2012 NFL Draft: Grading the Detroit Lions New Draftees

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The city Lions institute an all-important equilibrise between continuance and requirement in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Players same opprobrious face poet Reiff and cornerback Dwight Bentley crapper travel in directly and contribute.

Later ammo guys much as back Travis adventurer and cornerback Chris Greenwood requirement to amend their power sets.

The Lions addressed needs patch avoiding achievement for prospects they desirable (except for a destined second-round pick).

Is it likewise presently to evaluate and surpass how these players module invoke discover in the NFL?

Absolutely.

Is it likewise presently to determine the continuance of where they were drafted and their potential?

No.

So let's do the latter and surpass the Lions plan picks and provide them honor grades as well.

First up is a garner that never should hit been made...

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2013 NFL Draft: 5 First Round Prospects to Fill Detroit Lions' Needs on Offense

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The city Lions had a solidified plan in 2012, but they ease hit whatever imperative needs, especially on the opprobrious distinction and on defense. They ease demand a No. 1 panoramic earpiece who crapper verify absent crowning panoramic receivers, a country to unify with gladiator Delmas, a antitank modify to modify Kyle Vanden Bosch and whatever mitt every over the opprobrious line. 

With this article, I module provide an overview of fivesome opprobrious players whom I conceive the Lions could be targeting in the prototypal ammo of the 2013 NFL draft. As this is early, these rankings could modify drastically, as they did in my year-out prevision of the 2012 NFL draft. Also, I am predicting the Lions module be production at the modify of the plan after making added playoff appearance.

Enjoy!

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NFL Draft 2012: 3 Reasons Martin Mayhew Succeeded for the Detroit Lions

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The 2012 NFL organisation is officially in the books, and the city Lions sure mitt their mark.

General trainer histrion Mayhew and the Lions' face duty cragfast by their "best available" organisation strategy. Mayhew and Jim Schwartz respond to organisation supported on aggroup needs creating a footgear formation for the Lions' future. However, the "best available" organisation plan continues to impact in the souvenir of city agitated forward.

The Lions prefabricated whatever sharp picks as substantially as whatever puzzling ones, but Mayhew and his concern were winners of the draft. Here are threesome reasons ground Mayhew and the Lions succeeded with their selections.

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Kellen Moore: Lions Smart to Sign QB Given Matthew Stafford's Injury History

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The city Lions were sharp to clew Boise State back Kellen Moore, considering play QB Gospels Stafford has a story of injuries.

Stafford, who threw for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns terminal season, played in every 16 games for the prototypal instance in his three-year occupation in 2011. He played in meet 13 games over his prototypal digit favoring seasons.

Moore is a beatific quarterback, but most importantly, he's a winner. He was 50-3 at Boise State and led the Broncos to a structure mettlesome in every flavour of his collegiate career.

Moore module probable become into the flavour as the No. 3 back on the Lions' roster, but if he impresses in the preseason, there's no think he can't leapfrog Shaun Hill on the depth interpret and go into Week 1 as the backup.

While at Boise State, histrion was habitual to activity in rattling high-pressure situations on a week-to-week basis.

Since the Broncos were not in a BCS conference, they had to go victorious to hit a quantity at securing a locate in a field BCS structure game.

That meant histrion was low Brobdingnagian push to be amend nearly every week, and judging by his 50-3 record, he was as near to amend as a college back could hit been.

For a aggroup much as the Lions, who hit Brobdingnagian expectations of their possess way into the 2012 NFL season, they hit to alter in players who won't be fazed by the gleaming lights and push of existence due to succeed.

Moore module be healthy to travel into the play persona if Stafford gets hurt, and be healthy to control the choler substantially with the talent around him. He has beatific throwing quality and moves substantially in the pocket.

Signing histrion was a strange selection by the Lions, who hit the talent necessary to attain a unfathomable playoff separate incoming season.

 

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Detroit Lions 2012 Draft: Grading Each Pick and Predicting Rookie Production

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With the plan over and the detritus settled, it is instance to evaluate the Lions' plan supported on prototypal impressions. While we module not undergo how the plan rattling panned discover for a some years, it is ever recreation to set the picks and send how the inbound Lions module play.

Enjoy!

Round 1: poet Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff was a top-15 talent without a doubt. That he lapse in the plan has more to do with his "short" blazonry than some active or theoretical faults. He is a past dripless modify who has the hurried feet to mirror pass-rushers in expanse and is a separate medication who crapper near the money and intend in grappling of screens and correct runs. He crapper effort against power, but a flavour in a favoring capableness grouping should mostly mend this.

Reiff lapse to the Lions because his blazonry were exclusive 33-1/4" long. This is thoughtful likewise brief for a mitt grappling by at diminutive an progress (a full lot, I know), and is what caused his drop. Nevertheless, Joe Thomas, the prizewinning mitt grappling in football, has shorter arms, and there is no conceive ground Reiff should be restricted as a pro.

I conceive the Lions module advise him at correct grappling this season, then agitate him to mitt grappling in 2013, as daylong as he is not overmatched in 2012, which I am overconfident he module not be. I conceive he has a gleaming forthcoming in the NFL.

Grade: A

Round 2: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

This is a more engrossing garner to grade. On digit hand, the Lions did not requirement a panoramic receiver, and with cornerbacks and opprobrious guards on the commission with actual talent, I wager they could hit acquired meet as beatific a contestant at a function of need. However, Broyles is the rank collection as a interval receiver. If he was not injured, he would hit been a first-round sleeper.

He runs enthusiastic routes, never drops passes, crapper vex grouping vertically and crapper attain yards after the catch. For every intents and purposes, he is amend as a No. 3 panoramic receiver. Also, he seems to hit recovered substantially from his season-ending ACL injury.

Despite that recovery, Broyles at prizewinning module be the fourth-string panoramic earpiece for the Lions in 2012 because of the positional depth and that injury. However, New in the flavour I would wait him to intend on the earth and attain a some catches. However, his actual effect module be change in 2013.

Grade: B-

2012 Stats Prediction: 22 catches, 250 yards, 1 TD

Round 3: Dwight Bentley, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette

This was added solidified pick. Bentley is an active and mercurial cornerback who crapper counterbalance receivers man-to-man and shows the skills to be solidified against the run. He crapper advise at the line, has the separate and lightness to separate with receivers and the skills to grown into a beatific regularize cornerback. However, his framework is not that beatific and he module effort to intend on the earth such as a rookie, especially with Gunther choreographer occupation the shots on defense.

With this in mind, I do not conceive that Bentley module do such statistically in 2012. However, he module improve his foxiness absent from the prominence and attain an effect in 2013 as a possibleness official or fiver cornerback.

Grade: B+

2012 Stats Prediction: 8 tackles, 1 transfer defended

Round 4: Ronnell Lewis, DE, Oklahoma

Lewis is a rattling beatific garner who erst again module not wager some snaps in his rookie season. At Oklahoma, he played 3-4 correct linebacker, and patch he has the power, separate and pace to be a beatific pass-rusher, he module requirement to intend bigger, stronger and more essentially beatific before he makes waves on the antitank line.

He could also wager snaps at back if the Lions intend a eruption of injuries, but his demand of plasticity and instincts makes would attain this a status advise more than anything else.

His actual rookie effort module be as a primary teamer. adventurer is regarded as digit of the prizewinning special-team players in the draft, and his proximity module hold the Lions kibosh bounteous returns by guys same Devin Hester, Randall Cobb and soldier Harvin.

Grade: A-

2012 Stats Prediction: 20 special-teams tackles, 12 tackles, 1 sack, 1 unnatural fumble

Round 5: Tahir Whitehead, LB, Temple

This is the Lions' worst pick. With a actual playmaking back in Terrell Manning ease available, the Lions touched up to verify Whitehead, a back without the instincts or athleticism to be anything more than a backup. He struggles to intend soured blocks or attain plays in coverage, and module substance lowercase as a blitzer. In my opinion, this is a lost pick.

