Hello my name is Nolan Vasan and I would like to introduce myself to the Football Blogzone. In short, I am the editor and webmaster of the NFL Draft site, www.NFLDraftGeek.com Check it out after you are done reading all the tremendous blogs on this network. I am a huge draft geek, and a Diehard Lions fan. To start things off I’m going to give you guys a look into what I thought of the Lions Draft Class. All-in-all I thought it was fantastic, as they got the best overall player (Suh) and the best running back (Jahvid Best). I gave them an A+ overall grade, one of only 3 teams to receive such a grade. So here it is…
Round 1 Pick #2- Ndamukong Suh (DT Nebraska)
Ndamukong Suh is the best player to come out on defense since Charles Woodson 10 years ago, he is unlike anything we have seen as a defensive tackle prospect coming out of college. Everything about him can be described as “Ideal”, size, athleticism, physicality, and character are all 10 out of 10. He was unquestionably the best player in this years draft, and anybody who tells you otherwise is crazy, so if it was possible to get a “Steal” with the 2nd overall pick, the Lions did so. Detroit will be getting a dominant player immediately, I don’t anticipate a large learning curve at all for Suh. He will also make their defense remarkably better just as quickly, as he demands a double team, and will free up space for the rest of the Lions D-line man to work. Detroit’s defensive line that was once a gaping hole, is now a strength with the additions of Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams, and Ndamukong Suh.
Grade- A+
Round 1 Pick #30- Jahvid Best (RB California)
This years class of running backs was surprisingly weak as there was not 1 guy who could be singled out as a complete back, but in my opinion Jahvid Best was the top back available in the draft. Although there are concerns about his durability, and injuries that have bothered him in the past, I see most of them to be flukes and indicate nothing about a propensity to be frequently injured in the future. If Best had not suffered a concussion late in the season, I think he would have been the first back taken. He is the fastest running back in the draft, and is an absolute terror in the open field, and possibly his best trait is his tremendous vision, despite his smaller stature, he runs between the tackles exceptionally well, and is not just an outside runner. Best gives them the playmaker at Running Back that they haven’t had since Barry Sanders retired.
Grade- A
Round 3 Pick #66- Amari Spievey (CB Iowa)
Detroit desperately needed to add a cornerback early on in the draft, and got good value with Amari Spievey in the third round. Really the only knock against Spievey is his lack of elite speed and athleticism, not that he is slow, but a 4.5 40 for a cornerback is not that good. Detroit will be getting a very physical cornerback who excels in bump and run coverage, he has the size and strength to match-up with the biggest receivers in the league, and offers great run support, very willing to come up and throw his body around, and is a reliable tackler. Spievey will start for the Lions from day 1, and will hopefully add some consistency to a position that has been a liability in Detroit for many years.
Grade- B+
Round 4 Pick #128- Jason Fox (OT Miami)
Jason Fox would have been selected much earlier if not for a knee injury that forced him to miss his teams bowl game, and required surgery during the Draft’s preseason. At 6-7 314, and above average athleticism Fox is a very talented player who may take some time to develop, but has all the tools to be a excellent tackle at the next level. Coach Jim Schwartz has made it evident that former first round tackle Gosder Cherilus can be upgraded, and if he falters early on, Fox could be thrown into the fire much earlier than expected.
Grade- B+
Round 7 Pick #213- Willie Young (DE NC State)
Willie Young is a very underrated player in my opinion, I felt he would be best as a 3-4 rush linebacker, but the Lions plan to use him as a 3rd down speed rusher which should be a fine fit for him. Young has shown flashes of being a dominant pass rusher, and was leading the NCAA in through week 5 until nagging injuries derailed his Senior season. To be a full-time player, Young will have to get much better against the run, but he should be effective early on as a very fast, athletic pass rusher. Good value in the 7th.
Grade- B+
Round 7 Pick #255- Tim Toone (WR Weber State)
Not only is Tim Toone Mr. Irrelevant, but if there was an award for ugliest player ever drafted, he probably would have won that too (Dreadlocks on a White Boy?). Anyway, Tim Toone was drafted to be a punt/kick returner, as he allegedly runs a 4.4 40, and flashed the ability to be a playmaker while at Weber State. I would have liked to see the Lions go after a player that actually has potential to contribute on offense, but I will just let Tim Toone enjoy being Mr Irrelevant.
Grade- C
So there you have it, my first entry into the Football Blogzone. Look forward to blogging much more frequently on here, and I hope you enjoyed it enough to continue coming back.
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I read your blog frequently and I just thought I’d say continue the terrific work!