Green: Lions have no room for error in draft
No gaffes permitted!
These prize examples for the Lions work with precision -- "their spectacular eye-high kicks,"
as described by a New York public relations wizard.
They are the world-famous Rockettes, who do their stuff on the stage of the Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan.
And here is the irony: The future of Detroit's pro football franchise is to be decided on this same stage where precision is the standard. And no gaffes are permitted!
The NFL, operating with its normal flair while pleading poverty, is set to conduct its annual draft right there in the Radio City Musical Hall in April.
And the Lions, following their spectacular eye-high failures of the 0-16 season, have become the stars of the NFL's dog-and-pony show.
The Lions are listed to select three of the first 33 draftees. Nos. 1 and 20 of the crucial first round and first again, No. 33 overall, in the second round. Three prize, premium draft choices among the potentially best collegians entering professional football. Plus picks No. 65 and No. 85 in round three.
And this time no gaffes should be permitted nor tolerated. It was draft-day gaffes through the eight years of Matt Millen's error-laden reign that placed the Lions in this predicament.
It is at the draft where Super Bowl championships are won -- and seasons lost.
Now Martin Mayhew will conduct the drafting for the Lions as the new general manager. A new general manager with a stigma attached from the imperfect season. Promoted by William Clay Ford Sr. in what it would seem was merely the latest in the series of gaffes that have marred his 45 years as franchise owner.
Mayhew, despite the wails of anguish in Detroit, deserves a chance to prove his worth. He deserves as fair shot despite his history as a hireling under Millen and his input as vice president for personnel in prior drafts.
Given that chance, and his reported reticence to discuss publicly matters pertaining to the Lions' plight, Mayhew does come in with a defensive mindset.
He played cornerback in the NFL for nine seasons and played for a Super Bowl winner in Washington.
And it has been well-documented by the numbers the Lions have the most woeful defense in the NFL this past season.
Mayhew ought to know from his background the adage about teams strengthening themselves via defense first is absolutely true. And he ought to know from the past eight drafts that flopping over for offensive athletes with their early picks was the reason for Millen's downfall.
Need I repeat -- Charles Rogers, Joey Harrington, Mike Williams etc?
Now no gaffes permitted!
Detroit, somewhat unfortunately, is a quarterback-whacky town in a quarterback-whacky league. The local media have been force-feeding the Lions fans that drafting what is called, somewhat imperfectly, "a franchise quarterback" is the proper choice with the precious first pick of the draft.
There happens to be a mob of those quarterbacks this year. Presumably. Matthew Stafford of Georgia. Sam Bradford of Oklahoma. Tim Tebow of Florida. Plus, the newest of those with the franchise-quarterback tag, Mark Sanchez, Southern California's Rose Bowl star.
All of them underclassmen, but all regarded NFL-ready and likely to declare their desire to be drafted in 2009.
This voice in the wilderness is already on record that the Lions address their most urgent need -- defense. A dominant linebacker. A formidable pass rusher. Redoubtable defensive backs, as lithe as the Rockettes.
A couple of weeks ago I proposed the Lions go for a middle linebacker on the very first pick on the Rockettes' stage. I mentioned James Laurinaitis from Ohio State.
Reserving my right for an occasional change of mind, I now believe the Lions should use their first pick for Rey Maualuga, the pillar of Southern California's defense.
Maualuga was dominant in the Rose Bowl for USC, the best college team in America despite the Bowl Championship Series and its regurgitating computers. And (an aside, please) won't it humorous if Southern California is voted No. 1 in the independent Associated Press poll after the Florida-Oklahoma supposed national championship donnybrook next Thursday? With Utah No. 2!
I confess in our town of quarterback fanatics I have become middle-linebacker whacky. Through the years, I acquired a regard and appreciation for middle linebackers. They become the heart of their teams. They are the leaders with their zeal and angry moods.
I give you Joe Schmidt, the dominant player of the Lions' most recent championship team 52 years ago.
And Mike Lucci, the spirit leader of some decent Lions teams in the 1960s and early 1970s.
And Chris Spielman, the leader of the Lions team that managed its singular playoff victory since the team of Schmidt, back in 1991.
The Lions have this tradition, even during the barren years, of playing with outstanding middle linebackers.
For certain, the Lions need a franchise-quarterback. If they declare, Stafford and Bradford are candidates to be high in the first round. Tebow also probably is a first-rounder.
It is my guess -- repeat, a guess -- Sanchez could available into the second round. And it is there that the Lions might (should?) opt for a quarterback. After fortifying themselves and their laughable defense with the middle linebacker and a pass rusher with their two first-round picks.
If not Sanchez, then Nate Davis from Ball State and Josh Freeman from Kansas State should be available to the Lions in round two.
This time the Lions must operate in the Radio City Music Hall like the Rockettes. With precision, in unity.
The most pressing needs are the franchise middle linebacker first and then the franchise pass rusher -- and only then the quarterback. Remember Harrington and Andre Ware and Chuck Long -- and elsewhere Ryan Leaf. And remember Schmidt and Lucci and Spielman, winners in Detroit. And elsewhere Lawrence Taylor and Willie Lanier, champions, spectacular high-eye picks.
This time no gaffes permitted!