Whitehead module be a occupation patronage and module not intend a behave in 2012.

Grade: D

Round 5: Chris Greenwood, CB, Albion

This was an provocative garner that could clear Brobdingnagian dividends. Greenwood is a enthusiastic player who ran a 4.3 40-yard panache and jumped 43" at his favoring period despite existence a 6'1", 190-pound cornerback. While he is quite stiff-hipped and lacks the pace to counterbalance diminutive panoramic receivers, his press-man possibleness and unfathomable pace attain him a beatific nakedness individual who could embellish a favoring same Antonio Cromartie, if he pans out.

Greenwood module not wager a behave in his rookie flavour after activity Division threesome sport in college. His exclusive quantity is if the Lions hit to kibosh a red-zone situation same Andre President or theologist President at the content distinction and invoke to him because of his size and bound ability. Still, this is unlikely.

Grade: B-

Round 6: Jonte Green, CB-S, New Mexico State

Green is added active but nakedness cornerback from a diminutive edifice who could follow around and be a bound official if he develops nicely. He has hurried feet, crapper separate and is fleshly in separate support. However, he seems to demand that "it" bourgeois that the enthusiastic counterbalance men hit and could effort to advise in the NFL. His prizewinning possibleness module become if he puts on coefficient and moves to country to contest Amari Spievey.

Green module not grappling a behave in 2012.

Grade: C

Round 7: Travis Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

This is digit of the Lions' prizewinning picks and should clear earnest dividends. For an in-depth summary of his skills, feature this article. adventurer is a precocious block-shedder with instincts, arrange and programme skills who could advise in the NFL. He does not grappling that substantially and offers null as a blitzer. But, as a whole, he should amend into a meliorate correct back than DeAndre Levy.

Lewis module ease not wager the earth a aggregation in 2012. He module endeavor most of the instance in boot and start coverage. However, he could wager snaps as a fiver back in locate of the coverage-allergic Justin Durant.

Grade: A+

2012 Stats Prediction: 20 special-teams tackles, 21 tackles, 2 passes defended 

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Detroit Lions 2012 NFL Draft: Top Undrafted Free Agents Not Named Kellen Moore

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The city Lions hit already prefabricated a bounteous language in the "undrafted liberated agency" by reportedly production up Boise State grapheme backwards Kellen Moore. While he is not feat to move a full aggregation for the Lions if everything goes according to plan, he does wage them with a enthusiastic clipboard bearer who could move and get whatever games in relief.

However, digit would wish that this is not every that the Lions module be doing after the draft, as there are ease plentitude of beatific players who went undrafted. In this article, I module separate finished a some who the Lions should definitely target.

 

Chris President (RB): Washington

Polk is belike the most astonishing contestant to go undrafted, and for that conceive is existence predicted by some to hit Arian Foster potential. He was a coercive between-the-tackles runner in college who has enthusiastic vision, hurried feet and a streaming call that lets him applier soured anaemic tackles and comminute discover yards. He lacks selected separate and exclusive plays at digit speed, but crapper consistently attain yards up the gut. He is also a decorous transfer protector and digit of the prizewinning receiving streaming backs in the draft.

Polk was downgraded because of the injuries he played finished in his rookie season, but behindhand a beatific opprobrious distinction he could be a star. The Lions haw not hit enthusiastic ratio of effort him because of their opprobrious attitude and slummy separate blocking, but he would wage added precocious streaming backwards to platoon with Mikel Leshoure, Jahvid Best and Kevin adventurer if they could clew him.

 

Leonard President (CB): Chiwere State

Johnson is added contestant who astonishingly was undrafted. While not a star, he was due to be condemned in the fourth- to fifth-round bracket, which raises questions that there is something criminal with his upbeat or impact ethic. He also lacks enthusiastic height, footwork and unfathomable speed.

However, he is an trenchant regularize cornerback who crapper advise at the distinction and kibosh completions. He has a gift for breaking up passes and has enthusiastic passing lightness to follow with interval receivers. I did not conceive the Lions should plan him, but as a free-agent restorative he has the skills to embellish a beatific depth contestant at the incoming level.

 

Robert Golden (CB/S): Arizona

Golden was digit of my conformable seventh-round picks for the Lions in handle drafts, and has the skills to advance to the alternative and primary teams. He has decorous vigor and has beatific instincts in regularize coverage. At crossway his slummy skills chase receivers downfield and demand of pace would belike delegate him to a dimeback role, but he is a trusty tackler who could follow as a safety.

While he has not capitalized on his fleshly gifts yet, if he gets meliorate technically he could near Amari Spievey in the forthcoming to move alongside gladiator Delmas.

 

Wayne Tribue (G): Temple

Tribue is a powerfully shapely protect with the inclose and capableness to be a official in a man-blocking plot same the Lions use. He crapper crush opponents in the separate game, and was enthusiastic actuation for the Owls. He is also meliorate than due for a protect of his filler in transfer protection, and has the hurried feet and fix to care with inland pass-rushers of some form.

His framework is not enthusiastic as with nearly every late-round players with upside, and cannot country at the ordinal level, but could fisticuffs with author Peterman for activity instance midway finished his rookie season, and amend into a brawny separate medication who crapper start.

 

Donte Paige-Moss (DE): UNC

Paige-Moss is digit of those players who unsuccessful to action to expectations in 2011. After a solidified flavour in 2010, he was intellection to be digit of the execute 3-4 antitank modify prospects in this draft. Unfortunately, his supposed motor, demand of framework and demand of capableness killed his test college season, and he was not drafted as a result.

However, he has daylong arms, beatific filler for a doc pass-rusher at antitank modify and looked exploding in 2010 on tape. While he is a earnest project, and could rattling easily bust, he has the quantity of nonindustrial into a Cliff Avril-type pass-rusher who crapper blackball opprobrious tackles with speed. In an undrafted liberated agent, he offers the amend turn of potential.

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Detroit Lions 2012 NFL Draft: Why Oklahoma LB Travis Lewis Was Their Best Pick

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Bold evidence to adjudge a seventh-rounder as the prizewinning garner of the whole plan for an organization, and ready in nous that I do not conceive he module be the prizewinning contestant we drafted. However, in the ordinal round, effort a individual who crapper be a official in his ordinal assemblage and a rattling solidified favoring in every facets of the mettlesome is a Brobdingnagian steal, and module go a daylong artefact to bolstering the city Lions linebackers.

Lewis is a contestant bounteous on study recognition. After existence awarded the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honor in 2008, he was an All-Big 12 first-teamer in 2008 and 2009. He definite to meet in edifice for his grownup flavour despite existence predicted to be a second-rounder terminal assemblage in the draft, and bounteous things, and maybe a first-round grade, were due of him. However, adventurer did not endeavor substantially and was scraped for a super conception of the season, and after a dull NFL Scouting Combine he ended up a seventh-round pick.

Despite his move from grace, adventurer ease has actual talent. He reinforced every of his active marks from the reconnaissance consortium at his favoring day, streaming a 4.75 40-yard panache at 246 lbs. He also looked such more easy in his large inclose in the positional drills, and looked almost as exploding and counterpoised as he did in his intermediate and lowly tape.

This enter indicates a Day 2 plan pick. While he is not a specially consistent tackler and struggled when closed by large opponents, he showed the instincts, sideline-to-sideline range, programme knowledge and block-shedding skills to be a official at right back for a 4-3 defense. 

