David Sloan: “I Still Root For The Detroit Lions Every Sunday”

“Some fans think I have a chip on my shoulder or something. That just isn’t the case.”

 

David Sloan was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1995.

The tight end out of New Mexico was part of a class which included Luther Elliss, Stephen Boyd, and Cory Schlesinger.

In his rookie year, Wayne Fontes led his team to a 10-6 record while Sloan had 17 receptions—one for a touchdown.

In 1999, Bobby Ross coached his Lions squad to 8-8. Sloan caught 47 passes from Charlie Batch and Gus Frerotte and four touchdowns. That year, he joined Wesley Walls as a tight end for the NFC Pro Bowl team.

Fast forward to 2009 and a lot is different for David Sloan.

He’s currently driving through North Dakota—a fate no one should wish on their worst enemy—recruiting for Southwest Baptist University, a small independent division II school in Missouri. Sloan had enrolled in the NFLPA Coaching Intern program, which works with Division II/III schools to help former players get their feet wet in the coaching world.

Sloan assisted the Bearcats to a 6-5 record coaching the team’s tight end.

No, that isn’t supposed to be plural.

The Southwest Baptist University Bearcats run a spread offense and one athlete pulled double duty this year, splitting out as a receiver and helping block with his hand on the ground.

Sloan spent much of his time one-on-one with the young man, teaching him some of the things that made him a Pro Bowler in Detroit and an eight year NFL veteran.

Sloan, however, didn’t stop there.

Eager to earn his chops and learn as much as possible, Sloan helped out with special teams as well.

In fact, this recruiting trip to Minnesota and North Dakota? Sloan is volunteering his time.

Technically, his job is over. Sloan could be back home with his wife and two daughters (ages five and three). Instead, he is happy that his head coach allowed him to go on the trip to learn an important facet of the college game.

One day, David Sloan would love to coach professional football, but he is realistic. He doesn’t want to earn a coaching gig with connections. He wants to learn the job and earn a spot. He’s spending his time networking, applying for jobs, and starting from scratch.

“I love the coaching…the teaching aspect of it.”

Before he makes it to the NFL, Sloan will bide his time in very much the same way many former players have—learning to teach the things that made him a great player. He doesn’t expect the Lions to come calling anytime soon–although they did for good friend Bradford Banta) but he would jump at the chance to coach for his alma mater, The University of New Mexico Lobos.

Don’t expect to see Sloan joining Charlie Sanders on Lions’ sidelines anytime soon. Sloan wants to coach, and would rather start at the bottom, teaching young players, than sitting up in a booth.

He understands that he didn’t leave Detroit on the greatest of terms.

When he was a free agent in 2002, he fully expected the Lions to give him a low offer—one he probably would have expected. However, the Lions went a different strategy and entrusted the position to Mikhael Ricks.

The Lions went 3-13 under Marty Mornhinweg.

“I thought they would at least come to the table and negotiate.”

Sloan has no hard feelings. He knows his own history with injuries and he understands that his time afterward with New Orleans was unspectacular. It is a unique situation if a player retires with the same team his is drafted with, and he calls the decision not to re-sign him, a “good decision ” on the Lions’ part.

After football, David Sloan wanted nothing to do with the game. He, like most retired players, felt he had a few more years in him. He couldn’t watch the game on Sundays and tried his hand at various tasks like real estate and selling medical supplies.

Now, back in football, he roots for the Lions every Sunday and wants to make it very clear to everyone he has no sour taste in his mouth and no chip on his back. He made it back to Detroit last year as an honorary captain when the Lions faced the Chicago Bears on September 30.

When he’s in town, he makes sure to catch up with Jason Hanson. Otherwise, Sloan explains that the NFL isn’t like college where kids come in together and spent their whole time with each other. NFL players come in and out of each other’s lives. Except for an occasional phone call with Banta, Boyd or Schlesinger, he doesn’t maintain a lot of contact with the organization.

