Lions Needs: (0 is no need at all; 10 is highest degree of need)
T = 7.5
G = 3.0
C = 8.0
TE = 4.5
QB = 6.5
RB = 5.0
WR = 5.5
DE = 8.0
DT = 6.5
OLB = 7.0
ILB = 6.5
CB = 4.0
S = 6.0
LS = 4.0
PK = 2.5
P = 2.0
ST = 6.0
So, to me, greatest needs are as follows: (1) DE (very little real depth behind Ansah and Devin Taylor) and C (Get a new, better starter, and let Swanson, Cave and Ikard battle for backup); (2) T (had been hoping for solid free agents here, and then would have moved Reiff to LT/RT backup); (3) OLB (is Levy healthy and back to where he was? Not convinced Bynes is elite answer on the other side either, and Van Noy looking like a bust); (4) QB (if Stafford goes down, you have Orlovsky. Period. Ugh.), DT (I personally think we're okay for the moment, but it's all short-term contracts, so...) and ILB (I like Whitehead all right, but we need more depth); (5) S (some think this should rank higher, but we did sign both Tavon Wilson and Rafael Bush, plus still have Carey and Johnson in addition to Quin) and ST (why they haven't retained some of the really good ST players we've had over the past few years is a mystery. Did get Bademosi); (6) WR (I'm still in Corey Fuller's corner, but admit time may be just about out, and in any case we could use depth); (7) RB (we really need an elite guy here, but with all the other needs, it would be too painful to see the Lions use a high pick on a RB again); (8) Same story with TE; if we could get Hunter Henry, yeah, sure, but it's gonna probably take a first round pick to get him, and wouldn't we all scream bloody murder?; (9) CB (Again, some think this should be more of an emphasis, but I think we have it stocked pretty decently with Slay, Lawson, Diggs, new adds Walls and Bademosi, wild card Alex Carter...) and LS (Muhlbach will need a replacement some day... won't he?!); (10) G (This assumes Warford looks more like his '14 self than last year's; Schwartz a nice addition and Reiff could be moved here, as could one of the backup centers); (11) PK and (12) P (we look set -- knock on wood).
Scenario One: Pick 16 goes on a DE (or OLB 4-3 pass rush specialist), say one of the Clemson twins; pick 46 gets maybe C Nick Martin and pick 95 gets a remaining DT from a deep class or perhaps WMU tackle Willie Beavers.
Scenario Two: Pick 16 reaches a touch for need and we grab Alabama C Ryan Kelly, then go D-Line at 46 and so on, or
Scenario Three: Because of the outstanding skill level at DT in the first round of this draft, we take someone we really like there such as Rankins, then a DE like Nassib or C Martin at 46. Or, Jack Conklin is somehow still on the board, and we go for the local kid.
I hope they don't draft skill guys (WR, TE, RB) early unless they go for broke on Ezekiel Elliott if he should still be around at 16. I like Kevin Taylor from Florida as a guy you might be able to get in the fifth round. We need a decent QB prospect like Brissett, Hogan, Allen or maybe Sudfeld by the fifth round. I like Colorado tackle Stephane Nembot in the late rounds. Also, a DE like Zettel or Okwara in the later rounds.
Under 32 hours to go. Wish it was still a two-day deal, rather than stretched over three.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Pistons future trending up, with one big speed bump
The Pistons starting five have shown they can beat, or at least hang with, anyone, or at least until the other team caves in and resorts to the Hack-a-Drum. Reggie Jackson should continue to mature in his decision making. KCP made great strides and is a two-way asset. Morris has been a rock, but will probably slip to second team status by 2017-18, as Stanley Johnson presumably grows into the starting SF role by energizing his scoring abilities. Tobias Harris looks good in the PF slot. And then there's the big enigma, young (he IS still young, isn't he) Andre Drummond, who makes free throws like nothing in practice, but, but...
I think this team needs a strong back-up PG (like, say, Brandon Jennings -- oh, well), and to resign most of their free agents, especially Tolliver, Joel Anthony, Dinwiddie and Hilliard.
Try this: starters Jackson/Caldwell-Pope/Morris/Harris/Drummond; second string (TBD)/Meeks/Johnson/Tolliver/Baynes, third string Dinwiddie/Hilliard/Bullock/someone/Anthony. That someone on the third string PF seat could be this year's first round pick such as Deyonta Davis from our own MSU Spartans; Sabonis or Labissiere could be other targets if they are still around.
Stan Van's got 'em heading straight. Finally.
