Lions off season signings

[moochman]

So the Lions opened the free agent period with another WR signing (Nate Burleson), a trade a 5th round pick for DT Corey Williams and a 7th rnd pick, and signing of name DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. Also resigned has been Jon Jansen to a one year deal.
These moves are being praised by some because they fill areas of need. Well, what areas are ones of need? Except for starting QB we are a well of need.
My knee-Jerk reaction is that Mayhew is proving himself to be more clever Millen. DoorMatt would have drafted his bust WRs, Mayhew overpays underachieving WRs. Burleson had his best year in a Linehan system. But that was years ago in Minnesota when I think Fran Tarkington was the QB. Since then Burleson has been either too injured to stay on the field or performed at below expectations. Not exactly the type of receiver I would throw $11 Millen dollars guaranteed to. Oh, and he once was a decent kick returner. Again, though, that was back when GM ruled the automotive industry. On the optimistic side, If the shadow of Burleson can play close to his former self, he is a very good mate for Megatron. Bit too much of a stretch for me to endorse.
Corey Williams? Who is he? Well he is a 6'4" 320lb DT who spent the last two seasons playing in a D scheme that did not match his talents. He last played well for the Packers in 06 and 07, recording 14 sacks. This is the Lions hope. That he can somehow recapture his days of old in the style D that he once did well in. But that was 4 seasons ago, almost a career for the average player. He will be well paid, considering his production of late, at $9.6 mil over two years. The draft pick means little to me compared to the reaching into system theory of talent evaluation. I'm okay with the deal. If he does well he will be too old to give a big deal too, if he flops it could be used to help fire Mayhew in two years. And with our D line, anyone who might show up to play every week is an improvement.
Kyle Vanden Bosch. 31 years old, hasn't produced up to his name since losing linemate Haynesworth to injury and free agency. So we pay the man $26 Millen Dollars for 4 seasons that can't possibly near the seasons he built his name on. Positives: the current D line sucks and if we get Suh or
McCoy he might mesh with them like he did with Haynesworth. Downside, has never really been productive except for times when riding Haynesworths' coattails. He is old. Has a familiar feel of a players cashing in on a desperate clueless team that at best won't be a contending until Kyle is done. Sadly I think that we see that Mayhew, like his teacher, is drawn to names over talent and seems to lack a cohesive plan for ressuecting this moribound franchise. Rare are the teams that ever win at free agent bingo. But the Lions under genius twins Mayhew and Lewand will prove to the world how smart they are. I hope they do, and I hope they do soon.

What are your thoughts?

[nimzox]

Like you, I hope that I am proved wrong, but I think the signing of Van Bosch was a terrible move. He's old and hasn't done squat the last couple seasons. I think they over paid for Burleson, but if he can stay healthy it's very possible he could really help the offense. They should have went after Boldin. He and Calvin could of tore it up!

[Dan Lambskin]

i dont really have any issue with the moves...we'll have to see how it plays out on the field, but anything that makes us more competitive is a good move in my eyes. i've long since given up on trying to make any sense out of NFL contracts, for me it's almost impossible to tell if someone is overpaid anymore until you start hearing "we cant sign X because Y is due $" and even then it seems like you can just cut guys to avoid paying them

obviously we still need a good draft this year, but at least these guys fill some holes for us and might even by "not that bad". if that happens and we do end up with a season in 2011 another good FA period and 2011 draft and we might even have a shot at the playoffs...a lot of "ifs" though

[dream_017]

i dont really have any issue with the moves...we'll have to see how it plays out on the field, but anything that makes us more competitive is a good move in my eyes. i've long since given up on trying to make any sense out of NFL contracts, for me it's almost impossible to tell if someone is overpaid anymore until you start hearing "we cant sign X because Y is due $" and even then it seems like you can just cut guys to avoid paying them

obviously we still need a good draft this year, but at least these guys fill some holes for us and might even by "not that bad". if that happens and we do end up with a season in 2011 another good FA period and 2011 draft and we might even have a shot at the playoffs...a lot of "ifs" though

I'm with Dan.

My look at it is...who is really going to come to the Lions. Last check, they have won 2 games since 2008. I'm pretty sure we are not going to get the top free agents. Both of these guys know the system that is being put in place and can help. I forget, who was the stud receiver on the other side of Burleson in Seattle for years? Last year they had a pretty good #1 and he finished with 4 less catches than the Lions own CJ and 172 yards less. Maybe we should give #81 to Burleson Like you mention Mooch, he does do punt returns and did decent last year in that role compared to his previous numbers in returns.