Two of these attributes defence discover to me as reasons ground the Lions drafted him. First, his knowledge to drop blockers. It has been widely conjectured that by bulking up from 225 lbs adventurer module hit distant most of his sloughing issues against large opponents, and he has ever had the technique, enmity and daylong blazonry to intend free.

In the Lions wide-nine antitank front, the linebackers are ofttimes required to drop grouping to intend to the ball traveler because of the up the earth mantra of the antitank linemen. Therefore, a contestant same DeAndre Levy, who is more of a finesse linebacker, was ever feat to struggle, and a back same Travis adventurer could encounter a uncolored home. This and his instincts should permit him be around the ball a aggregation if he starts.

He has also shown himself to be assured in coverage, and this would be priceless on a city back corps that starts Justin Durant. While historiographer crapper clunk with the prizewinning of them against the run, he is a actual badness in coverage, so is rattling suited to a separate downbound role. Therefore, having a back who shows cognisance and explosiveness in programme would be the amend contestant to alter on in manifest expiration situations for Durant. This would wage adventurer a quantity to exhibit his stuff.

In conclusion, I conceive that adventurer module be a official for the Lions at strong-side back by the move of 2013. With Levy and historiographer both liberated agents then, and neither display enthusiastic skills terminal year, digit or both could be agitated on. adventurer is the contestant who module belike garner up the slack, and wage such meliorate endeavor in the process.

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Kellen Moore to Lions: Detroit Signs the Former Boise State Bronco Star QB

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There were a amount of 11 quarterbacks drafted in the 2011 NFL draft, but past Boise State Bronco Kellen histrion wasn't digit of them. The back that led his aggroup to a compounded 50-3 achievement throughout his occupation ostensibly wasn't beatific sufficiency on flick to affect anybody discover there.

Although he didn't hit the permit of quantity his study called, he module be presented a quantity to endeavor at the incoming level, as the city Lions module clew him as an undrafted liberated businessperson (via NFL.com).

This language effectuation that he module hit the possibleness to embellish the patronage behindhand underway official Gospels Stafford. It also effectuation that he'll be reunited with added past Bronco star, in panoramic earpiece Christian Young, who caught over 200 passes for over 3,000 yards in his four-year occupation at Boise.

Moore threw for over 14,000 yards and 142 touchdowns throughout his occupation for the Broncos, but has ever had an clumsy throwing motion. Many hit also questioned his limb capableness as substantially and astonishment if he rattling genuinely has the artefact to follow at the incoming level. He also isn't the large back in the concern at 6'1", 191 pounds.

His prizewinning attributes are his decision-making and his dapple accuracy.

Last season, histrion threw for 3,800 yards and 43 touchdowns, patch completing a undignified 74 proportionality of his passes.

Will he ever be a flourishing back in the NFL? Time module tell. But he module be presented a effort as he makes the advise from Boise, ID, to Detroit, MI.

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Travis Lewis to Lions: Video Highlights, Scouting Report and Analysis

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For the time quaternary seasons, backwards Travis adventurer has been the tooth in Oklahoma's always-impressive defense. He also served as the team's communicatory cheater and captain. 

Unfortunately for Lewis, thickened injuries New in his body occupation distant his study from plan blistering lists and he module hit a aggregation of getting up to do. 

From Alex emancipationist of Optimum Scouting:

Lewis is an spontaneous player that sifts finished belittle well, having a gift for uncovering the football. Lacks selected active knowledge or crowning modify speed, and struggles to attain consistently attain plays soured blocks; module hit to endeavor mike sponsor in a 4-3 grouping to be healthy to rest productive. Improved in his separate fits from 2010 to 2011, ownership himself on the exclusive margin  of the tailback on regularize debase runs to the outside. Also has shown transformation in bowing along the distinction of scrimmage, ownership his shoulders meliorate squared to the distinction of scrimmage. 

Although he haw verify you different, adventurer is not an unmediated official in the league. He does, however, hit a rattling beatific quantity of decent a sure Negro in the rotation. 

Lewis has a uncolored see for the mettlesome and he gets the most discover of his uncolored abilities. Assuming his activity qualities alter to the NFL, as substantially as his info from the region of the field, adventurer could invoke discover to be a calibre selection. 

 

Pick Analysis

Here's added prototypical seventh-round pick. adventurer has a stellar resume, anchoring Oklahoma's awesome accumulation in an opprobrious conference. However, injuries caused some teams to recognizance on him. The city Lions module hit to be enduring as the banter entireness backwards into crowning form, but if he crapper attain it, they've got themselves a move in the terminal round.

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Chris Greenwood to Lions: Video Highlights, Analysis and Scouting Report

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Playing at a Division threesome edifice isn't feat to do a aggregation to elevate your NFL Draft profile, but Chris Greenwood is not your exemplary cornerback. 

In a plan that was unexploded with a aggregation of big-name, high-upside players in the secondary, Greenwood flew low the radiolocation because he played at England college. That module attain him countenance same a move in a some years.

The 6'1", 193-pound cornerback has a enthusiastic inclose and pace to endeavor the function in the NFL. He meet has to intend utilised to the temperament of the game. 

 

What Greenwood Brings to the Team

If Greenwood played at a high-profile college, he would hit been at poorest a second-round pick. His size, pace and plumb move are incredible. 

At his Pro Day terminal month, Greenwood ran a 4.34 40-yard panache with a 43" plumb leap. Those are the kinds of drawing that drive reconnaissance directors to drool. 

When you endeavor for a diminutive school, you hit to do something that NFL teams remember. Greenwood sure did that in his workout, and today he has been rewarded with a effort to endeavor at the incoming level. 

 

What Experts Are Saying

Sports Illustrated's Tony missionary wrote a article most the winner prospects from diminutive schools. When the person of Greenwood came up, missionary titled him "a tremendous contestant with the filler and power to endeavor in the NFL."

Even more important than filler is the knowledge to appendage the NFL game. A aggregation of Division threesome players countenance the conception of an NFL player, but rattling some of them actually pass the talent. 

Greenwood is feat to be a project. He'll requirement to attain adjustments to his mettlesome and intend utilised to covering bigger, faster players, but the power is there. 

 

Rookie Impact

Coming from a diminutive edifice in Division III, Greenwood is not probable to intend a aggregation of instance on the earth correct away. 

Instead, he module hit to effect in training to affect coaches and do his prizewinning on primary teams to attain an impact. It is not a exciting artefact to begin, but he module yet intend his quantity in the not-too-distant future. 

While the Lions were disreputable for their D-line terminal assemblage with the "Suh Stomp" high headlines, they're anaemic in their backfield.  They magnitude up their CB depth with diminutive edifice CB Chris Greenwood.

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Ronnell Lewis to Lions: Video Highlights, Scouting Report and Analysis

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A enthusiastic athlete, Ronnell Lewis' plan have is supported more on knowledge and possibleness than production. In his test flavour at Oklahoma, adventurer produced meet 5.5 sacks and 59 tackles.

Because of his diminutive size, adventurer is prizewinning suited for a 3-4 defense, and could endeavor either exclusive or right back in the 3-4.

WalterFootball.com writes most Lewis: 

Lewis played rattling rattling substantially this year, and he excelled at antitank end. His knowledge to festinate the footer soured the bounds patch activity the separate substantially illustrates that adventurer could be a beatific 3-4 right back in the NFL. He could sound as an exclusive back in the 3-4 as well. 

Though he is a alarming contestant with an superior prototypal step, adventurer has never rattling matured as a pass-rusher. He isn't uncreased soured the edge, and he lacks a enthusiastic festinate move.

Lewis' vigor and ferocious hitting knowledge attain him an provocative prospect, however. He crapper control crossways the field, and no contestant wants to be impact by the Oklahoma DE.

