in the 4th Quarter. All the Loins were near the QB but there were was one Lion standing and the Ravens center was on his back. The ball bounces to the center and they recover. Stuff like that is luck. Detroit could have had the ball at the Ravens 40 or better but instead the Ravens punt and the Lions start at their own 13. Stuff like that can be a difference in a close game like that.

 

[michiganalex]

And this league is tough and close. You can be very talented but go 7-9. Recovery rate, I'm talking 3 more fumbles recovered for Detroit. That could have made a huge difference in the game.

I was watching the Ravens game last night. They stripped Flacco on a big play early in the 4th Quarter. All the Loins were near the QB but there were was one Lion standing and the Ravens center was on his back. The ball bounces to the center and they recover. Stuff like that is luck. Detroit could have had the ball at the Ravens 40 or better but instead the Ravens punt and the Lions start at their own 13. Stuff like that can be a difference in a close game like that.

you can also go from 7-9 to 0-16. just ask the lions

 

[lgolfer]

And this league is tough and close. You can be very talented but go 7-9. Recovery rate, I'm talking 3 more fumbles recovered for Detroit. That could have made a huge difference in the game.

I was watching the Ravens game last night. They stripped Flacco on a big play early in the 4th Quarter. All the Loins were near the QB but there were was one Lion standing and the Ravens center was on his back. The ball bounces to the center and they recover. Stuff like that is luck. Detroit could have had the ball at the Ravens 40 or better but instead the Ravens punt and the Lions start at their own 13. Stuff like that can be a difference in a close game like that.

I agree that with a exception of a few teams, the league is tough and close. I also agree that a very talented team can go 7-9. But I don't think the Lions are a "very talented" team currently. While the Lions have several stars (Calvin and Suh), they lack good starters at several positions. A "very talented" team doesn't have big holes at difference-making positions. Even if Burleson had been healthy the entire year, I don't think the Lions would've won more than 1 playoff game. Same goes if Houston had been completely healthy the entire year. If the Lions had zero injuries last year, I still don't think they would've been favored to make the Super Bowl.

And I completely agree that recovering a fumble in a game like that can make a big difference. But letting the game come down to plays like that can be avoided if the Lions had played better earlier in the game (like score at least one touchdown).

 

[michiganalex]

the Lions have talent but they are not loaded with talent as LKP suggests.

 

[michiganalex]

http://www.freep.com/article/20140323/SPORTS01/303230161/detroit-lions-waiting-james-ihedigbo

now for REAL FA talk

 

[LKP]

Lions have good starters at almost every position and young developing high picks at others (Slay). They are very talented.

On another note, Lions won't pick up 5.5 million option on Fairley. He will be a free agent in 2015 now. Contract year for him. Good for motivation.

 

[michiganalex]

Lions have good starters at almost every position and young developing high picks at others (Slay). They are very talented.

On another note, Lions won't pick up 5.5 million option on Fairley. He will be a free agent in 2015 now. Contract year for him. Good for motivation.

can i have the crack you are smoking?

 

[michiganalex]

http://www.freep.com/article/20140323/SPORTS01/303230161/detroit-lions-waiting-james-ihedigbo

now for REAL FA talk

bump

 

[lgolfer]

Lions have good starters at almost every position and young developing high picks at others (Slay). They are very talented.

On another note, Lions won't pick up 5.5 million option on Fairley. He will be a free agent in 2015 now. Contract year for him. Good for motivation.

To preface what I'll say below, the Lions could still sign a good safety in free agency and the Lions still have the draft. Having said that, this is how I'd evaluate our current starters at every position.

Offense
LT: Reiff is a solid player, who will hopefully continue to improve. I'm content with him at LT.
LG: Sims is a good LG
C: Raiola had his best year as a Lion in 2013 and I'm fine with him starting at center for 2014
RG: Warford is a very good RG who will only get better
RT: I like Waddle, think he's a good RT, and think he should be our RT for 2014. But it's been a limited sample size so far.

