Detroit Lions 2014 Rookie Mini-Camp Roster

Veterans: WR Corey Fuller, RB Steven Miller, OG JB Shugarts, TE Jordan Thompson, C Darren Keyton, DE Xavier Proctor, CB Aaron Hester, DE Kourtnei Brown


Tryout Veterans: DT Gilbert Pena, OG Josh Jenkins, TE Jimmie Johnson

Ebron, Eric	TE	UNC	6043	253	4.6		24	32	1000	4.57	7.49	6.8
Van Noy, Kyle	OLB	BYU	6032	244	4.71		21	32.5	904	4.2	7.22	6.7
Swanson, Travis	OC	Arkansas	6050	310	5.28		20	26	711	4.65	7.73	6.2
Lawson, Nevin	CB	Utah State	5095	190	4.48	4.38	16	34.5	1000	4.13	7.12	6.1
Webster, Larry	DE	Bloomsburg	6056	252	4.58		17	36.5	1003	4.44	7.28	6
Reid, Caraun	DT	Princeton	6021	302	4.91	4.85	20	27.5	810	4.58	7.59	5.9
Jones, TJ	WR	Notre Dame	6000	188	4.48			33	911	4.27	6.82	6.1
Freese, Nate	K	Boston College	5106	192								5.6
Abram, Chad	FB	FSU	5115	236		4.65	21	35.5	1007	4.5	7.08	5.6
Bullard, Alex	OG	Tennessee	6030	326		5.68	31	24	705	5.02	8.6	5
Couplin, Jerome	S	William & Mary	6013	213		4.55	18	41.5	1102	4.41	6.94	5.6
Dalton, AJ	OG	Robert Morris	6030	307		5.25	29	26	801	4.7	7.69	5.3
Franklin, James	QB	Missouri	6017	230		4.95		26		4.56	7.44	5.8
Jackson, Justin	OLB	Wake Forest	6007	233			27	39	1003	4.29	6.75	5.4
Lucas, Cornelius	OT	KSU	6080	316								5.4
Lynn, Gabe	S	Oklahoma	6002	206		4.56	15	33				5.6
Maxwell, Jason	TE	LA-Laf	6036	249		4.68	21	38.5	1007			5.5
Morrell, DJ	OG	ODU	6052	325		5.5	27	23.5	800	4.9	8.2	5.5
Peacock, Andrew	WR	App State	5092	192		4.72	17	38	1001	4.33	7	5
Seisay, Mohammed	CB	Nebraska	6010	202		4.52	13	39	1100	4.13	6.5	5.9
Benton, Shamari	OLB	CMU	5110	231		4.65	34	34	907	4.5	7.12	5.5
Cooper, DeAndre	Wr	Prairie View
Cooper, Vin	RB	ECU	5076	190			14	29	904			5.4
Drane, Deven	CB	Cincinnati	5096	179		4.57		33.5	911	4.17	6.93	5
Finch, Rolandan	RB	Norfolk State	5087	211		4.59	20	36	1000	4.28	7.11	5.3
Green Walt, Jon	WR	La Tech	6024	211		4.59	16	34	905	4.21	6.91	5.2
Hickman, Greg	DE	FIU	6020	278		4.98	21	30.5	902	4.63	7.52	5.6
Iverson, Ryan	LS	Colorado	5110	240		4.65	27	31.5	906	4.4	7.34	5
Jennings, Jon	QB	SVSU	6004	198		4.65	11	31	911	4.19	6.85	5.3
Kashama, Kalonji	DE	EMU	6030	248		5.03	14	21.5	909	4.7	7.47	5
Liste, Nick	P	Youngstown State	5095	174		4.82		31	904	4.64	7.19	5
Metz, Jake	DE	Shippensburg	6055	263		4.99	22	28	905	4.91	7.31	5.7
Montgomery, Fidel	S	USF	5106	190		4.49	13	32.5	906	4.47	7.09	5
Moore, Charlie	WR	Oklahoma State	6023	205		4.65	12	33.5	1002	4.4	7.09	5.5
Newsome, Isaiah	S	Lou-Monroe	5112	203		4.66	16	37	1007	4.34	7.27	6
Olson, Jake	OT	CMU	6070	301		5.28		29	811	4.94	7.84	5.5
Pasche, Brett	ILB	Hillsdale	6004	235		4.8	24	30	902	4.5	7.18	5.3
Price, Joseph	WR	Villanova	6025	202		4.57	9	33.5	1001	4.48	7.3	5.3
Prior, John	OT	Ohio	6056	302		5.34	23	31.5	906	4.79	7.87	5.2
Waggoner, Garrett	S	Dartmouth	6006	224		4.56	25	39.5	1002			5.5

