Post-Draft Fireside Chat Podcast, Feat. Jason Hanson
>> 5.01.2012
UPDATE: some are struggling with the Ustream embedded Flash. Here’s the direct link to the .mp3.
It's the post-draft Fireside Chat, featuring an interview with legendary Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson! Arguably the Lions' greatest second-round pick of all time, Hanson talks about his own draft day experience, and what it's like outlasting everyone but the owner.
Also, we talk draft. Here's part one, before the network drop:
. . . and here's part 2:
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18 comments:
I do not understand all the hate I see with our second pick. First of all, the people hating wants to get younger on the Oline and with Vanden Bosch. What about with Cory Williams and Nate Burleson? Burleson was good last year, but it had to do more with him being able to make the catch and Stafford being able to get the ball to him. He does not have youthful talents anymore.
Last year we went into the draft needing a third reliable wide reciever. Any body remembers that? What would have happened if Calvin Johnson did tear is archilles last year because he had to play? We would have lost him for the season and purhaps most of this season. We would have been back to only two reliable wide recievers too.
One thing Linehan may have brought to our draft philosopy is that the receiver must be able to catch the ball reliably in traffic. He kept referring to Burleson his first year while Burleson was still with Seatle. So last year we select on of the most reliable catching the ball with talent in Young. This year we do the same with Broyles.
In the off season, Mayhew stated he had to get depth in order to protect the team from injury. Like it or not, he did just that with the second round pick.
I am going to talk of the Lion's first round pick here. But first off I have to give my support to Backus.
Jeff Backus has been a warrior over the years for the Lion's and perhaps thier best Olineman every year he has been on the team. Until this up coming season, he has never had a reliable backup to come in to let him heal up from injury either. Please name one, just one, in the last 11 seasons. He has played through multiple injuries. A couple years it was a high ankle sprain. There was years when he had turf toe, sprained foot, or broken hand. In 11 seasons we may never know how many injuries he has played through.
People look at stats a few years later and state he is a terrible tackle. They have stated that he gave up 10 sacks one year when so and so gave up only 6 while only playing 11 games. I don't know if alot of these nay sayers have only the reason because he played at UM. There are many people in Michigan that hate anything to do with UM. After Mike Hart's statement, I dont blame them.
Backus run blocking is still perhaps the best on the team. It is not his fault that a running lane is not openned for it takes at least 2 to do it. Riola's play calling may also be tipping the other team. If one points a finger in my direction, I will say something is more than likely coming my way.
Backus has played the LT spot for at least the past 19 years. Is he veraltile, we and the so called experts do not know. Reiff has played 2 years at LT, and another at LG and RT. What makes most everyone believe that is our starting LT next year or even this year? Do they want thier best Olineman replaced before up grading any other position first? That to me does not make sense.
Reiff and Backus had almost mirror image stats from the combine. They were drafted almost the same spot in the draft too. What makes Reiff that much better than Backus? Is it age over experience, or is it just something new?
To me, Backus played just a notch under Hall of Fame LTs, but never got the recognition he deserved to get while playing on some very bad teams.
One last thing to some of the MLive posters. Steve Huntchinson was drafted before Backus. Many did believe that Hutchinson was higher on the Lion's list. That was Millen's first draft. After the draft, the scouting director let becouse of the disagreent between him and Millen and has worked with the Stealers the last 10 years.
So continuing on to Riley Rieff from my previous post. Where does Rieff fit in this year and next since Backus is under contract for the next two years. Lets first examine what we have.
At the tackle positions we have our best Olineman in Backus and Cherilus. Niether one has any versatility. Backus has been a LT only for most is life playing football, and only a LT from the his days at Michigan and with the LIons. Cherilus, with his build and long arms, is only an outside guy. The coaching staff said as much last off season. Cherilus was also coming back from off season surgery, which was microfracture knee surgery. Other than a couple bone headed games, he had a solid season. If he can keep his mistakes to a minimum, like 2 or less per game, he should be the starting RT. We also have Fox on the roster that the caoching staff is still high on. He was a four year starter at LT for the University of Miami of Florida.
So now we go to the interior linemen.
Riola has been a starter for nearly 11 seasons now. He is on the small side at can get blown up at times, and his teammates at times try to compensate for that. Other times is trying to over compensate for an injured teammate playing next to him. He calls a very good game, but may tipped the other team in what we are trying to run, like with his head bob on the snap. He can be overly aggresive and miss the delayed blitz.
Peterman when healthy is our most balanced gaurd on the team. He does a good job with run block and pass block. The problem is can he stay healthy below the thighs. He has had signicant injuries that have really caused a decline in production most of his career.
Sims is a very good pass blocker, and adequate run blocker. Most of the time when run blocking, it is like a stalemate unless the DT is slanting.
One more thing to keep in mind is that Peterman (injury) and Sims (run block) were cast offs from Dallas and Seatle.
So where does Rieff fit in again? As a versatile player, my thoughts are anywhere, but mostly likely at LG if everyone is healthy.
While the draft may not be sexy, but it's a solid draft all around.
Rieff is one pick that I didn't particularly like, but I will trust the front office on this one because they know more than I do. I gave Rieff an early to mid 2nd round grade. He is a decent athlete. He needs to get stronger and is more of a technician. With Stafford at QB, it's almost not going to matter who's at LT because his smart, quick release is going to hide Rieff's deficiencies.