TE: Fauria is a promising TE and I personally was fine with bringing back Pettigrew with the contract we gave him. Hopefully Pettigrew can continue to get better and improve in 2014. Also, I'm hoping Michael Williams can be a good blocking tight end.
WR: Calvin is the best in the league and adding Tate should help a lot. We still need to get another WR in the draft though. Hopefully whoever we get will be able to immediately contribute.
RB: I'm very content with Bush and Bell as our 2 running backs. Hopefully we use Bell more this year.
QB: Stafford has had stretches of very good play as well as poor play. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt going into 2014, but he needs to have a good year. Currently a slightly above-average QB.

Overall, Stafford proving he can consistently play well and getting 1 more good WR is all I think our offense needs.

Defense
DE: Ansah and Jason Jones are currently our starting DEs, with Devin Taylor getting some time. I think Ansah will be a very good DE if he stays healthy, but him getting offseason shoulder surgery is going to limit his improvement in the offseason physically (lifting weights). On the other side, it's tough to know what we'll get from Jason Jones. He has limited experience at DE and is recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his knee. Having 2 of your top 3 DEs recovering from major injuries/surgeries in the offseason is not a good thing. I do like Devin Taylor, but not sure if he's ready to be the starter just yet. At this point I'd say we have one good starter DE (Ansah).

DT: Suh is a beast and if Fairley is in shape and motivated, they could be the best DT pair in the NFL. I'm not worried about DT in 2014.
LB: Tulloch is a good MLB and Levy looks like he's a good OLB. Palmer is satisfactory, but I'd say we have 2 good LB starters.
CB: Our biggest weakness in my opinion. If I'm basing it off how they played in 2013, I'd say we have zero good starters at CB. In 2014, I think at least Slay or Houston will be a good starter. Bentley is decent and could be a good starter in 2014, but it depends on your definition of good. When one of them gets injured, we'll have to see if Green, Greenwood, or someone else can step up.
Safety: I think Glover Quin is a good safety. But currently we have no one next to him. We need to sign a guy like Clemons, Ihedigbo, or draft Clinton-Dix. Otherwise we have only one good safety.

Summary:
We need: another good WR, another at least decent DE (even if they don't start), and a safety
We could use: a better OLB to replace Palmer, a better CB (Justin Gilbert)

 

[michiganalex]

To preface what I'll say below, the Lions could still sign a good safety in free agency and the Lions still have the draft. Having said that, this is how I'd evaluate our current starters at every position.

Offense
LT: Reiff is a solid player, who will hopefully continue to improve. I'm content with him at LT.
LG: Sims is a good LG
C: Raiola had his best year as a Lion in 2013 and I'm fine with him starting at center for 2014
RG: Warford is a very good RG who will only get better
RT: I like Waddle, think he's a good RT, and think he should be our RT for 2014. But it's been a limited sample size so far.

TE: Fauria is a promising TE and I personally was fine with bringing back Pettigrew with the contract we gave him. Hopefully Pettigrew can continue to get better and improve in 2014. Also, I'm hoping Michael Williams can be a good blocking tight end.
WR: Calvin is the best in the league and adding Tate should help a lot. We still need to get another WR in the draft though. Hopefully whoever we get will be able to immediately contribute.
RB: I'm very content with Bush and Bell as our 2 running backs. Hopefully we use Bell more this year.
QB: Stafford has had stretches of very good play as well as poor play. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt going into 2014, but he needs to have a good year. Currently a slightly above-average QB.

Overall, Stafford proving he can consistently play well and getting 1 more good WR is all I think our offense needs.

Defense
DE: Ansah and Jason Jones are currently our starting DEs, with Devin Taylor getting some time. I think Ansah will be a very good DE if he stays healthy, but him getting offseason shoulder surgery is going to limit his improvement in the offseason physically (lifting weights). On the other side, it's tough to know what we'll get from Jason Jones. He has limited experience at DE and is recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his knee. Having 2 of your top 3 DEs recovering from major injuries/surgeries in the offseason is not a good thing. I do like Devin Taylor, but not sure if he's ready to be the starter just yet. At this point I'd say we have one good starter DE (Ansah).

