The Future without Matt Millen
The Future without Matt Millen
September 24, 2008 was no ordinary day in Michigan for Detroit Lions fans. That day was probably the greatest day for die-hard fans since making the playoffs back in 1999. Why? Matt Millen was fired as team president, CEO, and General Manager.
As you may know, Matt Millen was possibly the worst general manager in the history of the National Football League. He went from NFL player to radio broadcaster to GM, how is that even possible? No one knows. The Lions went a horrible 31-84 with zero playoff appearances under Millen. Detroit sports fan even started a Fire Millen movement back in late 2005 where fans chanted, made signs and tee shirts saying Fire Millen.
Now that the Millen era is over, Detroit Lions fans can move on and look forward to the future. The Lions most likely will not turn around overnight into a Super Bowl team, but now that Millen is gone, there is a lot of hope for Lions fans. If the team goes 0-16 this season, the fans will consider the season to be a success because the cancer is finally out.
Maybe the Lions can manage a winning season and even a playoff win, which the Lions have only one since 1957. Now Lions fans can look forward to the draft, instead of being humiliated because the picks were wasted on crappy players like a wide receiver named Charles Rogers, or Mike Williams, or even a quarterback by the name of Joey Harrington.
Lions management will have to win back their fans that have turned on the team for their disappointing play in the past several years. Lions management have to go after free agents in the upcoming off-season that will help the team, and not pick up just Tampa Bay Buccaneers rejects. The most important way they will win back the respect of their fans and football fans around the world is on draft day. The biggest problem for the Detroit Lions is the offensive line, which cannot pass protect or run block. Another big problem is their defense, especially in their secondary.
The Lions have two first-round draft picks in the upcoming draft and have many holes to fill. Their first pick will probably land in the top 5. With their first pick, the following are some players that the Lions should go after:
Michael Oher, Ole Miss
Oher is a 6-5, 320 pound offensive tackle that has a physical frame and excellent footwork that helps him control the line of scrimmage and prevent the quarterback from getting sacked. His quick feet make him a strong run blocker that will enable him to clear the way for the Detroit running backs.
Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
Johnson is a 6-7, 260 pound defensive end with 4.65 speed. He is a little undersized for a defensive end, however his quick first step makes him difficult to pass block.
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Laurinaitis is a 6-3, 240 pound inside linebacker that has great sideline to sideline speed. He also is a leader on the field. He is a passionate player with great instincts who can adjust against the run and the pass. He has NFL linebacker size and strength plus good hands.
Rey Maualuga, USC
Maualuga is a 6-3, 253 pound middle linebacker with nice size and strength. He has great short-area quickness but lacks sideline to sideline speed. The Lions second pick will probably land in the early to mid twenties. With their second first-round pick, the following are some players the Lions should go after:
Brian Orakpo, Texas
Orakpo is a 6-4, 260 pound defensive end, who is an excellent pass rusher with great strength. He is a skillful athlete who can power his way into the backfield. He has the versatility of playing at defensive end or linebacker.
Butler is a 5-10, 187 pound cornerback with remarkable playmaking ability. He has great hands to go along with his speed and quickness, and can even line up at wide receiver or return kicks.
Brian Cushing, USC
Cushing is a 6-3, 255 pound outside linebacker. Probably the top OLB in the draft, Cushing is a solid tackler, making open field tackles against running backs and receivers. He is a smart player and has excellent play recognition and gets to the ball very quickly. He possesses great height and sideline to sideline speed, and does a good job of avoiding blockers. Some downsides to Cushing are his struggles to shed blockers and his injury history.
This article was written by our NEW featured writer ”Big Ben” Hoyt. check out his site National Sports Nation
