If there's one thing that annoys me in life, it's mock drafts and the frenzy around them. I don't know if Ndamukong Suh will go to St. Louis no.1 overall, nobody does - even the Rams themselves. For now, let's just get a state of play for the 'top' three teams in the draft. These needs will change in the next few months as players are cut and free agents are signed, but they are still handy when evaluating which direction teams are likely to go both in free agency and the draft.
St. Louis Rams.
1: Defensive Tackle
2: Quarterback
3: Tight End
4: Guard
5: Cornerback
The Rams have pretty obvious needs. The interior linemen on both sides of the ball are average and need replacing this offseason if the team is to have any chance of winning next year. There are players with potential in both of those lines, but the weak links inside are hurting this team week in week out. Tight End is a perennial position of need, and I fully expect the Rams to be aggressive either in free agency or the draft at this position, especially as Randy McMichael - an average player at best - will likely not be re-signed.
Quarterback is more complicated. The top two consensus players in the draft would be Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, but if they aren't sold enough on either to give them the big money at number one overall, maybe they'll take a chance on a project QB such as Tony Pike, who could well be ready to play at some point in 2010 should Marc Bulger either not return or play poorly.
If they don't address it through the draft, the QB free agency class is thin, with nobody the team could build a team around for more than a year or two. Perhaps Chad Pennington combined with a younger player in the draft may be the option that they settle for, or there is the intriguing option of trading for a player who has starting experience but may be available. Michael Vick is one of the few who are young enough to build a team around, though we all know that he comes with baggage. Apart from that the restricted players such as Kyle Orton, Jason Campbell and Kellen Clemens are all too patchy in their bodies of work to spend the necessary draft picks to prise them away from the tenders placed on them by their current teams.
Detroit Lions
1: Offensive Tackle
2: Defensive Tackle
3: Guard
4: Cornerback
5: Defensive End
The Lions need an offensive line desperately, and finding a guy to protect Matthew Stafford would be a sound investment. They also lack an interior rusher, which is a common theme for many of the teams at the top of this year's draft. I would class the need to partner a premier left tackle with your franchise QB as slightly higher than the need to find a big body on defence, but realistically both need to be addressed very soon. I don't see the Lions going for a veteran OT when they still have Jeff Backus, but I wouldn't be surprised if they looked at the restricted linemen that are currently slated to hit free agency.
Jahri Evans of the Saints is the standout guy who deserves to get paid this year as far as the guards go, and their are also good options at tackle in Donald Penn (Tampa), Jared Gaither (Baltimore) and Marcus McNeill (San Diego) who may be worth the compensation package that is needed to sign them as RFA's. All three have age on their side and experience in the league.
If I were to make that particular decision, I'd probably head down the route of getting an RFA in at tackle, and taking a Defensive lineman with the second overall pick. One of the crucial factors could be that many of the UFA DT's available this year are either better fits in a 3-4 scheme or they're likely to be franchise tagged by their current teams. The price for getting a player away from such a tag is too much for the Lions, who may well need every draft pick they've got as they try to rebuild from Matt Millen's era.
The secondary in Detroit deserves a quick mention too. They have been consistently one of the worst overall units in the last five years (see also: Kansas City receivers, Bears QB's) and they absolutely need an overhaul immediately. They are shambolic against the pass, and no amount of protection for Matt Stafford will stop teams scoring almost at will against this team. Louis Delmas was a start, but bringing in ageing or average veterans such as Philip Buchanon, Anthony Henry and Will James has simply compounded the problem. Eric Berry could solve their Strong Safety woes alongside Delmas, but I have to say that it's hard to put that need above the need for linemen.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1: Defensive Tackle
2: Wide Receiver
3: Defensive End
4: Offensive Tackle
5: Cornerback
The Bucs are not the worst team in the league by some stretch. A lot of their problems can be traced down to poor coaching and a lack of stability over the last few years. With Josh Freeman now pretty much entrenched as the starter and future of the team, look for better play without much addition next season. They lack true dominance on the defensive line, which as we all know was a hallmark of the Super Bowl winning team of 2002. They have never quite replaced Warren Sapp, Anthony McFarland, or Simeon Rice, so look for them to address either DT or DE with the number 3 pick overall. The draft is deep at those positions, and it would make more sense than trading for an established player with little to prove.
As mentioned previously, Donald Penn is an RFA, as is Jeremy Trueblood, so OT could become a position of huge need should the team lose both players. Of course, this is unlikely, but the team could still opt to address the position at some point this offseason and let one of those players leave if the right deal comes along.
The greatest position of need on offence is clearly at wide receiver, where Antonio Bryant spent much of the year injured after receiving the franchise tag in '09 and will likely leave in free agency. The roster looks like a WR graveyard, as Mark Bradley, Michael Clayton, Bryant and Maurice Stovall all attempt to prove themselves worthy of a big contract despite being first day picks at the start of their NFL careers. I think the Bucs could look to get a new player in to build chemistry with Freeman, though it should be noted that TE Kellen Winslow is as good a receiving TE as you will find in the game, so perhaps the team will attempt to retain Bryant if they don't like the very thin receivers in the draft and free agency.
Showing posts with label Detroit Lions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Detroit Lions. Show all posts
Monday, 1 February 2010
Saturday, 6 December 2008
The worst teams in the NFL - and how they can improve in 2009
Yikes.
If you saw Oakland's capitulation to San Diego last night, or Detroit's humiliation against Tennessee on Thanksgiving, or virtually any St. Louis Rams games this season, you'll know that these three represent the lowest forms of existence in the NFL today.
