On Friday, the Detroit Lions did something I don’t think any of us saw coming. With our 44th pick in the 2nd round we took WR from Boise State, Titus Young. Young is compared to Philadelphia Eagles star receiver Desean Jackson and all of us Lions fans can only hope that what the Eagles get out of Jackson, we get out of Young.
I’m sure many of you are still upset with the Lions pick of Young as was I at first but I see why the Lions have done this now. Last year, Stafford went down, came back and went down again and again. Only to not get back up and I think the coaching staff is afraid that he might go down again this year and never get back up to play in the NFL. So now you may ask, well why wouldn’t they draft an offensive lineman? Good point but why draft offensive linemen when you can draft instant playmakers who can make plays whether you have a franchise QB in Stafford or not? Titus Young can be a playmaker as surprising as that may sound. He is small but very fast and he does have great hands. Go ahead and watch the film of him, there is no denying his speed or hands. Young will force defenses to play man to man coverage with Burleson, Johnson and himself. Of course the safeties could play cover 2 or possibly double team Johnson but that still allows Young or Burleson to go deep and out run a nickel back. (ex: Alphonso Smith got beat all day by Tom Brady and Deion Branch last year) With all this being said I think we need to take in this Titus Young pick, like it and support the Lions for making the decision of drafting him.
Now to the pick that I’m indifferent on. With the 57th overall pick in the 2nd round, the Detroit Lions select RB from Illinois, Mikel Leshoure. Leshoure is 6’0, 230 pound back who obviously is here to bring the power-speed combo for the Lions. Morris obviously isn’t what the Lions are looking for anymore, Kevin Smith is done so that left us with Jahvid Best who has injury concerns. So drafting Leshoure does make since now doesn’t it? I think so. I don’t like that we gave up 4 picks in return of 2 but that just goes to show that Jim Schwartz and Martin Mayhew are confident enough in themselves and their team to convince some key free agents to come here and play for them (Stephen Tulloch, Ike Taylor, Nnamdi Asmougha,price tag too high probably, Carlos Rogers). There are going to be guys out there for Lions to try to grab, sure some of these guys aren’t elite at their position but drafting in the 3rd and 4th round do you honestly expect the Lions do draft someone who’s going to be elite? Drafting defensive players in the mid rounds is very tough to do because most of those players show glimpses of being great but then there are games when those players just look average. I’m talking about guys such as Akeem Ayers (who was already off the board anyways) and Brandon Harris. But back to Leshoure, this man ran for over 100 yards in 9 of the 13 games played last year for the Fighting Illini. Mind you against Northwestern he ran for over 300 yards. Sure it was only one season out of 3 but it’s quite obvious that the Lions aren’t worried. If he’s playing like that in college now, he’ll make that transition in the NFL. With him playing next to Best, he also won’t have to worry about coming in, playing every down and he won’t have to worry about being the instant star. He can come in, take his time and learn this offense and will be able to do what he can do best, run people over. I’m still baffled to why they gave up so much for the pick but overall it makes sense when you lay the pieces of the puzzle out and begin to put it all together.
The aging defenses such as the Vikings and Bears better watch out because the Lions have brought speed and power to the Motor City! GOOOOOOOO LIONS!!!!!
Overall draft grade – B+
