Church of Schwartz

This week’s edition is all about the draft obviously. I kept the questions simple. The answers however are well thought out and wide ranging. Enjoy!

1. What was the Lions worst pick in the draft?

Dave, Birk’s Eye View: Derrick Williams. Not that Williams is a bad player, but the Lions could have gotten another returner later (and did, in the sixth round). I think they would have been better served addressing their interior lines on either side of the ball. Georgia DT Corvey Irvin, Clemson DT Dorrell Scott and Eastern Michigan OL T.J. Lang were among those who came off the board shortly after Williams.

Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: In my view, with the Lions decision to trade pick #65, bypassing several tantalizing players on the offensive and defensive lines, along with their glaring need at middle linebacker, the team compounded that gaffe by making three very suspect day two picks:

rd 3, pick #76 DeAndre Levy-an undersized outside linebacker who they have decided to shift the middle. Some experts criticized the Lions for considering doing the very same thing with Aaron Curry, so taking a lesser player and doing the same thing (shifting him to the middle) makes more sense?

rd 3, pick #83 Derrick Williams-I actually like Williams as a player, but after bypassing need earlier in the first three rounds, there had to be a (any?) desirable offensive or defensive lineman that could/should have been had here.

*(the winner is…)rd 6, pick #192 Aaron Brown-this is the one that was the most quintessentially “Lions” draft choice of the day. After addressing their return needs with Philip Buchanon and Maurice Morris during the off-season, adding Derrick Williams in the draft, and with the likelihood that the improbable return of Aveion Cason to the roster will undoubtedly eventually occur, why pick a running back here? Or anywhere in the draft, for that matter?

Phil, MLive: Aaron Brown. I’m just not certain that what he brings to the table is valuable enough to the Lions. Yes, Schwartz is right when he says the team is bereft of talent, and can’t focus strictly on needs. But there’s a certain risk-reward dynamic at play. And you have to consider needs, at some point. (For example, if Josh Freeman had slipped to 33, would the Lions have taken him? I don’t imagine so.) So it’s hard to see how you don’t take a shot at whomever is the most highly rated O-Lineman on your board.

Ty, The Lions in Winter: You’re going to get a lot of DeAndre Levy on this question, but I’m actually going to say Aaron Brown, the running back from TCU. Most of the stuff I’ve read on him says that due to injury and character concerns, he probably could have been had much later, maybe even as a free agent. While KR is an obvious and painful need, this draft was thick with cornerbacks who had return experience, and I would had much rather seen a corner with similar ability. I was actually hoping for a trade up to snag VT CB Victor “Macho” Harris at the bottom of the fifth–though I think the Lions got amazing value by moving back from the 6.1 to the 7th and getting a 2010 fifth in return.

Josh, Detroit Lions Fan 1979: This one is tough for me, mainly because I liked the draft from top to bottom because they chose talent. I am also quite happy with the quantity, quality, and type of UDFA’s they brought in both those they signed and the tryouts. Since I have to choose one, I’ll say Lyndon Murtha in the 7th. He is a very long-shot to beat out George Foster as the backup swing tackle, but at least they get first crack at him for the practice squad. I would have preferred to see them take a flier on an additional S or LB here. (Otis Wiley, the S I wanted them to pick here, actually went undrafted, and they have now signed him as an UDFA, along with Holtzclaw, the LB I wanted. Guess it’s hard to complain when they still got the other two guys anyways… I tried gentlemen. I tried.)

Reverend Spielman, CofS: There were a few bad, bad picks but one stands above all: Aaron Brown in the 6th round. If we hadn’t drafted Derrick Williams earlier, I wouldn’t be as harsh on the pick. But two kick returners in the same draft? I know we have a need there but we also have 1.5 million other needs. This pick brought out the “Millen side” of Mayhew, something I hadn’t really seen yet.

2. What was the Lions best pick?

Dave, Birk’s Eye View: Matt Stafford. In the end, I think they were right to take the QB No. 1 and build around him. Stafford might not play much to start, but he’s got the skill set to fit what the Lions want to do and if they bring him along properly he’s got a great chance to succeed.

Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: Sammie Lee Hill, even if he is a raw project. If he can rise to the competition, and possesses any more motivation than “Big Baby” Rogers ever did, there is a legitimate chance for Hill to be the steal of the draft with his size, athleticism, and playmaking ability all combined. Or he could be the next defensive tackle analog to ex-Lions defensive end Kalimba “The Ghost” Edwards, or worse, likely soon-to-be-ex-Lions defensive end Ikaika “Kalimba 2.0″ Alama-Francis.

Phil, MLive: Brandon Pettigrew, for a couple of reasons. One, it takes a lot of guts to pick a tight end with your second first-round pick when your defense allowed the second-most points in the history of the NFL. Two, because it was a smart pick. Sure, some will argue that it’s a luxury position. But it’s hard for a Lions fan to really comprehend how important a tight end can be to the offense. After all, Detroit hasn’t seen a complete tight end since Charlie Sanders. Dan Campbell showed promise, but could never stay healthy. Pettigrew is the complete package. He’s a 6-5, 265 pound beast that can take on linebackers or defensive ends, yet still split the middle of the secondary or give the quarterback a safety valve with shorter routes. This is a pick that should have the Lions set at TE for at least 10 years, a la Kansas City with Tony Gonzalez.

