Lions draft grades

[LKP]

The problem is we'll calling OL, RB, or whatever improved when we have no idea how they preform. And we're calling the TE's good when none of them did a thing last year. I'm holding off on my criticism this season but man..are we still counting on Broyles?

The talent is there for these rookies and the vets we already had. Year 2 in the system. Good coaches. Depth.

TEs have lots of talent. Year 2 in the system that can easily do well.

Nobody is improved if we can't say rookies addressed an issue. Lions added talent. They were good before they added the rookies but now they appear holeless.

 

[tomdalton22]

Lions have a good player at every starting position. Fact.

Deep at RB,TE,OG/C,DT,DE,LB,CB outside, CB nickel, safety

Maybe deep at WR (depending on Fuller, TJ Jones and Broyles development/health), OT (depending on Lucas)

Not deep. Backup QB but the guys know the system and Dan O won with Caldwell.

There is nothing to complain about this team right now. Nothing.

Last year the OL had some trouble in pass protection and they had a hard time running the ball. You will say injuries...I'm not sure about that. The OL as a unit is still a question mark.

As far as good players at every position. Bell is not a good RB IMO...he is average at best. Maybe you are counting on the Neb rookie being good. They don't have a good center. They don't have a good TE. I would not classify Ramirez or Swanson as good. Based on his past performance and compared to others in the league, Stafford is above average but I will put your "good" label on him.

The guys that aren't "good" are Jones, Walker, Van Noy, Ihedigbo, Mathis.

I understand that once a player puts on a Lion's jersey you call them good...but they are not all good.

 

[grandy]

The problem is we'll calling OL, RB, or whatever improved when we have no idea how they preform. And we're calling the TE's good when none of them did a thing last year. I'm holding off on my criticism this season but man..are we still counting on Broyles?

If

Tomlinson > Sims
Swanson/Ramirez > Dom
Warford stays healthy
RT isn't a revolving door due to injury

I think the OL could be a huge upgrade from last year. A lot of ifs, but that's basically 3.5 new pieces (assuming Warford was less than 100% for half the year).

 

[Mitchrapp]

Last year the OL had some trouble in pass protection and they had a hard time running the ball. You will say injuries...I'm not sure about that. The OL as a unit is still a question mark.

As far as good players at every position. Bell is not a good RB IMO...he is average at best. Maybe you are counting on the Neb rookie being good. They don't have a good center. They don't have a good TE. I would not classify Ramirez or Swanson as good. Based on his past performance and compared to others in the league, Stafford is above average but I will put your "good" label on him.

The guys that aren't "good" are Jones, Walker, Van Noy, Ihedigbo, Mathis.

I understand that once a player puts on a Lion's jersey you call them good...but they are not all good.

Damn, holeless. WR is holeless, even though we still have the same group. OL is holeless, even though we have no idea how the new guys do. TE, holeless, even though it's the same group who did nothing last season. RB, holeless, even though they couldn't average 4 yards a carry. Pass defense, holeless, even though we were 13 last season and didn't add anyone of significance.

Holeless..

 

[Mitchrapp]

If

Tomlinson > Sims
Swanson/Ramirez > Dom
Warford stays healthy
RT isn't a revolving door due to injury

I think the OL could be a huge upgrade from last year. A lot of ifs, but that's basically 3.5 new pieces (assuming Warford was less than 100% for half the year).

That's the thing.

LKP thinks we improved on all that..'Hughes has the opposite view and the rest of us are all in the middle. I hope they improve but no way to know. LKP said Sims was good at season's end. And now he says big improvement..LKP views are worthless..

 

[brewer229]

Probably every possible team thinks they are better going into next year than they were the year before.

Reality is, about half will be better/same about half will be worse/same.

You can bet there are 4 teams that will probably make the playoffs: New England, Green Bay, Seattle, Denver.....Possibly Indy (because of division).

 

[LKP]

Last year the OL had some trouble in pass protection and they had a hard time running the ball. You will say injuries...I'm not sure about that. The OL as a unit is still a question mark.

As far as good players at every position. Bell is not a good RB IMO...he is average at best. Maybe you are counting on the Neb rookie being good. They don't have a good center. They don't have a good TE. I would not classify Ramirez or Swanson as good. Based on his past performance and compared to others in the league, Stafford is above average but I will put your "good" label on him.

The guys that aren't "good" are Jones, Walker, Van Noy, Ihedigbo, Mathis.

I understand that once a player puts on a Lion's jersey you call them good...but they are not all good.

Clealry it was injuries. And Raiola regressed. We got better 10X on the Oline with health of Waddle and Tomlinson/Swanson. Plus Lucas development and Man Ram good depth.

Jones, Walker, Whitehead/Van Noy, Dig and Mathis are all good starters. Mathis is actually very good.

Bell/Abudullah/Riddick is a very good deep combo. Bell can play with proper blocking. He'll get proper blocking this year. He had 4.4 YPC second half of the seaosn with just Sims improvement and some Waddle playing.

 

[LKP]

That's the thing.

LKP thinks we improved on all that..'Hughes has the opposite view and the rest of us are all in the middle. I hope they improve but no way to know. LKP said Sims was good at season's end. And now he says big improvement..LKP views are worthless..

Sims was good in second half. First half of the year terrible. And Tomlinson is a big improvement over a good Sims second half and terrible first half.

