NFL draft preview DE Jeremiah Attaochu

Broke down the Clemson and Pitt tape on Ga Tech De Jeremiah Attaochu. I love this guy, he is a beast. Tremendous 1st step and active long arms. Beat tackles around the edge and threw guys around. Has the ability to duck his shoulder and run the hoop.

At 249 lbs. he maybe a little small to play full time but as a rotational player he could be great.

If he is around in the 2nd round I would take him.

6.7 impact rotational player.

NFL draft preview OLB Khalil Mack

Checked in three films on Buffalo OLB Khalil Mack (Ohio state,  Ohio, Stoneybrook).

This guy is a better fit for the Lions than Barr. He is strong in his arms and can separate from blockers. Shows a burst to the ball carrier. A load at the point of attack.

I think he can play DE in the 4-3. This is an impact player. I will rate him in the top 5 on the Lions board.

Right now here is my top 5

1. Sammy Watkins
2. Clowney
3. Mack
4. Robinson
5. Mathews

This problem is there is a gap after these guys.

NFL draft preview OLB Anthony Barr

I watched 4 films on Barr from UCLA (Stanford, USC, Nevada and Nebraska). Basically, he did very little. Once did he sack the QB with a speed rush. He beat the USC TE late in the game. Barr struggled over the TE and missed a lot tackles. He showed little awareness in coverage. Lacked explosive arms.

He is a great athlete but a raw football player. His best position is weak OLB in 3-4. He would have to play Sam for the Lions and slide down to end in nickel situations.

Barr has potiential but I think he is a poor scheme fit for the Lions and a huge risk at 10

Rate 6.7 rotational player with potiential.

QB Shaun Hill Signs with the Rams

Back up QB Shaun Hill signs with St. Louis Rams. Hill was acquired in 2010 in trade with the 49ers for a 7th round pick. This move leaves Kellen Moore as the back up for now. The Lions could try to sign a veteran or draft a kid.

Hill played in 16 games and started 10 3-7 w/l
269/432/12 2891 yards 18td

Kellen Moore now the back up

Good Luck Shaun

Detroit Lions sign S James Ihedigbo updated

Lions fill a major hole with the signing of SS James Ihedigbo. A true in the box SS. This guy is put together and will deliever a shot. I like this signing. 2 years  $3.15 mil. $750,000 signing bonus. I still think safety is play in the 2nd round. Look for the Lions to target NIU S Jimmie Ward.

Here is a tribute:

85 games NFL games 31 starts
244 tackles 3 picks for the Jets, Pats and Ravens

Welcome to Detroit

Lions safety roster

Glover Quin
Don Carey
DeJon Gomes
Isa Abdul Qaddus
Akwasi  Owusu-Ansah
James Ihedigbo

Quin at free, Ihedigbo at strong. Rookie as a the 3 rd guy.
Carey as a 4th guy.

The rest fight it out for a special teams slot. Maybe.

Detroit Lions gain two compensatory picks, decline option on Fairley

The Lions were granted two additional picks in the 2014 draft. These picks were awarded at the NFL owners meeting for free agent losses. They are picks #133 and # 136 in the 4th round.

Lions draft picks

RD 1 Pick # 10
RD 2 #45
RD 3 #76
RD 4 #111, #133, #136
RD 6 #189
RD 7 #227

The 5th round pick was traded to the Jags for WR Mike Thomas.

Thomas had 4 rec 21 yards 1 td in 9 games for the Lions
he was released in 2013 during training camp.

The Lions lost OT Gosder Cherlius, DE Cliff Avril, CB Drayton Florence, DT Sammie Lee Hill, LB Justin Durant.

The Lions signed DE Jason Jones, RB Reggie Bush and S Glover Quin.

Jason Jones started 3 games
he made 1 tackle 2013

 Nick Fairley 5th year option not picked up. This would have signed Nick thru 2015 for $5.5 Mil. He will be a free agent after 2014.

Nick may be on the market in 2015.

This puts DT on the Lions draft board. Suh refuses to bargain with Detroit making him a possible free agent in 2015. DT Aaron Donald should be available at #10. Underachiever DT Timmy Jerigan would be a great reach at #10.

Detroit Lions Free Agents additions and losses as of 3/28

Additions

Unrestricted Free Agents

S James Ihedigbo 2 years $3.5 Mil #750,000 guaranteed

WR Golden Tate  5 years $31 million $13.5 mil guaranteed. 58 games with Seattle. 33 starts

Expected to be the #2 receiver for the Lions. Can contribute on the special teams as well.

DE Darryl Tapp 1 year 114 NFL Games

Should have a slot in the DE rotation. Ansah, Taylor, Jones and Tapp as the roster stands now. A draft pick is needed here.

FB Jeb Collins 1 year 47 games

Will compete for a roster spot. The Lions should keep 3 TE, 5 RB. Collins, Owens, Veldman, Riddick and LeShoure will vie for that spot.

DT Corvey Irvin 1 year 24 NFL games

Second go around for Corvey. Will compete for the 4th DT spot.

DT Vaughn Martin 1 year 51 NFL Games

The Lions flirted with Martin for three year before signing him. Will compete for the 4th DT Spot.

