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SI: McCoy to the Lions. Do 2 mocks make a consensus?
Written by Al Beaton   
Friday, 29 January 2010 00:39

We already know who the Hair at ESPN believes the Lions will target in April's draft. Now Don Banks of Sports Illustrated has his say with his first of what I'm sure is going to be dozens of his mock drafts.

So who is Banks banking on the Lions selecting?

DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma  Jr. 6'4" 298

The Lions really can't lose, and when's the last time we were able to use those words to describe Detroit? Being in position to take either Suh or McCoy adds another major cog to the defense Jim Schwartz is rebuilding in Motown. McCoy is known for his ability to penetrate the backfield, while still holding up against the run.

Gerald McCoy

Not a bad consolation prize, huh?

It's a done deal. Gerald McCoy is going be a Detroit Lion, because 2 sports reporting juggernauts coming up with the same conclusion makes for a consensus, right? Hell, we may as well just call it now, and not bother with anymore mocks.

I wish. The guessing game won't stop for the next 3 months.

There will be mock drafts projecting S Eric Berry or OT Russell Okung going 2nd overall, just to be different, even though the Lions already have the blossoming Louis Delmas at safety, and Jeff Backus and Gosder Churilus making a king's ransom as the starting tackles.

It's beyond obvious the most educated of guesses have the Lions taking either Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, depending upon which of the pair the St. Louis Rams decide to take 1st overall. And no, I don't see the Rams selecting a quarterback...though Steven Jackson's legal troubles are worth watching closely, as anything which affects the Rams decision making will very likely affect what the Lions do.

Of course, Sam Bradford and/or Jimmy Clausen could blow every scout away at the combine and during their respective college workout days, throwing the whole upper portion of the  draft into a uproar.

A quarterback or 2 blowing up would make the Lions' 1st round pick that much more valuable as trade bait. It would be huge fun to watch possible trades materialize, and give the Lions options they don't currently have, but I honestly doubt it happens.

The News' John Niyo, who also believes the Lions are eyeing Suh and McCoy, asked The Schwartz about the difficulty of finding a DT who can give an inside pass rush.

What he said was quite telling:

"Probably a little bit harder to find 'em inside," Schwartz said. "Because ... if you're big enough to be a run stopper, generally you're not much of a pass rusher. if you're a really good pass rusher, you're not a big enough guy to stop the run. But I think that when you find one of those guys, they're extremely valuable. If you can combine the size and the strength to be able to stop the run, and also the ability to rush ... The shortest distance to the quarterback is a straight line -- the people that are closest are the defensive tackles. And they can affect the rush.

I agree with Niyo's conclusion. Though the Lions would never admit it, as anything draft related will be considered top secret and hush hush for the next 3 months, Schwartz's statement sure sounds like he endorses the selection of either Suh or McCoy.



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Comments (3)Add Comment
Well said...
written by Cody Eding, January 29, 2010
Great points. Either of the two would go a long way toward helping Detroit's anemic d-line. Defense starts in the trenches, and you don't have to look outside of the NFC North for the example (Allen, Williams Bros., and Ray Edwards in Minnesota).
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written by wolverlion, January 31, 2010
McCoy, Graham would be a nice litle draft in the first two picks. The offense looks solid to me with one exception, running back. I like Kevin Smith and all, but that knee injury will slow him considerably this year and maybe for his career. The Lions are now in a position to try to find a servicable back via free agency or some small school suprise in later rounds. I think at least a threat of a decent running game is key to Matthew Staffords continued succesful development in the NFL.
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written by Isphet, January 31, 2010
I don't think Schwartz' statement supports the idea of drafting Suh or McCoy at all. If anything it convinces me that he wouldn't select them with the Lions' first pick.

Suh - 6' 4", 305 lbs.
McCoy - 6' 4", 295 lbs.

The Lions have repeatedly shown and said that they want bulk on the interior of their D line, and neither McCoy or Suh match the size they want. I don't understand why no one is commenting on this issue.

McCoy and Suh sound like Strong Side Defensive Ends on running plays, and interior DTs only on passing downs. They are probably too small to play DT on running downs in the NFL.

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