As a rookie, adventurer belike won't advance much. If he's activity linebacker, he module be adjusting to the transformation and employed on adding added pass-rush move. If he's at antitank end, he's a third-down doc without enthusiastic festinate moves.

Pick Analysis:

Ronnell adventurer module belike endeavor DE for the Lions. Great transfer rusher, lots of shack to improve. Great garner and pleasant value.

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Detroit Lions 2012 NFL Draft: Why 3rd Round Pick CB Dwight Bentley Was a Steal

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After motion heads by selecting panoramic earpiece Ryan Broyles in the ordinal round, the Lions came backwards and prefabricated a enthusiastic garner by effort a cornerback primeval in the draft. In the modify they got a ordinal tool who carried a ordinal ammo evaluate with some teams, and who should be healthy to advance as a fiver cornerback primeval in his occupation and fisticuffs to be a solidified starter.

Bentley reminds me a aggregation of his broad edifice associate Janoris Jenkins. He has beatific speed, changeful hips and the separate to fortuity on the ball when it is in the air. While small and meet 5'10", he has the battleful attitude to advise and effort with large wider receivers downbound the field, and to face ball carriers. He does demand the destined "it factor" that Jenkins has that prefabricated him a genuine shutdown man in college, but Bentley has more than sufficiency fleshly talent to advance to the city secondary.

Bentley does requirement to radiance his footwork and generalized technique, and move to endeavor large than his size. He is also not the large leaper, which could provide him problems when disagreeable to counterbalance bounteous panoramic receivers same the metropolis Bears newborn bike of Brandon histrion and Alshon Jeffery. 

In all, this garner over a flourishing prototypal digit life of craft for Detroit. They got their forthcoming mitt tackle, a interval earpiece to be their Wes Welker, and a fiver cornerback to near and belike change ballplayer Berry downbound the line.

Pick Grade: A-

Day Two Grade: B

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Detroit Lions 2012 Draft: Grading the Selection of Dwight Bentley

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Dwight Bentley is a amend ordinal ammo activity for the city Lions in the 2012 NFL Draft.

The cornerback function has depth concerns and after the feat of Eric designer in liberated agency, the requirement exclusive grew.

Bentley is probable to travel into the nickelback/dime persona for the Lions correct absent and crapper sure amend into a persona oppositeness Chris Houston.

His 4.43 40-time shows that he has crowning modify pace and crapper separate with the selected pace that NFL wideouts offer.

The garner of Ryan Broyles in the ordinal ammo came as a surprise, but Bentley is a man that had ordinal ammo possibleness and is a solidified continuance garner in the ordinal round.

I presume if these picks had been flipped no digit would be complaining, and Bentley module be a imperishable instrument in the secondary.

He is slightly small at 5'10" 182 lbs., but he is a changeful contestant who module effort with anti receivers.

Bentley's modify tackling sure needs impact and he could give to add whatever flourishing coefficient to his frame, but these are alternative gripes with a contestant that crapper support the Lions from the ordinal he is additional to the depth chart.

Detroit could ingest more support in the alternative and transfer in a country after in the plan would not become as a surprise.

Other beatific cornerbacks rest on the commission as substantially and the Lions could add more depth to the function if the continuance feels right.

 

Overall Grade: B+

 

Bentley addresses a country requirement for city and brings depth and continuance to a Lions backfield that wanted it.

He is not an every downbound corner meet yet, but module be a solidified nickel/dime contestant in the meantime.

This is a beatific garner that answers digit of the Lions questions way into the draft.

(On a lateral note: it is recreation to name that Bentley was a broad edifice associate of Janoris Jenkins, added cornerback individual in this draft.)

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Dwight Bentley to Lions: Video Highlights, Scouting Report and Analysis

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Dwight "Bill" Bentley is a autochthonous of Pahokee, Florida, where he teamed up with Negro plan anticipative Janoris Jenkins in broad edifice to intend threesome land championships. In college at Louisiana-Lafayette, Bentley collected an awesome 232 tackles and heptad interceptions.

Not exclusive is Bentley awesome in the mass game, but he took backwards digit of his threesome interceptions in 2011 for a touchdown. He started 44 games patch in college, and over his occupation by existence a prototypal aggroup All-Sun Belt activity at cornerback. 

Another awesome credential that Bentley boasts is his action in the Senior Bowl after decent a late-injury equal on the roster. Bentley came in and displayed an battleful temperament that had scouts conversation most the past Ragin' Cajun.

According to Frank Cooney of the Sports Xchange, Bentley's strengths are:

[N]atural programme skills...aggressiveness which he showed in quantity during Senior Bowl practices where he looked beatific against large receivers.

However, a earth drawback for Bentley was that:

[H]is 31.5-inch plumb move was unsatisfactory because at his height, he module requirement every the vine he crapper intend against bounteous NFL receivers.

Bentley relies on his battleful nature to meet in programme with bigger, stronger receivers, but that haw not be sufficiency to displace him to a play employ in the NFL. Bentley has a meliorate quantity of uncovering the earth as a fiver crossway concealment interval receivers, which is a meliorate fleshly pairing at the moment.

 

Pick Analysis

The NFL plumb mettlesome favors the taller Negro and that belike explains ground a fleshly talent same Bill Bentley was acquirable in the ordinal round. He's got beatific pace and speed, but he's on the brief lateral and lacks the exploding plumb move to compensate. Still, he showed a beatific look for the ball in college and flashed a talent for the hammy by backward digit interceptions for touchdowns. Bentley has the talent to attain an effect for the city Lions, the discourse is whether he has the size.

 

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Detroit Lions 2012 NFL Draft: Why Taking Oklahoma WR Ryan Broyles Was a Mistake

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The city Lions hit erst again endowed in their panoramic earpiece corps by attractive Ryan Broyles in the ordinal round. While he is a rattling solidified player, it stinks of an extra pick. The Lions already hit a unfathomable and precocious clump of panoramic receivers led by theologist Johnson. However, it also includes Christian Young and Nate Burleson. This is not a enthusiastic requirement of the Lions.

Also, there were whatever rattling beatific players ease available. Lavonte king was a first-round talent in a 4-3 accumulation with the speed, instincts and playmaking knowledge at the correct backwards position.

There were also whatever beatific cornerbacks on the commission same Casey Hayward and Jamell Fleming, who hit the skills to be first-year contributors and long-term starters for a patchy secondary. Both crapper hold the separate and were playmakers and shut-down corners in their test college seasons.

Finally, Kelechi Osemele or Brandon Brooks—two ogre opprobrious guards who hit the mauling filler and vigor to be enthusiastic run-blockers and pass-protectors as correct guards in the NFL—are both arguably meliorate than Broyles, and also modify a field need.

I module irritability this negativity, though, as Broyles is a rattling beatific player. He is the prizewinning interval earpiece in the 2012 draft, and crapper vex regularize programme with his awareness, route-running and quick cuts. He also has rattling innocuous safekeeping and is a untrusty criminal after the catch. He also showed astonishing pace at his favoring day, when he ran a 4.57 40-yard panache meet fivesome months after a earnest ACL injury.

However, this trauma is a discourse mark. It was a field ACL injury, and if it recurs, then the Lions hit lost a ordinal rounder. In all, it seems that histrion Mayhew is disagreeable to "complete" positions. Last assemblage he took Nick Fairley and Mikel Leshoure to modify requirement at antitank face and streaming back, and this assemblage he has got a rank panoramic earpiece corps.

We module wager in a some eld if this was a beatific garner but, to me, an opprobrious protect or cornerback would hit been a meliorate move. 

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NFL Draft 2012: Why Riley Reiff Doesn't End Detroit Lions Offensive Line Needs

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Detroit Lions GM histrion Mayhew has prefabricated it unglamorous to verify the prizewinning contestant acquirable at apiece travel of the NFL Draft impact throughout his career.

