http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/3199 Recent articles about Cory Redding en-us The 3rd round is where the Lions really need to make serious hay during the draft. Millen and Marinelli had 3 picks in a round where most teams expect to find contributors, if not starters. Sad to say, the Lions aren't most teams. That's not to say the 3 picks will be busts, as all have NFL credentials. Hopefully the talent is there, but it's not as if the Lions have mined gold in the draft's 2nd day during the Millen era. They don't get the benefit of the doubt from me, so I'll have to actually see their picks produce before I can truly call this draft even remotely successful. As it is, there are some concerns… 3rd round (64th overall) Central Florida RB Kevin Smith The Lions traded a 6th round pick in order to jump to the 1st pick of 3rd round. They used that pick on the prolific film director back, Kevin Smith. A talented runner who left college after his junior season, Smith put up Barry Sanders-esque type numbers during his final season at UCF. Rushing yards: 2567 TD's: 29 YPC: 5.7 Fumbles: 0 Carries: 450 There's a reason 450 is in BOLD. That's an insane amount of carries at ANY level for ANY back. We're talking 450+ times being hit, 450+ times taking punishment. Even if that punishment was in Conference USA, not exactly known as a football power conference, is it any wonder Smith decided to turn pro? He'd have nothing left for the NFL if he returned to UCF for his senior season. In regard to Smith's workload, there's an NFL corollary known as the "Curse of 370." As taken from the excellent Football Outsiders… The 370-carry theory is generally summarized as follows: "A running back with 370 or more carries during the regular season will usually suffer either a major injury or loss of effectiveness the following year, unless he is named Eric Dickerson." The most recent NFL back to suffer from the "Curse of 370? was Seattle's Shaun AIexander, who declined so badly in 2007, he was released by the Seahawks. I'm aware Smith's high workload was at a lower level, and he didn't suffer the punishment of your typical NFL back, but that's a lot of wear on the legs for a kid coming out of college. Despite that workload caveat, Smith should be a good fit for the Lions. He's big and durable (Obviously), and can move the pile, with the main downside being he lacks big time speed. In other words, he's a Marinelli type football player. It's obvious the Lions wanted Smith, and wanted him badly. Why? Because Smith's depth chart competition is Tatum Bell, Brian Calhoun and Avieon Cason. Let's hope the durability carries over to the NFL, as the Lions need Smith to become their feature back. 3rd round (87th overall) Florida State DT Andre Fluellen Fluellen is a bit undersized for a tackle at 6?-2?, 296 lbs. When compared to ex-Lion Shaun Rogers, he's actually svelte. His draft stocked dropped due to suffering through an injury filled senior season, starting only 5 games. With his FSU pedigree, I'd expect Fluellen to play quite a as a rookie, as part of the defensive line rotation. Depth is always welcome on the line, and Fluellen should fit right in. With the drafting of Fluellen to join the defensive line rotation, I think it's worth noting the Lions had to find 2 players to take the place of one Big Baby. (When you factor in their signing of free agent Chuck Darby) I'm not saying it was a mistake to unload the rotund one, as he needed to go for the sake of locker room chemistry, but it left a massive roster void on the line. The Fluellen pick also tells us the Lions don't expect much production from Shaun Cody. The Lions now have Fluellen to take Cody's place next to the veterans Darby and Cory Redding, the starters manning the middle of the defensive line. For a player who at one time was expected to be a starter (When you consider his status as a 2005 2nd round draft pick), I think it's safe to say Cody can be considered another Millen drafted bust. 3ird round (92nd overall) Purdue DE Cliff Avril Another tweener (Marinelli has a thing for them, it seems, if you go by the drafting of the undersized Jordon Dizon and Fluellen), Avril has linebacker size (6?-3?, 252), and was scouted by some NFL teams as such. But he was drafted by the Lions to be a pure pass rushing defensive end. With Dewayne White on right side, the hope is Avril will pressure the QB from the left side on 3rd downs (Unlike the long gone Kalimba Edwards), as at 252 lbs, he's not going to be playing on running downs. This is another pick with Marinelli's fingerprints all over it, as Avril is a lineman he can hope to mold in the model of his players in Tampa. Unfortunately, the Sarge hasn't shown he actually can mold Lions, if you go by the high dollar/high profile flameouts of Big Baby and Edwards. But Avril does fill a definite need, and that's more than we can say about many past Lions draftees. Overall Grade: B- I know, it's the same grade I gave the day one picks, but it feels right. All 3 players drafted in this round fill a need, as RB, DT and DE were positions everyone thought the Lions needed to target as early in the draft as possible. So Millen and Marinelli get a passing grade for that alone. But the players targeted by the M & M boys all have caveats. There's Smith with his massive rushing workload and lack of burner speed, along with the size issues in regard to Fluellen and Avril. The linemen could also be considered slight reaches. Again, mostly due to their being undersized for their respective positions. The Lions needed to strike, if not gold, at least a valuable metal on the draft's 2nd day. Going by their 3rd round, I'll say they struck silver. Not bad, all in all… Next: The final 4 picks Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:54:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/274472 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/274472 New Lions defensive tackle, Chuck Darby, hopes to change the attitude of the teams defense. His methods might be a little strange, but it would be good to see at least one motivated player on that inept unit. