NFL - Are you ready for some Football - Draft and Off Season

[SlowwHand]

I guess this is a point on different teams having different draft philosophies.

[Lord Avalon]

If Detroit picked any 3rd rounders or later that can play, it'll be a first in Millen's sorry excuse for a career.

[SlowwHand]

The Lions wanted to make this a defensive draft and selected three potential starters in the first three rounds. But their offense, the NFL's worst last season, may benefit even more from the arrival of OT Cherilus and RB Smith.

[snoopy369]

For example, Mel Kiper's grades:

DET: C+
CHI: B
DAL: B+
PIT: B

He gave only one A, and no A-, so DAL is basically the second highest grade (with a few other folks at that level). No team got below a C+, on the other hand, except 3/4 of the AFC North (HOU, TEN got C and JAC got C-). He didn't like PIT because Mendenhal is a luxury pick (a pick in a position they don't actually need) but considers it a good pick nonetheless (just not an outstanding one). I like Sweed quite a lot for that team, and think they'll be outstanding next year, myself...

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by SlowwHand

The Lions wanted to make this a defensive draft and selected three potential starters in the first three rounds. But their offense, the NFL's worst last season, may benefit even more from the arrival of OT Cherilus and RB Smith.

Right, except that Smith won't be a starter in the NFL (platoon, at best) and who exactly takes a RT early in the draft? They could've taken their pick of LTs, but they took a RT instead, which is why they're getting laughed at.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I guess this is a point on different teams having different draft philosophies.

Yes. 'Sane' drafting philosophies versus 'Matt Millen' drafting philosophies

[Lord Avalon]

Matt Millen has a drafting philosophy?

[Ben Kenobi]

C+ for the Bolts? We picked up two players who will see time this year, and plenty of backups.

I'd say that was better then C+

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Right, except that Smith won't be a starter in the NFL (platoon, at best) and who exactly takes a RT early in the draft? They could've taken their pick of LTs, but they took a RT instead, which is why they're getting laughed at.

Well their current LT, Jeff Backus is actually pretty decent and in 2006 signed a long term deal. RT is probably where they need more help, as George Foster isn't that great.

And I actually think they'll start Smith. The Lions are putting in a zone running system, and IIRC, Smith, in Central Florida, ran behind the same system. So he is very familiar with it.

[Lord Avalon]

Backus is decent, but certainly not a franchise player, which the Lions tagged him a couple years ago.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


Well their current LT, Jeff Backus is actually pretty decent and in 2006 signed a long term deal. RT is probably where they need more help, as George Foster isn't that great.

And I actually think they'll start Smith. The Lions are putting in a zone running system, and IIRC, Smith, in Central Florida, ran behind the same system. So he is very familiar with it.

You can pick up a RT rather lower in the round. If that's all they wanted, they should've traded down - plenty of offers for their pick I'm sure. Backus, as already noted, should have changed that 's' to a 'p' and been replaced by an LT if they wanted to pick at that spot.

Smith probably WILL start at DET, but that's the problem. They could've taken a better RB in the 1st and still got a decent RT in the 2nd or thereabouts... instead they take Smith who is at best a platoon player in the NFL. Fortunately for him, the Lions are playing in the CFL...

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by snoopy369
I'm saying overall as well. However, the 1st round pick has a large effect on the overall draft grade in my mind, because it is by far the most likely position to give a starter (and a star). DET picked so badly at their first round that they'd have to have had very good later rounds to make up for it, which they did not (they certainly had decent rounds past the first, but not great).

At least we didn't get a WR.

[snoopy369]

You might have been better off picking a WR...

It's like picking a Kicker in the 1st round. Yeah, he might be God's Gift to Kickers, but you just don't spend a 1st round pick on him, because better value is found later. Same with RT... the top RT in the league is still well behind most LTs in terms of value to the team (and this is noted in the paychecks). There's a reason you put old guys past their prime at RT.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Same with RT... the top RT in the league is still well behind most LTs in terms of value to the team (and this is noted in the paychecks). There's a reason you put old guys past their prime at RT.

Like Jake Long?

Yes, Long is a natural RT. He can play LT... but he's a run blocker first.

Like Cherlius, started as a RT and moved to LT later in his college career.

[snoopy369]

Plenty of LTs are run blockers (the good ones)... He played LT at UM for his entire senior season.

LT = pass block + run block
RT = only run block (pass block with TE)

He is adequately skilled to play LT in the NFL. Cherlius is not.