He doesn’t have a lot to say about the current Lions’ squad. He thinks they have a lot of young talent that have the tools to be very good—especially rookie tight end, Brandon Pettigrew. 

“He should be monster.”

David Sloan would know what it takes to be a Detroit Lions tight end. His career receiving numbers are behind only the hall-of-famer, Sanders, Jim Gibbons, and David Hill.

Arguably, Sloan was the best blocker in that group.

Although his body eventually suffered from numerous injuries, he will always be remembered as a hard nosed player—perfect for a coach like Fontes or Ross.

The attitude and work ethic that once made David Sloan a coach’s dream could very well make him a dream coach. Now, like always, Sloan isn’t willing to look for the easy way out. In high school and college, that attitude eventually led him to the NFL.

It’s only a matter of time before it leads him back.

 

For an earlier interview by this columnist with Cory Schlesinger, click here.

Michael Schottey is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and the producer and host of The Average Joe Sports Show on 860AM KNUJ (New Ulm, MN). He is also an NFL Analyst and Senior Writer for DraftTek.com. Follow Him on Twitter.

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Could Charlie Weis Save the Detroit Lions’ Offense?

Sometimes, things make too much darned sense to actually happen.

Feel the backlash now. This won’t be a popular thought, idea or article. Michigan and Michigan State fans comprise well over half of the Detroit Lions fan base. Michigan and Michigan State fans who have spent five years referring from everything to Weis weight, to well…Weis weight was just about it.

Charlie Weis and Jim Schwartz share a common coaching tree, both have worked with and earned much respect from Bill Belichick.

Scott Linehan? The former Rams head coach has been less than spectacular working with less than spectacular talent in Detroit.

Take a look back at the resumes. Charlie Weis coached a young Tom Brady and then helped mature Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen into NFL Draft picks. Scott Linehan has a young Daunte Culpepper on his resume, that is about it.

In fact, historically, Linehan has been better at guiding the careers of young running backs like Ronnie Brown or Steven Jackson. Kevin Smith hasn’t been so lucky this year.

In fact, the Lions’ offense has been nothing short of disappointing as all 11 starters have shown vast room for improvement. Worse yet, the playcalling has waivered between vanilla and downright rotten.

It isn’t all Scott Linehan’s fault, and no one is (or should be) calling for his head. But, in the world of football, upgrades can always be made. Charlie Weis, as an NFL offensive coordinator, is an upgrade to Scott Linehan.

Charlie Weis, as a mentor to Matthew Stafford, is an upgrade to Scott Linehan.

It wouldn’t be a popular decision. Michigan residents have conditioned themselves to ridicule and mock Charlie Weis. Then again, Michigan residents have also conditioned themselves to mock and ridicule the Detroit Lions.

Some things just make too much darned sense.

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Detroit Lions vs. Vikings Post-Game Comments

Waiting for the Detroit Lions to become available for the media is not a rewarding job. The mood is morose, and mostly depressing. The Detroit local media are pals and get along rather well, but even they find it hard to joke around as they wait to ask another round of questions to a 1-8 team.

I recognized the usual faces. Tom Kowalski is, literally, the size of many NFL linemen—just not as wide. John Niyo, in person, looks nothing like Rob Parker. Brian VanOchten is quiet and unassuming and just tall enough to have the top of his head at eye level.

As the locker room opened, one could still hear the random noise of athletes tossing chairs or equipment across the room in frustration. As a veteran of a few losing locker rooms, it was easy to assume that this would be a fruitless enterprise.

Schwartz was the first to step up to the podium.

The first question, and much of the press conference, centered around half time adjustments and the Lions play right after the half. This week, a fumble killed any momentum the Lions had gained with a late first-half touchdown.

Schwartz, protected his quarterback through much of the press conference. When asked how Stafford handled the pressure of the touch (and loud) Metrodome crowd, Schwartz begged off the question and answered that his whole team didn’t handle pressure well.