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:12:31 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/210106 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/210106 The photograph is signature, perhaps the most famous of all snapshots taken of a franchise that hasn't sniffed a championship in 50 years. You'll find it in the team offices, in the media lounge at Ford Field, and probably in Bill Ford Sr.'s bedroom, for all I know. Packers quarterback Bart Starr IS in there, believe it or not. He's the one being swarmed and turned into a wrap for some hungry Lions defenders. It was Thanksgiving Day, 1962, and the Lions were hosting the Pack -- the putrid smell of their last-second loss to the Packers a month or so earlier still lining their nostrils. It was a loss so great that no less than Alex Karras theorized that it may have been the single most destructive force behind the Lions never again returning to championship caliber. The Lions, with the ball, a 7-6 lead and the clock showing under two minutes remaining, needed only to punt and pin the Packers deep and seal the victory. But on third down, QB Milt Plum tried a pass, the Lions receiver slipped, Herb Adderly intercepted, and moments later, Paul Hornung kicked the game-winning FG. Karras was so violently angry that he hurled his helmet at Plum's head in the locker room after the game. The entire defense, in fact, was violently angry. The Lions were a very good team in 1962, the only real competition for the Packers in the Western Division. Had they beaten the Packers in Green Bay that October afternoon, it would most likely be the Lions, not the Packers, in the NFL Championship game that December. So after stewing about the loss for weeks, and as the Lions matched the Packers victory-for-victory, the defense was absolutely ready to take on Green Bay in the Turkey Day rematch. The front seven destroyed the Packers and their vaunted and Hall of Fame-filled offensive line that day. They sacked Starr all afternoon, tossing him around like a rag doll. But one play encapsulated the day, and became the signature shot. I know you've seen the photo. It's of Karras, linebacker Joe Schmidt, and defensive linemen Darris McCord and Sam Williams, all with their arms wrapped around Starr. There's not a Packer o-lineman in sight. It's a grand picture for another reason. The Lions, through the years, have actually fielded some pretty darn good defensive lines and front sevens. It's been an area, truthfully, that normally hasn't been much of a concern, even in the more woeful-than-normal seasons. So it's natural that the image of the Lions engulfing Bart Starr would be of note. Even if, in your mind, the signature photo should be of a Lions QB fumbling a snap. Or of a bad snap for an extra point. Or of an offensive tackle springing up, drawing a flag for movement. The Lions open training camp this week, and again one of the team's strong points is deemed to be the front four -- the defensive linemen with the fat contracts and huge potential. Cory Redding and Shaun Rogers inside. Kalimba Edwards and DeWayne White on the outside. These four, we are told, might make Lions fans forget names like Karris, McCord, Williams, English, Pureifory, Cofer, and Baker. We'll see. They'll certainly make people forget those players' salaries. Redding was given the richest contract of any DT in the NFL. Rogers, when he cares to be, can make offensive linemen curl into the fetal position. Edwards is still trying to become dominant. White is just thrilled to be back with Rod Marinelli again (he was in Tampa Bay when Marinelli coached the d-line), and vows to wow. Again, we'll see. They may not convene at an opposing quarterback for a photo opportunity as rich as the 1962 pummeling of Bart Starr. But they'd better put some pressure on, because from what I understand, the secondary isn't much to write home about. Lem Barney has been retired for 30 years, you know. Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:08:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/20818 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/20818 The franchise player for the Detroit Lions, Cory Redding, signed a major deal today worth an estimated $49 million over 7 seasons. The DT is now the highest paid player at his position, and because of that now has monumental expectations placed upon his broad shoulders. Personally, I have never even heard of Cory Redding, but maybe that's because I never watch the Lions nor are they ever on TV. As a result of that, I feel like he doesn't necessarily deserve that kind of money, but when do they ever deserve the kind of cash they're bringing home? Anybody know anything significant about this guy to warrant this signing? Tue, 17 Jul 2007 05:01:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/19939 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/19939 When you think of defensive tackles in the NFL you think of Casey Hampton,Tommie Harris, Jamal Williams or the Jaguars tandem of Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. But none of them are the highest paid player at their position. That distinction belongs to the Lions' Cory Redding who signed a $49 million dollar deal with 16 million of that being guaranteed. Redding had a very quiet breakout season last year as he switched from defensive end and recorded 8 sacks. He should get more attention this year on his way to helping the Lions become a playoff contender. Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:23:15 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/19896 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/19896 The last draft i analyzed was the 2002 draft and that was a washout where some key positions were weak on talent. This draft is loaded on talent and could be very interesting so here is my 2003 all draft team. Offense QB: Carson Palmer Round 1 Pick 1 RB: Willis McGahee Round 1 Pick 23 RB: Larry Johnson Round 1 Pick 27 WR: Andre Johnson Round 1 Pick 3 WR: Anquan Boldin Round 2 Pick 54 TE: L.J. Smith Round 2 Pick 61 T: Jordan Gross Round 1 Pick 8 G: Eric Steinbach Round 2 Pick 33 C: Dan Koppen Round 5 Pick 164 G: Vince Manuwai Round 3 Pick 72 T: Tony Pashos Round 5 Pick 173 Defense: DE: Terrell Suggs Round 1 Pick 10 DT: Kevin Williams Round 1 Pick 9 DT: Cory Redding Round 3 Pick 66 DE: Robert Mathis Round 5 Pick 138 LB: Lance Briggs Round 3 Pick 68 LB: Nick Barnett Round 1 Pick 29 LB: Cato June Round 6 Pick 198 CB: Rashean Mathis Round 2 Pick 39 CB: Asante Samuel Round 4 Pick 120 S: Troy Polamalu Round 1 Pick 16 S: Ken Hamlin Round 2 Pick 42 Sun, 08 Jul 2007 03:49:31 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/18982 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/18982 With talk of the NFL Draft increasing, the Detroit Lions may have the largest amount of ground to make up. After another season of sub-par football played well below expectations and hopes set by people across Detroit, Matt Millen may finally see his job is in jeopardy. Which position will the Lions take with the #2 overall selection? Sat, 10 Mar 2007 06:14:47 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/11018 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/11018