I am compelled to contribute my first post as the Cl&%p#rs' impending drafting of a racially ambiguous big man with no NBA moves has received too much attention on The Nerd. A more credible organization deserves some air time on the blog destined to push ESPN to Chapter 11, namely the playoff bound Detroit Lions. That's right. I said it. Someone had to say it. It had to be said.
The Lions recently signed veteran tackle Ephraim Salaam. For the young reader, Salaam was drafted in 1998 by Atlanta. Simply put, he put the franchise on his back as a rookie by starting every game at right tackle and leading Pro Bowl QB Chris Chandler and the Falcons to the Super Bowl. Right tackle you say - how will that keep the Lions' QBs from dying this year? Herein lies the genius of this signing. Salaam is a dual threat option at left and right tackle, a "swing" tackle if you will. He is a proven run blocker who has shored up his pass protection skills, having allowed only 32 sacks in 129 career starts (Orlando Pace has given up 45 in 154 starts). With Salaam pushing for the starting job at left tackle, Jeff Backus can move back inside to his natural position at guard. The Lions QBs will not die this year. And that is why Matthew Stafford should start.
Some might opine that the year of Flacco and Ryan was an anomaly, that they had good teams around them, and that rookie franchise QBs such as Stafford should sit a year or two and "learn." To these traditionalists I ask two things. One, why are you so afraid of a change in philosophy? Is it because you are a traditionalist? And two, what the f*%k is Stafford going to learn from Daunte Culpepper? How to get his roll on? I don't want to see Stafford get his roll on. I don't want to see Daunte get his roll on (although I really, really wanted it last year). Stafford is stepping into an organization and a city that needs change, and fast. He has an improved offensive line with Salaam and TE Brandon Pettigrew (the pick of the draft). He has a freakish deep threat that hasn't left Detroit yet. And god willing, the team's pickups on defense in free agency and in the draft won't allow 32.3 ppg. So let Stafford do the only thing he knows how to do: throw ball, and throw ball far. Daunte can get his roll on from the bench.
Some might opine that the year of Flacco and Ryan was an anomaly, that they had good teams around them, and that rookie franchise QBs such as Stafford should sit a year or two and "learn." To these traditionalists I ask two things. One, why are you so afraid of a change in philosophy? Is it because you are a traditionalist? And two, what the f*%k is Stafford going to learn from Daunte Culpepper? How to get his roll on? I don't want to see Stafford get his roll on. I don't want to see Daunte get his roll on (although I really, really wanted it last year). Stafford is stepping into an organization and a city that needs change, and fast. He has an improved offensive line with Salaam and TE Brandon Pettigrew (the pick of the draft). He has a freakish deep threat that hasn't left Detroit yet. And god willing, the team's pickups on defense in free agency and in the draft won't allow 32.3 ppg. So let Stafford do the only thing he knows how to do: throw ball, and throw ball far. Daunte can get his roll on from the bench.
No comments:
Post a Comment