Waivers

S Isa Abdul-Quddus 1 year $645,000 42 NFL Games 4 starts

Picked up from the Saints. Will compete for the 4th safety. He will have to excel on the special teams.

Re-signed

RB Joique Bell 3 years $9.3 mil $3 mil guaranteed 32 Games in Detroit

Solid every down back. Actually makes more money than Bush.

DT Andre Fluellen 1 year 67 games in Detroit

A Matt Millen Pick in 2008. Played well in 2012 but poorly in 2013. We will compete with Saddler-McQueen, Irvin and Martin for the 4th DT spot.

Wr Kevin Ogletree 1 year $795,000 $ 100,000 guaranteed 12 games in Detroit

Will compete for the 4th spot with Fuller, Ross and any number of rookies the Lions bring in.

C Dom Raoila 1 year 188 starts

 Back for his 14th season in Detroit, he has started 188 games in Detroit.

LS Don Muhlbach 148 games with the Lions

 2012 Pro bowler back in 2014 for his 10th season in Detroit.

TE Brandon Pettigrew 4 years $16 mil 71 games 68 starts

Pettigrew was re-signed for a middle of the road deal. That is about right because he is a middle of the road guy.

Lost

Israel Idonije Bears 1 year $955,000  15 games in Detroit 11 tackles

Not a loss. Israel struggled in his only season in Detroit.

DE Willie Young Bears 3 years $9 mil $ 2 mil signing bonus 48 games 15 starts in Detroit

Willie played well in  2013. He is not a front line NFL pass rusher. He is a rotational player but can be effective in that role.

Shaun Hill QB Rams 1 year 10 starts in Detroit 3 win 7 losses

Louis Delmas Dolphins 1 year $3.5 mil 65 Starts in Detroit

Louis really struggled the last two seasons. He takes bad angles and has a terrible sense for the ball in the air. The Lions should replace him via the draft. Look for them to target NIU S Jimmie Ward.

Cut

Nate Burleson 45 games in Detroit

LeRoy Harris 1 game in Detroit

Not tendered

Dorin Dickerson 5 games in Detroit

David Akers 16 games in Detroit

Dylan Gandy 78 games in Detroit

Rocky McIntosh 16 games in Detroit

John Wendling 64 games in Detroit

Still on the market

CB Rashean Mathis

OT Jason Fox

Detroit Lions re-sign TE Brandon Pettigrew

Lions re-sign TE Brandon Pettigrew to a 4 year contract worth $16 mil. $8 mil guaranteed. Basically, they have a 2 year $ 8 mil deal with him. Can cut him after that. This contract makes him the 16th highest paid TE in the NFL. That is about right.  At times, he can be effective in the red zone.

Here is a tribute.

Grew has played 71 games and started 68
284 rec 2828 yards 16 td

2009 draft class

Welcome back

Detroit Lions sign Darryl Tapp and Vaughn Martin, lose Willie Young

Lions sign 2 defensive Lineman. DE Darryl Tapp and DT Vaughn Martin.

Tapp is 9 year man out of Va Tech. He is a speed rush guy who can play special teams. His role will pass rush on 3rd down. Martin is a 6 year of out Western Ontario. HE was a starte for the Chargers but played injured for the Miami in 2013.

Here is a tribute:

Tapp 114 games 35 games
267 t 25 sacks 17 PD 2 int 9 FF

Martin 51 games 27 starts
79 tackles 3 sacks 1 FF

Welcome to Detroit


Willie Young signs a 3 year $9 million deal with the Bears. 2013 was the 1st year he started in Detroit. He played well but only had 3 sacks. A 7th round pick out of NC State, WIllie was a favorite of man MSW

Here is a tribute:

Willie played 48 games in Detroit Starting 15
66 tackles 11 sacks 7 PD 2 FR

MSW says good bye to Willie

See ya Willie

Detroit Lions sign WR Golden Tate

Lions sign Seattle WR Golden Tate to a 5 year $31 Mil with $13.25 guaranteed. This gives the Lions a legit #3 receiver. I think they will look to the draft in the 1st 2 rounds for their outside guy.

This is good day for my man MSW. He loves Golden and his favorite player Joique Bell re-signed for 3 years.

Here is a tribute:



4 seasons in Seattle
165 rec 2,195 yards 15td
58 games 33 starts

 Welcome to Detroit

NFl Draft Preview on CB Lamarcus Joyner and Dion Bailey

LaMarcus Joyner CB FSU. This guy is a good player. He has drawn compasions to Tyrann Mathieu. Joyner is an excellent player in the slot. He tackle with authority and has explosive arms to jar fumbles loose. His anticipation in coverage is great. He bates QB into bad throws and makes picks. His size limits him to inside coverage. Some teams may see him as a safety. I have not seen any evidence of deep coverage. At the point I think he can be a dynamic sub player in the nickel position.

Rating 6.7 dynamic sub 2nd roun

Dion Bailey S USC

Versatile player who blitzes, plays in the box and matches up with slots and TE. Did show good ability in deep coverage, an average tackler. Shows good zone coverage reaction. Good speed and will  run down ball carriers.

A tweener. Not physical enough to be a strong safety, not a centerfielder. Could be a effective slot guy. Reminds of me of Don Carey.

Rating 6.2 COntributor with upside  4th round.