For some teams, the rebuilding process is in full flow. Miami have improved dramatically after a 1-15 season last year, whilst Atlanta have bounced into playoff contention after the turmoil of having their franchise QB sent to prison. Even the Kansas City Chiefs drafted wisely enough to build a young team that doesn't have the pressure of needing to win now.
So here's what the Lions, Raiders and Rams need to get themselves back towards winning ways:
The Lions are a good place to start when you need to write about bad teams, because this team is appalling. There are no real positive aspects to be taken from 2008, except perhaps the acquisition of some high draft choices for WR Roy Williams. The defence is arguably one of the worst to take a field, and the offence couldn't move house, let alone a pile.
I could spell this out using statistics that show how bad the Lions, Raiders and Rams are in certain areas of the field, but there's really no need. They rank amongst the bottom teams in almost every meaningful category, and apart from that, I'd be here all night if I did that. Really, just assume they're in the bottom three unless told otherwise.
One issue that pervades with the trio is that they are unable to execute on 3rd down - on both sides of the ball. Interestingly, the issue is clearly also not with the Running Back in any of the situations. Steven Jackson of the Rams is a premier back, whilst both Kevin Smith and Darren McFadden were selected in round one of the 2008 draft. Whilst Smith has impressed, McFadden has been limited, but I'll go out on a limb and say that neither he or Justin Fargas is the real issue with the Raiders running game.
The Offensive and Defensive lines seem weakest of all the areas on all three teams. It's particularly surprising that St. Louis has allowed this to happen when you consider how much of their prior success during the 'Greatest show on turf' era was based on the solid foundations of OT Orlando Pace and DE's Grant Wistrom, Kevin Carter and their compatriots on either side of the line. They have attempted to address that over the last two drafts, bringing in Defensive Linemen Adam Carricker and Chris Long, but both have been anonymous so far in their NFL careers, and you get the feeling that the longer they play on such a poor team, the more risk that they will be seen as busts as the years go on. Pace is essentially done in St. Louis, and should be cut this year. It seems likely that the Rams would have taken Jake Long in the draft if he had been available in the draft, but it really is critical that they invest heavily in their O-line before Marc Bulger suffers some kind of internal combustion after being sacked for the 16,000th time.
In Detroit and Oakland, a rash of poor draft choices by Matt Millen and Al Davis respectively, has seen both lines ignored largely since the turn of the millennium. Bad experiences with high draft picks seems to have dented their faith in the Offensive line, whilst the D-line is littered with players who have never had to earn their money. Let's take Tommy Kelly for example. Everyone knows that D-linemen play with a hard edge that their position requires, but EVERYONE knows that you don't pay a D-lineman until you expressly have to. Why? Simple: Most players will respond better to the incentive of a bug contract, rather than the knowledge that they have already signed one. With this in mind, why the hell did Al Davis sanction a (then record) $50.5m for a player who was relatively unproven, and coming off knee surgery that ended his 2007 season? Baffling, and indicative of the decisons that seem to have backfired immensely on the Raiders this year. Indeed, it was rumoured recently that Kelly was one of a number of players that Davis was considering cutting, along with DeAngelo Hall (who was actually cut) and Javon Walker, all of whom were signed to big money deals just months prior to the 2008 season.
With the Lions, it is almost a running joke that the team invested so much in skill positions over Millen's era. Indeed, I did a feature on Millen in July that showed just how poor his drafting skills were (as if you needed to be made aware of that) and supporting the 'Millen Out' campaign. Thankfully for all concerned (except Matt presumably), Millen was fired earlier this season, and in turn the Lions secured a first, a third, and a sixth round pick for another of his selections - WR Roy Williams. It is essential that they rebuild the Defensive line, after trading away Shaun Rogers to Cleveland. They have a rash of early draft picks, but that can be a huge financial burden for a team that has been amongst the bottom of this league for a long time. These top 5 contracts aren't cheap, and sooner or later the team might have to win purely to aleviate credit concerns.
So we've established that you could essentially replace the vast majority of the linemen on all three teams with traffic cones, or perhaps a red carpet of some description. Indeed, being inanimate objects, neither would be likely to give away false start penalties. Anyway, enough about linemen, what about the offensive skill positions?
Well, as I said earlier, the Lions have hurled enough first round picks at the problem, and finally something has stuck. Calvin Johnson is essentially the next great NFL Wide Receiver. Seriously. He's that good. Consider that the vast majority of balls thrown his way have been by men fleeing for their lives, and you get an idea of how good he is both on the run and in the air. Indeed, the jump-ball is something of a trademark for Johnson now, and it's easy to see him developing into the next Randy Moss - and in my book, that equals the Hall of Fame.
Smith has also shown that he could well be a wise move at Running Back. At the very least he deserves to play behind a proficient O-line before judgement is passed, and Rudi Johnson may still have some gas left in the tank. At QB, it seems likely that the team will give Dan Orlovsky a second chance next year after some relatively encouraging displays prior to his season ending injury, whilst veteran Jon Kitna is likely done as the team seeks a fresh start. Is it possible they could draft a QB in 2009? In all likelihood no. The draft class is not impressive enough that there is a 'can't miss' prospect at the position, and they have more pressing needs in... well everywhere really.
The Rams too, should stick with Marc Bulger. Actually, my theory is that they will do just that, and that the reason he has been pulled from games recently is simply to protect his long term physical health. We all know that RB Steven Jackson is a great player, but it will be interesting to see him play with a big contract behind him. Remember that Jackson was paid peanuts compared to his on-field contributions, and again, with the carrot of a new contract removed, how will he motivate himself? The team needs to get playoff bound soon for him to rekindle that desire to win.
