Trench Talk January 29, 2009

Hey Everyone,
In this weeks Trench Talk we will be discussing the Detroit Lions and what we think they need to do this off-season to turn the franchise around. This week you will get part one of our two-part discussion on the topic.

Enjoy and don't forget we would love to answer any of your football related questions in a Trench Talk discussion. E-mail them to eric@alldayfootball.com

Eric Dunn says:
Alright Matt I think we need to talk about the Lions, they were completely helpless last season and ended up not winning a single game. What do you think needs to be done to turn this franchise around?
Matt Gambino says:
They need to make some serious cuts, starting with Jon Kitna
ED says:
Ya, he definitely won't be around, I feel a lot of guys will get cut
MG says:
I think Dwight Smith, Edwin Mulitalo, Jon Kitna, Ryan Nece, Travis Fisher and Dan Campbell need to be cut
ED says:
They need to gut the roster, get some good character and talent on both sides of the ball. I think it would be a good idea to go after some key Free Agents like a TJ Houshmanzadeh (if they can afford him), bring some reliability to the offense take pressure of Calvin Johnson.
MG says:
I think they can go after him but I doubt they have the money or the prestige to get a guy like that, who I know wants to be a #1 and wont get that in Detroit. I think they should go after a guy like Devery Henderson or Michael Clayton who are more realistic targets, Henderson is great with the deep plays and Clayton probably could use a change of scenery, not to mention he blocks well in the run game
ED says:
Before we get into Free agents let's quickly discuss who needs to be kept.I say
re-sign: Jason Hanson, Culpepper and McDonald
cut: Dwight Smith, Edwin Mulitalo, Jon Kitna, Ryan Nece, Travis Fisher, Mike Furrey and Dan Campbell.
and I think keeping Hanson would be the priority, he is a solid kicker.
MG says:
I would agree with that, I also think Paris Lenon should be resigned and tender Robinson and Cannon.
ED says:
Alright, that works. Now free agents to target, I could see Jim Schwartz going after Haynesworth since he is familiar with the defense and has thrived in it. But the only problem is I hear that Haynesworth is in talks to return to Tennessee, and it is progressing nicely.
MG says:
He would make a lot of sense, but Haynesworth would probably make any defense better. I think the Lions should focus mainly on defense in free agency since their offense has the potential to be fairly explosive as is, their problem last season was that they got down too big too quickly. So DL, MLB and DB's all could use an upgrade.
ED says:
Let's start with defensive line. Bertrand Berry will be a free agent
MG says:
Exactly who I was gonna say
ED says:
But chances are he will be expensive ... especially now that he playing in the super bowl Super bowl player free agents always try and get huge contracts
MG says:
It's true, same with Antonio Smith
ED says:
Ya, I actually wrote a piece about it in my news blitz recently.
MG says:
Nice, I think Demetric Evans from the Skins may be a good pick up
ED says:
Also Tank Johnson is gonna be available or Chauncey Davis from the Falcons
ED says:
Ok, we are kinda just tossing out names ... lets get specific on players
let’s start with Bertrand Berry
MG. says:
has great experience, still knows how to get to the QB and plays well against the run, he can be a solid LE or RE depending on what they wanna do with Dewayne White
ED says:
solid player, good motor, playoff experienced. DO you feel like he would be a good fit for Schwartz's system?
MG says:
Absolutely, he'd be the equivalent of Kyle Vanden Bosch
ED says:
Ok, good. Lets move on. Tank Johnson
MG says:
High motor, experienced and talented DE who can play the run and move in space
ED says:
I think he would be a good fit... was productive in Chicago before his arrest, struggled in the 3-4 in Dallas might be good to get him back into a 4 man line
MG says:
I agree, I think off the field issues are over exaggerated and due to his performance in Dallas he could be had for cheap and would be a good NT to play inside with Corey Redding
ED says:
Definitely could get back to his old form ... willing to sign to a smaller 1-year trial contract
MG says:
Which will give Andre Fluellen more time to mature
ED says:
Jovan Haye is out because he is more of an UT not a NT
MG says:
Mhm, and they have enough there
ED says:
Peppers would be too expensive and wants to try out the 3-4 so he is out too
MG says:
Absolutely
ED says:
Babineaux from the falcons?
MG says:
He reupped for 5 years
ED says:
Ok, so definitely out. You mentioned Demetric Evans
MG says:
Ya, 29 year old DE from the Skins. He plays the run really well and knows how to get to the QB
ED says:
He is somewhere in the middle of his career, but a nice possibility
MG says:
Chauncey Davis is the same type of player but he's younger and has a higher ceiling but I think Falcons resign him
ED says:
No way the Falcons are letting their young players go .. they want to keep building So D-line possibilities are Bertrand Berry, Tank Johnson and Demetric Evans?
MG says:
and Haynesworth long shot but you never know
ED says:
Well he is such a long shot I left him out .. and he has already started talks with Titans to return, lets try to keep our focus on guys who will actually hit the market. Ok, so if they can only sign one DL who would you say? I says Tank Johnson
MG says:
yup
ED says:
you agree?
MG says:
I do agree
ED says:
Well that makes it easy, lets move on to MLB. I think Channing Crowder would be available .. he told the Dolphins he wants to test the market
MG says:
Ya, I think he would fit well into Schwartz's system, a stout guy who plays the run and is decent playing middle zones and underneath routes, but he's definitely not a down and distance guy
ED says:
I think he would be the best fit unless the Lions could miraculously pry Ray Lewis away from the Ravens, his leadership would be epic in the locker room
MG. says:
he would, but I don't think Ray gets anywhere near the Lions, if he's not a Raven, he'll be a Cowboy
ED says:
I don't think Ray Lewis gets anywhere but Baltimore, it just wouldn't feel right
MG says:
I agree but apparently Dallas is trying its hardest to pry him loose, but regardless Lions need an interior force I also think they could go after Mike Peterson he's a little undersized but he is vocal, he is talented and he's on the outs with the Jags
ED says:
I would still have to say Crowder is the better choice from an age factor, they have an opportunity to get better long term instead of a one two year fix
MG. says:
Absolutely, but i doubt they put all their eggs in one basket i think if they can't land Crowder, Peterson is a viable option.
ED says:
Another guy who might be a good LB is Vilma, he has come back nicely from his injury, quick to the ball, good hands for a LB
MG says:
Productive when healthy but might only get a 2 year deal
ED says:
I'd say incentive filled contract to protect the Lions.
MG says:
Make him earn his pay
MG says:
That's true and the Saints will probably cut him because if they re-sign him, they'll have to give up a first and a second.
ED says:
They hope to cut him and re-sign him after the draft, save the pick and keep the guy, Lions just swoop in for the kill. Ok, those are some solid choices for MLB
anyone else, you mention Peterson earlier.. I think he is on the downside of his career, I wouldn't take the risk and from what I have heard he is a locker room cancer in Jacksonville this season, they don't need that in Detroit
MG says:
I don't think he was a cancer, I think he had a serious feud with Del Rio
ED says:
Maybe, but it would be a red flag regardless
MG says:
Ya, he might not be an ideal fit.
ED says:
Anyone else you think would fit? Bart Scott, Michael Boley, Carlos Dansby, Monty Beisel?
MG says:
Dansby would fit, but he'll be expensive and highly sought after Boley will probably be tendered by the Falcons, Bart Scott could potentially be a pick up and Monty Beisel, meh
ED says:
There is no way the Ravens will be able to resign all of their LB's so I think if anything Scott would be the odd man out, just like they did with Adalius Thomas 2 seasons ago. They let him go and Bart Scott took his place, I feel like the Ravens would be able to do it again with another unknown especially if Lewis and Suggs are retained
MG says:
Actually, I agree they have 2, wait 3 potential replacements in Tavares Gooden, Prescott Burgess and Antwan Barnes
ED says:
Exactly, the Ravens and linebackers they always have a plan B, this may also affect Suggs status. Ok, so if you could only have 1 LB prospect which would it be?
ED says:
I still really like Crowder
MG says:
I think Crowder fits their need best
ED says:
we agree again, 2 for 2 .. lets move on to DB's I can't see Nnamdi Asomugha being a financially viable option
MG. says:
No way Oakland lets him go they cut Hall to lock him up
ED says:
Dunta Robinson would be a great choice, but chances are he would want to go to a winning franchise... all the losing in Houston is gotta start to wear a player down
MG says:
Very true. The one guy I think they should go after who made himself some money this season was Jabari Greer from Buffalo he showed a real knack in getting to the ball, he has great ball skills and great speed, not to mention, he's dangerous once the ball is in his hands, he was good in man and probably could play zone as well the other guy would be Jarrad Page from Kansas City, I think he's the odd man out in their system as they have a great young SS in Pollard and a young up and comer in DeJaun Morgan, so I think his skills at interchanging between FS and SS would be of great help, he has good ball skills and he sticks his nose in on the run, putting him at SS next to Gerald Alexander could only help their secondary
ED says:
Well said Matt. How about Jermaine Phillips he is a hitter
MG says:
Potentially he'd be a solid pick
ED says:
I think he now has a plate in his arm... so that will help the arm breaking issues, and would hurt everyone else more
MG. says:
Eh, i wouldn't think that was a positive, but he'd still be an upgrade
ED says:
Its only a positive from a pain perspective and, he'll bring it. Aside from all that ... same question pick one. I'll say Jarrad Page because of his versatility
MG says:
I’ll pick Greer, corner is a bigger need, Greer is a solid corner back who can play in man coverage, he has great ball skills, good recovery speed and is young enough to warrant a long term deal
ED says:
Ok, perfect then.... now Big question to end the session... if you could have just one defensive free agent who would it be and why
MG says:
Jabari Greer considering their depth at cornerback, they need as much help as can be, he can step in day 1 and be a starter alongside Bodden
ED says:
Ok, and I would say they get a guy like Tank Johnson, still relatively young, solid NT and would make the D-line and then the entire defense better. Harassing a QB instantly makes mediocre DB's better.


Ok everyone there you have it. Stay tuned for part 2 next week.