D-line??? All we have talked about was what a mess the D-line is. So, we get 2 and possible a 3rd in the draft and that is a mistake? Williams stats again don't look that bad and they are shipping him out of Cle because they are changing scheme...not necessarily because he is bad. KVB was a 2 time pro bowler under the Schwartz in 4 years. 1 of those years he only played 10 games and looked to be well on his way to more sacks than we have seen from the Lions since...since....since....have the Lions sacked anyone?

Again, this is not going to be a 1 year turnaround, but I think they are addressing needs and getting things done. Another good to decent draft and we should actually have a football team again, hell some free agents may even WANT to sign with us next year. I'm not saying this is the greatest free agent period of all time, but for the Lions I think it is the best they could have done.

So, to those that don't agree. What would you have liked to see done?

[moochman]

I guess there are some of my reservations, Dream. This is not a quickie rebuilding project. So VandenBocsh and Burleson won't be there to help when the team should be ready to take the big step toward contendermanship (<--nice, eh? )
Does the revamping of the D Line with VandenBocsh and Williams mean the Lions will draft Suh or McCoy and then O? This team needs an injection of young talent on the D line and secondary. This move is at best a stop gap. Should make the Lions better this year, but could impede the rebuild needed for the team to be better for years.

Ah, nuts. I just don't trust the twins. I see no real plan here, just poking fingers in the dyke and blaming Millen for the leaks.

[dream_017]

I guess there are some of my reservations, Dream. This is not a quickie rebuilding project. So VandenBocsh and Burleson won't be there to help when the team should be ready to take the big step toward contendermanship (<--nice, eh? )
Does the revamping of the D Line with VandenBocsh and Williams mean the Lions will draft Suh or McCoy and then O? This team needs an injection of young talent on the D line and secondary. This move is at best a stop gap. Should make the Lions better this year, but could impede the rebuild needed for the team to be better for years.

Ah, nuts. I just don't trust the twins. I see no real plan here, just poking fingers in the dyke and blaming Millen for the leaks.

They might still be around, but I don't think D-line is out of the question in the draft as well as D-backs. From what I see, I think they do have a plan(very little timeframe to judge 1 draft and 1 1/2 FA periods), but if they plug some holes in FA and draft young good talent to take over then they are doing what they say and should be able to turn this thing around. With as many holes as they have they can not fix everything in 1-2 or maybe even 3 drafts. You would need to hit on every pick and hit in both the early and late rounds, so they do still need some veterans and/or FA to fill some holes and like I said, not much to choose from when you win 2 games over 2 seasons.

I know you hate the blaming Millen, but that jackhammer he took to the dyke did a lot of damage.

[moochman]

Its not that I don't hold Millen responsible for using the jackhammer, it just rankles me to hear him being scapegoated by the surviving staff of the Lions FO. Odd, though, that I should take more pleasure out of seeing Millen suffer the scapegoating that he was so quick to dole out during the reign of error.
Maybe Mayhew should simply try and keep his mouth shut and go about the business of trying to plug the holes before the rains of September threaten to break the levee and open up the fLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLood gates.

Gosh I hope I am wrong and that the twins know what they are doing.

[moochman]

Lions add LG Sims from Seattle and a 7th rnd pick for a 5th rnd pick. MLive reports that

According to a league source, the Detroit Lions have traded a fifth-round draft choice to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for veteran guard Rob Sims and a seventh-round choice.

The Lions also sent defensive lineman Robert Henderson to the Seahawks as part of the deal. The Lions have been trying to fill their gap at left guard for almost a decade

Sims, 26, is going into his fifth NFL season and has already started 34 total games, including 14 last year for the Seahawks. The 6-3, 312-pound guard was a fourth-round pick by the Seahawks in 2006.

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/04/detroit_lions_send_fifth-round.html

Seems like a pretty nice move by Mayhew that, if nothing else, likely means the Leos won't draft an OL with their first pick. Suh or McCoy now become the leaders in the clubhouse. Especially with the moronic Iggles trading of McNabb to the Skins. Would have thought the Skins would have been very willing to trade to move up for a chance at a QB, but not sure there are enough teams left with burning desires to make a deal.
back to Sims. If he can solidfy the L side of the line, maybe Backus can cheat a little to the outside and not get burned so badly on outside speed rushes. Now if we could only get a real center...

[Dan Lambskin]

i like the move...of course it needs to show results on the field though. it's nice that when you are as bad as the Lions have been you can get decent players simply because they dont fit other teams systems anymore

[AquaMan2342]

Hot rumor right now is Cliff Avril for Ted Ginn Jr. Guessing we might pick up a pick in that deal also.