2014 Detroit Lions Defensive Scheme

Much speculation about the new Lions defensive alignment is going around the press. My inside sources tell me that the defense will be similar to the Seahawks under 4-3 defense. Some call this the predator defense.

Here is a picture of the base defense.

Leo is the open side end. Ziggy Ansah, Devin Taylor and Larry Webster will play this position.

DT is a 3 technique that controls the B Gap. The gap between the weakside guard and tackle. Suh and Reid will play at this spot.

NT is a 2 eye technique in this picture. He controls the Strongside A gap between the center and guard.Nick and CJ would play here.

DE is in 5 technique between the Tackle and TE. This will be Jason Jones. Maybe Taylor could play here as well.

Sam Is a 9 technique. Controls the D gap outside the TE. This why the Lions drafted Van Noy. He is a part time rush guy and part time drop guy.

Mike and Will are manned by Tulloch and Levy respectively.

The free safety will be Glover Quin. Usually a deep third guy.

The strong safety will be James Ihedigbo. Usually a hook/curl defender.  

This picture show the base cover 3 or Cover 1 man free. Quin is the deep safety.

Base 4-3 under defense.

The nickel defense would be likely be removing the Nose and moving Jones inside. Van Noy slides down to the DE and the Nickel comes in.

How the Detroit Lions mismanaged the 2014 NFL Draft

I will look at the how the Detroit Lions mismanaged the draft and missed out on helping the team this year:

1. Traded up in the 2nd round.

I do not have a problem with KVN. He is a solid, versatile player. However, the Lions traded their 4th round pick (111) and 7th round pick (227) to move up 5 spots.

This was a deep draft and the Lions missed out on a player at 111.

Guys still on the board:

CB Keith McGill
Wr Martavis Bryant
CB Walt Aikens
CB Pierre Desir
CB Dontae Johnson

I had CB Nevin Lawson as the #24 ranked CB. McGill #5, Desir #9, Aikens # 20. I ranked Bryant as the #11 WR.

2. Taking C Travis Swanson in 3rd round. Nothing against Swanson two years down the road he could be a functional player.

However, Better players at need positions were around.

Guys still on the board:

S Terrence Brooks #5 S
CB Dexter McDougle #18 CB
DT Will Sutton #7 DT
DE Kareem Martin #13 DE
CB Philip Gaines #8 CB
WR Donte Moncrief #10 WR
CB Jaylen Watkins #15 CB
CB Ross Cockrell #17 CB

Martin Mayhew dropped the ball on the management side of this draft. He could have had two players that were in a better position to help the Lions this year than Swanson and KVN.

2014 Detroit Lions undrafted free agents

Abram, Chad

FB

FSU

5115

236

4.65

21

35.5

1007

4.5

7.08

5.6

Bullard, Alex

OG

Tennessee

6030

326

5.68

31

24

705

5.02

8.6

5

Couplin, Jerome

S

William & Mary

6013

213

4.55

18

41.5

1102

4.41

6.94

5.6

Franklin, James

QB

Missouri

6017

230

4.95

26

4.56

7.44

5.8

Jackson, Justin

OLB

Wake Forest

6007

233

27

39

1003

4.29

6.75

5.4

Lucas, Cornelius

OT

KSU

6080

316

Lynn, Gabe

S

Oklahoma

6002

206

4.56

15

33

Maxwell, Jason

TE

LA-Laf

6036

249

4.68

21

38.5

1007

Morrell, DJ

OG

ODU

6052

325

5.5

27

23.5

800

4.9

8.2

Peacock, Andrew

WR

App State

5092

192

4.72

17

38

1001

4.33

7

5

Seisay, Mohammed

CB

Nebraska

6010

202

4.52

13

39

1100

4.13

6.5

5.9

2014 Detroit Lions immediate analysis

Round #1 Pick # 10

Eric Ebron TE UNC

Impact for 2014: Could be a player that helps the Lions attack the middle of field. Since the demise of Pettigrew as receiver in 2012-2013 the Lions have struggled in that area. I see him as package guy in 2014 with minimal impact.