When asked about late game inaccuracy by Stafford, Schwartz answered instead about late game protection issues. Schwartz explained that you cannot expect accuracy when a QB is getting hit on three-step drops.

Schwartz shed light on why Louis Delmas, Aaron Brown, and Cliff Avril didn’t play this week.

Louis Delmas was in so much pain after warmups, that his infected tooth/jaw left him unable to speak, run, or hit. Schwartz explained that Delmas, one of the toughest guys he knows, would have played if he was able. He simply was in too much pain.

As for Avril and Brown, they were simple, healthy scratches.

Schwartz declined to critique the play of the men as they sat. It was a “game plan decision.” As the Lions wanted to activate Vinny Ciurciu and Melvin White to help contain Percy Harvin on kickoffs. Harvin finished the game with one return for 29 yards.

Stafford was next to the podium and took much more credit for his play than Schwartz would assign to him—a credit to his character. Stafford, for a rookie, is a leader on the field and is the first to take blame that perhaps would be better pinned on one of his linemen or receivers.

“I didn’t play as well as I probably could have.”

Stafford also gave credit to the Vikings who are “good up front” (understatement of the year) and also came with numerous unexpected stunts and blitzes to harass the rookie.

Tom Kowalski again pressed on Stafford’s inaccuracy—again asking why so many balls in the second half were low, seemingly one-hopping to his receivers. Stafford didn’t want to answer, saying “every situation is different.”

The next quote, from Killer, was priceless—”Why do you always blow that question off?”

Stafford chuckled and repeated himself, offering to sit and review tape with Kowalski later and explain every situation.

Stafford put on his Detroit Tigers hat and got ready to load up.

Stafford’s linemen repaid the favor, refusing to assign blame to the rookie and taking it on themselves. Gosder Cherilus called Stafford a “tough kid” and Raiola praised the rookie saying, “That’s why he’s the first pick, that’s why he’s our future.”

Calvin Johnson, who caught eight balls on 13 targets, declined an interview with Niyo, Kowalski, and myself. “I got nothing for ya.”

All-in-all this is a team that, compared to other years, is very accountable for it’s actions. There is very little blame being shuffled around and, in my opinion, that starts with the coach and the quarterback.

Opposing quarterback, Brett Favre, tried to be complementary to the visiting team, but it was clear that this was an easier game to win. Favre explained that in several situations he saw the Lions in pass coverage, situations where he normally would check to a run. This game, he didn’t.

Even with the Lions loaded against the pass, Favre slung it anyway, to a tune of 344 yards—many of those to Sidney Rice who had a phenomenal game.

Clearly the Lions have a lot of work to do.

More game recap, analysis, and quotes from the Metrodome, Monday morning. Check back then, and on Wednesday when I will be interviewing former Lions Tight End, David Sloan.

 

 

Michael Schottey is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and the producer and host of The Average Joe Sports Show on 860AM KNUJ (New Ulm, MN). He is also an NFL Analyst and Senior Writer for DraftTek.com. Follow Him on Twitter.

 

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Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings LIVE Coverage

Welcome Lions fans to a Bleacher Report FIRST!

This afternoon, yours truly will be credentialed into the Detroit Lions-Minnesota Vikings football game as they square-off at 1:00 PM EST in Minneapolis at the Hubert H. Humphey Metrodome.

During the game, I will be providing LIVE updates from the Press Box at the Metrodome.

For the best fan interaction, FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER where I will be streaming my consciousness out into the Internet.

I will also post my game notes at half time.

Also during the contest, I will be taking fan questions as I prepare for the media interview session. Have something to ask Coach Schwartz, or Matthew Stafford? Ask me and I will do my best to pass it along.

For the latest Week 10 Injury Report, Click Here

• Ernie Sims is out and will not be available.
• Jordan Dizon, Larry Foote, and Dewayne White are all game time decisions.
• For the Vikings, Antoine Winfield is out and will not play. 

