Ramirez getting reps at center

[kdp1980]

Swanson benched?

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/11/10/detroit-lions-center-travis-swanson/75503880/

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

It's taken them this long to realize a weak, unathletic lineman shouldn't be starting?

 

[Mitchrapp]

The Mayhew gift that keeps on giving.

 

[cheeno]

Seriously us nobodies on this board was calling for this change what? Week 3? Brilliant deduction coaches.

 

[kingofdetroit57]

I still watch the games and root for the Lions, but fuck this organization. The fanbase is being lulled into thinking that the organization is suddenly going to "get it". When you take a step back and look at everything, they are finally just doing the most obvious, overdue things that 99% of us have been screaming for for months, if not years. I have zero confidence that things are finally different until they actually prove it through improved hiring, better drafting, and some consistent winning.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

I still watch the games and root for the Lions, but fuck this organization. The fanbase is being lulled into thinking that the organization is suddenly going to "get it". When you take a step back and look at everything, they are finally just doing the most obvious, overdue things that 99% of us have been screaming for for months, if not years. I have zero confidence that things are finally different until they actually prove it through improved hiring, better drafting, and some consistent winning.

The only difference is that starting with this offseason there is at least the slim chance of change. Millen was the low point, but even the when they cleaned house with him, they just started it all over with Millen's proteges. Mayhew and Lewan are gone. The coaches will eventually all be gone (I have to imagine Caldwell is only staying due to the lack of other options). Even old man Ford is out of the picture (not that Martha is a guarantee to be any better).

Next year is the first time in... perhaps ever, that a real rebuild can happen. That doesn't mean I have faith in Martha or junior, but hell, they could get lucky and stumble into a good GM, who could in turn pull in some actually competent coaches. Who knows.

 

[zyxt9]

How many years did Mayhew ignore preparing for Ravioli's replacement??? How many Pro Bowl if not All-Pro centers did he pass up?

It was like they never even scouted the position.

 

[Mitchrapp]

How many years did Mayhew ignore preparing for Ravioli's replacement??? How many Pro Bowl if not All-Pro centers did he pass up?

It was like they never even scouted the position.

That's what I worry about at QB. We only seem to draft one when it's a dire need.

 

[zyxt9]

I definitely support the idea of drafting a QB every year in R4-7. Bound to get a good backup at a minimum, but might also find that gem.

Of course losing entire draft classes means constantly having to draft other positions and putting QB on the back burner and using FA as a stop gap for the backup.

 

[zyxt9]

Come to think of it though, Mayhew did draft Moore a few years ago... ***facepalm***

 

[kmd47]

In 2012, with the 54 pick of the draft in the second round, we select Ryan Broyles.... One pick before, the guy I wanted, Peter Konz.... Don't let the door hit yawhere the good Lord split ya Mayhew.

 

[inkfreq]

I definitely support the idea of drafting a QB every year in R4-7. Bound to get a good backup at a minimum, but might also find that gem.

Of course losing entire draft classes means constantly having to draft other positions and putting QB on the back burner and using FA as a stop gap for the backup.

I think football needs to take a lesson from baseball in this regard. Sports are all about stats, numbers, and probabilities, no matter what sport you play.

<Begin Hypothetical Discussion>

We all know that you should.. SHOULD.. be able to draft starting caliber players with each of your first three picks if you draft well. So if you draft a starting level defensive player every year with each of those picks, we are drafting 12 guys every four years minimum who can start and play at a quality level. As contracts come up for renewal, you either sign them cheaper, or let them walk and replace them with young bodies.

Young legs are better than old legs.

Now assuming you are using your top three picks every year to draft defensive players, you have to assume some of those guys will walk away under this method and become free agents. Some of those guys will be high priced free agents. Those signings add to your draft pool through compensatory picks.

Now you have rounds 4-7 to draft a QB, a WR, a Rb, a TE, etc...whatever you feel your needs are.

This method keeps your defense young and cheap, and your offensive draft picks young and cheap, allowing you plenty of cap room to pursue high end offensive free agents like LT, RT, C, etc...

On the rare occasion a starting QB does hit the market, you can have a look and make some bid. You have the cap room to work because you are growing a young, steady, and cheap pipeline of defensive players.

In today's pass happy NFL my first round picks would primarily target CBs and pass rushers. My second round picks would target safeties and LBs, and my third round picks would be rotational DTs and LBs.

My 4th round picks would be split... offense and defense as need be, and then rounds 5-7 would be mostly offensive players, looking for those 5th round WRs who produce like a Stephon Diggs or a John Brown, and RBs who can platoon... Alfred Morris type guys.

Fullbacks, kickers, punters, long snappers, and even TEs I can get after the draft as free agents.

I would target former college basketball players with bulk at TE, guys who didn't get drafted in the NBA, and give them camp invites to find guys who can catch and have that athleticism.

 

[cheeno]

Geez can we just make you the GM? I think that's a more concrete plan than we have had at any time over the past decade and a half. Unless you count, "do ya love football, son?", "BPA", and "YouTube whack off time" as plans.

 

[motown1958]

I don't think football can be looked at the way baseball is. Baseball is a team game where individual stats are achieved by an individual. A great football player might not show up on the Stat sheet depending on the position. A great cb will make splash plays but if the defense is terrible they can't cover for ever. A bad team hurts the stock of good players.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

 

[motown1958]

I do agree to a degree though ink. Our scouts don't seem to be very good. Every year on this board a bunch of us pick a handful of late round guys that might end up being good. We hit occasionally. I'm not saying we're better but sometimes scouting players is subjective.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

 

[Mitchrapp]

Honestly, I don't believe it matters where you pick guys as long as they add value and perform. If the players we've drafted in the past would add something the Lions would be much better. 2nd round picks for example. We just fail on too many picks.

 

[johnny2x2x]

I think this means we win by 5 TDs in Green Bay this Sunday instead of the usual 4 TDs.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Normally I'd say if we're going to win in GB, this would be the year. GB has many problems but this team is so bad. I could see us losing a close one and Caldwell puts a spin on it..

 

[zyxt9]

Yeah, during my Kool-Aid drunken state before the year started, I found several reasons for the Lions to potentially break the streak this year. The BYE, GB playing tough road games for two weeks before. Game being early enough in the year that weather should be better than usual (well, at least better than late December).

Now that I've been sober for a few months...I'm not seeing it.

 

[zyxt9]

Forecast for the game actually does look promising. Sunday, 3pm: 55 degrees, winds at 10mph.

Fucking Lions are going to blow their best chance weather wise in years. Guess none of us should be surprised.