Stanley70

is this season already done, we can't even score a run as the hitters make outs whilst the motown forum board pouts and the summer hasn't even begun

The Tigers won't be a consistent over 500 team until they start producing homegrown, cost controlled, first division position players. Supposedly they are integrating a bunch of analytics and technology in the minors that will start yielding results, but even that will take time. I'm not sure how Avila gets credit for these changes when he is about 10 years behind the rest of MLB.

AJ has had to get creative because he has a flawed roster that is somehow last in homeruns and stolen bases. And bad at defense. Grossman, Meadows, Badoo, and Reyes are all LF'ers. The middle infield reserves are below averaged defenders at SS. And the bat first bench guy in Haase is bad wherever you put him, and he is not a good hitter either.

The reason the Tigers are so bad have nothing to do to with the payroll. So you aren't even complaining about the correct problem. We are 5 years into a rebuild and we do not have a home grown prospect in the lineup that wasn't drafted #1 overall. No franchise, especially one not located in New York or Los Angeles, can compete without developing homegrown cost controlled talent.

I think Goff will be at a mediocre level for the next few years where they won't have to replace him, but they would like to if the correct opportunity presents itself. If Goff plays ok this year, next year they can concentrate on the back 7 on defense and depth. They should have quite a bit of cap space, more if they rework Goff's contract, and 2 first round picks. But if they can bring in a good QB Holmes has shown he will pounce.

They needed a 3 technique out of this draft almost as much as they needed a linebacker. Paschal hopefully can provide that. And they are moving to a 4-3 this year which will probably not be much of a difference than the 3-4 last year when they had Nick Williams, Brockers, and McNeil on the field on first down. I'm guessing even though they are calling it a 4-3 they will still have 3 300 pounders on the field in the base package. So Paschal could play an end position in that set up depending on how they do it.

Brisket or Dean for me. There are.still a ton of LB's, they could trade back too.

I think the Lions can get a decent LB and safety in free agency. Finding a game breaking WR is much more difficult. I think Williams is a fast as Hill, he we leaving SEC defensive backs in the dust. He would have been low 4.3's at least, maybe 4.2's if he ran. They should just take the BPA on defense, hopefully Brisker, Dean, or Pitre.

Burks ran a 4.55

Didn't sound like he was excited to be a Lion.

They needed playmakers and they have one on offense and defense now.

Yea Saints taking Willis here.

From the interviews of him i have watched he comes across as in intelligent guy who has plans for the future. He's a tournament level chess player and like chess he is always thinking ahead. He talks about his non football plans a lot and that is probably what brings up red flags for some. Here is a quote i cut from a story about him earlier this year: "The only reason people care about this story is because of football, and the only way I'll be able to open a school and do anything I want to do is through football," Thibodeaux said. "I'll never lose sight that football is what got me here and that football is the platform."

At #2 I am ok with Aiden, Thibs or Walker. None of them will probably get the to JJ Watt level but should be very good. Do not want anyone else. At #32 if a surprise guy drops like Wyatt, Lloyd or Dean that would be my top outcome. Otherwise a trade back a few spots would be nice or one of the safeties with Hill or Cine being my favorites. Do not want a QB or another slot receiver. At #34 same as 32 basically. Need to get a safety with one of these picks. Do not want a TE. At #66 they need to focus on the spots they haven't; hit yet. Should be a few linebackers available if they didn't get one earlier. Do not want O-line yet. After that it should be BPA and i hope they get a decent TE prospect at some point. Hock is in his last year and had had numerous injury issues each year.

Mine is Randy Nosek 1989, whom I vaguely remember. Randy pitched in 12 innings over two season and finished with an ERA of 10.22. He did win a game somehow.

I like Jeremy Ruckert if he is there at the end of the third. He should be able to block and he has some untapped potential as a receiver since he played with the best receiver group in CFB.

He was the #1 recruit coming out of high school, has had an excellent career at Oregon, and he is in the conversation to be the first draft pick overall. So he has worked hard to get where he is today. I am sure the interview teams had with him will play a big role in his evaluation. I guess the trappings of fame and fortune could throw him off track, but you could say that about most guys about to be drafted.

Thibodeaux is a strong personality/arrogant type who could rub people the wrong way. He is very concerned with his "brand" as well. I would bet there are a few teams that wouldn't draft him. I think the commitment to football is overblown, in order for his brand to increase in value his play does as well. And he seems to be smart enough to realize that.

If you were to rank Tibs, Walker and Hutch in speed rush, power rush and run defense I think Hutch comes in second in all 3. Tibs will probably get the most sacks and Walker will be an elite run defender. But Walker may not be a double digit sack guy and Tibs may only be an average run defender. Hutchinson should be good at both, you just hope he doesn't top out at 9 or ten sacks.

If Levi busts at least it won't because we took a guy everyone else thought was a 4th or 5th rounder in the second. In fairness he was hurt last year from camp on and had missed the 2020 covid season. Hopefully he comes around this year.

I expect them to try pretty hard to drop down from either 32 or 34 for more picks. And then I think they will take another DT before the end of day 2 as well. I really have no idea if they are targeting a QB with one of the first rounders, it depends on if they fell in love with one i guess.

Rotoworld says Manning was removed due to an apparent upper body injury.

I still remember in the opening of every TWIB for a while they had a highlight of Brian Downing and Fred Lynn going for a fly ball in deep left center and both of them crashing into the wall at the same time.

it should be: These pretzels, are making me thirsty.

Well at least Cabrera won't ground into a double play here.