That is all for now, head on over to Twitter and click the follow button for all of the most up-to-date news and notes live from the Metrodome, and make sure you check back during halftime for news and analysis.

 

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Chad Ochocinco Fine Proves NFL Double Standard on Charity

The National Football League can fine Chad Ochocinco, Jay Cutler, Mike Smith, or whomever else they want.

In the end, the biggest offender will always be the NFL.

From 1975 to 1980 Dave Pear tore up NFL offensive linemen. The former Washington Husky was twice voted his college’s “Rising Lineman of the Year” and once voted “Player of the Year.”

Dave Pear was, only less than 30 years ago, a Pro Bowl-caliber lineman with a Super Bowl ring. He bears the distinction of being the first Tampa Bay Buccaneer elected to the Pro Bowl (1978) and started three games for the 1980 Oakland Raiders.

Dave Pear daily practiced against Gene Upshaw and Art Shell.

Now, at 56, Pear says “I wish I had never played.”

Dave Pear can barely walk. A neck injury he suffered in 1979 has left him permanently handicapped. After tackling Seahawks running back Sherman Smith, on Sept. 16th of that year, a vertebrae popped out of Pear’s neck.

Pear played the next two years hurt at the behest of owner, Al Davis. Pear has quoted Davis as saying “I will not take responsibility for your neck injury.”

11 surgeries later, the once powerful pass rusher is all but crippled and faces early onset dementia.

Wayne Hawkins joined the Oakland Raiders in 1960 after the first AFC Allocation draft. Hawkins went on to five Pro Bowls and numerous All Pro teams. Wayne was hit in a game against Kansas City in 1963 and was in a coma for more than 12 hours.

After seeing a team neurologist, Wayne played the next week.

In 2004, Wayne had lost six jobs in the past six years. After numerous PET scans it became clear that Hawkins was suffering from dementia. At the age of 66 (just a few years younger than Giants head coach Tom Coughlin), Hawkins was forced to live under the care of his wife, Sharon.

Sharon Hawkins pays over $400 a month for help to care for her husband. The only remuneration the Hawkins’ family receives is Wayne’s pension of $201.36.

In addition, according to NFL rules, Sharon cannot receive compensation to be her husband’s full time caregiver and has actually contemplated divorce as a viable option to care for a man who can no longer work the remote control.

According to the Denver Post , as of 2007, the National Football League spends, on average, about $7100 per disabled retiree. Comparatively, Major League Baseball spends over $14,000 per disabled athlete.

This week, by proxy, Chad Ochocino and others are giving a hefty donation to the NFL disability fund. Whenever the NFL fines a player, it donates the proceeds to various charitable organizations—including retired player programs and charities involving youth, education, and medical research.

By law, the fines imposed by the NFL are levied to the player after taxes. However, also by law, the NFL can write off their subsequent donation for a tax break.

The media speaks of the absurdity of NFL fines, calling America’s foremost professional football enterprise the “No Fun League.”

How about the No Fairness League?

Chad Ochocinco is not suffering. He, admittedly, will suffer only a week without his addiction—McDonald’s. Chad has also announced that he will match the amount of the fine and, with the help of Rock Software, will be donating that money to various charities. 

Don’t cry for Chad Ochocinco. Cry for Dave Pear and Wayne Hawkins.

Cry for Kenny Easley , the former Seattle Seahawk who was pumped so full of drugs by team doctors his kidneys are now failing.

Cry for the bricks that laid the foundation of the NFL that now lay crumbling as the owners and league which profited off of them ignores their problems.

The NFL has been targeted by Congress to do more about concussions—a known cause of early onset dementia in former professional athletes. The NFL, through its commissioner Rodger Goodell, has claimed it is doing enough and denies the link between concussions and later brain damage.

