Mark Spizzirri

The Lions entered the 2008 NFL Draft looking to improve several vital areas including LB, RB, offensive line, defensive line. After the draft, they can be proud of what they accomplished, considering the players they coveted in the first round were taken prior to their selection.

The Lions started off the draft at #15, and coveted defensive players LB Jerod Mayo from Tennessee, followed closely by DE Derrick Harvey from Florida. When Jacksonville moved up to #8 to select Harvey and the New England Patriots selected Mayo at #10, the war room in Detroit was not happy.

There was speculation that perhaps Jonathan Stewart would be the third choice for the Lions, however Carolina selected him at #13.  The Lions decided to move down and select an offensive tackle, Gosder Cherilus from Boston College.  He fills an immediate need for the Lions at right tackle.  He’s expected to move into the starting right tackle job for the Lions by the start of the regular season. Cherilus is a better run blocker than pass protector, but still has the skill to handle the left side in the pros — although he’s not expected to challenge Jeff Backus for that spot.

For the Lions next pick in the second round, they filled another need by selecting undersized linebacker Jordon Dizon from Colorado. Dizon doesn’t have great size, but he’s expected to move into the starting middle linebacker spot as soon as he gets comfortable with the Tampa Two defense. He does possess great instincts and good speed.  The Lions will keep Paris Lenon as the starter going into camp, but Lenon will move to the strong side as soon as Dizon is ready to take over.

In the third round, the Lions ended up with three picks, the first of which was RB Kevin Smith from Central Florida.   The Lions can only hope Smith comes as close to Barry Sanders as he did in college. In the final game of his collegiate career, Smith needed 181 yards to pass Sanders’ single-season rushing total of 2,628 yards. Smith fell 62 yards short, but established himself as a durable and productive player. The one record Smith did set was for most carries in a season with 450 — topping the old record of 405 by USC’s Marcus Allen in 1981. The Lions traded their sixth-round draft pick to move up two spots in the third round to get Smith.  

Next up, the Lions selected Andre Fluellen, DT from Florida State.   Despite being a pre-season All-American, a left elbow injury limited his playing time last year as he started only five games but Lions defensive coordinator Joe Barry said he has a clean bill of health now. Fluellen will come in and provide depth at the tackle position and will play both the under and nose tackle spots. It’s unlikely that Fluellen will win a starting job but he’s expected to get a lot of playing time in the rotation.

With the third of their third round picks, the Lions selected Cliff Avril, DE from Purdue.  Some teams had Avril scouted as a strong side linebacker but the Lions will use him as a defensive end, almost exclusively in pass-rushing situations. Avril could see some playing time early because he’s accustomed to rushing the quarterback off the left side, the area where the Lions are going to need more pressure (veteran Dwayne White will be playing right defensive end this season).

The Lions had two picks in the fifth round and took two offensive players.  First off, they selected Kenneth Moore, WR from Wake Forest.  Moore was drafted more for his punt return skills than his ability as a receiver and the former running back could add more versatility to the offense. Moore will compete for the No. 5 receiver position and will have to win it on special teams, not just as a returner, but in covering kicks as well.

Along with Moore, the Lions selected FB Jerome Felton from Furman.  The Lions aren’t only looking at him as a blocking fullback, but — with the free agent loss of T.J. Duckett — as a short yardage and goal-line running specialist. Because of his dual role, Felton might not have to knock FB Jon Bradley out of a job to win a roster spot.

With no picks in the sixth round, the Lions rounded out the draft with two picks in the seventh round.   The Lions get another potential player for the defensive line in DT Landon Cohen from Ohio.  He doesn’t have great size, but he’s quick off the ball and the kind of aggressive player the Lions are looking for in the Tampa Two scheme.   However, because of the four veterans — and the rookie third-round pick — who are ahead of him, Cohen will be a longshot to make the roster.

Finally, the Lions selected safety Caleb Campbell from Army with their final selection.  He played safety in college but because of his size, the Lions will try him at strongside linebacker to begin with. He might also get some work at nickelback. To make the roster, Campbell likely will have to make a huge impression on special teams.

Overall Draft Grade: C+

Obviously, this draft grade is subject to change.  I like the positions the Lions drafted for with their first five picks.  The question now becomes are those players selected the right guys.  Based on Matt Millen’s past draft record, confidence is low for Lions fans.  However, hopefully Rod Marinelli’s influence in selecting players who love the game and tend to overachieve while producing in college will extend to these players and their performance as members of the Detroit Lions.

 I do like the chances Cherilus, Dizon, Smith and Fluellen can contribute right away.  I am skeptical of Cliff Avril as an undersized DE who would be more fitting in a 3-4 as an OLB.  As well, I would have preferred seeing Detroit take another offensive linemen late in the draft instead of the DT Cohen who likely doesn’t have a strong chance of sticking to the roster.  For example, Kirk Barton out of Ohio State, was selected after Cohen and could be a reliable backup to multiple positions on the offensive line.  Only time will tell whether Millen & Co. were able to make the right call.

Mark Spizzirri

The Detroit Lions have been extremely active in the free agent and trade market, appearing to have addressed to a certain extent, their most significant weakness, its secondary.  However, free agency is rarely a long term solution in the National Football League.  To succeed over the long haul, you need to draft well.  Unfortunately for Lions fans, this is something GM Matt Millen has failed to do considering his large number of busts.   Of his 56 draft picks, a startling 28 of them are no longer in the NFL.

This offseason, the Lions have shored up their secondary by acquiring CB Leigh Bodden via the Shaun Rogers trade, along with free agent pickups CB Brian Kelly and safeties Dwight Smith and Kalvin Pearson.  However, there remain lingering questions at several positions which desperately need to be addressed by Millen & Co.