At Receiver it is time to cash in on Tory Holt whilst he is still a tradeable commodity. Holt doesn't want to be in St. Louis anymore, and after 9 years, he knows that he likely will not win another championship there before his contract expires in 2010. Why not ship him out and look to the future? There is no shame in doing that, and in fact it can sometimes be detrimental to a young team if they feel that they are holding back a veteran player in the Autumn of his career. If they traded him now, they'd likely get a 2nd round pick minimum, perhaps even a first. The Rams won't be winning before his contract expires, so the equation all seems to add up to Holt's exit to a contender.
Finally, in Oakland, it gets messy. JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden should be the faces of this franchise for the next five years minimum. Instead right now, Russell looks like he has never been coached properly, and McFadden has been hobbled all season. Whilst injuries can be overcome, it is worrying to see so little progress from Russell in his sophomore year. Even if you write off 2007, it's not acceptable for a second year player to be averaging less than 150 passing yards each game, and his completion ratio is actually down from his disastrous showing in the last four games of 2007.
Is that Russell's fault? Probably not. We all know he has the ability, but he has been almost cast adrift by a franchise in flux, left to fend for himself as the front office wars with itself and the coaching staff revolves constantly. None of this can be good for a player, and we've seen what that can do to a Quarterback in Detroit, where Joey Harrington was cast as the source of - rather than the victim of - the team's woes.
The first thing the Raiders need to do, before they draft anyone, before they sign a free agent, is to get some stability on the sideline. At the very least, Al Davis should be looking at a coach who can help Russell develop into the player it seemed he was destined to be as he left LSU two seasons ago. I almost feel sorry for him - yes, even with the multi-million dollar contract - having to watch Matt Ryan have such success as a rookie, despite his team being at a low ebb when he took over the reigns. The difference being that Atlanta had hit rock bottom, whereas you do feel that Oakland could well sink even lower whilst Davis remains at the helm.
Unfortunately, Davis will likely not give up the Raiders whist his health prevails, and common decency prevents me from wishing ill upon him. Indeed, Davis is not the kind of guy who we should ever see as a bad thing for the NFL considering his contributions over the years, but sadly, his legacy is tarnished with every losing season the Raiders notch up, and his questionable decision to attack Lane Kiffin publicly (inviting litigation from Kiffin) after he fired him was a sign that perhaps he needs to take a step back. You can guess what bothers him, and that is the same thing that bothers so many of the men who have given their lives to one sole objective in life: Al Davis is afraid that giving up his franchise will be the death of him.
Tragically, there may be no light at the end of the tunnel for the Raiders while Davis refuses to accept that what is in his own best interests is not always in the best interests of his beloved franchise.
If you saw Oakland's capitulation to San Diego last night, or Detroit's humiliation against Tennessee on Thanksgiving, or virtually any St. Louis Rams games this season, you'll know that these three represent the lowest forms of existence in the NFL today.
For some teams, the rebuilding process is in full flow. Miami have improved dramatically after a 1-15 season last year, whilst Atlanta have bounced into playoff contention after the turmoil of having their franchise QB sent to prison. Even the Kansas City Chiefs drafted wisely enough to build a young team that doesn't have the pressure of needing to win now.
So here's what the Lions, Raiders and Rams need to get themselves back towards winning ways:
The Lions are a good place to start when you need to write about bad teams, because this team is appalling. There are no real positive aspects to be taken from 2008, except perhaps the acquisition of some high draft choices for WR Roy Williams. The defence is arguably one of the worst to take a field, and the offence couldn't move house, let alone a pile.
I could spell this out using statistics that show how bad the Lions, Raiders and Rams are in certain areas of the field, but there's really no need. They rank amongst the bottom teams in almost every meaningful category, and apart from that, I'd be here all night if I did that. Really, just assume they're in the bottom three unless told otherwise.
One issue that pervades with the trio is that they are unable to execute on 3rd down - on both sides of the ball. Interestingly, the issue is clearly also not with the Running Back in any of the situations. Steven Jackson of the Rams is a premier back, whilst both Kevin Smith and Darren McFadden were selected in round one of the 2008 draft. Whilst Smith has impressed, McFadden has been limited, but I'll go out on a limb and say that neither he or Justin Fargas is the real issue with the Raiders running game.
The Offensive and Defensive lines seem weakest of all the areas on all three teams. It's particularly surprising that St. Louis has allowed this to happen when you consider how much of their prior success during the 'Greatest show on turf' era was based on the solid foundations of OT Orlando Pace and DE's Grant Wistrom, Kevin Carter and their compatriots on either side of the line. They have attempted to address that over the last two drafts, bringing in Defensive Linemen Adam Carricker and Chris Long, but both have been anonymous so far in their NFL careers, and you get the feeling that the longer they play on such a poor team, the more risk that they will be seen as busts as the years go on. Pace is essentially done in St. Louis, and should be cut this year. It seems likely that the Rams would have taken Jake Long in the draft if he had been available in the draft, but it really is critical that they invest heavily in their O-line before Marc Bulger suffers some kind of internal combustion after being sacked for the 16,000th time.