Athletes are not fooled. Recently Cardinals receiver, Sean Morey, and Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, have sat out additional games than expected after receiving concussions.

The Eagles have played it safe with Westbrook, even after a loss to division rival, Dallas. Westbrook will play in Week 11 against the San Diego Chargers. Unlike in the NFL’s past, that is his decision—not his team’s.

The NFL fined Chad Ochocinco after he offered a $1 bribe to a referee. The NFL wrote to Ochocinco, “The very appearance of impropriety is not acceptable.”

Really, National Football League?

Tell that to Dave Pear.

Michael Schottey is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and the producer and host of The Average Joe Sports Show on 860AM KNUJ (New Ulm, MN). He is also an NFL Analyst and Senior Writer for DraftTek.com. Follow Him on Twitter.

 

 

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Detroit Lions Midseason Awards Banquet

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the 2009 Detroit Lions Midseason Awards Banquet—held this year in the lovely Pontiac Silverdome!

Sadly, some miscreants recently broke in and stole much of the decorations, food, and trophies we were going to use for this momentous occasion.

The planning committee is just glad that our bid of $3.25 and a collection of Subway coupons was able to win the auction of this treasured landmark!

To start things off right, the committee has compiled a highlight video of the most exciting plays this year.

Sit back and enjoy your shrimp cocktail—don’t mind the veins; it’s extra protein.

Whew, that sure was a great play by that speedster…wait what? That was the wrong video? Umm…well, never mind then. On to the awards!

 

The Billy “BBQ” Sims Award—Rookie of the Year

Nominees: Louis Delmas, Brandon Pettigrew, Matthew Stafford

And the award goes to…Louis Delmas.

This award is brought to you by Billy Sims BBQ in lovely Tulsa, Oklahoma, check out the “Heisman Platter” with a side of Billy’s famous chili next time you’re in Tulsa!

No rookie stakes a higher claim on Lions ROY than Louis Delmas, the second-round pick out of Western Michigan. Delmas stepped right into the starting lineup and contributed immediately. He is first among NFC defensive backs with seven passes defended.

Delmas is the only NFL rookie with a sack, an interception, and a touchdown.

 

The Alex Wojciechowicz Award—Best in the Trenches

Nominees: Jason Hunter, Stephen Peterman, Dewayne White

And the award goes to…Stephen Peterman.

Alex Wojciechowicz was known for being a great center but was also an erstwhile defensive player, using his large frame to pull down seven interceptions in one season. 

Stephen Peterman wins this award not only for his surprise contribution on the defensive side of the ball, but also because he has been a steady contributor on the offensive side of the ball, playing well in spite of constant flux around him.

 

The Barry Sanders Award—Offensive Player of the Year

Nominees: Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford, Jason Hanson

And the award goes to…Kevin Smith.

*Both members of the crowd gasp*

Although fans have soured on the second-year back from UCF, Smith is the team’s leading rusher and fourth-leading receiver—accounting for over a quarter of the team’s total yardage and 15 percent of its scoring.

Kevin Smith is statistically having a better season than in 2008, where he started slow and got most of his yardage in the second half of the year.

 

The Lem Barney Award—Defensive Player of the Year

Nominees: Louis Delmas, Larry Foote, Julian Peterson

And the award goes to…Julian Peterson.

When Peterson came to Detroit in a trade sending Corey Redding to Seattle, fans expected a lot. By and large, Peterson hasn’t lived up to expectations of the masses.

What Peterson has done is lead the team in sacks (3.5). At forcing fumbles, Peterson has three, which also leads the team and he is tied for third in the league. Peterson is also tied for fourth on the team with 34 tackles.

Peterson has further helped the Lions by showing versatility and converting to situational defensive end for the first time since college.

 

The Joe Schmidt Award—Team MVP

Nominees: Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Julian Peterson, Larry Foote

And the award goes to…Calvin Johnson.

Calvin Johnson hasn’t been the Lions’ most productive offensive player. If hard pressed, one could even make the argument that Bryant Johnson has been as good of a receiver.