DT: Suh is a beast and if Fairley is in shape and motivated, they could be the best DT pair in the NFL. I'm not worried about DT in 2014.
LB: Tulloch is a good MLB and Levy looks like he's a good OLB. Palmer is satisfactory, but I'd say we have 2 good LB starters.
CB: Our biggest weakness in my opinion. If I'm basing it off how they played in 2013, I'd say we have zero good starters at CB. In 2014, I think at least Slay or Houston will be a good starter. Bentley is decent and could be a good starter in 2014, but it depends on your definition of good. When one of them gets injured, we'll have to see if Green, Greenwood, or someone else can step up.
Safety: I think Glover Quin is a good safety. But currently we have no one next to him. We need to sign a guy like Clemons, Ihedigbo, or draft Clinton-Dix. Otherwise we have only one good safety.

Summary:
We need: another good WR, another at least decent DE (even if they don't start), and a safety
We could use: a better OLB to replace Palmer, a better CB (Justin Gilbert)

if you noticed my link i posted. if they get him, Clemons or that other dude from the Falcons then Safety, at least for now is solved. they could draft one in the 4th or later after they sign one of the 3 FA Safeties.

Go Gilbert in the first. OLB in the 2nd and a WR in the 3rd

 

[inkfreq]

To preface what I'll say below, the Lions could still sign a good safety in free agency and the Lions still have the draft. Having said that, this is how I'd evaluate our current starters at every position.

Offense
LT: Reiff is a solid player, who will hopefully continue to improve. I'm content with him at LT.
LG: Sims is a good LG
C: Raiola had his best year as a Lion in 2013 and I'm fine with him starting at center for 2014
RG: Warford is a very good RG who will only get better
RT: I like Waddle, think he's a good RT, and think he should be our RT for 2014. But it's been a limited sample size so far.

TE: Fauria is a promising TE and I personally was fine with bringing back Pettigrew with the contract we gave him. Hopefully Pettigrew can continue to get better and improve in 2014. Also, I'm hoping Michael Williams can be a good blocking tight end.
WR: Calvin is the best in the league and adding Tate should help a lot. We still need to get another WR in the draft though. Hopefully whoever we get will be able to immediately contribute.
RB: I'm very content with Bush and Bell as our 2 running backs. Hopefully we use Bell more this year.
QB: Stafford has had stretches of very good play as well as poor play. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt going into 2014, but he needs to have a good year. Currently a slightly above-average QB.

Overall, Stafford proving he can consistently play well and getting 1 more good WR is all I think our offense needs.

Defense
DE: Ansah and Jason Jones are currently our starting DEs, with Devin Taylor getting some time. I think Ansah will be a very good DE if he stays healthy, but him getting offseason shoulder surgery is going to limit his improvement in the offseason physically (lifting weights). On the other side, it's tough to know what we'll get from Jason Jones. He has limited experience at DE and is recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his knee. Having 2 of your top 3 DEs recovering from major injuries/surgeries in the offseason is not a good thing. I do like Devin Taylor, but not sure if he's ready to be the starter just yet. At this point I'd say we have one good starter DE (Ansah).

DT: Suh is a beast and if Fairley is in shape and motivated, they could be the best DT pair in the NFL. I'm not worried about DT in 2014.
LB: Tulloch is a good MLB and Levy looks like he's a good OLB. Palmer is satisfactory, but I'd say we have 2 good LB starters.
CB: Our biggest weakness in my opinion. If I'm basing it off how they played in 2013, I'd say we have zero good starters at CB. In 2014, I think at least Slay or Houston will be a good starter. Bentley is decent and could be a good starter in 2014, but it depends on your definition of good. When one of them gets injured, we'll have to see if Green, Greenwood, or someone else can step up.
Safety: I think Glover Quin is a good safety. But currently we have no one next to him. We need to sign a guy like Clemons, Ihedigbo, or draft Clinton-Dix. Otherwise we have only one good safety.

