If I'm a college football prospect who's looking to make his way to fame and fortune in NFL, I'm hoping the Lions don't draft me. As an organization the Lions have had a terrible time making good choices in the draft for a few years now. If they wanted me, I would really start to think about whether I was doomed or not. The reason I bring this up is because with the Dre' Bly trade to Denver the Lions picked up RB Tatum Bell, and today I read they are talking to RB T.J. Duckett, who would make a fine goal line back to compliment Tatum Bell. The thing about all of this, what does this all mean for the Lions' 2004 first round draft pick Kevin Jones?It can't bode well that's for sure. And, if they do cut or trade Kevin Jones, what does it say about the Lions scouting that so many of their picks fall apart.
Lets look at the Lions' first round draft picks over the last 6 seasons;
2000- Stockar Mcdougal- Not a bad right tackle, he played all 16 games in 2004 for the Lions and helped Kevin Jones get over 1,000 yards rushing, a feet Jones would not come near repeating. But he missed all of his first season and most of his second due to injury.
2001- Jeff Backus- A fine pick, he's a solid tackle and he's from right here in Michigan, Midland to be exact.
2002- Joey Harrington- Here is where the trouble starts, Joey seemed like the real deal, his numbers were fairly sound, and he seemed to improve over a few seasons. It was his ability to somehow not be outraged at losing that I think finally ran him out of town. He just didn't really seem to have any drive to win, and never really seemed to mind losing. Man I hated when he was the Lions' QB.
2003- Charles Rogers- You'll notice that there is nothing linked to his name, well that's because he is no longer in the NFL. He had a series of drug related problems, no real ambition to workout, no desire to improve the skills he had, and was cut by the Lions at the start of last season, and was crappy that no other team cared to pick him up, not even for their practice squad. He was also plagued by injuries. He never played more than 9 games in any one season he was in the league, and that was in 2005 and in those 9 games he only managed to catch 14 passes for 197 yards. A true first round bust.
2004- Roy Williams- A good pick after a 2 really crappy years, a good pick. Roy has been a solid receiver, he's been up toward the high end of yards gained for a couple seasons now. All in all a serviceable WR.
Also first round 2004- Kevin Jones- He was going to be the Lions' answer to the RB problem they've had since the early retirement of Barry Sanders. He never really elevated to the level he was built up to. Now after a another mediocre season that was cut short by an injury it looks like he might be on the way out.
2005- Mike Williams- Had a decent first season, 29 catches for 350 yards and 1 TD. Then he was cut from the team prior to the 2006 season for being overweight, the Lions then resign him half way through the season. And, with the Lions looking to add another WR from free agency to complement Roy Williams and Mike Furrey, most likely Kevin Curtis from Tampa Bay, his future with the team is also in question.
2006- Ernie Sims- Outside Linebacker out of Florida State. He had a good first season tallying 125 tackles in 16 games 82 of those were solo tackles. It's too early in his career to tell whether he will pan out or not though.
So really as I look at this list it seems like where the Lions have trouble in making picks is with skill post ions. They can't seem to pick the right wide receivers, running backs, and quarter backs. 5 of those 8 picks were skill players and of those 5 only one of them is worth anything. If Mike Williams, and Kevin Jones get cut or traded 3 of them won't even be on the team. So let's hope that when the Lions use their 2nd pick overall to trade down in the draft this year to get MSU QB Drew Stanton that the scouting staff has done a little more research than they have done in the past.
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4 comments:
In terms of the RB position, I can see where perhaps the Lions are looking to cover their bets. Kevin Jones is expected to miss at least the start of the 2007 season with the same foot injury that sidelined him last year.
And in terms of their bad luck in the scouting the draft, I think a combination of factors has conspired to make the Lions franchise the perennial sad-sacks that they are.
Firstly, first round draft picks are a crap-shoot at best. Only infrequently does a first rounder’s on-field performance justify his being taken so early. To that point, of the 241 members in the Hall of Fame, less than a third (32.78%) were first round picks. And of those first round picks, only eleven of them were number one picks. Additionally, that ultimate recognition of college prowess, the Heisman Trophy (and supposed harbinger of future success) only has eight winners in the Hall Of Fame.
Hall of Famer Bart Starr, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, was drafted in the seventeenth round. Hall of Famer Deacon Jones, the man who coined the phrase “Quarter Back Sack” (who was also an eight-time Pro Bowler and part of the Fearsome Foursome), was taken in the fourteenth round. Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas, a three-time Pro bowl MVP and MVP of Super Bowl V, was taken in the ninth round.
My point being that although good players can be found in the first round of the draft, real contributors who can make a significant impact during their careers, being taken early is not a guarantee of success. And with so many kids these days getting so coddled and so spoiled, as soon as they show a little bit of talent, many are first-rate head-cases by the time they make it to the pros anyways.
Secondly, losing begets more losing. The Lions organization has such low prestige that they have to throw ridiculous amounts of money at their draft picks just to get them to play here, which effects their Salary Cap and therefore, their ability to pay for good (ie., already proven) free-agents. High-priced and unproven rookies leave little room to afford proven veterans when they become available (not that they would want to play for the Lions anyway).
So I don’t necessarily think that the Lions draft picks have mostly all failed due to poor scouting, they are just one of the contributing factors.
I hear ya, I was just kinda struck by how badly the Lions picks have panned out over the past few years, mostly because of the looming draft. But yes you are right most early draft picks don't pan out to be much. The Lions have an a problem at the ownership level and as long as that stays the same so will their win loss record each season. It will take a lot more than a few first round draft picks to fix this team.
If they can land TJ Duckett, to go along with Tatum Bell, they will have a nice tandem of RBs, which is the current trend in the NFL anyway.
I like the fact that they are making trades and are willing to deal their 2nd overall pick in order to improve the team though. At least it looks like they have a plan, whether they do or not, is another question. I think they need a coach that can come in and kick some ass, and not be pushed around, and a good QB. I'm hearing now they might be thinking about taking Brady Quinn. And speaking of rumours, your Packers are looking to sign Randy Moss?
What What What!? Gosh, I hope not. He was the poster child for head-cases long before T.O. was. And being an ex-Vike, he'll prolly drop passes on purpose. Well, at least he's not an ex-Bear. But then again, if he decides he wants to play any given day (as he is wont to do), I can actually see him in my mind out-sprinting Corners - catching 80yrd heaves from Favre.
I think it could be a good combo for them. Driver on one side Moss on the other, with Jenings in the flank. Farve isn't the Farve of old, but he's still a damn good QB. They may make the playoffs with all that talent.
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