What does a total lack of self-awareness look like?

It looks like this:

Looking back: 2010 NFL Draft

People like to grade the NFL draft the moment it happens, but I rarely see much follow-up in the 3-5 year window where we actually have a pretty good idea how things worked out. So in that spirit here's a link to the results of the 2010 draft. How did Detroit do? The Lions drafted six players. None of them are still on the roster. Three of them are still in the league. Suh obviously had his issues but is considered one of, if not the best, to play his position. Jahvid best showed promise but multiple concussions at a time when the league started freaking out about such things ended his career. Jason Fox is a backup tackle and Willie Young is a decent DE for the Bears now. I'm not sure how you would end up grading that. One Hall-of-Famer for five years and not much else, is that maybe a C?

'15 Lions Draft

I don't have the issues I did last year with the Lions draft picks but there are two that leave me scratching my heard: RB Ameer Abdullah and FB Michael Burton. Abdullah was a great college RB, but he has a propensity to fumble and when I saw him play against a great college defense he disappeared. Obviously I would have preferred they wait and take Langford later, but Spartan bias aside I was also hoping for Coleman out of Indiana. The problem with Burton is simple: Who drafts a fullback in 2015?

Ebron

That right there is exactly the kind of thing I was worried about.

Concern

Just how concerned are you that the Lions are going to totally screw up one of the most talent-filled drafts in history? With all the rumors that have been circulating I'm expecting major disappointment this evening.

Mocking

Since the NFL Draft is finally only a week away I might start to pay attention to the various mock drafts around. But those aside, who would you like to see the Lions pick? I'm completely biased here, but given how horrible their secondary has been forever I'm rooting for Darqueze Dennard. Others I'm seeing mentioned: Aaron Donald (DT, Pitt), Taylor Lewan (dirty player), Eric Ebron (TE, NC), Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (FS, Bama), Mike Evans (WR, Texas A&M), and Justin Gilbert (CB, Oklahoma State).

Stanton-ed

Pity the Michigan State quarterback in the NFL draft. Kirk Cousins was selected in the fourth round today by the Washington Redskins. Being selected by Washington is bad enough, but the 'Skins had already selected Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick. So KC1 has ended up in a scenario where he either plays the bad guy by outperforming the top draft pick, who is much loved by the media, or he's left with little opportunity to prove he can play the game at an NFL-level. I think calling it being "Stanton-ed" adequately sums up the situation.

When do you take a RB?

At the WSJ (via Right Field), there's a short article about when to take a running back in the NFL draft. An excerpt:

In recent years, drafting a running back in the first round hasn't been a worthwhile investment at all. Since 2002, 28 backs have been selected in the first round. Less than a third have ever made a Pro Bowl; on average, they gain a so-so 730 yards per season.

There's more data at the link. I looked into it a little more myself and using other measures the data holds up. For example, here are the leading rushers in the NFL last season. Of the top ten only four (7-10) were taken in the first round. Only two of those were picked earlier than #20 (Marshawn Lynch and Ryan Mathews). The sweet spot for taking a running back? Early second round.

?

So, is 2011 NFL Draft #1 pick Cam Newton going to be a huge bust, or only a minor one?

Draft Day

So I forgot about the draft last night, even though I had read about it that morning. I suppose that means I'm not a fan of the new format. I am a fan of the picks the Lions made last night though. It's hard to think of a way to do better than coming out with Ndamukong Suh and Jahvid Best at the end of the night.

?

How good is Jimmy Clausen? Mel Kiper Jr. has him as #4 overall on the Big Board and the highest-rated QB. Scout Inc. has him at #37 and the second-highest QB behind Sam Bradford. ESPN: The Advertising Pamphlet just featured a long article about how perfect a spiral Clausen can throw and how great his mechanics are, which was certainly fascinating from a physics standpoint. Notre Dame was 6-6, but Clausen was dealing with an injury most of the year. So, franchise QB or not? Physics aside, I'm guessing not.

Re: Memo

Well, looks like I'm done with the Lions.

Foiled

Mel Kiper Jr. says even his draft prognosticating powers are foiled by the black hole of ineptitude that is the Detroit Lions.