In Detroit and Oakland, a rash of poor draft choices by Matt Millen and Al Davis respectively, has seen both lines ignored largely since the turn of the millennium. Bad experiences with high draft picks seems to have dented their faith in the Offensive line, whilst the D-line is littered with players who have never had to earn their money. Let's take Tommy Kelly for example. Everyone knows that D-linemen play with a hard edge that their position requires, but EVERYONE knows that you don't pay a D-lineman until you expressly have to. Why? Simple: Most players will respond better to the incentive of a bug contract, rather than the knowledge that they have already signed one. With this in mind, why the hell did Al Davis sanction a (then record) $50.5m for a player who was relatively unproven, and coming off knee surgery that ended his 2007 season? Baffling, and indicative of the decisons that seem to have backfired immensely on the Raiders this year. Indeed, it was rumoured recently that Kelly was one of a number of players that Davis was considering cutting, along with DeAngelo Hall (who was actually cut) and Javon Walker, all of whom were signed to big money deals just months prior to the 2008 season.
With the Lions, it is almost a running joke that the team invested so much in skill positions over Millen's era. Indeed, I did a feature on Millen in July that showed just how poor his drafting skills were (as if you needed to be made aware of that) and supporting the 'Millen Out' campaign. Thankfully for all concerned (except Matt presumably), Millen was fired earlier this season, and in turn the Lions secured a first, a third, and a sixth round pick for another of his selections - WR Roy Williams. It is essential that they rebuild the Defensive line, after trading away Shaun Rogers to Cleveland. They have a rash of early draft picks, but that can be a huge financial burden for a team that has been amongst the bottom of this league for a long time. These top 5 contracts aren't cheap, and sooner or later the team might have to win purely to aleviate credit concerns.
So we've established that you could essentially replace the vast majority of the linemen on all three teams with traffic cones, or perhaps a red carpet of some description. Indeed, being inanimate objects, neither would be likely to give away false start penalties. Anyway, enough about linemen, what about the offensive skill positions?
Well, as I said earlier, the Lions have hurled enough first round picks at the problem, and finally something has stuck. Calvin Johnson is essentially the next great NFL Wide Receiver. Seriously. He's that good. Consider that the vast majority of balls thrown his way have been by men fleeing for their lives, and you get an idea of how good he is both on the run and in the air. Indeed, the jump-ball is something of a trademark for Johnson now, and it's easy to see him developing into the next Randy Moss - and in my book, that equals the Hall of Fame.
Smith has also shown that he could well be a wise move at Running Back. At the very least he deserves to play behind a proficient O-line before judgement is passed, and Rudi Johnson may still have some gas left in the tank. At QB, it seems likely that the team will give Dan Orlovsky a second chance next year after some relatively encouraging displays prior to his season ending injury, whilst veteran Jon Kitna is likely done as the team seeks a fresh start. Is it possible they could draft a QB in 2009? In all likelihood no. The draft class is not impressive enough that there is a 'can't miss' prospect at the position, and they have more pressing needs in... well everywhere really.
The Rams too, should stick with Marc Bulger. Actually, my theory is that they will do just that, and that the reason he has been pulled from games recently is simply to protect his long term physical health. We all know that RB Steven Jackson is a great player, but it will be interesting to see him play with a big contract behind him. Remember that Jackson was paid peanuts compared to his on-field contributions, and again, with the carrot of a new contract removed, how will he motivate himself? The team needs to get playoff bound soon for him to rekindle that desire to win.
At Receiver it is time to cash in on Tory Holt whilst he is still a tradeable commodity. Holt doesn't want to be in St. Louis anymore, and after 9 years, he knows that he likely will not win another championship there before his contract expires in 2010. Why not ship him out and look to the future? There is no shame in doing that, and in fact it can sometimes be detrimental to a young team if they feel that they are holding back a veteran player in the Autumn of his career. If they traded him now, they'd likely get a 2nd round pick minimum, perhaps even a first. The Rams won't be winning before his contract expires, so the equation all seems to add up to Holt's exit to a contender.
Finally, in Oakland, it gets messy. JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden should be the faces of this franchise for the next five years minimum. Instead right now, Russell looks like he has never been coached properly, and McFadden has been hobbled all season. Whilst injuries can be overcome, it is worrying to see so little progress from Russell in his sophomore year. Even if you write off 2007, it's not acceptable for a second year player to be averaging less than 150 passing yards each game, and his completion ratio is actually down from his disastrous showing in the last four games of 2007.
Is that Russell's fault? Probably not. We all know he has the ability, but he has been almost cast adrift by a franchise in flux, left to fend for himself as the front office wars with itself and the coaching staff revolves constantly. None of this can be good for a player, and we've seen what that can do to a Quarterback in Detroit, where Joey Harrington was cast as the source of - rather than the victim of - the team's woes.
The first thing the Raiders need to do, before they draft anyone, before they sign a free agent, is to get some stability on the sideline. At the very least, Al Davis should be looking at a coach who can help Russell develop into the player it seemed he was destined to be as he left LSU two seasons ago. I almost feel sorry for him - yes, even with the multi-million dollar contract - having to watch Matt Ryan have such success as a rookie, despite his team being at a low ebb when he took over the reigns. The difference being that Atlanta had hit rock bottom, whereas you do feel that Oakland could well sink even lower whilst Davis remains at the helm.
Unfortunately, Davis will likely not give up the Raiders whist his health prevails, and common decency prevents me from wishing ill upon him. Indeed, Davis is not the kind of guy who we should ever see as a bad thing for the NFL considering his contributions over the years, but sadly, his legacy is tarnished with every losing season the Raiders notch up, and his questionable decision to attack Lane Kiffin publicly (inviting litigation from Kiffin) after he fired him was a sign that perhaps he needs to take a step back. You can guess what bothers him, and that is the same thing that bothers so many of the men who have given their lives to one sole objective in life: Al Davis is afraid that giving up his franchise will be the death of him.