Of course, most of that has to do with Megatron’s lingering injury which has cost him two games. Those two games, against Green Bay and St. Louis, taught the national media just how much the Lions depend on Calvin Johnson.

Johnson not getting the ball is hardly his fault. Stafford has missed repeatedly on throws to Johnson. The two clearly have work to do on their chemistry, as Johnson has caught less than half of the 50 balls thrown his way.

Still, there is no doubt that the Detroit Lions have no chance at improving their 1-7 record without a healthy Calvin Johnson.

 

For NFL-wide Awards, Click Here

And there you have it! Thank you for stopping by for this year’s Detroit Lions Midseason Awards Banquet! Stay in your seats for a 30-second short video presentation showing the career highlights of special teams coach Stan Kwan.

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Michael Schottey is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and the producer and host of The Average Joe Sports Show on 860AM KNUJ (New Ulm, MN). He is also an NFL Analyst and Senior Writer for DraftTek.com. Follow Him on Twitter.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Comparing Teams to Board Games

Roll the dice… spin the spinner… flip a coin.

Who doesn’t love board games?! How much revelry, enjoyment, mirth and gladness depend on the chance of landing on Boardwalk, landing on the tallest ladder or managing to grab the “q” and the “u” in an intense game of Scrabble.

Our favorite board games depend on the slightest of chances, and, at times, so does our favorite sport.

The roll of a punt… the direction of the wind… the flip of a coin.

In my last NFL power rankings article, I compared each NFL team to a Halloween candy. This week, each team gets another off-the-wall comparison—board games.

Begin Slideshow

Detroit Lions Week 8 Preview: Leading Rams to The Slaughter

At some point in the 2009 NFL season, the Detroit Lions needed to find a time to exhale.

With one of the busiest offseasons in recent memory, the Lions overhauled their entire roster and coaching staff and immediately went to work. It isn’t an easy task. When practice is not merely practice, but a season-long tryout, it wears on a man—on an organization. When a new coach constantly shuffles the lineup to find where his talent lies, chemistry is that much harder to find.

Currently, the Lions rank 21st in strength of schedule, a rank much lower than one might guess. Yet, the number seems misleading.

To make matters worse, the Lions faced a murderers row for the first half of this year—two division leaders, Minnesota and New Orleans, as well as last year’s Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Those three teams have a combined three losses.

The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are teams which certainly have holes (as witnessed in their fustercluck of a Sunday night game in Week 1). Both, however, are years ahead of the Lions in terms of development, and both were road games.

The Lions had one week to breathe, Week 3 against the Washington Redskins—a game which a healthy Detroit Lions squad won 19-14.

Every game in the NFL is a winnable game. Even this season, when parity has never seemed so distant, the NFL is a league where the Lions can lose by eight to the Steelers. This isn’t college football, where New Mexico State accepts a large paycheck to let Ohio State reverse-pass them into submission.

So yes, the Lions could have won every game. But an objective observer must admit that the hurdles the Lions have faced—rookie starters, injuries, scheduling—mean that this young team should have won one game, Week 3 against the Redskins. They did.

This week’s game against the St. Louis Rams is another game the Lions should win. The team is healthy, has had two weeks to prepare, and is facing one of the few teams in the NFL with less talent on its roster than the Lions.

The Lions should win this game.

Earlier this week, I took a look at what the Lions should do offensively to win this game.

Defensively, the Lions must stop Steven Jackson—easier said than done. Quarterback Marc Bulger is simply not talented enough to carry the Rams anymore as much of his surrounding talent has jumped ship.

This game has been labeled a “must win.” It isn’t. The Detroit Lions have a plan which extends far beyond the eighth week of the 2009 season. But, this game is a “should win.” Winning this game shows the team, coaching staff, and city that progress is being made—that, perhaps, the Lions are slightly above the bottom of the barrel and are rising.