I’ll commence my Lions draft coverage by highlighting the positions where they are most vulnerable and the players they might consider taking at the 15th spot in the first round. 

Offensive Line:  With the departure of Damian Woody to the Jets, the Lions re-signed right tackle George Foster in the hopes he can prosper under Jim Colletto and the new offensive staff.  Regardless, with a new emphasis on running the football thanks to the departure of Mike Martz, it is IMPERATIVE that Millen upgrades the offensive line.  Rumours are circulating the Lions love Chris Williams from Vanderbilt.

Possible Draft Choices  Ryan Clady (Boise State), Chris Williams (Vanderbilt), Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh)

Defensive End:  The fact that the Lions have a horrible pass rush is no secret.  They finally ended the Kalimba Edwards experiment by releasing him this past month.  In my opinion, all of the Lions draft choices this year should be on the defensive side of the ball, with the possible exception of offensive linemen.  Dewayne White showed good potential last season prior to getting hurt during the second half of the season.  Last year’s second round pick Ikaika Alama-Francis will be afforded every opportunity to earn extra playing time.  There are several talented DE’s in this draft and the Lions may look that way with their first pick. 

Possible Draft Choices Derrick Harvey (Florida), Calais Campbell (Miami), Phillip Merling (Clemson)

Linebacker:  The Lions suggested last season they didn’t need help at this position with the pending return of Teddy Lehman to the lineup.  Needless to say, that didn’t work out.  Both he and Boss Bailey have been cleaned out.  Despite Marinelli’s preference to obtain a veteran to fill the role at middle linebacker (they pushed hard to obtain Jonathan Vilma who ended up in New Orleans), the Lions may wait until a later round (2nd or 3rd) to pursue a middlie linebacker such as Oklahoma’s Curtis Lofton.  Although speculation the Lions might tab an outside linebacker to compliment Ernie Sims with their first pick, the likelihood is they will attempt to fill a greater need. 

Possible Draft Choices Keith Rivers (USC),  Jerod Mayo (Tennessee)

Cornerback:  Prior to all of the movement which added Bodden and Kelly, this was without question the Lions biggest area of need.  With the addition of these two solid veterans, it may not be as large a concern, but you can never have enough talented corners.  The Lions could certainly add some youth to the position.  My expectation is they will look to draft a corner in a later round such as Patrick Lee (Auburn) or Justin King (Penn State).  That being said, I wouldn’t be shocked or upset if they went with a corner in Round 1.

Possible Draft Choices: Mike Jenkins (South Florida), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State), Aqib Talib (Kansas)

Running Back:  With the departure of T.J. Duckett (signed with Seattle) and the release of Kevin Jones due to injury concerns, the Lions are left with Tatum Bell carrying the rock.  After finding his way into the doghouse of Mike Martz, Marinelli has pledged his allegiance to Bell in stating he believes Tatum can carry the load for the Lions under the new simplified scheme of Colletto.  Whether or not Bell carries the load will likely depend on what the Lions do on draft day.  My hope is the Lions don’t go with a RB in the first round and look for a back in a later round to compliment Bell such as Chris Johnson (East Carolina) or Kevin Smith (Central Florida).  However, the likelihood is that Millen will want to make a splash and draft one of the first round talents.  They are said to be enamored by Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois.  My hope is that one of these guys slide into the 2nd round allowing Millen the chance to snag some value.

Possible draft choices:  Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois), Felix Jones (Arkansas), Jonathan Stewart (Oregon)

When it is all said and done, let’s just hope the Lions don’t take a WR with their first round pick.   

Mark Spizzirri

As per Lions beat writer Tom Kowalski:

“In a move that shocked no one, the Lions fired offensive coordinator Mike Martz today. In a move that was a little more surprising, head coach Rod Marinelli has reportedly promoted both offensive line coach Jim Colletto and receiver coach Kippy Brown to the position of “co-coordinators.”

The move makes sense because Marinelli wanted to keep continuity with the offense, including the three-digit pass-route system and the overall terminology. The biggest change will come in the form of “simplifying” the offense and changing the philosophy.

Under Martz, all of the shifts, motions and multiple formations put a great deal of mental stress on the players and the Colletto-Brown duo will likely cut back on much of that. Obviously, they’ll also be less inclined to throw the ball 75 percent of the time and look for more balance with the ground game.

The “two coordinator” system was largely in place for most of the Lions season. After the Lions lost to Washington, Colletto had a minor meltdown about the lack of a running game (and the way it was being operated) and Martz basically turned over the running game to Colletto and running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery. Martz continued to call all of the plays.

That situation worked out well for the next three weeks — all victories in which the Lions ran the ball fairly well. Everything unraveled in the Arizona game, though, when coaches and players were furious with the way Martz called the running game early and then abandoned it all together. That was the beginning of the end for Martz in Detroit.

Colletto will apparently be the “official” coordinator while Brown has been promoted to assistant head coach. There has been no word yet on who will actually call the plays but since Colletto has the title, it will probably be his responsibility”

My personal feeling is that this is one of many moves the Lions need to make this offseason. It will be interesting to see how Jon Kitna responds to this decision as he openly backed the work of Martz and requested publically that Martz be kept on the staff. What is slightly confusing is the adoption of co-coordinators in Brown and Colletto. As indicated by Kowalski, it is a system that was used this season so hopefully it can be successful for the Lions going forward.

Aside from getting rid of Matt Millen, which is likely never going to happen under the guidance of owner William Clay Ford, the next best move they could make was removing Martz from the equation. Now, if only Millen could obtain some talent for this team, especially on the defensive side of the ball.