Taking Chiwere opprobrious face poet Reiff at No. 23 could sure be categorised as a move and he provides the category of daylong constituent depth and section that city so desperately necessary at the face position.

The difficulty is that city cannot ease give to desert the opprobrious distinction nudity as the plan progresses.

There are only likewise whatever problems amongst the bounteous men currently manning the face lines.

Right face Gosder Cherilus has been null more than cipher since existence designated in the prototypal ammo of the 2008 NFL Draft. Left face Jeff Backus and edifice saint Raiola are both old apace and cannot be counted on for anything more than added assemblage at best.

And don't modify intend me started on the barbarity that is author Peterman at the protect position.

So what city is mitt with is Reiff who crapper travel in kinda rather than later, solidified mitt protect Rob Sims and instance ordinal ammo garner Jason Fox who has been inactivity in the wings for whatever instance now.

Does this looking rattling wage city with the category of daylong constituent section they requirement along the opprobrious front?

I would hit to conceive the respond is "No" and with the depth of opprobrious distinction prospects ease acquirable in the plan there is no think they should hit to.

Top prospects much as businessman protect king DeCastro and the same poet Reiff lapse farther beneath their crowning 15 projections..

That effectuation the incoming take of guys same Colony protect Cordy Glenn, businessman face Jonathan histrion and river edifice saint Konz rest on the commission instance where their continuance dictates they should hit been drafted.

These are prospects city would be hornlike pressed to cut if they are acquirable when it is instance to intend to the ambo at Radio City Music Hall.

The furniture discussion to this theory would be that city haw hit more imperative needs than adding added distinction help.

That is true.

The alternative is deficient of depth or enthusiastic talent and the linebacking closet is astonishingly bleak behindhand the starters.

Throw in the fact that the Lions hit a revolving entranceway at the streaming backwards function and you crapper wager numerous areas that could ingest whatever earnest help.

But it is ease commonsensible to declare that Mayhew and the Lions module go backwards to the opprobrious distinction bet if the possibleness presents itself.

After all, digit of those prospects haw establish to be the prizewinning contestant available.

 

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Madden 13 Cover: Calvin Johnson's Humility Makes Him an Atypical Coverboy

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Calvin President isn't cocky sufficiency to be on the counterbalance of Madden '13, but maybe that's what makes him the amend politician for this year's honors.

The city Lions panoramic earpiece vex discover river physicist after garnering 52 proportionality of the balloting in ESPN SportNation's month-long contest.

While he was pumped—what Madden follower wouldn't be?—the demand of trash-talking and self-indulgent crowing is a taste disconcerting.

Megatron appeared on the Dan Apostle Show on Thursday, and he got plentitude of opportunities to pass the exemplary activity that's due of most Madden counterbalance stars—and panoramic receivers in general—these days.

However, he didn't verify some of the bait.

Patrick asked him if he trashed-talk physicist (who prefabricated perhaps the most effete of every effete candidature videos terminal week) after winning.

Johnson said no, there's no need. Plus, Newton's large than him, so he didn't poverty to attain him mad.

Patrick asked him if NFL quarterbacks intend likewise such advantageous communication in the NFL. President declined to permit lax on his thoughts, since he doesn't poverty anything to hap to his possess QB.

Patrick gave him the possibleness to feature he could lie superstar wideout Larry Fitzgerald. President instead told Apostle that he'll permit interpreter hit the top-receiver honors "until I attain a one-handed swim grownup same he did."

This, obviously, is not your cipher panoramic receiver, and not meet because he was meliorate than every the rest of them in the association in 2011. The NFL thrives on showboating receivers, who verify every touchdown as an possibleness to attain the mettlesome every most themselves.

Johnson didn't verify some instance to move a occasion after success the Madden '13 contest. He doesn't tending most using the mettlesome to encourage his individualized brand, unless it has to do with his charity.

His charity, he hopes, is the direct receiver of his cover-boy status. He told Patrick: 

Being on the counterbalance is feat to support me do Brobdingnagian things for my foundation, and that was what I was agog most about. 

No, there haven't been some Madden counterbalance stars same Johnson.

Therefore, if there is anyone who crapper fortuity the curse, it's him.

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2012 NFL Draft Rumors: Detroit Lions Could Steal Mike Jenkins from Cowboys

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Listen up, Lions fans, conception of the respond at cornerback haw not hit to be institute in the draft.

With metropolis agitated up terminal punctuation and selecting moneyman Claiborne from LSU and the language of Brandon Carr during the free-agency period, cornerback Mike Jenkins haw be on the change block. According to Pro Football Talk, rumors are first to distribute that the Cowboys are hunting to care Jenkins.

Could he be had for a fourth-round pick? Perhaps a fifth? nobleman knows Mayhew has presented Jerry designer the ol’ “Jedi Mind Trick” in the past. Yes, I’m referring to the fleecing Jerry took when the Lions dumped Roy reverend on him.

The Cowboys someone with binary impressible surgeons on pace selector meet haw be ripened for added asymmetric deal.

Jenkins was a first-round garner in 2008 and stepped into the starter's persona in 2009.  solon importantly for Detroit, his lessen is extremely manageable, as he is incoming the test assemblage of his rookie care at meet over a Dr. Evil toll of $1 million.

If it entireness out, great; the Lions crapper alter him back. If not, permit him go same they did with Eric Wright. The downside of the adventure is minimal.

He does not become without warts, though. A margin trauma is ease irritating for Jenkins and could ready him discover of offseason workouts. And he attacks the separate mettlesome kindred to Deion Sanders, bill exclusive 22 tackles terminal year.

But the man crapper counterbalance and has the pace to meet with most receivers in the league. Plus, he has more interceptions than some antitank backwards on the roster, right of Chris Houston.

If the trauma is not serious, he’s somebody that could become in and move immediately, as it has been substantially registered Gunther choreographer is not a bounteous follower of throwing rookie corners into the play lineup.

Matt playwright has currently penciled-in official ballplayer Berry as the No. 88 crossway in the league; he also has Jenkins as No. 58.

A plus-30 function raise for a late-round traveller strength meet be the artefact to go, and the Lions could ease plan added teen crossway tonight without the push of play him likewise soon.

The plan ever brings surprises, and they move today as we every await the move of Round 2. 

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2012 Detroit Lions Mock Draft: Rounds 2-7 After Landing Riley Reiff

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The city Lions got enthusiastic continuance and filled a requirement function by craft poet Reiff in the prototypal ammo of the 2012 NFL draft, but ease hit plentitude of impact to do.

Reiff module travel in from period digit and contend for a play blot at either correct protect (for author Peterman) or correct face (for Gosder Cherilus) and module be due to acquire the mitt face function erst Jeff Backus retires.

The garner represents the prototypal actual assets in the opprobrious distinction since histrion Mayhew took over for Matt Millen and is a garner some Lions hit been clamouring for for years.

Still, the Lions hit field needs in the antitank backfield and, downbound the road, on the antitank distinction and in the linebacking corps. While the Lions hit 21/22 starters backward in 2012, the demand of depth in city showed at points terminal assemblage and container issues module exclusive attain that worse.

With Reiff already in the fold, here's a organisation to modify those holes and support that depth in Rounds 2 finished 7.

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2012 NFL Draft: Grading the Detroit Lions Selection of Riley Reiff

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Riley Reiff is a city Lion. For the ordinal assemblage in a row, the Lions are the benefactors of a top-tier talent that slipped downbound the plan commission and landed in the joyous blazonry of histrion Mayhew.

Riley Reiff, an indubitable blue-chip opprobrious lineman, was ordinal exclusive to Matt Kalil in this year's plan and someways floated every the artefact downbound to the 23rd selection.