Tragically, there may be no light at the end of the tunnel for the Raiders while Davis refuses to accept that what is in his own best interests is not always in the best interests of his beloved franchise.
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Calhoun states case for job in Lions backfield
In a competitive - but not hugely talented - Running Back situation in Detroit, Brian Calhoun is making a final effort to secure his place on the roster.
Calhoun has 61 yards on 9 carries, including a big 40yd run. Artoise Pinner is now getting his share of gametime, and looks a damn sight more impressive than Tatum Bell, who managed just 9 yards on 4 carries.
Kevin Smith is projected as the starter in the backfield, with Calhoun, Pinner, Bell and Aveion Cason - who also returns kicks - fighting for the chance to back him up. At the moment, it's looking more and more likely that unless Bell can come up big in the Lions' final Pre-Season game in Buffalo this Thursday, he could be one of the casualties next Saturday.
Calhoun has 61 yards on 9 carries, including a big 40yd run. Artoise Pinner is now getting his share of gametime, and looks a damn sight more impressive than Tatum Bell, who managed just 9 yards on 4 carries.
Kevin Smith is projected as the starter in the backfield, with Calhoun, Pinner, Bell and Aveion Cason - who also returns kicks - fighting for the chance to back him up. At the moment, it's looking more and more likely that unless Bell can come up big in the Lions' final Pre-Season game in Buffalo this Thursday, he could be one of the casualties next Saturday.
Quinn shows poise in Pre-Season start
Brady Quinn is currently making his first start as a Cleveland Brown - and he's holding up well to the pressure that the Detroit Lions have brought. Quinn is currently 8/14 for 64 yards, and dealt with a fumbled shotgun snap well, throwing to the sidelines once he had the ball under control.
Detroit lead 3-13 midway through the second quarter, and also noteworthy are Rookie RB Kevin Smith's 35yd TD run, Linebacker Ernie Sims' 8 tackles, and QB Jon Kitna's 9/11 passes for 98 yards and no INT's.
Dan Orlovsky, who will now be securely entrenched as the backup QB thanks to Drew Stanton's injury, just threw a pick at the earliest available opportunity - thus marking the first time anyone wished they had Jon Kitna back in their starting lineup.
Detroit lead 3-13 midway through the second quarter, and also noteworthy are Rookie RB Kevin Smith's 35yd TD run, Linebacker Ernie Sims' 8 tackles, and QB Jon Kitna's 9/11 passes for 98 yards and no INT's.
Dan Orlovsky, who will now be securely entrenched as the backup QB thanks to Drew Stanton's injury, just threw a pick at the earliest available opportunity - thus marking the first time anyone wished they had Jon Kitna back in their starting lineup.
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Where will Favre go?
With the news that Brett Favre is seeking his release from the Green Bay Packers, the league will be buzzing with rumour and conjecture regarding Favre's final destination. For us the biggest question is whether Favre has the desire to play anywhere because he misses football, or if he wants to win another championship.
Here are our top 5 contenders for his signature:
New York Jets
The Jets have spent big money this off-season. They have invested in almost every position - except the one that matters. The QB battle between Kellen Clemens and Chad Pennington is likely to produce nothing concrete heading into this season - a season that will almost certainly decide the fate of coach Eric Mangini. The only question is whether they can afford Favre. If he still wants his $12.5m salary, the Jets will need to clear $3m of cap room, which they could only do by trading Pennington, realistically.
Minnesota Vikings
Obviously, there is one major sticking point in this situation, and that is the rivalry between the Vikes and the Packers. You could argue that if the Vikings are on this list, then why not Chicago? Well, the Vikings (like the Jets) have thrown money at their situation this spring, and again, their big question mark is at QB. The Bears have never thrown money at anything. Ever. It would be extremely unlikely that the Packers would ascede to Favre's demands to be released if they believed he would be playing against them twice next season. The other big question is how excited Favre could be to play with receivers Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice. It's certainly not the kind of receiving unit that delivers championships.
Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Bucs coach Jon Gruden is a well known advocate of veteran Quarterbacks, and currently has about 4,000 on his roster. Actually though, it would be interesting to see how this situation plays into the contract negotiations with Jeff Garcia. With a player of the same age - but greater talent available, Garcia should be aware that now is not the time to be playing hardball with your team. The Bucs have a mix of veterans and rookies at WR, but definately have considerable talent in Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard, and Dexter Jackson. They also have an enormous amount of cap room, and really this could hinge on whether Gruden believes that Favre can deliver what Garcia cannot.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are probably slightly better than their record last year suggests. If anywhere makes sense on paper, it's Baltimore. At Quarterback, the Ravens would prefer not to start rookie Joe Flacco, but it's something they have had to seriously consider in the last few weeks. The otehr alternatives are Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, neither of which seems to be the long term answer. Apart from that, there are veteran receivers such as Derrick Mason, a great rushing attack, and a solid line, despite the retirement of Jonathan Ogden. One other thing - the Ravens Defence can create the kind of opportunities that Favre would relish.
Detroit Lions
Much like the Vikings, this could be a non-starter because of the fact that Favre would be coming back to haunt the Packers twice next year. On the other hand, the team has many ingredients that could make them an attractive proposition to a veteran Quarterback. The team has one of the best Receiving corps in football, with Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Shaun Macdonald, and Mike Furrey all capable of big plays. Questions do surround the running game, however, and Favre may be unwilling to play for a team that has rarely looked like coming out of a slump it has been in for 20 years.