 

Detroit Lions Week 8 Injury Report

Out: Jason Hunter (Ankle) Calvin Johnson (Knee)

Game Time Decision: Matthew Stafford (Knee)

Questionable: Sammie Lee Hill (Ankle); Jerome Felton (Ankle); Zack Follett (Illness)

Adam Schefter reported at 8:57 Sunday morning about Stafford and Johnson that “Schwartz says he expects both to play.” Follett is also expected to play after being asked to stay home so he would not infect others on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Lions also have numerous people listed as “probable,” which means there’s a 75 percent chance they’ll play. The full list can be found on the Lions’ Web site.

UPDATE:11:44

Jay Glazer reports on FOX that Matthew Stafford warmed up and WILL play while Calvin Johnson is OUT

 

St. Louis Rams Week 8 Injury Report

Out: Richie Incognito (Foot)

Questionable: CJ Ah-Yoo (Ankle)

Neither injury is a severe blow to the Rams’ depth chart. Incognito is a starter but his back-up, John Greco, is a solid replacement. Ah-Yoo is a second-stringer coming off a season-high seven tackles against Indianapolis, but isn’t any more talented than the depth around him.

 

News and Notes:

• Jon Jansen will make his 125th start this afternoon, his first at left guard. Daniel Loper will be used as a back up-tackle.
• The game is blacked out locally and will not be shown on TV in the Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw-Flint and Toledo, Ohio, markets. If you’re looking for an alternative way to watch the game, contact me by e-mail and I will keep you updated. Lions@DraftTek.com
• The Lions released Tristen Davis from the practice squad this week and signed Cedric Peerman, recently waived by the Browns.
• Follow me on Twitter for information, analysis, banter and all your Lions’ news needs. 
• This week’s DraftTek mock has the Lions selecting fifth and taking Gerald McCoy (DT-Oklahoma) and Trevard Lindley (CB-Kentucky).

 

 

Michael Schottey is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and the producer and host of The Average Joe Sports Show on 860AM KNUJ (New Ulm, MN). He is also an NFL Analyst and Senior Writer for DraftTek.com.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The Schottey Thirty-Six: Top NFL Draft Seniors (Defense Edition)

This week, 36 of the top defensive college football seniors are making the list as we count down the top NFL prospects at each position grouping in football.

If you haven’t yet, take the time to go to my writer profile and check out my latest edition of the 2010 NFL Mock Draft and the offensive edition of this list.

As with any draft related article, this is brought to you complements of DraftTek—the fastest growing NFL Mock Draft website on the internet.

Because of the massive scale of this project, the offensive and defensive standouts will shine in two different articles. Defense wins championships and we’ve saved the best for last.

Bring on da noise! Bring on da funk! It’s the Schottey Thirty-Six!

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Detroit Lions Offensive Playbook: These Rams Don’t Have a Hemi

When the Detroit Lions take the field this Sunday against the St. Louis Rams at Ford Field in Detroit Michigan, two teams will face off who are a combined 1-12 in 2009. Looking back, since the beginning of the 2008 season, the Rams are a combined 3-42.

Wow.

This past offseason, the Lions and the Rams both hired top defensive minds to fix their ailing rosters.

The Lions, for their part, have had marginal success under new Head Coach, Jim Schwartz. They’ve won a game—albeit against the Redskins. And they’ve improved from a historically bad defense to 22nd in the league.

The Rams have not improved defensively. They boys from St. Louis are giving up more yardage in 2009 and have dropped to 31st in the league with only the Cleveland Browns worse.

The Lions have not been offensive aces this season, but there is light on the horizon. First overall draft pick, Matthew Stafford has practiced twice this week and his knee has responded nicely. He, and battery mate Calvin Johnson, will be game time decisions.

With them in place, and a solid offensive game plan, Lions can add another notch in the win column and keep the Rams on pace for an “ofer” of their own.

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