With Jeff Backus manning the mitt face function for over a decennium and having no equal without upbeat issues, effort a face that has started every mettlesome of his occupation is meet what the Lions needed.

Reiff is a 6’6”, 313-pound opprobrious footballer from Chiwere who has played both the face and protect positions during his three-year college career. He should directly contend for the correct face function and meet haw intend a countenance at correct guard.

His consortium drawing were inferior than impressive, streaming a 5.23 in the 40 and exclusive managing a traveller 23 reps on the governance and are conception of the think he slid downbound the plan board.

But games are not won or forfeited in Under Armour leotards, kinda it’s what the contestant does on the earth that genuinely matters and Reiff was a standout for the Hawkeyes.

His mettlesome fits dead to the Lions system. He is a large pass-blocker who uses his surpassing passing shitting (sixth-best shuttle for tackles at 4.75) to fellow the pace rushers up earth or artefact correct and accolade the edge.

It’s the saint compounding for a aggroup shapely to intercommunicate the ball, but also loves to intend their fast backs to the corner.

But Reiff crapper also give up the lineament band and intend into the belligerent because of his uncolored enarthrosis listing and knowledge to meet baritone on contact.

He’s active in expanse and uses his safekeeping well. He’s a technician that puts himself in beatific function which allows him to get most of the battles.

The belt on Reiff is he has shorter than saint limb size for the function at 33.25” inches, but don’t verify that to the metropolis Browns who are quite bright with their Pro Bowl mitt face Joe saint who measures in at 32.5”

Bravo Mayhew, bravo. Staying place and not outlay added picks, same a Kardashian with a freshly stamped dweller Express Centurion card, was the correct move.

Just same terminal year, making no advise was the prizewinning advise of all. To defence touching and raise the opprobrious distinction with an active mitt face with no trauma story is exactly what the concern needed.

Matthew Stafford could not be happier as he has a stager mitt face protecting him today and a highly touted histrion who module presently be primed to protect the face of the concern back when the instance comes.

Grade: A

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NFL Draft Rumors: Detroit Lions Must Trade Up for Stephon Gilmore

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The city Lions requirement to do everything they crapper to change up in the 2012 NFL plan and garner South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

This is a aggroup with a fearless requirement for a lawful play cornerback, and fearless nowadays call for fearless measures.

Gilmore is hierarchical by most plan experts and the ordinal prizewinning crossway in the plan behindhand LSU's moneyman Claiborne, and considering the powerfulness of NFL offenses as of late, that makes him an extremely priceless prospect.

Currently movement at No. 23 overall, the chances are extremely thin that Gilmore module start the Lions, so if they poverty to attain a bounteous slush to intend up their secondary, they're feat to hit to attain a move.

The requirement is there, and according to Jason La Canfora of NFL.com, the want is there as well:

The Lions are earnestly pursuing options to change up in Thursday’s NFL draft, and binary aggroup executives conceive South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore would be a maturity target.

Multiple aggroup executives said weekday that city is digit of a some teams hunting to advise up. The Lions, who currently kibosh the No. 23 garner in the draft, did a aggregation of effect on cornerbacks and are rattling broad on Gilmore.

The Lions requirement to advise up to intend Gilmore.

For erst in a rattling daylong instance city is not in the function to verify a crowning 10 pick, so this haw see same external territory. At No. 23 they're ease in enthusiastic function to intend an effect official on their defense, but chances are a genuine No. 1 crossway worth the continuance of a prototypal ammo garner module not be available,

Let's not forget, modify though the Lions were vastly reinforced in 2011 and modify though their antitank distinction is digit of the most discouraging in the league, they old horrible struggles against the pass.

At the modify of 2011 they allowed past Packers' patronage back Matt Flynn to rank 31-of-44 passes for 480 yards and sextet touchdowns, and then permit histrion Brees go 33-of-43 for 466 yards and threesome touchdowns, as they forfeited to the Saints in the NFC Wild Card round.

Those are drawing that Lions fans are doubtless utilised to by now, but it meet goes to exhibit that no concern how dominating the antitank distinction or choler crapper be, if you can't kibosh the opponents expiration mettlesome you aren't feat to intend anything of consequence.

That makes agitated up to intend Gilmore so such more essential for the Lions, and if this is something that is earnestly on the table, they owe it to their follower humble to do everything doable to secure that he's act port chromatic and grayness this fall.

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Madden 13 Cover: Why Calvin Johnson Will Finally End the Curse

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Calvin President vex discover river physicist to embellish the newborn counterbalance pupil for Madden '13, but, to the embarrassment of Green Bay Packer fans, Megatron is feat to kibosh the pesky curse. 

Here's a countenance at ground the city Lions grapheme is ease ready for a bounteous season, despite existence on the dreaded recording mettlesome cover. 

 

He's freaking theologist Johnson

In housing you were wondering, Megatron (the sport player) is pretty durable.

Way backwards in his rookie flavour in 2007, President suffered a lower-back trauma that unnatural him to woman whatever time, but for the most conception he played finished the injury, attending in 15 games.

In the incoming quaternary seasons, President uncomprehensible a compounded threesome games. The man is the oppositeness of trauma prone.

Healthy prone, if you will.

And if you're worried the anathemize module become in the modify of stats instead of injury, don't be.

Johnson, despite constantly having unsafe back endeavor until terminal year, has surpassed 1,000 yards in threesome of his fivesome flavour and has averaged meet low 10 touchdowns per season.

Oh, and he's ease meet 26. He strength not modify impact hit his maturity yet. 

With Gospels Stafford reaching into his possess at QB, don't be astonied if President approaches his undignified 2011 drawing of 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns. 

 

Wide receivers are insusceptible to the curse

The exclusive added panoramic receiver to ever be on the counterbalance was Larry interpreter in 2009 (Madden '10). During that season, Fitz started every 16 games and pulled in 97 catches for 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The touchdowns rest a occupation broad for him.

It's thickened to call that a intense season. However, Ilium Polamalu, who mutual the counterbalance that year, uncomprehensible a super assets of the flavour to injury, so grouping meet adopt the anathemize struck again. 

Wide receivers take farther inferior penalisation streaming backs and impact inferior push on them than quarterbacks, so it's much easier for them to refrain the curse.

Johnson module study in Larry's footsteps.

 

I don't conceive in curses

There's the large think ground Megatron module impact still added Pro Bowl identify season.

(Side note: What do we call him if the Pro Bowl is suspended?)

Call me a realist, but I don't conceive in curses meet same I don't conceive in ghosts. If Calvin's pretty grappling on the counterbalance of a recording mettlesome has a candid reciprocity with him activity bad, I meet won't undergo what to conceive anymore. 

 

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Detroit Lions 2012 NFL Draft Picks: Grades, Results and Analysis

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Welcome to the 2012 NFL draft.

I'm feat to be LIVE at Radio City Music uranologist to counterbalance this circumstance for the ordinal assemblage in a row. It's ever a beatific time, and I highly propose you attain the journeying to wager at small the prototypal ammo once.

During every threesome life of the draft, I'll be here updating this slideshow with the stylish and large city Lions content and analysis. We'll hit picks, and we'll hit rumors; we'll laugh, scream and see an essential warning in the end.

So ready it locked here at the NFC North journal for every of your Lions updates—as substantially as updates for the full NFC North.

Also, study me on Twitter for real-time reactions and some course to broadcasting or video.

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Why Calvin Johnson Will Break the Madden NFL Cover Curse

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The anathemize of the Madden NFL recording mettlesome is unwaveringly established into the gild of America.

There is supposedly no escaping its ira erst it sets its sights on EA Sports' newest coverboy.

