I remember this quote from the year end presser that was held. I don’t remember the follow up cause it was hard to hear the questions. But Schwartz was pressed on this subject later in the press conference, and He admitted that he like where we were at Free Safety(Delmas). I think calling Delmas a Free Safety with the way he played and the run support he provided, I think he was being very carful to leave open the position of Strong Safety(E.Berry?).

Remember Day one, Schwartz explained that in his defense he likes flexibility everything is right and left not strong and weak.(Interchangability) Wow is that a word. Anyways I say BPA worked great last year lets do it again.

Clusterfox

So here’s the question for all you guys out there smarter than me. We know we need DL help, but is it specifically DT or could we be looking for another runstuffer/NT type for short yardage and 1st down. This would allow us more flexibility with 2 natural big boys and 2 undersize DT with Fluellen, and Cohen(all Young) or do we take Suh or Mccoy and Still have a gaping hole with Grady Jackson advancing in age? I personally like the CB/DE with the first pick and then NT type or oline with 2nd pick. Assuming the people in those areas grade out.

Apologies to DF for contining to slant the comments towards draft, when your trying to discuss FA. Its just that we know who is in the draft and have little or no clue as to who will be a target for FA.

Clusterfox

That maybe one reason they rated Pettigrew higher than the DT Jerry in the draft. Last year there were very little DTs with size and talent. The Leos took that chance with Hill because he did fit the profile of what they were looking for.

That being said, it would not surprise me if they draft different than expect with our first pick this year. They may take S Berry, depending on how they rated White’s developement, or that CB from Florida, before with 300 pound under tackles. They also go with that DE from Georgia Tech. Remember the Leos play there DEs wide so they need those 330 pound plus DTs in the middle.

Want was interesting about last years draft is that the Leos may have taken RB Beanie Wells instead of Delmus if he were still available.

Rey M. 64 tackles, 3 Forced Fumbles, 1 sack, 2 passes defensed.

Deandre Levy 85 tackles(!), 1 forced fumble, 0 sacks, 5 passes defensed(!)

Those stats are pretty similar. A lot of Lions fans were shouting for Rey M. in the first round, but the Lions basically got a comparable package in the third round.

In the past, Millen would have taken Rey with the 20th pick. We would have probably been happy with him as a lion. But the Lions would have taken a rather severe “overall value” differential. They got second round talent in the third round, instead of in the first round, for a change.

Another factor that bears mentioning is the immeasurables. We all saw it in action before our eyes last draft with the LB situation. Not only did we pass on Maualuga were we hoped we would get him, we passed on him much deeper than anyone thought he could be had. There are definately character traits and intelligence factors that the new regime looks for and I for one am happy with the outcome so far. Stafford, Petigrew, Delmas are all very cognitive players and I think that will create the long term success they are looking for.

I also believe this is a common feeling in the league that few outside the league truly consider, but Its one of the biggest causes of “Busts”. Look at all the freakish talent that hits the league. Jamarcus Russell, Vernon Gholston, Vick. Some of them eventually “get it”(Vernon Davis) but alot just go up in smoke.(Charles Rogers)(Mike Williams)

I guess What I’m saying is one of the key factors that decide whether we will pull the trigger on acguiring a player via FA or draft has more to do with the traits that we layman will never be able to judge.

Clusterfox

- Have a solid idea of the prototype player for EVERY position on your roster
- Build a deep pipeline and strong farm system
- Find players that match your prototypes

For example, the Red Wings know exactly wha tthey want in their 1st line Center, as well as their 3rd Line RW. They know how many “stay at home” Defense they want, and the profile of each line.

As you look at their history, you can see the successsion plan: Zetterburg is the next gen Yzerman, 1st line Center. Datsyuk is the next gen Federov; Rafalski is the next gen Konstantinov, and so on..

As the Lions build, I hope they have a profile for each and every position, and a plan to get that sort of player.

With every position on the team, you MUST look at upside and potential. I would much rather have young players with potential ina spot than an aging vet that will never get to the “we can win with this guy” level. I would jettison every player that has plateaued AND is not in the upper half of the league in talent,and replace them with young players with upside, even if the younger player is not at the talent level of the vet.

For example: Jon Jansen — jettison — aging, not int he upper half, replace him with young, raw talent. Jason Hansen, keep — older, ut in the top half of talent in his position. Culpepper — jettison, replace with young kid with upside. Anthony Henry — jettison — replace with youth.

For all intents and purposes, we are an EXPANSION TEAM. Make no mistake where we are. Be that expansion team that builds with youth, not “wily vets”…Build your team the “red Wing” way. Know what you want, and go get it….

When a rookie comes into the league as a draft pick, they get paid based upon where they get selected. Let’s say purely for examples sake, that all third round selections make 1 million dollars a year.

To protect a restricted free agent, a team gives them a contract offer based upon that level of pay/protection. So the team offers their own restricted free agent, named “player X” 1 million dollars a year for a contract.

If another team wants “player X”, they can offer that player a contract. Then, if player X leaves his original team,the acquiring team has to give a draft pick roughly equivalent to player X’s contract level to the team they took player X from.

It would be an interesting exercise to go through each player and try to guess what level of contract they are being offered by the Lions.