Other teams in the mix:
Carolina Panthers - If Delhomme is fit, it's not happening
Kansas City Chiefs - No weapons = No playoffs
Chicago Bears - Not enough to make him public enemy no.1 in Green Bay
Atlanta Falcons - Unlikely, but he has been there before, and the Falcons may want to avoid blooding Matt Ryan early.
Here are our top 5 contenders for his signature:
New York Jets
The Jets have spent big money this off-season. They have invested in almost every position - except the one that matters. The QB battle between Kellen Clemens and Chad Pennington is likely to produce nothing concrete heading into this season - a season that will almost certainly decide the fate of coach Eric Mangini. The only question is whether they can afford Favre. If he still wants his $12.5m salary, the Jets will need to clear $3m of cap room, which they could only do by trading Pennington, realistically.
Minnesota Vikings
Obviously, there is one major sticking point in this situation, and that is the rivalry between the Vikes and the Packers. You could argue that if the Vikings are on this list, then why not Chicago? Well, the Vikings (like the Jets) have thrown money at their situation this spring, and again, their big question mark is at QB. The Bears have never thrown money at anything. Ever. It would be extremely unlikely that the Packers would ascede to Favre's demands to be released if they believed he would be playing against them twice next season. The other big question is how excited Favre could be to play with receivers Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice. It's certainly not the kind of receiving unit that delivers championships.
Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Bucs coach Jon Gruden is a well known advocate of veteran Quarterbacks, and currently has about 4,000 on his roster. Actually though, it would be interesting to see how this situation plays into the contract negotiations with Jeff Garcia. With a player of the same age - but greater talent available, Garcia should be aware that now is not the time to be playing hardball with your team. The Bucs have a mix of veterans and rookies at WR, but definately have considerable talent in Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard, and Dexter Jackson. They also have an enormous amount of cap room, and really this could hinge on whether Gruden believes that Favre can deliver what Garcia cannot.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are probably slightly better than their record last year suggests. If anywhere makes sense on paper, it's Baltimore. At Quarterback, the Ravens would prefer not to start rookie Joe Flacco, but it's something they have had to seriously consider in the last few weeks. The otehr alternatives are Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, neither of which seems to be the long term answer. Apart from that, there are veteran receivers such as Derrick Mason, a great rushing attack, and a solid line, despite the retirement of Jonathan Ogden. One other thing - the Ravens Defence can create the kind of opportunities that Favre would relish.
Detroit Lions
Much like the Vikings, this could be a non-starter because of the fact that Favre would be coming back to haunt the Packers twice next year. On the other hand, the team has many ingredients that could make them an attractive proposition to a veteran Quarterback. The team has one of the best Receiving corps in football, with Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Shaun Macdonald, and Mike Furrey all capable of big plays. Questions do surround the running game, however, and Favre may be unwilling to play for a team that has rarely looked like coming out of a slump it has been in for 20 years.
Other teams in the mix:
Carolina Panthers - If Delhomme is fit, it's not happening
Kansas City Chiefs - No weapons = No playoffs
Chicago Bears - Not enough to make him public enemy no.1 in Green Bay
Atlanta Falcons - Unlikely, but he has been there before, and the Falcons may want to avoid blooding Matt Ryan early.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Mooch agrees with us on Millen
You may remember this article we posted last week. If not, hey, may want to see a Doctor about the old short term memory.
But we digress...
Steve Mariucci, former coach of the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and lately an analyst on NFL's 'Gameday' program, has spoken out regarding Matt Millen, and his fruitless attempts to rejuvenate one of the NFL's worst franchises.
- Steve Mariucci
In an interview with the Marquette Mining Journal, a Michigan based paper, Mooch lets fly, breaking what has been a relatively dignified silence since he was sacked after a Thanksgiving day defeat against Atlanta three years ago. "Sure I've stayed in touch with some of (the players) and some of the coaches, and on occasion Bill Ford Jr. I respect the heck out of Bill, he'll take that team over some day." says Mariucci, who also reveals that his future in coaching will be limited to the Bay Area - even though he is aware that could mean he never works in the NFL again.
We (obviously) agree with Mooch. Matt Millen is onto his fifth coach in seven years as Lions President - yes, he's even worse at picking Head Coaches as he is picking players in the draft.
But we digress...
Steve Mariucci, former coach of the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and lately an analyst on NFL's 'Gameday' program, has spoken out regarding Matt Millen, and his fruitless attempts to rejuvenate one of the NFL's worst franchises.
"Matt Millen has changed 58 coaches already, and he's now finally changing players,"
- Steve Mariucci
In an interview with the Marquette Mining Journal, a Michigan based paper, Mooch lets fly, breaking what has been a relatively dignified silence since he was sacked after a Thanksgiving day defeat against Atlanta three years ago. "Sure I've stayed in touch with some of (the players) and some of the coaches, and on occasion Bill Ford Jr. I respect the heck out of Bill, he'll take that team over some day." says Mariucci, who also reveals that his future in coaching will be limited to the Bay Area - even though he is aware that could mean he never works in the NFL again.
We (obviously) agree with Mooch. Matt Millen is onto his fifth coach in seven years as Lions President - yes, he's even worse at picking Head Coaches as he is picking players in the draft.
Weekend News Roundup
The Bucs gave Earnest Graham a new deal, thus enduring that Earnest goes to camp. Here all week folks.
