Posted by Lisa on May 2, 2008, 9:05 am, in reply to "NetRat’s draft analysis."
I disagree that Gosder was the 2nd best tackle for the zone blocking scheme. He can't move laterally. REAALLLY BAD FOOTWORK! He's a big mauler, who has long arms but doesn't use them well 1/2 the time.
I'm sure he's better than Foster, since Foster was horrible and I don't expect him to be better. But IMO Gosder is just as much of a project as Duane Brown was (who was taken at 26 and who I think fits the zone profile better).
I have less of an issue with him being taken at #17 than some do. I didn't think Otah was any better of a fit. And frankly I am never confident about players like Branden Albert who suddenly rise late in the draft process. But Gosder was not the best player available. And even though some folks said that Gosder was worth a top 15 pick, I remained sceptical that he would be taken before 20 up until the draft. He fits the profile of the OTs who have been taken by Pittsburgh in the past and thought he would go there. Lo and behold, who reached for him...the Lions. Sigh.
I understand what they were thinking with the OT situation the way it was (which was brought on by errors in other drafts and poor off-season acquisitions) and the way the draft was falling. But the reason I don't feel any better about this Lions draft team is that they failed to be proactive in targeting the best players for their scheme, understanding where the other teams would rank them and then moving to that spot. And that is what distinguishes good drafter from average drafters. They still don't get it.
Jordan Dizon may end up being a stud in this scheme. After all, he's the smartest MLB in the draft according to the wonderlic (if you buy into it). And I don't have an issue with his size. What I have an issue with, once again, is taking a guy who would be available later by at least a 1/2 a round. The next MLB/OLB taken was Tavares Gooden in round 3. TB is one of the guys I think is going to surprise people.
Not only did the Lions not understand how other teams were valuing players, they also panicked when they missed on Mayo and the OT run started. That is what I have an issue with.
The players they got fit their scheme and they filled holes in their roster. But I don't think it deserves more than a B- (because of the players they passed on during their turn, who could have also filled holes and matched scheme). Prior years' mistakes domino-ed into this year's mistakes, compounding the issues I have with Millen.
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