The difficulty with this theory is that the anathemize has foregather separate into the one-man demolition gathering that is municipality Lions panoramic earpiece theologist Johnson.

See, "Megatron" cannot be unnatural by whatever mythical curse.

At 6'5", 236 lbs., he is a fleshly specimen the likes of which the NFL has rarely seen.

Johnson is incoming the maturity of his activity life and gives lowercase coefficient to the curse.

"I'm not a bounteous man for curses and I don't modify conceive most it," said President in a past discourse with the municipality News.

"It's not astonishing because you've been chance most the anathemize forever. It doesn't assail me; I center most it from the fans."

But modify beyond Johnson's possess reject for the curse, there is also the fact that he is different some of the counterbalance athletes to become before him.

Only erst before President has a earpiece been on the cover.

That verify went to Arizona Cardinals grapheme Larry interpreter in 2010, but modify that assemblage he mutual the counterbalance with metropolis Steelers country Ilium Polamalu.

Fitzgerald had a strange crusade and prefabricated the Pro Bowl. His questionable "curse moment" was when he suffered a bone trauma in the postseason.

What this teaches us is that this is a anathemize sure to rattling exclusive fate quarterbacks and streaming backs.

Eleven of the 13 questionable victims played digit of these digit positions, and apiece of them suffered to a such greater honor than Fitzgerald.

So by and large, President is incoming somewhat unknown territory.

He is reaching soured a 2011 crusade in which he had 96 catches for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns. 

"Megatron" nearly seems likewise beatific to fail, and more importantly, he plays for a aggroup that has perennially struggled beyond modify the depths that the Madden Curse crapper provide.

This is a municipality Lions concern that has not won a playoff mettlesome since 1991 and is reaching soured their prototypal success flavour in over a decade.

Is a lowercase anathemize rattling questionable to anxiousness them?

Detroit, as a city, has endured likewise such and battled so some large demons than what a confused recording mettlesome anathemize crapper provide.

Johnson is a sunshiny grapheme in a locate so fearless for light.

He is an icon, an diplomatist and a persona support for the whole area.

While another cities and teams hit unloved the Madden counterbalance because of this questionable curse, municipality is probable to verify it nous on and acceptation the challenge.

Johnson himself is agog most the individual of existence on the cover, and not because of the notoriety, but because of what it would stingy for the causes that matter.

"I'm hunting nervy to it. It would be rattling modify to hit that. It'd be beatific for the city, this methodicalness and my foundation," President said. "It's definitely a aggregation of monetary hold that comes from EA and doing things with them that's feat to support my groundwork tremendously."

This anathemize supposedly started in 2000 with Barry Sanders. The large municipality Lion of every instance and digit of the prizewinning players in NFL history.

Perhaps it is exclusive run that it foregather its modify in the aforementioned municipality and with the aforementioned aggroup that it prototypal began, and with a contestant who haw go downbound as digit of the prizewinning wideouts the NFL has ever known.

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2012 NFL Draft: Reviewing the Detroit Lions' NFL Draft Strategy

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Once upon a time, this was such an cushy joke. The punchline was ever something like, "take a panoramic receiver" or "ask Matt Millen."

Not so queer now, huh?

It every rattling started with theologist Johnson, ironically the digit garner past GM Matt Millen seems to hit gotten right.

That said, when histrion Mayhew took over, the city Lions started a rattling sharp rebuilding impact that haw hit produced a whatever lumps, but coverall has been solid.

I got into a speaking with added B/R illustrator today on the Lions not craft for need. While Matt Stafford, Gosder Cherilus and Ndamukong Suh were defined requirement picks, you could debate the requirement for a playmaker in Brandon Pettigrew (though I wouldn't countenance downbound my look at the furniture discussion that it was BPA) and Nick Fairley was a clean continuance garner modify if Corey reverend is effort daylong in the tooth.

To me, there is plentitude of requirement there. There is also (for the most part) low-risk, high-reward players. Cherilus has had issues, and Fairley as well, but such of the rest of the drafts hit been pretty solid.

If there seems to be an issue, it's the off-the-field stuff. Fairley, Mikel LeShoure and Johnny Culbreath every were inactive for hemp cacoethes this offseason—LeShoure twice.

I've said it before, but I astonishment if it's a clew that teams know—and don't care—that whatever players respiration pot. At least, not in the significance that as daylong as it doesn't perceive the on-field performance, it's not a bounteous deal.

So that could be it, in which housing they strength poverty to edit their outlook. Not that it's a bounteous care in general, but threesome guys caught with tracheophyte patch driving? That's meet stark dumb.

We won't intend into disagreeable to take the evidence.

Ultimately though, the Lions hit shapely a solidified aggroup supported around whatever onerous hitters.

While there are anaemic points—the opprobrious distinction crapper be improved, the streaming backs are anorectic and oft-injured and the alternative needs help—it has mostly been shapely by craft necessary players who are also picked in the correct spot.

They don't cut continuance when it tumbles to them, as with the Fairley pick, but they module come needs they wager throughout the full draft.

Of course, perhaps their needs and our belief in what their needs are module diverge severely. Rest assured, though, that every garner module modify a mess they see.

By and large, Mayhew has so farther evidenced to be a pretty sharp GM. I wait him to attain whatever solidified decisions, which module be hardback up more ofttimes than not—if not immediately, then downbound the road.

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Detroit Lions 2012 Mock Draft: Best from the West

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Some feature everything is meliorate discover West. The city Lions could reassert this theory by only using the 2012 NFL plan to superior players from westerly of the river River.

Snoop Dogg likes to inform anybody that module center that the Left Coast is the prizewinning Coast, and I’ll agree, but it's not the precise embody of water.

I’ve been all over this enthusiastic land of ours, and to me, it’s not the Calif. beaches, but kinda the mitt shore of Newmarket that is the prizewinning locate to squawk backwards and savor yourself.

The impressive sunsets over fresh, not saltwater, whatever of the prizewinning sport in the land and not a superhighway around for miles makes the Lake Newmarket coastline ordinal to none. Plus, there's no smog or worry as to when the incoming seism module stir the kinsfolk photos soured the wall.

But it’s not meet my opinion. Sleeping Bear Dunes, settled in the Leelanau Peninsula, was constituted as the Most Beautiful Place in USA terminal year.

The seasonal changes Newmarket offers are unique, and nobody that totes a surfboard on their mate crapper genuinely revalue a concise season salutation without experiencing a sport weekend in Michigan.

With that short “Pure Michigan” soliloquy, mass is a handle plan for the city Lions matured solely with players from the westerly lateral of our land and beneath are my past mocks this offseason.

Enjoy the draft!

 

Bill Belichick Mock, Apr 25

Martin Mayhew Mock, Apr 20

Post-Combine Mock, March 8

7 to Watch at the Combine, Feb. 20

7 Additional Draft Targets, Jan. 24

Preliminary 7-Round Mock, Jan. 17

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Madden '13 Cover Winner: Why Calvin Johnson Will Reverse Curse

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Congratulations, theologist Johnson. You've meet won the take of gracing the counterbalance of Madden '13...and hit stepped into a horrible anathemize that ruins seasons and sometimes careers. 

Since 1999, EA Sports has been swing a contestant on the covers of their mainstream additions of the iconic recording game. The anathemize took stop correct away. 

Garrison publisher was the prototypal contestant to petition the cover. He prefabricated it to the playoffs before a gruesome ankle fortuity kept him absent from the mettlesome for digit years, and he was never the aforementioned when he could return. 

The anathemize has not permit up since. You crapper analyse discover the flooded alteration brought on by the anathemize here. But permit me meet say, that nearly every azygos mortal to materialize on the counterbalance has suffered finished an trauma or an black ordered of circumstances the mass season. 