Pittsburgh released backup RB Najeh Davenport. The writing was on the wall for Davenport when the Steelers drafted Illinois back Rashard Mendenhall in the first round of this year's draft.
New England's Wes Welker took a shot at departed CB Asante Samuel:
- Wes Welker during a football camp at Oklahoma University
Interesting, but perhaps it's easier for Welker - who would have had a one year deal with Miami had New England not stepped in last year - to talk about such things, because New England was essentially his only option when he was in the same situation.
Kevin Jones update: Despite reports to the contrary late on Friday, Jones worked out for four teams (The Dolphins, Steelers, Packers and, of course, the team that knew best what he could do, the Lions) on Saturday afternoon. The Cleveland Browns also asked for a video of the workout, which suggests at least a partial interest.
Following the off-season pattern, the Titans signed Tackle David Stewart to a long term deal. The money being thrown at the offensive lines of many franchises (The Bills and Jets for example) is indicative of a shift in strategy around the league. We think that many teams are now focusing not just on the glamour Left tackle position, but on cohesion. Linemen depend on each other, and many teams now seem to recognise that having a consistent group of starters is better than 1-2 great players.
Shaun Alexander claims to be in contact with seven different teams. For now at least, the main starting gig going seems to be in Detroit. At least, it's the only one going for someone who goes down as easily as Shaun Alexander.
Pittsburgh released backup RB Najeh Davenport. The writing was on the wall for Davenport when the Steelers drafted Illinois back Rashard Mendenhall in the first round of this year's draft.
New England's Wes Welker took a shot at departed CB Asante Samuel:
"Asante's a great player, so it hurts not to have a guy like that. But then again, it's part of the business of the game... He chose money over championships, and that's the way it goes sometimes."
- Wes Welker during a football camp at Oklahoma University
Interesting, but perhaps it's easier for Welker - who would have had a one year deal with Miami had New England not stepped in last year - to talk about such things, because New England was essentially his only option when he was in the same situation.
Kevin Jones update: Despite reports to the contrary late on Friday, Jones worked out for four teams (The Dolphins, Steelers, Packers and, of course, the team that knew best what he could do, the Lions) on Saturday afternoon. The Cleveland Browns also asked for a video of the workout, which suggests at least a partial interest.
Following the off-season pattern, the Titans signed Tackle David Stewart to a long term deal. The money being thrown at the offensive lines of many franchises (The Bills and Jets for example) is indicative of a shift in strategy around the league. We think that many teams are now focusing not just on the glamour Left tackle position, but on cohesion. Linemen depend on each other, and many teams now seem to recognise that having a consistent group of starters is better than 1-2 great players.
Shaun Alexander claims to be in contact with seven different teams. For now at least, the main starting gig going seems to be in Detroit. At least, it's the only one going for someone who goes down as easily as Shaun Alexander.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Just how bad is Matt Millen?
While reading an interview with Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Lem Barney earlier, it was difficult not to have a spot of sympathy for the beleaguered Matt Millen, General Manager of the franchise.
Which illicited this response from a Lions fan who commented on the site:
Obviously, getting away from the aforementioned user's clear intelligence issues, it's a widespread view amongst Detroit fans that Millen in fact is to blame for their woes, and has been ever since he took over in 2001. Even the most obviously culpable defendants still have the right to a fair trial (Like I say, we're based in Britain), so in the interest of impartiality, here are the findings of our arduous (and trust me, there is no horror like a Lions draft study) investigation into Matt Millen's (mis)management of the Detroit Lions:
He's really really bad at evaluating talent.
The numbers are staggering, frankly.
First up, the team has only four of it's eight first round picks still on the roster. Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Ernie Sims, and Jeff Backus. Charles Rogers and Kevin Jones are both out of work, while Joey Harrington and Mike Williams will likely never start in the NFL again. That's a 50% attrition rate, something which makes you wonder if Millen makes picks with the flip of a coin...
Only two starters (Cory Redding and Roy Williams) are still with the team from four drafts (2002-05). That's an astonishing number. Consider also, that only one player is still active on the Lions roster from the 2002 draft (John Owens). He's not even a starter. The Lions seemed to have faired slightly better in the second round, but this off-season Shaun Rogers, Kalimba Edwards, Teddy Lehman and Boss Bailey all departed Ford Field. six of Millen's ten second round picks are still with the team, however, making it easily his best statistic.
The really serious problem arises when we get to later rounds. Many teams talk about getting a steal on day two of the draft, a Tom Brady or Marques Colston who surprises everyone. For some teams, such as the Colts, the second day is just as important as the first - and they have the rings to prove it. Of Millen's thirty second day picks, only six players are still on the Lions' roster. That's a mere 20% of the players drafted since 2001.
Also of note are the number of draft choices traded away. Since 2001, Millen has given away thirteen draft choices (including nine in last year's draft) in a frivolous disregard for the conventional wisom of today's NFL. In an age where most front offices spend copious amounts of time desperately attempting to secure even late round picks, it is baffling - especially considering the players that the Lions drafted with the picks that they secured from all of those trades.
We haven't included any stats from the 2008 draft in this. It's impossible to judge who will be a star from that class, and maybe if they've learned their lesson... what's that? Already traded away their fourth round pick in 2009?
Actually outlawsrock has a point...
I think he has the capability to be a good general manager. He's just had some ups and downs. ... You can't just blame Matt. Players have to want to win, too. You have to be hungry enough. Look at what Boston did -- (the Celtics) were hungry. One guy can't do it by himself. That's why it's called a TEAM. Together ... everyone ... accomplishes more.