Long term prognosis: Could turn into to guy that catches 50 passes a year. I do not see him as a Jimmy Graham mismatch nightmare. Ebron could turn into a solid move guy.

Round # 2 Pick # 40

Kyle Van Noy OLB BYU

Impact for 2014: Should start over Ashlee Palmer. Van Noy is a more complete player than Palmer. The problem is who comes off the field in the nickel? KVN is noted for his coverage, Levy was great on coverage in 2013 and Tulloch is the Captain. Maybe Teryl Austin will keep all three on the field and take out a DT and get creative?

Long Term: A solid 3 down backer. However, not a real impact guy. We traded up to get him? I do think that was good draft management.

Round # 3 Pick # 76

Travis Swanson C Arkansas

Impact 2014: Almost none. Unless Dom gets hurt, Swanson may not even dress for the games.

Long Term: Swanson is tall and long for a center. He must get stronger. I do like the fact he was a two time team captain.

Round # 4 Pick # 133

Nevin Lawson CB Utah State

Impact 2014: This guy might not even make the team. 5'9" guy 190 lbs. Maybe he could be competition for the oft-injuried Dwight Bentley? Could be the 5th CB.

Long Term: Mathis is old, Houston is hurt, Slay, Green, Greenwood, Bentley unproven and injuried. Heck this guy might start.

Round # 4   pick # 136
Larry Webster DE/TE  Bloomsburg

Impact 2014: Pure developmental pick. This guy has rare athletic ability. 6'5" ran under 4.6. Crazy hops 36.5" Vert. I Could see him as the 5th end, maybe some special teams.

Long Term: This is the only pick I like. A raw athlete at #136 why not. This guy has a shot.

Round # 5 Pick #158

Caraun Reid DT Princeton

Impact 2014: He will have to beat out veterans Fluellen, Irvin, JSM  and Martin for the 4th spot.

Long Term: If he makes the team, Suh, Nick, CJ all are on their last year of their contract. DT will be a priority in 2015 draft.

Round # 6 Pick #189

TJ Jones WR Notre Dame

Impact: Will battle the island of misfit toys for the 5th spot. Guys like Broyles, Fuller, Durham, Wilson, Edwards. In other words, he has a chance. Tough kid who can catch it traffic.

Long term: WR is still an issue. They need one guy out of that list to be a player. Maybe it will be Jones.

Round # 7 Pick # 229

Nate Freese K Boston College

Impact: Should kick for the Lions 2014. My pick for Lions rookie of the year in 2014.

Long Term: Needs to develop some distance but has the makings of a solid kicker.

Overall:

Impact 2014: One (KVN) or two (Ebron) contributors. Add Freese and you have three guys who could play roles is 2014.

Long Term: Swanson, Webster, Reid will be needed in 2015. Lawson has a shot because the other guys are all hurt.

Analysis:

Missed opportunities. Did not fill any major holes. Still in need of a # 3 WR. Need a starter at CB and a young safety to develop. Webster could save this draft if he can be a flamethrower down the road.

Detroit Lions Pick K Nate Freese in the 7th Round

Lions take Boston College K Nate Freese with pick #229 in the 7th round. He served a both the kicker and punter in 2013. Freese was 1st All-American after going 20/20 on FG this season. Has a good leg but may not kickoff for Lions. Nate will compete with Potter and Tavecchio for the kicker spot.

Here is a tribute:

50 games at BC. 70/81 FG 114/117 PAT
81 punts 41.1 ave.

Welcome to Detroit

Detroit Lions select WR TJ Jones in the 6th round

Lions select WR TJ Jones from Notre Dame at pick #189. He is a slot guy and a quicker than fast guy. At the combine, Jones was 6000 188  33" 911 jumps 4.27 6.82 shuttles. Jones will have a chance to compete at the # 5 WR. He will have to beat out the likes of Corey Fuller, Kris Durham, Cody Wilson and Patrick Edwards.

Here is a tribute

Jones played 51 games in South Bend.
70 rec 1,108 9td in 2013.

Welcome to Detroit