Hello from Pride of Detroit

There’s a distinction between what the fans want and what GM Martin Mayhew and HC Jim Schwartz are likely to do.

Lions fans on POD are strongly in favor of Suh as the pick, as n4ry4 said. Our backup choice is really split very evenly in terms of popularity between LT Russell Okung, DT Gerald McCoy, and S Eric Berry.

As for what the Lions might actually do, opinions differ. It’s important as a fan to note the difference between what you want your team to do, and what they are likely to do. Bottom line, the only opinions that matter are those of Mayhew and Schwartz. Same goes for the GM and HC of the Rams.

In the current economic environment in the NFL, a trade down from #1 is very unlikely with no rookie salary cap. The Stafford deal ratcheted the bar up even higher for #1 overall picks. For that kind of money, it’s very unlikely that anybody would take a DT at #1 now. That’s QB money, until the economics change and the rookie pay scale isn’t so out of whack. That’s the main reason we’re at a labor impasse right now, with a pending uncapped year. Luckily, the Rams need a QB. Since there are no true "cant miss" players (only players who people mistakenly label "can’t miss"), the Rams will very likely take their QB now for QB money, see what happens with the labor negotiations, and go from there. It’s not 100% guaranteed, but it IS highly probable that the Rams will take a QB now. It’s the prudent thing to do, regardless of what the Rams fans think.

Based on that, I’d say that with his experience in a pro-style offense and well-rounded NFL-type skills (including a very quick release), by Draft Day Jimmy Clausen will win many people over. More importantly, I expect Clausen will win over the only people who matter…….the Rams, and be the #1 pick of the STL Rams.

So I expect the Rams to take Clausen, and the Lions to happily take Suh. Suh is a good fit here. Even though he’s only listed at 6-4, 305, he has low body fat, and the strength of a guy 20 Lbs bigger. His game is power……and he’s fast, too! DC Gunther Cunningham has said he wants GIANT DT’s. HC Jim Schwartz wants the Lions to get bigger and more physical, especially on defense. Most of Schwartz’s anger/frustration/attention has been on the poor coverage, pass rush, and tackling, especially by the DL and the secondary. Most of Mayhew’s waiver wire pickups have been on the DL/secondary. The proof is in the pudding. Actions speak louder than words. Suh is a great fit here, fills a huge need, and is probably the BPA in the entire draft. Mayhew and Schwartz found 5 starters (Stafford, Pettigrew, Delmas, Levy, Sammie Lee Hill) by taking the BPA in the excellent 2009 draft. Expect that trend to continue. Expect the Lions to draft Suh after the Rams draft Clausen.

And as for the alternatives?

As for Okung, like it or not, we have continuity at 4 positions on the OL, and no indications from Schwartz or Mayhew that they are displeased with LT Jeff Backus, even though many fans dislike Backus. Our only revolving door on the OL this year has been at LG. There have been suggestions that Okung can start at LG (has experience there), and in a few years switch to LT. My guess is with his skills, Okung would be better as a guard in a zone-blocking scheme, not our current downhill power-blocking IMO, Okung’s 2 years too late to be a LG here (the zone-blocking scheme left town with OC Jim Coletto after the 2008 season). It’s LT or nothing here. Okung’ a bad fit at LG here. That kind of experiment (switching Okung to LG, then back to LT) is not worth risking the #2 overall pick on. It’s more likely we’ll just take a LG with a lower pick.

Definitely not Gerald McCoy. Mortal lock. Bad fit here, better as a Tampa 2 DT. Too small, too weak to play here……possible bust wherever he lands. He won’t land here. Not Gunther’s kind of DT. Bad fit. Schwartz wants the team to get bigger and more physical. You don’t do that by getting smaller and weaker. Makes no logical sense. He’s a one-trick pony with a quick first step who dives at QB’s legs. Could get pushed around by NFL guards. His size/strength/skill set is a lot like Glenn Dorsey’s. Bad fit.

We need another safety. Eric Berry might be the 2nd best defensive player in this draft. He’s a perfect fir as a LS alongside Delmas. Both are super aggressive, are fast, can cover, have ball skills, can tackle and hit people. Both have great awareness, anticipation, and an inner fire.

Bottom line, Suh is apparently the BPA, and the Lions (the only ones whose opinion matters) will likely stick with BPA and grab Suh, especially since he fills a huge need and is a perfect fit for our style of defense. Eric Berry is also a perfect fit, the BPA at safety, and very high on the overall BPA list (maybe 2nd only to Suh). Gerald McCoy is a terrible fit here, and there is no indication of interest in drafting a LT at this time.

So the likely outcome is:

1 Rams-QB Jimmy Clausen
2 Lions-DT Ndomakong Suh (alternate pick S Eric Berry)

When you pick at #2 the list really doesn’t have to be all that long. It’s likely going to be either Suh or Berry. Nothing else makes sense, based on what we’ve seen and heard from Mayhew/Schwartz/Gunther Cunningham, etc.

And we passed……uuuugh

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d814e74fb/Stafford-wired-and-uncut

then watch this one

Backus and Raiola are considered by most Lions fans to be marginally servicable, mediocre, and over paid……..at best. That’s why there are all the Okung draft rumors.

gaggle of geese
herd of cattle
pack of wolves
coven of witches
flock of seagulls
pride of lions

……expect Calvin’s stats to go way up next year, especially if we can get a legitimate threat at WR2. Bryant Johnson has been a disappointment.

………..It was only a matter of time.

Both are upgrades over Paris Lenon.