Summary:
We need: another good WR, another at least decent DE (even if they don't start), and a safety
We could use: a better OLB to replace Palmer, a better CB (Justin Gilbert)

I agree with lgolfer 95%. I do think we still need a kicker as well.

WR and CB should be the first order of business in the draft, and in no particular order in my book. Follow that up with a solid DE and OLB, and a safety in free agency, and I do think this team is CAPABLE of competing with any team in the league.

Capable does not mean anything though. Top to bottom, this is the most complete Lions team I have ever seen, and the few holes we have can easily be fixed with another signing and a good draft.

Could this team win a SuperBowl this season? I suppose anything is possible, but I don't think it's likely or even likely enough to get my hopes up. But without a doubt, in my mind, this is the best Lions team I have seen in my 40 years.

The question now is coaching. If Caldwell is everything Peyton Manning thinks he is, this could be a SuperBowl team... dynasty for that matter. If he's everything the fans think he is, we might be rebuilding again next year.

Hard for me to say at this point.

 

[LKP]

Well what do you know. Everyone is agreeing with me once they go position by position. Practically a holeless team with free agency and the draft to go.

 

[LKP]

And by the way Seattle lost Thurmond (nickel), Browner(true starting CB), McDonald (plays a ton on the Dline), Breno Giacommi starting Right Tackle, Golden Tate(best WR last year), Chris Clemons(very good vet DE, though got Bennett back) and Sidney Rice

Harvin stays about as healthy as Broyles does.

 

[grandy]

I've been wondering this all off-season.

Occasionally I see fans and "experts" talk about LB as a need in the draft and I'm curious as to why.

Tulloch and Levy will get the majority of the snaps. According to last season, the 3rd LB was barely in the game in favor of a 3rd CB.

Last season defensive snaps
Tulloch - 99.6%
Levy - 98.6%
----------------
Palmer - 34.1%
McIntosh - 3.8%
Lewis - 0.4%

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/01/notes_and_observations_from_de.html

Did Austin say something that I missed? Why would the Lions need to draft another LB so high?

 

[LKP]

I've been wondering this all off-season.

Occasionally I see fans and "experts" talk about LB as a need in the draft and I'm curious as to why.

Tulloch and Levy will get the majority of the snaps. According to last season, the 3rd LB was barely in the game in favor of a 3rd CB.

Last season defensive snaps
Tulloch - 99.6%
Levy - 98.6%
----------------
Palmer - 34.1%
McIntosh - 3.8%
Lewis - 0.4%

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/01/notes_and_observations_from_de.html

Did Austin say something that I missed? Why would the Lions need to draft another LB so high?

Exactly. And Palmer did well in run defense (his job). They don't need a OLB. Would be a luxury to get a guy like Barr for pass rush but you better think him or Mack could put their hand in the dirt if you drafted them at 10.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Well what do you know. Everyone is agreeing with me once they go position by position. Practically a holeless team with free agency and the draft to go.

I think you're taking too much out of what others are saying..

 

[LKP]

I think you're taking too much out of what others are saying..

They are listing them and clearly saying the hole is filled with good players. They may not even realize it.

One WR and safety, that's it.

 

[jdeb]

well what do you know. Everyone is agreeing with me once they go position by position. Practically a holeless team with free agency and the draft to go.

lol

 

[brewer229]

They are listing them and clearly saying the hole is filled with good players. They may not even realize it.

One WR and safety, that's it.

Unless an injury happens. What if Tate gets hurt. Is our season din the drain because we lost our #2 WR?

A well built team can take an injury. Greenbay lost their best player still made the playoffs. we see what happens when we play without our best CJ.