I think this team needs a strong back-up PG (like, say, Brandon Jennings -- oh, well), and to resign most of their free agents, especially Tolliver, Joel Anthony, Dinwiddie and Hilliard.
Try this: starters Jackson/Caldwell-Pope/Morris/Harris/Drummond; second string (TBD)/Meeks/Johnson/Tolliver/Baynes, third string Dinwiddie/Hilliard/Bullock/someone/Anthony. That someone on the third string PF seat could be this year's first round pick such as Deyonta Davis from our own MSU Spartans; Sabonis or Labissiere could be other targets if they are still around.
Stan Van's got 'em heading straight. Finally.
Post-mortem on the Wings:
This team is three elite players (a first-line center and right winger and a first-line left defenseman) from returning to real relevance. This essentially amounts to replacing (or demoting) Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Kronwall, who had been holding down those positions but now, bless their prior service, are no longer capable or, in Datsyuk's case, likely to be available. Injuries have been a factor for all of them in recent years, and so the Wings find themselves enmeshed in numerous contracts of negative value.
I agree that Howard will likely be moved. Coreau or an acquired veteran will be the backup, and play maybe 20% of the games next year, I would think.
In addition to still having Kronwall, Mike Green and Brendan Smith, the Wings will resign DeKeyser and Marchenko. They will likely promote Oulette, unless he is leapfrogged by Jensen or Sproul. They may also resign Quincey. They should dump Ericsson as soon as possible, even if they have to help with the contract. Adding a number one left-side D-man would create a little competition, and one of the young ones could then be moved in a trade as well.
Assume Datsyuk gone (maybe not, but assume): Imagine then a top line of Tatar with a number one center and right wing; line two becomes Zetterberg, Larkin and Athanasiou; three is your grinder line of Abdulkader, Sheahan and Glendenning; and four is Tyler Bertuzzi, Mantha (or a resigned Helm, who may flee), and Nyquist, with Mantha or a resigned Drew Miller or Jurco or Pulkkinen as your 13th guy (or Nosek, Aubry, etc.). Gone then are Brad Richards (or, he fills the fourth line Helm role if the former goes elsewhere) and Franzen on a buyout, fingers crossed. The rest are percolating in the minors, getting ice time. I would also take a good long look at Mitch Callahan to see if he could fill the fourth line RW spot, and move Nyquist if so.
Would Jimmy Howard, Nyquist, Ericsson and one of Oulette/Jensen/Sproul be enough to pry one or two of the major needs from someone? All those pricey contracts work against such a deal in all likelihood, but you can never be totally sure until you've tried everyone in the league with the idea.
This team is three elite players (a first-line center and right winger and a first-line left defenseman) from returning to real relevance. This essentially amounts to replacing (or demoting) Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Kronwall, who had been holding down those positions but now, bless their prior service, are no longer capable or, in Datsyuk's case, likely to be available. Injuries have been a factor for all of them in recent years, and so the Wings find themselves enmeshed in numerous contracts of negative value.
I agree that Howard will likely be moved. Coreau or an acquired veteran will be the backup, and play maybe 20% of the games next year, I would think.
In addition to still having Kronwall, Mike Green and Brendan Smith, the Wings will resign DeKeyser and Marchenko. They will likely promote Oulette, unless he is leapfrogged by Jensen or Sproul. They may also resign Quincey. They should dump Ericsson as soon as possible, even if they have to help with the contract. Adding a number one left-side D-man would create a little competition, and one of the young ones could then be moved in a trade as well.
Assume Datsyuk gone (maybe not, but assume): Imagine then a top line of Tatar with a number one center and right wing; line two becomes Zetterberg, Larkin and Athanasiou; three is your grinder line of Abdulkader, Sheahan and Glendenning; and four is Tyler Bertuzzi, Mantha (or a resigned Helm, who may flee), and Nyquist, with Mantha or a resigned Drew Miller or Jurco or Pulkkinen as your 13th guy (or Nosek, Aubry, etc.). Gone then are Brad Richards (or, he fills the fourth line Helm role if the former goes elsewhere) and Franzen on a buyout, fingers crossed. The rest are percolating in the minors, getting ice time. I would also take a good long look at Mitch Callahan to see if he could fill the fourth line RW spot, and move Nyquist if so.
Would Jimmy Howard, Nyquist, Ericsson and one of Oulette/Jensen/Sproul be enough to pry one or two of the major needs from someone? All those pricey contracts work against such a deal in all likelihood, but you can never be totally sure until you've tried everyone in the league with the idea.
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