- Lem Barmey
Which illicited this response from a Lions fan who commented on the site:
When a player as classy and intelligent as Lem Barney speaks, sometimes you have to listen to what he didn't say as opposed to what he did say.
He didn't say "Matt Millen is a great GM" or even "Matt Millen is a competent GM."
That is really all we need to know about his opinion of Millen.
FIRE MILLEN. HIRE DUNGY.
- outlawsrock
Obviously, getting away from the aforementioned user's clear intelligence issues, it's a widespread view amongst Detroit fans that Millen in fact is to blame for their woes, and has been ever since he took over in 2001. Even the most obviously culpable defendants still have the right to a fair trial (Like I say, we're based in Britain), so in the interest of impartiality, here are the findings of our arduous (and trust me, there is no horror like a Lions draft study) investigation into Matt Millen's (mis)management of the Detroit Lions:
He's really really bad at evaluating talent.
The numbers are staggering, frankly.
First up, the team has only four of it's eight first round picks still on the roster. Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Ernie Sims, and Jeff Backus. Charles Rogers and Kevin Jones are both out of work, while Joey Harrington and Mike Williams will likely never start in the NFL again. That's a 50% attrition rate, something which makes you wonder if Millen makes picks with the flip of a coin...
Only two starters (Cory Redding and Roy Williams) are still with the team from four drafts (2002-05). That's an astonishing number. Consider also, that only one player is still active on the Lions roster from the 2002 draft (John Owens). He's not even a starter. The Lions seemed to have faired slightly better in the second round, but this off-season Shaun Rogers, Kalimba Edwards, Teddy Lehman and Boss Bailey all departed Ford Field. six of Millen's ten second round picks are still with the team, however, making it easily his best statistic.
The really serious problem arises when we get to later rounds. Many teams talk about getting a steal on day two of the draft, a Tom Brady or Marques Colston who surprises everyone. For some teams, such as the Colts, the second day is just as important as the first - and they have the rings to prove it. Of Millen's thirty second day picks, only six players are still on the Lions' roster. That's a mere 20% of the players drafted since 2001.
Also of note are the number of draft choices traded away. Since 2001, Millen has given away thirteen draft choices (including nine in last year's draft) in a frivolous disregard for the conventional wisom of today's NFL. In an age where most front offices spend copious amounts of time desperately attempting to secure even late round picks, it is baffling - especially considering the players that the Lions drafted with the picks that they secured from all of those trades.
We haven't included any stats from the 2008 draft in this. It's impossible to judge who will be a star from that class, and maybe if they've learned their lesson... what's that? Already traded away their fourth round pick in 2009?
Actually outlawsrock has a point...
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Kevin Jones
The Detroit Lions cut starting RB Kevin Jones earlier this year. A multitude of injuries had left Jones's career looking about as stable as a CBS production meeting.
Jones worked out for reporters this week, and while the reports are impressive, a few quotes from the man himself are slightly worrying. Regarding contract offers from the Patriots and Titans, Jones says:
“I’m not trying to break the bank, but I’m not about to go anywhere just to go, just because there’s a team out there and I haven’t gotten picked up yet,” Jones said. “I know my worth. A lot of the teams know my worth, but they figure, ‘OK, you’re hurt right now. We’ll bring you in.’ They’re just going to lowball you. But that’s not happening with me."
While Kevin Jones is clearly talented enough to play somewhere, it's a ridiculous assumption on his part to think that he will get anywhere near starter money right now. We find it particularly interesting that if the Patriots offered him a deal of any sort, he rejected it. The Pats' pass happy offensive scheme has given perrenial backups like Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris decent numbers, so a proven back like Jones could potentially ressurect his career behind Tom Brady.
Regardless of who is offering the deal though, we definately think Jones's hand is short. In fact, he's holding a Joker and 'The rules of Gin Rummy'. A solid one year deal (in the Jamal Lewis mould) would see Jones entering Free Agency next year aged just 26. For one thing, it's unlikely that any team will sign someone as injury-prone as Kevin Jones to a multi-year deal anyway.
If we were Jones, we'd take less money now and prove we could get it done next season, putting him in a very strong position this time next year.
Jones worked out for reporters this week, and while the reports are impressive, a few quotes from the man himself are slightly worrying. Regarding contract offers from the Patriots and Titans, Jones says:
“I’m not trying to break the bank, but I’m not about to go anywhere just to go, just because there’s a team out there and I haven’t gotten picked up yet,” Jones said. “I know my worth. A lot of the teams know my worth, but they figure, ‘OK, you’re hurt right now. We’ll bring you in.’ They’re just going to lowball you. But that’s not happening with me."
While Kevin Jones is clearly talented enough to play somewhere, it's a ridiculous assumption on his part to think that he will get anywhere near starter money right now. We find it particularly interesting that if the Patriots offered him a deal of any sort, he rejected it. The Pats' pass happy offensive scheme has given perrenial backups like Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris decent numbers, so a proven back like Jones could potentially ressurect his career behind Tom Brady.
Regardless of who is offering the deal though, we definately think Jones's hand is short. In fact, he's holding a Joker and 'The rules of Gin Rummy'. A solid one year deal (in the Jamal Lewis mould) would see Jones entering Free Agency next year aged just 26. For one thing, it's unlikely that any team will sign someone as injury-prone as Kevin Jones to a multi-year deal anyway.
If we were Jones, we'd take less money now and prove we could get it done next season, putting him in a very strong position this time next year.
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