Ty, The Lions in Winter: I’m going to say Brandon Pettigrew. Throughout my looks at the draft, I’ve thought he was the Best Player I Wish We’d Be Able To Get Except We Have Bigger Needs. Instead, he’ll immediately transform tight end from a position staffed entirely by scrubs during the entire Millen era, to a position of three-down strength. As we saw with Drew Bledsoe and Ben Coates, with Mike Vick and Alge Crumpler, with Brett Favre and Mark Chmura, and arguably Tony Romo and Jason Witten, there’s no better safety blanket for a young quarterback than a big, soft pair of hands attached to a 6′-4″+, 260-pound-plus body. Pettigrew will be a huge help in the running game, sealing off the outside, and blowing up people at the second level. Then, what has the Lions’ biggest weakness on offense been? Converting on third downs. What is this guy going to do? Catch the ball on third down. Great pick.

Josh, Detroit Lions Fan 1979: All of them. NetRat did a great piece, which I also added to on my blog, about the strategy the Lions used this year while drafting — and they did not deviate from their plan. If you read that, my answer will make more sense (also read TheNetRat’s follow-up piece). My favorite pick was Pettigrew. Why? Three reasons:

#1. It let me know the Lions were going to take the best player available at a position of need no matter what (and really — who can name a TE in the last 15 years worth anything on the Lions?)

#2. It let me know they were not going to “reach” for need/name players as Millen was prone to do on draft day, ignoring all the time and effort put into the board.

#3. He will add dimensions helping out the O-line, helping Smith in the run game, and helping in short yardage, 3rd down conversions, and the red zone as a real threat underneath. No more will a team be able to say “run” or “pass” based on which TE is in the game for the Lions. It also fills the starting TE position for the foreseeable future, eliminating that as a need when drafting next year.

I was so excited at this pick, that I actually pulled into a Dunhams (my wife an I were heading elsewhere, and it was right there) to look for the Lions’ new logo gear. Sadly, all they had was “throwback” bubbles 40% off. So I picked up the only shirt in my size and called it good.

Only time will tell if my boundless optimism is warranted, but no sense raining on my parade yet, right? And no, I don’t think they make the playoffs in 2009. I said I was optimistic, not insane.

Reverend Spielman, CofS: This one is a runaway for me: Brandon Pettigrew! What an outstanding college player this guy was and when he was still available at 20, I thought the Lions would be crazy to pass him up. This guy is one of the 5 most talented guys in the draft and yet because he plays a position which isn’t considered premium, he wasn’t even a consideration. TE is becoming an increasingly important position and I’d be willing to bet that most of the QBs in this league would rather have an All-Pro TE to throw to than an All-Pro WR.  Brandon Pettigrew is an All-Pro TE waiting to happen.

3. Which of the 2nd day picks will have the greatest impact on the team next season?

Dave, Birk’s Eye View: DeAndre Levy. He’s got to win the starting middle linebacker job, but there’s not much competition there now. I’m not sure the Lions won’t be moving him outside in a few years, but for 2009 he’ll be the best.

Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog:Definitely, Sammie Lee Hill, he could potentially start, or at the very least spell Grady “Buffet Buster” Jackson. Even with his relative lack of big time experience, Hill should possess abilities that supersede his “rawness” as a small college player, in the long run.

DeAndre Levy will likely join Jordan Dizon as a special teams ace. Derrick Williams will get to field some kick-off returns and could get worked into a few pass packages,too. Perhaps, the Lions will use Williams in their own variation of the much-vaunted “wildcat” formation or maybe mix in some reverses, trick plays, etc. Aaron Brown and the three 7th-rounders all strike me as practice squad projects at best, that could eventually pan out, or just disappear to the margins of the near-infinite NFL 53-man roster ether, never to be heard or seen again.

Phil, MLive: Derrick Williams. I doubt he’ll have any real effect at wide receiver (if he does, the Lions REALLY scored). But Williams should give the Lions special teams its first viable return threat in about three years. It’s easier to have an impact as a quality returner than, say, backup offensive tackle or linebacker. Because Detroit didn’t really have anyone back there, Williams doesn’t have to be the next Devin Hester. He simply has to do enough to stand out in opponents’ minds as a threat.

Ty, The Lions in Winter: I’m not done scouting each of these picks, but I just posted my breakdown of Cal LB Zack Follett, and I have to say he has all the earmarks of a an impact playmaker. He might be only rotational/situational as a linebacker in ‘09, but he’s going to be an absolute MANIAC on special teams. I predict he’ll steal the hearts of Lions fans at the open practices, and take the crown away from Buster Davis as “The Starting MLB, If There Was Any Justice in the World”.

Josh, Detroit Lions Fan 1979: This is a tough call for me. I would have initially said Levy, as I think he will work out at MLB but if the Lions secure Foote, he will be learning and rotating in for a couple of years, making a lesser impact immediately. I would have to say at this point Williams, based on my belief that he will make a solid impact on the return game. For 2010, I will say Sammie Hill — He has loads of natural talent, and form all accounts wants coaching and is hungry to step up his game into a true pro- not coast by on natural talent. My gut says he blooms quickly and explosively — enough to make us fans forget a certain attitude-wielding big guy that wears Brown now… Imagine a motivated big-man in the middle crushing the run — leaving the LB free to seek, and destroy.

Reverend Spielman, CofS: Long term, I’d be inclined to say Hill. But going from Stillman College to the NFL doesn’t happen overnight and he’ll have a lot of learning to do this season. So for next season I’m saying Derrick Williams. With the legendary Brandon Middleton and Avieon Cason on kickoff returns the past few years, we were lucky to have starting field position outside our own 25. Williams isn’t going to be Devin Hester/Dante Hall but he’ll at least get us 5-10 yards further down the field on a consistent basis. Football is a game of inches and when you add up all those extra yards, they’re going to make the difference between winning and losing in some games.

Related posts:

1. The Reverend’s Draft Review and Analysis
2. The Lions Congregation: 2009 Draft Evaluation Edition
3. Sunday Gospel
4. The Lions Congregation
5. Sunday Gospel