Memo to the Lions

If the Lions draft Stafford I'm done being a Lions fan.* I agree with Wojo: Stafford isn't worth the risk, and I don't think he's a sure-fire prospect. Did anyone watch them play MSU? An NFL-caliber quarterback would have carved up MSU's secondary, like Matt Ryan did the year before. C.J. Bacher (Northwestern) looked better against the Spartans than Stafford. My prediction: If the Lions take Stafford, fans are going to end up wishing for the good old days of Joey Harrington.

*For a minimum of one season. I reserve the right to return to being a fan of the Lions during the 2010 season or if Drew Stanton is named starting QB. Void were prohibited. Watching Lions football may be harmful to humans, small animals, and some monkeys.

Pass

I think it's a sign that the NFL Draft is pretty screwed up when no one really wants the #1 pick. It's a bigger sign when there's actually discussion of passing on the pick until later in the draft. Maybe it's time to talk about changing rookie salaries?

Going Down

The other day when I was talking to my dad we both wondered what happened to Alabama tackle Andre Smith. He had been projected as the potential first pick in the draft, but had since disappeared from draft boards. Well, I just found the answer. Smith left the combine and planned to make up for it at his Pro Day. There he only managed to do 19 reps of 225 lbs.

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...

Wow. That's amazing. In my prime as a below-average small-school varsity lineman I could have done 19 reps of 225. I believe that workout numbers are overrated, but this is ridiculous. You expect a #1 pick offensive lineman to be the Incredible Hulk, not Dazzler.

Just to be clear, for the less comically-inclined, this is Dazzler:

Wrong

A new ESPN Sportsnation poll on who the Lions should draft with the #1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft shows Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford leading with 37% of the vote. Those 37% are morons.

UPDATE: Apparently Kiper has released his first mock draft and predicts that Lions will take Stafford #1 and USC linebacker Rey Maualuga at #20. I don't know if Mel endorses this pick or not. If the Lions take offensive tackle Smith #1 and Maualuga at #20 I might actually pay attention to them this season, otherwise I think they may be dead to me.

Draft Order

The Lions will have the #1 and #20 picks in the 2009 NFL Draft. You can see the full draft order here, which is subject to change pending the results of the playoffs. Who would you pick?

Free Agents

The draft is over, so all the college players with NFL dreams who didn't get drafted now get to see if they still have a chance at making an NFL team. I was surprised when I checked in on the draft and saw that MSU's Jehuu Caulcrick wasn't drafted. Now, I'm no NFL executive, but if I was the Lions I'd try and sign this guy right now. They don't have a lot of depth at the moment, and I'm not convinced that a rookie from Central Florida will fill all their needs in the running game. Signing these guys costs relatively little, so what's the risk? Side note: The Sports Inc. bio for Jehuu says that he doesn't have "prototypical power". I'm sure you can knock him for many things, but lack of power? Have these guys seen him play? So, who should I believe, Scouts Inc. or my lying eyes?

In case you're wondering, UM running back Mike Hart was taken in the 6th round by the Colts.

UPDATE: The Lions are really satisfied with Tatum Bell (who was mostly benched last season), Kevin Smith, Brian Calhoun, and Aveion Cason (who they've cut before)? RB coach Sam Gash says he looking for "the cream to rise to the top". Uhh, what if there's no cream? By the way, the Lions plan on using a FB again. You think Jon Bradley, Sean McHugh, and Jerome Felton can play as well as Schlesinger used to? Me neither. I feel 6-10 coming on.

Draft Thoughts

It's a little strange to have the commissioner step on the stage, announce the beginning of the draft, and immediately announce the first pick.

The top two picks have the same last name? Saw it coming, but it's still odd.

How silly is it to have instant draft grades? Post-draft grades are frivolous enough given that we won't really know for 3-4 years. We certainly won't be able to appreciate the picks in 3-4 minutes. If you graded that way, the Lions would be geniuses.

Note to ESPN: "Live" online draft coverage isn't worth anything if it doesn't automatically update.

Keyshawn must be blind. That's the only explanation for the outfit he's wearing. How did they let him go on TV looking like that?