Posted by Lisa on January 6, 2009, 1:13 pm, in reply to "problem is"
There is no way they're going to be able to trade the #1 overall pick. That's kind of a given. They have to, like Miami did last year, pick the best values for their scheme at the highest positions of need. Miami passed on Glenn Dorsey, who was the highest rated DT in a decade (I think) since he didn't fit their scheme; and Matt Ryan who didn't fit Sparano and Parcell's "it’s a big man’s league,” mantra.
Taking a QB #1 overall is the trendy pick amongst draftniks, so I'm going to vent a little bit. I am so against taking QB that I get sick looking at mock drafts out on the net. And nobody with whom I've tried to talk to, outside of Michigan, seems to understand what I'm saying when I raise my objections to taking a QB #1 overall.
Taking a QB #1 overall, in Detroit's situation, is madness. The o-line is not nearly close enough to be able to let a rookie QB come in and have the time to make good decisions. The Lions have ruined numerous QBs under similar circumstances and it's about time they learned their lesson. Any QB, vet or rookie, who gets hammered 50+ times a year is going to have issues.
On top of this, the Lion defense as it stands puts their QB, vet OR rookie, under impractical pressure to succeed by putting them in a hole in the first quarter. Spotting the other team 2 TDs is not conducive to a balanced gameplan. And I don't know if one off-season is enough to fix this defense. Subjecting a youngster to that, fresh out of college, is throwing money away. You've ruined him. And they can't afford to let the #1 overall pick sit on the bench, especially with the amount of money these untested QBs command. There is little option, no matter if he's ready or not.
Plus, after getting hammered during the games on Sundays, this "face of the franchise" would have to deal with the worst sports media in the USA. These guys are worse than Philly fans. It's not just professional execution that gets questioned, personal issues become fair game with these guys.
These media guys are no better than supermarket tabloid writers. In fact I think hey are the rejects of the New York tabloids. The ones who couldn't even make it at the National Enquirer (spelling?).
The "reporters" seem to expect the starting QB to walk on water and throw lightning, no matter what the circumstances surrounding him. And when he can't, they will tear him down like no other media I've ever seen. The paparazzi that surrounded Lady Di was kinder than these guys. They are totally unrealistic, and encourage the feeding frenzy of fans who are starved for some kind of football success.
A rookie QB who started for the Lions would be hammered twice every Sunday, physically by the defense he is faced with and emotionally/psychologically by the media afterwords...and then, during the week, he can defend himself from the media's borderline slander questioning his manhood, or his love of the game, or his religion, or how much he tips pizza delivery guys, or whether he is the coach's lovechild, etc. etc. etc... which has nothing to do with football! Nobody is suited to be the "face of franchise" when you have to face these guys, much less a rookie QB used to the adulation of the media hordes ... up until he's been drafted by the Lions.
Add in all the other positions that need to be filled besides QB. The Lions NEED a big physical DT to stop the run, they need a FRANCHISE LT, they need a difference maker at MLB to STOP the run and the TE, they need a starting level CB who could possibly challenge Bodden for #1 CB, I want a TE who can help block for the run AND catch the freaking ball without fumbling (since there are quite a few good TEs in this draft and they've been trying and missing one for the last 20+ years), they need a #2 or #3 WR to replace Shaun McDonald, they could use an upgrade at both OG positions or at least to challenge those already on the roster, they will need a backup RB to Kevin Smith and/or a complementary RB for a change of pace, they could use an upgrade at DE to give Cliff Avril a break in the rotation, they need a backup Safety for both SS and FS, and a KR/PR/gunner (WR/RB/CB?)--in that order of need. That's a lot to accomplish and isn't possible to fulfill in one draft. And there just isn't enough money to get the kind of players they need in free agency. (Though, if they're smart they can get close.)
Next year, there could be 3 Heisman QBs available in the 2010 draft: Tebow; Bradford; and possibly McCoy, Sanchez, Stafford or whichever QB wins the Heisman next year. The Lions don't have to pick one this year or be forever skunked. But they could set themselves back 5 years by picking wrong, reaching for a position where the talent level doesn't match the pick. Look at how San Francisco fared when they reached for Alex Smith. I think that situation is pretty close to what the Lions have going on now.
It may be a moot point when the draft does come around this April. None of the 5 QBs who I mentioned above, eligible for the 2009 draft, are required to come out this year. Stafford is the most likely to come out, but he could decide to stay at Georgia and try for the national championship.
Matt Ryan got a $70+ million contract, picked 3rd overall. Better than Jake Long got, being the 1st overall pick. What do you think Matt Stafford would require from the Lions before he would sign a contract? I shudder.
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