Lions' collapse reeks of Millen
12/11/2007
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Six weeks ago the Lions blasted the Broncos 44-7 at Ford Field. That was also the last time they won a football game.
Since crushing the Broncos to go to 6-2, the Lions have lost five straight games to drop to 6-7 on the season. In those five games, they’ve been outscored 154-94 and have lost in a variety of ways. The Vikings blew them out 42-10 in Week 13; they played uninspired in a 16-10 loss to the Giants in Week 11; and they lost a 28-27 heartbreaker to the Cowboys last Sunday.
Though some might be surprised to see the Lions collapse, their freefall has actually been in the making since April.
Calvin Johnson is a phenomenal prospect and might someday turn into a fantastic player, but the Lions should have addressed other needs in this year’s draft. Now, you’re probably saying to yourself, “You’re an idiot! Calvin Johnson was the best prospect in the draft!” True, but the Lions have been drafting the supposed best available player for years and still continue to lose.
In 2005, general manager Matt Millen selected USC wide receiver Mike Williams with the 10th overall pick. At the time, some argued that Williams was the best player left on the board. However, the two players drafted after Williams were linebacker/defensive end DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys) and outside linebacker Shawne Merriman (Chargers).
Would Merriman or Ware have become the players they are now had the Lions drafted them? We can’t answer that question unequivocally, but it’s probably safe to assume that they’d still be in Detroit, unlike Williams, who is now on his third team after being traded by the Lions and cut by the Raiders.
Hindsight is always 20/20, right? Wrong. Millen flat out chose the wrong player just based on position alone.
Wide receiver is easily the most overvalued position in the NFL. When the Patriots won three Super Bowls from 2001 to 2004, they didn’t have a true number one receiver. Deion Branch and David Givens were good, but not Torry Holt, Terrell Owens or Randy Moss good. When the Eagles made four consecutive postseason appearances from 2000 to 2003, Freddie Mitchell was their number one receiver. Freddie Mitchell!
People love to wax poetic about how good the Cardinals and Bengals’ receiving corps are but other than the Bengals’ playoff appearance in 2005, has either team done anything? Teams simply overvalue the receiver position.
The Lions had a perfect opportunity this year to build off last year’s draft. In 2006, Millen passed on quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler and instead selected Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims. In his rookie campaign, Sims led the team in tackles with 125 and is on pace to do so again this year.
In this year’s draft, Millen passed on cornerstone left tackle Joe Thomas and feature back Adrian Peterson, opting instead for another wide receiver. With the selection of Johnson, Millen has now taken a wideout in four of the past five drafts.
I don’t blame Millen for passing on Peterson considering the former Oklahoma star was coming off a shoulder injury and had durability issues. Plus, in Mike Martz’ system, Peterson would have probably been a waste considering he’s not a great target out of the backfield ala Marshall Faulk.
I do blame Millen, however, for passing on Thomas as well as stud linebacker Patrick Willis. Middle linebacker was a huge need for the Lions and instead of pairing Willis with Sims, Millen again chose a wide receiver.
In their five-game losing streak, opponents have averaged close to 110 yards a game on the ground. Think Willis (who leads the 49ers with 136 tackles) could have helped stuff Peterson or Ryan Grant the past couple of weeks? People are going to be quick to note that Willis would have been a reach at number two. However, Sims was a reach at No. 9 last year and look how he’s turned out. What’s more important: drafting based on where you pick or getting the right player?
Teams have also averaged three sacks a game against the Lions over the past five weeks, dropping quarterback Jon Kitna a total of 15 times. Think Thomas (who has been excellent on the Browns’ offensive line) could have kept Kitna upright?
What makes the selection of Johnson even worse is that in Martz’s offense, the Lions could have managed with Roy Williams, Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald. They didn’t have to throw another receiver into the mix to be competitive, even if it meant passing on a talent like Calvin Johnson. There’s only one football, folks, so why have an abundance of depth at an overrated position?
Furthermore, instead of addressing needs in the second round by taking a shot at defensive backs Chris Houston, Eric Weddle or Eric Wright, Millen selected Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton.
Why draft a quarterback with Kitna and intriguing third-year backup Dan Orlovsky on the roster? Didn’t Millen think that maybe he could have waited another year to get a quarterback? Why take one in the second round and on top of that, why Stanton? As soon as he got into Lions training camp, reports surfaced that Martz had to completely change his throwing motion. Shortly after that, Stanton injured his knee and was placed on IR. To throw salt in the wounds of Detroit fans, Buffalo drafted Trent Edwards in the third round and he’s already a starter.
Again, hindsight is 20/20, but the fact of the matter is that Millen blew opportunities over the past couple of drafts to land starters – starters who could have helped the Lions stay competitive all season.
Now granted, it hasn’t been all Millen’s fault. Martz has a tendency to over think himself in crucial situations, Kitna continues to be turnover-prone and the defense has a knack for giving up the big play. However, it’s the job of a good GM to put the right pieces in place for a team to succeed and Millen simply hasn’t done that.
Some might be quick to point out that Millen did sign defensive end Dewayne White (team leader in sacks with 6.5) this offseason, but where did White previously play? Tampa Bay. Where did head coach Rod Marinelli come from? Tampa Bay. What did Marinelli coach while he was with Tampa Bay? Defensive line. Anyone who thinks White was a Millen signing is clearly heavily medicated right now.
Had Millen taken the time to bolster the offensive line, linebackers and/or defensive backfield this offseason (or any offseason for that matter), maybe the Lions would have locked up a playoff spot by now. Johnson has shown flashes of greatness this year, but he’s useless if Kitna doesn’t have time to throw or the defense is giving up 26 points a game. A better GM knows that you don’t build a team from the outside in – you build it from in the inside out.
Just look at Cleveland. When the Browns drafted dynamic playmakers Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards in 2004 and 2005, respectively, they didn’t immediately become contenders. It wasn’t until GM Phil Savage spent time and money to upgrade the offensive line through free agency and the draft that the Browns became good. Now they’re 8-5 and on the brink of a playoff spot.
The Browns are just one example, too. Take a look at what positions the Patriots, Colts, Steelers and Seahawks have upgraded over the years. And how good have those teams been?
The Lions’ collapse this season falls on Millen. He continues to fail at his job and with that, the Lions continue to lose. It might be a surprise that the Lions are now 6-7 after starting 6-2, but when you take a deeper look, the writing has been on the wall for months, if not years.
Questions or comments? Send them to astalter@bullz-eye.com.