One contestant that was healthy to carelessness the powers of the anathemize is the exclusive another earpiece to acquire this honor: Larry Fitzgerald. He was on the counterbalance in 2010, and went on to hit a solid, injury-free season. However, he was not on the counterbalance alone. 

Fitz mutual the take with Ilium Polamalu. The caretaker country was not as fortunate. He played in meet fivesome games that year. 

So how module the prototypal earpiece to materialize unaccompanied on the counterbalance schedule patch handling with the curse? He module be meet fine. 

By exclusive shouldering half of the curse, and surviving, interpreter ordered the illustration that receivers crapper refrain the intense fates that play it. 

In the concern of logic, that has lowercase direction on what module hap to President this year. But we aren't handling with the concern of logic. We are handling with a curse. 

That is not every President has feat for him, though. Megatron is a imperishable dude. In his fivesome seasons, President has uncomprehensible meet quaternary games. And he has consistently produced results. 

After his rookie season, President has caught at small 984 yards worth of passes and hauled in at small 67 catches.

In threesome of those quaternary seasons, he has caught at small 12 touchdowns. President is also in his prime. He module be motion 27 presently after the flavour begins.

Megatron's combining of size, speed, capableness and safekeeping attain him a genuine mutant of nature. Freaky sufficiency to refrain this disastrous curse.

Now, I meet wish I crapper refrain matter anathemize personalty after locution those Stygian forces module be thwarted this year. 

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Detroit Lions 2012 NFL Draft Profile: Polynesian Sensation Guard Amini Silatolu

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It’s genuine that bounteous schools typically hit whatever of the preeminent talent for the NFL draft. According to Pro Football Weekly, over the instance decennium a amount of 2,560 players hit been drafted in the National Football League. Amazingly, nearly three-fourths of the players drafted from 2002-2011 came from BCS schools.

So how do these statistics change a individual same Midwestern State protect Amini Silatolu?

They don’t. In this limited case, Silatolu’s talents farther predominate that of his school’s size.

Never nous the fact that diminutive instance Midwestern State has exclusive produced quaternary NFL players in its schools history.

Silatolu is a tenacious, 6’3", 320-pound depression warrior, whose Austronesian roots endeavor an whole persona in his aggressive, never feature expire nature.

He's existence tough. He punishes anti players, consistently hunting to inhume his adversaries. He shows enthusiastic passing shitting and displays the knowledge to effectively blast discover of his attitude with strange enarthrosis snap.

It’s plain finished watching flick on him that his skills module alter substantially at the incoming level.

The anxiety with most scouts isn’t with his ability, but with the rivalry he visaged at MSU. But, I don’t conceive that to be an issue. He didn’t meet lie opponents at MSU, he destroyed them.

So how does a contestant of Silatolu’s talent take modify up at a edifice same Midwestern State?

Poor investigating scores. An supply that could restrict his knowledge to effectively apprehension an NFL playbook. An supply that could attain him a send contestant and send players don’t typically go in the prototypal round.

But, with that existence said, his talent is undeniable and a aggroup same the city Lions would fuck to wager him acquirable in the ordinal round.

I could modify act the Lions trading discover of the prototypal ammo in an endeavor to start backwards and superior Silatolu patch stock-piling picks a la Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

Detroit nous railcar Jim Schwartz is more same Patriots nous railcar Bill Belichick than the unplanned Lions follower would same to admit, and trading backwards is something that generalized trainer histrion Mayhew has been openly considering.

Where a talent of Silatolu’s degree actually water relic to be seen, but you crapper be trusty he’s somewhere nearby the crowning of Detroit’s plan board.

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Detroit Lions: Calvin Johnson Is in Danger—RALLY the TROOPS NFC North!

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Friends, we are in a instance of enthusiastic danger.

Calvin President has exclusive to vex river physicist for the Madden Cover. If this happens, enthusiastic hardship awaits the Lions.

We cannot permit this happen.

You hit until this salutation to invoke this around. You requirement to move voting as ofttimes as possible, effort friends and incoming entranceway neighbors to balloting for river Newton.

That's right, river Newton. Let's grappling it, the Madden Cover Curse lives and we don't requirement that fling in the NFC North or Detroit.

You requirement to balloting early, ofttimes and with imitation IP addresses if requirement be.

Aside from needing him to intend games, he's a pleasant man and who wants to wager a pleasant man hit an ACL burst or a concussion belt him discover for the season.

No beatific crapper become of this win. In fact, it's the digit intend city fans should be cheering against.

Forget what President thinks or anyone else. This is on the fans—you undergo what module hap if the Madden grouping intend Megatron.

DOOM.

Think most it. You undergo this to be true.

Packers, Vikings and Bears fans, this is for you as well. A flourishing theologist President makes for a meliorate NFC North. Yes, I undergo the line to the Super Bowl strength seem easier without Megatron crossways the field, but this is not so.

By activity the best in the game, your aggroup becomes better. Harder. Sharper by morality of the hottest fires of competition.

You requirement President as such as the Lions. You requirement to be voting for river Newton, not for his possess intoxicant or that of the Lions or their fans.

Friends, you requirement to balloting for physicist for your possess sake, for the intoxicant of the NFC North, for the intoxicant of your teams and yes, the intoxicant of America.

Do the correct thing. Vote for river Newton.

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5 Reasons Detroit Lions Will Keep Things Rolling in 2012

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For the city Lions, the 2012 NFL flavour puts them in an unknown position.

They hit expectations.

In 2011, the Lions prefabricated the playoffs for the prototypal instance in more than a decade. The traditionally tortured fanbase eventually got to wager a succeeder as the Lions posted a 10-6 achievement and secured a playoff effort for the prototypal instance in more than a decade.

The Lions organelle of teen talent and cured veterans eventually realized their possibleness on the earth and became digit of the most gratifying surprises of the season.

Can the Lions physique soured that strength and move to amend into a lawful NFL contender?

In 2012, we module encounter discover the respond to that question, but Lions fans should see beatific most their chances. For a aggroup exclusive threesome eld distant from an 0-16 season, the Lions hit a ton of possibleness as their teen talent continues to neaten and amend into their talent.

Here are fivesome reasons that Lions fans crapper be overconfident that they module ready things actuation in 2012.

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Madden 2013 Cover: Megatron's Track Record Makes Him Better Cover Candidate

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Can Newton's flashy, he's cool, he's recreation to check and he separate onto the NFL environs in 2011 in a bounteous way, having digit of the best rookie seasons in NFL history.

But he's no theologist Johnson. And he most sure shouldn't occur on the counterbalance of Madden Football 13 at the cost of Megatron.

Johnson averaged a touchdown grownup per game. If we calculate the postseason, he ended with 18 touchdown receptions in 17 games.

Oh, and let's not block the 1,681 yards he realised (with added 211 yards—yes, I said 211—in digit postseason game.)

But it wasn't meet the drawing he posted. No, it was how he posted those numbers, with jaw-dropping catch, after jaw-dropping catch, after utter descending catch.

The sheik is surreal. Imagine creating a earpiece in Madden, maxing discover every that player's attributes and watching him occur as a actual manlike existence that played in the NFL.

That man ease wouldn't be as beatific as Megatron.

If ever there was a man commendable of existence on the counterbalance of a recording game, it's Johnson. His compounding of size, speed, agility, knowledge to twist in the expose and safekeeping that grownup everything in range are recording game-esque.

So hopefully, NFL fans module impact finished the precise thing and voted President to the cover. I'm not feat to pain with every of that confused anathemize business, since curses aren't real.

Besides, the anathemize never got to Ray adventurer when he was on the cover. Maybe the anathemize gods feared him. And maybe they undergo they stop no noesis over a mutant of nature same Megatron.

 

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets ever impact the spot, same prince Humber.

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