Holeless team.

 

[brewer229]

That's the thing.

LKP thinks we improved on all that..'Hughes has the opposite view and the rest of us are all in the middle. I hope they improve but no way to know. LKP said Sims was good at season's end. And now he says big improvement..LKP views are worthless..

Each post of his an independent thought based on what makes the team look the best. No matter how many times he contradicts himself he will keep spewing same stuff.

Sims did play solid the second half of the season. That's why I was in favor of bringing him back. I just don't see Tomlinson being upgrade in year one. Of course what people read is "This poster hates tomlinson and is only negative". Ignoring the fact it is a praise of Sims and how he did the prior year. I hope Tomlinson outplays Sims last year production, that would be wonderful.

 

[LKP]

Each post of his an independent thought based on what makes the team look the best. No matter how many times he contradicts himself he will keep spewing same stuff.

Sims did play solid the second half of the season. That's why I was in favor of bringing him back. I just don't see Tomlinson being upgrade in year one. Of course what people read is "This poster hates tomlinson and is only negative". Ignoring the fact it is a praise of Sims and how he did the prior year. I hope Tomlinson outplays Sims last year production, that would be wonderful.

I have never contradicted myself. You guys don't see how everything is interconnected (Qb play especially) and apparently you don't notice injuries either.

Sims can be good in second half but Tomlinson can better (for a full season). It's quite simple. You guys have a tough time following and remembering the injuries and game tape.

 

[tomdalton22]

Clealry it was injuries. And Raiola regressed. We got better 10X on the Oline with health of Waddle and Tomlinson/Swanson. Plus Lucas development and Man Ram good depth.

Jones, Walker, Whitehead/Van Noy, Dig and Mathis are all good starters. Mathis is actually very good.

Bell/Abudullah/Riddick is a very good deep combo. Bell can play with proper blocking. He'll get proper blocking this year. He had 4.4 YPC second half of the seaosn with just Sims improvement and some Waddle playing.

Your definition of good is clearly different from the rest of society.

"The OL will be 10x better" LOL!

 

[mhughes0021]

I dont see 3 new pieces to a line in a confusing offense when you lost your qb of the line that makes all tge calls being an easy transition. Esp when swanson didnt grade well and rt is still weak.

 

[grandy]

My memory is terrible, maybe someone who watches game tape can answer this...did Sims play better because he improved his own play or because the right side of the OL was decimated by injuries and defenses were favoring that side?

 

[LKP]

You can have a good player and still upgrade that player. Replacing somebody doesn't mean the previous player stunk. A player can progress in year 2 of a system. A player typically gets better in year 2 from a rookie season. An oft injured player can finally stay healthy. A player that played limited snaps as a backup can break out and be a good starter. Coaching can help players (we have that). Get that through your heads and you'll understand all of my comments.

 

[LKP]

My memory is terrible, maybe someone who watches game tape can answer this...did Sims play better because he improved his own play or because the right side of the OL was decimated by injuries and defenses were favoring that side?

Sims played hurt in the first half of the year. It's your memory. i'm sure time in the system helped too.

Injury, time in the system. Proving LKP right since the beginning of time.

 

[LKP]

I dont see 3 new pieces to a line in a confusing offense when you lost your qb of the line that makes all tge calls being an easy transition. Esp when swanson didnt grade well and rt is still weak.

Swanson graded well at center. And he will add strength. He's been in the system too. Same with Waddle.

Laken is the only new starter. Guards can play right away. He's smart remember, he'll pick it up quickly.

 

[mhughes0021]

You can have a good player and still upgrade that player. Replacing somebody doesn't mean the previous player stunk. A player can progress in year 2 of a system. A player typically gets better in year 2 from a rookie season. An oft injured player can finally stay healthy. A player that played limited snaps as a backup can break out and be a good starter. Coaching can help players (we have that). Get that through your heads and you'll understand all of my comments.

You say that about all our picks that fail. And to date only one has improved the way your are describing....levy. which is why is important to get proper value in drafts...cause rarely do ppl magically become what you think they will.

 

[LKP]

You say that about all or picks that fail. And to date only one has improved the way your are describing....levy. which is why is important to get proper value in drafts...cause rarely do ppl magically become what you think they will.

Very few fail for Detroit. And it's due to injuries and insanity (character). Not talent. And Mayhew quickly learns from his mistakes (all high character since 2011).

tHE worst draft class year (2011) we made the playoffs.

Mayhew does a great job adding talent in the draft and free agency/trades. This roster is holeless.

Lions got good value in 2015. You just don't assess value correctly hughes.

 

[mhughes0021]

Very few fail for Detroit. And it's due to injuries and insanity (character). Not talent. And Mayhew quickly learns from his mistakes (all high character since 2011).

tHE worst draft class year (2011) we made the playoffs.

Mayhew does a great job adding talent in the draft and free agency/trades. This roster is holeless.

Lions got good value in 2015. You just don't assess value correctly hughes.

Bookmarked incase abdullah runs for 40 yds per game. But im sure thats excellent value in your eyes

 

[LKP]

Bookmarked incase abdullah runs for 40 yds per game. But im sure thats excellent value in your eyes

Depends how many carries and receptions and kick returns/punt returns. And also depends on what is needed from him. Bell having a monster year behind our revamped healthy OLine, Lions all set.