We Are Here!

We Are Finally Here!

Howdy to all of you out there in Lions Land!

To start off immediately the Lions and Georgia Quarterback Matthew Stafford have come to terms and Stafford will be our number one draft pick, the face of our franchise and our QB of the future. Here is the late-breaking story from MLive that broke at around midnight.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/lions_matthew_stafford_agree_t.html

Here are a few audio interviews with Tom Kowalski about drafting Matthew Stafford.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/kowalski_on_wdfn_they_say_you.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/tom_kowalski_on_the_huge_show_1.html

Well everyone we have finally arrived at the 2009 NFL Draft. I know a lot of you are feeling nervous, apprehensive, worried, concerned, excited and or optimistic. I would have to say I feel a little of each. I put a lot more weight on optimism than the others. If the Lions had not had come to an agreement with Georgia Quarterback Matthew Stafford then there were a couple of contingency fall-back plans with Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry or Baylor OT Jason Smith.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/source_lions_have_aaron_curry.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/if_jason_smith_enters_talks_it.html

I know a lot of the Lions fan base would have liked OT Jason Smith or LB Aaron Curry. I am sold on pretty much ANYONE providing it’s not a WR or RB. We have multiple needs and we really can’t screw this draft up. You would really have to try in order to do that. Now that the Lions have drafted Matthew Stafford then they will most likely go Defense the rest of the draft with the possibility of snagging the last really good OT Michael Oher at pick 20 if he is available or LB Rey Maualuga to plug the gapping hole at middle-linebacker.

Here are a couple of Mock Drafts from Brian VanOchten of the Grand Rapids Press in regards to who goes where in the first round.
http://blog.mlive.com/twominutedrill/2009/04/nfl_mock_draft_lions_to_land_q.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/nfl_mock_draft_lions_to_land_q.html

What we need to remember is this is the first post-Matt Millen draft. This is GM Martin Mayhew and President Tom Lewand’s first draft and they deserve the benefit of the doubt. I sincerely believe the decision to draft Matthew Stafford is Head Coach Jim Schwartz’s call because he realizes our QB depth chart will make you laugh until you cry. Now before Jon Kitna was traded to Dallas I was of the opinion that we stick it out with Kitna for one more year and snag our QB next year when some others would be finishing up there senior year i.e. Sam Bradford from Oklahoma, Colt McCoy from Texas or Tim Tebow from Florida.

When Jon Kitna was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, Dan Orlovsky signed as a free-agent with the Houston Texans and Schwartz was named Head Coach, that was a given we were taking a QB in this draft. Now I believe that because of the Lions awful history, other QB prospects decided to return to their colleges out of fear of getting drafted by the Lions. WOW what a bunch of scared schoolgirl cowards! Not Matthew Stafford though! He welcomes becoming a Lion and wants a challenge.

Even if we didn’t hold the number one overall and we were somewhere in the top ten, I suspect he would be holding out hope beyond hope that the Lions pick him. I think he has more courage and commitment then most other QBs and he is accountable. In one of Georgia’s few losses under him as a starter, he was asked about his performance; he manned up and said “I didn’t play well” not making excuses, or throwing his teammates under the bus. That is accountability and that is a rare quality.

Some of you are scared that he is another Joey Harrington disaster waiting to happen. I won’t and can’t believe that. I believe he is the real deal. I am 100% behind the Lions decision to draft Matthew Stafford. Just like a presidential primary, different sides need to unite for party unity and get behind the party’s candidate. It is truly a great day to be a Lions fan and we need to unite as a fan base and support the Lions and Matthew Stafford.

I like to reference a lot of stories from MLive which is why I like to share the links with all of you because unlike other media sources, they are local insiders that have some really keen insights.

Here are some stories from MLive about the logo and uniform change and speculation about what they will do in the draft.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/photo_gallery_lions_unveil_new.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/tom_lewand_lions_new_logo_will.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/whats_new_about_the_lions_logo.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/lions_transformation_continues.html

This one also has Dan Miller discussing the draft.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/dan_miller_on_wzam_new_logo_is.html

These few have Lions President Tom Lewand discussing the draft.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/tom_lewand_on_wdfn_new_lions_l.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/lions_president_tom_lewand_wer.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/president_tom_lewand_gives_rar.html

Let’s talk a little defense. Something the Lions were sadly lacking in the past two years. There are some real potential pro-bowl defenders the Lions can pick up this weekend. Here is an article from Tom Kowalski about a few of those picks. We do need to target a Defensive Tackle to upgrade our run defense and they will have to snag one this draft especially with the departure of DT Cory Redding to the Seattle Seahawks.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/questions_about_defensive_line.html

Here are a couple of articles from MLive about the needs of Corner Back.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/cornerback_isnt_worst_of_posit.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/sean_smith_lions_might_eye_you.html

Here is an article on the need for the Middle Linebacker.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/lions_hoping_to_grab_middle_li.html

One of the Lions many needs on Defense is a Safety for our awful secondary that got a whopping one interception last year! WOO-HOO! And by the way I am being extremely sarcastic in that enthusiasm.

Here is a story from Tom about Missouri Safety William Moore, some pros and cons and another article examining the Safety situation.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/william_moore_at_safety_he_can.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/lions_still_in_need_of_gamecha.html

Though it’s a done deal with Matthew Stafford here are a few stories on arguments on drafting defense and not taking Matthew Stafford. The first is from Mike Schottey of www.DraftTek.com Check out this site also, it has some interesting mock draft scenarios. The other audio interview comes from the Huge Show with former Lions QB Greg Landry.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/nfl_draft_expert_interview_mik.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/greg_landry_on_the_huge_show_t.html

Here is an interview from MLive by Rick Gosselin an NFL Columnist on what the Lions should do in the coming draft.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/nfl_draft_expert_interview_ric.html

Here is another story about meeting the need for a Tight End but I suspect we won’t be able to get one this draft.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/nfl_draft_expert_interview_dan_1.html

Here is a podcast from Brian VanOchten of the Grand Rapids Press on what the Lions will do in the draft.
http://blog.mlive.com/twominutedrill/2009/04/twominute_drill_podcast_lions.html

Here is an interview from the Huge Show with Bill Simonson interviewing Head Coach Mark Richt from Georgia making his case for QB Matthew Stafford.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/mark_richt_on_the_huge_show_ma.html

Here is an interview with Lions GM Martin Mayhew on the coming draft, an article from Tom Kowalski about the job Mayhew is doing and a video of Dan Miller interviewing Martin Mayhew.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/lions_gm_martin_mayhew_very_co.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/lions_gm_martin_mayhew_showing.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/detroit_lions_gm_martin_mayhew.html

I know I might have gone overboard with all of the links that have lots of audio links but they are worth taking the time to listen too. This is a new dawn for our Detroit Lions. We can only hope that the coaches and the front office are all on the same page and will meet all of the critical needs for this team. Best of luck to the team and everyone have a safe and fun weekend. I will be at Ford Field for the Lions Draft Day Party. I will have a post-NFL draft most likely on Monday night reviewing the Lions draft picks. Until then take care, God Bless and GO LIONS!