Fritz
04-27-2019, 08:06 AM
Well, people, I have been very loud and very clear in my assessment of the Rashan Gary pick, and that has dampened my enthusiasm for the Packers' draft. But I do hope to be wrong, and I suppose if the rest of this draft pans out beautifully, we might even look back at this move the way we do with the Jerel Worthy botch job (it was only a second-round pick in comparison, but it did cost the Packers to move up) - a regrettable mistakes that was overcome by drafting someone else later in the draft at the same position (Mike Daniels). Maybe Savage will become an All Pro. Maybe Jenkins anchors the inside for the next ten years, and Stearnberger becomes the next Jackie Harris.
So let's turn our attention to our counterparts in the NFC North. I am hoping that Rastak might stop by to give us his analysis of the Vikes' draft, and I don't think we'll need to spend much time analyzing da Bears' first- and second-round picks (some small compensation for having to watch Khalil Mack rip through the Packers' offense). They did pick up a replacement for Howard in the third in the form of David Montgomery. Looks like a good pick for them.
So that leaves the Detroit Lions. Let me just say this, people: they have gone all, all in on "the Patriot Way." I like what Pete Dougherty said about this so-called "Patriot Way" in his chat last night: "in the end I don't think it's Belichick's model that produces results. If that were the case his proteges wouldn't have such a high fail rate. It's him and Brady that have made that franchise so dominant. Whatever 'it' is, Belichick has an abundance. There's just something about his ability to see the game and players, and figure out ways to take away what opponents do best, and how to attack defenses, that sets him apart from the rest. No system can duplicate that."
But the Lions are going to try. They are drafting in a way that is almost polar-opposite of Gutekunst: there mantra is "tough," "versatile," and "football guys with character." I think Gutekunst values the versatile part, but he seems to be looking for exceptional athletes while the Lions want tough guys. Let's look at their picks:
Round one: TJ Hockenson - Well, here's a guy some thought the Packers might want at #12. All-around player, blocks and catches, not as fast or with as much upside as Fant, according to many scouts, but he's going to be a good tight end. Fits the Lions' trend to take "safer" guys with that first pick. Less upside than others at the position, perhaps, but more of a sure thing. They've done with with Davis, Ragnow, and Decker.
Round Two: Jahlani Tavai, linebacker, Hawaii - well, this is where it gets weird. The Lions took this dude in the second round, even though it appears most scouts had him projected not in the third but maybe the fourth of fifth. Here's what venerable Detroit News writer Bob Wojnowski had to say, summing up the pick and the Lions' current philosophy: "And sorry, but Tavai absolutely looked like a reach, a linebacker who missed half of his final season at Hawaii with a shoulder injury, which dropped him off some radars. He was so lightly recognized, it was hard to find evaluation videos of him. So why would the Lions feel compelled to grab him in the second round when it seemed – from a distance – he’d be available much later? Why wouldn’t they trade down and wait for their guy to fall to them?
Quinn’s answer in a nutshell: When they identify someone who fits their specific system, they won’t risk losing him. Tavai is the big linebacker (6-2, 250) that Patricia craves, and brings the versatility and physicality required by this Lions regime. You hear the word “culture” so often, you figure they’re serious about instilling it.
That means character and toughness over flashy talent and big names."
Still, looks like a reach here. Doh! Makes giving up two fourths to move up for Savage look eminently reasonable.
Third round: Will Harris, S, Boston College - The Lions gave the Vikes thier second sixth round pick (they had two) to move up seven spots to take this guy. He is described as a "leader" and a "tackling machine," and though starting for three years, he had only four interceptions.
It will be interesting to see how this approach works for Detroit. They truly are mini-New England in their approach, though don't forget what Dougherty said about that. In fact, rumor was that the Lions were spurred to take that Hawaii linebacker in the second round because they'd heard that the Patriots were sniffing around the guy. But Belichik being Belichik, you wonder if he simply set that up.
So, the fans in Detroit, while howling about the Packers' pick of Rashan Gary, are none too happy with picking a tight end at #8 overall, a linebacker who was projected to go in the fourth or fifth being taken in the second, and a safety who looks maybe solid but not a playmaker being taken in the third, after moving up.
So let's turn our attention to our counterparts in the NFC North. I am hoping that Rastak might stop by to give us his analysis of the Vikes' draft, and I don't think we'll need to spend much time analyzing da Bears' first- and second-round picks (some small compensation for having to watch Khalil Mack rip through the Packers' offense). They did pick up a replacement for Howard in the third in the form of David Montgomery. Looks like a good pick for them.
So that leaves the Detroit Lions. Let me just say this, people: they have gone all, all in on "the Patriot Way." I like what Pete Dougherty said about this so-called "Patriot Way" in his chat last night: "in the end I don't think it's Belichick's model that produces results. If that were the case his proteges wouldn't have such a high fail rate. It's him and Brady that have made that franchise so dominant. Whatever 'it' is, Belichick has an abundance. There's just something about his ability to see the game and players, and figure out ways to take away what opponents do best, and how to attack defenses, that sets him apart from the rest. No system can duplicate that."
But the Lions are going to try. They are drafting in a way that is almost polar-opposite of Gutekunst: there mantra is "tough," "versatile," and "football guys with character." I think Gutekunst values the versatile part, but he seems to be looking for exceptional athletes while the Lions want tough guys. Let's look at their picks:
Round one: TJ Hockenson - Well, here's a guy some thought the Packers might want at #12. All-around player, blocks and catches, not as fast or with as much upside as Fant, according to many scouts, but he's going to be a good tight end. Fits the Lions' trend to take "safer" guys with that first pick. Less upside than others at the position, perhaps, but more of a sure thing. They've done with with Davis, Ragnow, and Decker.
Round Two: Jahlani Tavai, linebacker, Hawaii - well, this is where it gets weird. The Lions took this dude in the second round, even though it appears most scouts had him projected not in the third but maybe the fourth of fifth. Here's what venerable Detroit News writer Bob Wojnowski had to say, summing up the pick and the Lions' current philosophy: "And sorry, but Tavai absolutely looked like a reach, a linebacker who missed half of his final season at Hawaii with a shoulder injury, which dropped him off some radars. He was so lightly recognized, it was hard to find evaluation videos of him. So why would the Lions feel compelled to grab him in the second round when it seemed – from a distance – he’d be available much later? Why wouldn’t they trade down and wait for their guy to fall to them?
Quinn’s answer in a nutshell: When they identify someone who fits their specific system, they won’t risk losing him. Tavai is the big linebacker (6-2, 250) that Patricia craves, and brings the versatility and physicality required by this Lions regime. You hear the word “culture” so often, you figure they’re serious about instilling it.
That means character and toughness over flashy talent and big names."
Still, looks like a reach here. Doh! Makes giving up two fourths to move up for Savage look eminently reasonable.
Third round: Will Harris, S, Boston College - The Lions gave the Vikes thier second sixth round pick (they had two) to move up seven spots to take this guy. He is described as a "leader" and a "tackling machine," and though starting for three years, he had only four interceptions.
It will be interesting to see how this approach works for Detroit. They truly are mini-New England in their approach, though don't forget what Dougherty said about that. In fact, rumor was that the Lions were spurred to take that Hawaii linebacker in the second round because they'd heard that the Patriots were sniffing around the guy. But Belichik being Belichik, you wonder if he simply set that up.
So, the fans in Detroit, while howling about the Packers' pick of Rashan Gary, are none too happy with picking a tight end at #8 overall, a linebacker who was projected to go in the fourth or fifth being taken in the second, and a safety who looks maybe solid but not a playmaker being taken in the third, after moving up.