While some are really upset with Bryoles pick, but it's a very good pick. He is a dynamic WR who is excellent in YAC and can catch in traffic. He would be an outstanding slot WR and would make defense pay by double covering CJ down at the seam. He is a replacement for Nate Burleson when his contract runs out.
I liked Dwight Bentley more than most. While he's diminutive in stature but his athleticism, quick feet and loose hips is what's going to make him a really good nickel CB. Very aggressive CB who likes to undercut routes and has outstanding closing speed. However, he's raw and needs to tighten up the cushion. Upside is huge with Bentley.
Ronnell Lewis is a good athlete and is a man without position. But with the Lions picking him, I think they will play him mostly at special team and a situational rush end from DE or LB spot.
Most are really upset with Tahir Whitehead pick, but I love the pick. He is relentless, athletic and can rush the passer. He can bend, showed variety of pass rush moves and can close in a hurry. Like Lewis, his role will be very similar as a special teamer but will be a situational pass rusher at DE or LB.
Chris Greenwood is the only one that I have not seen for obvious reasons. He seems to have the measureables to be a quality CB. I will reserve judgement until I see him on the field.
Jonte Greene is an athletic CB but is raw in terms of techniques. Can get a bit leggy in transition and doesn't always see the ball well. He's a classic PS candidate.
Travis Lewis is one of the guy whom everybody loves, but in reality is overrated. He is a man without a position. Not athletic enough to play LB, but not big enough to play DE. Hard for me to decide where he'll play, but my guess is he'll play at rush LB. However, with the picks of Lewis and Whitehead, Lewis may not sniff the team roster.
Would love to watch but I'm not getting any audio... anyone else have this problem?
Oh no! Works for me on Windows, Mac, iPhone . . . what are you trying to watch on?
Well said. The role Burleson plays is crucial, and who knows how much longer he'll be able to play it at a high level?
Yes, I've always been a defender of Jeff Backus. His biggest crime was having the worst season of his career immediately after signing a huge extension . . . other than that, he's been incredibly reliable, above-average in nearly every way, and criminally underappreciated.
Yes, I tried for like a half hour and gave up. I do have a problem with Flash Player too.
I have a Dell and am using Windows. The audio on my comp works and I can clearly hear the commercial before the video starts up. Not sure what the problem is... is there a link to Ustream I can watch it on?
Hey Ty I can't get audio for the second video either. The first video worked just fine though...
Okay, I updated the post with a direct link to the .mp3. Lemme know if that doesn't work for you folks.
Link to the mp3 worked, thanks Ty!
that worked
Was he underappreciated when he completely whiffed on Julius Peppers, allowing him to effectively end Stafford's 2nd season? I certainly didn't appreciate it.
So what you are implying is:
1) No offensive lineman, playing in the opponents stadium has ever missed a snap count?
2) That Stafford or Riola did not jump the snap count or cadence a bit?
3) Or being a tackle, he should always be watching the ball for the snap and not the all pro Julius Peppers? While playing on the outside, I don't even know if he can so the ball.
4) Or that perhaps the new starting guard, playing is first game with the Lions, did not get started as fast as he should have?
5) Or perhaps the official may have missed the whistle for improachment with the game in Chicago?
6) Are you saying that officials can not be a fan of the game, and perhaps a Bears fan and gave Peppers the benefit of the doubt for improachment?
7) Or that Peppers is an All-Pro because they have to choose someone to represent the All-Pro team.
There was never anything printed in the media that suggested what actually happened. We don't know who was doing the appoligies afterwards. Perhaps it was Stafford, Riola, or Sims. Want happened on that play stayed in the locker room.
To assume it was only one person that got beat on the play is... I will let anyone reading to fill in the blank for having assumptions, and we all do it at some time.
I will have to give the accused the benefit of the doubt since it was very uncharactoristic of Backus.
I'm no guru, but from looking at the tape of the play it seems to me like Peppers just got some absolutely ridiculous explosion off the line, and Backus (who was also watching for an inside cut/delayed blitz) was completely unprepared for it. That's not a knock on him, that's Peppers proving he was worth $15 million a year.
I would have to agree Ty. I dont remember the full details of that season. Believe he gave up 12 sacks that season, so did a little research on him and for the 2006 season.
In his career of 11 seasons he has started every single game. All true Lion's fans should know that. That is 176 straight starts in regular season games. Team Rush during that time is 1555, I believe that would be total offensive snaps. He had given up 36 sacks total in his 11 seasons. So Backus, or Sackus as some refer to, on average gives up less than 1 sack per every 3 games played and less than 5 per season.
In his worst season, he had first year coaches in Marenelli, Martz and Colleto. I believe that is the year they also went to the zone blocking scheme. He had a new Quarterback in Jon Kitna, and a new starting LG in Ross Verba. The interesting thing on Verba is he did not play in 2005, and 2006 is the last time he played.
So being Franchised that year, he did not have any OTAs or Mini Camps. Had to learn a new blocking scheme under all the new coaches with 7 step Quarterback drop where the offense was passing like 80% of the time (?), and had a LT playing guard full time for the first time in career. Wow.
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