No receivers, just good common sense for the Lions

By Os Davis  |   Monday, May 01, 2006  |  Comments( 1 )

Detroit Lions
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No, really, all jokes and kidding aside – that’s how many wide receivers the Detroit Lions took in the draft last weekend. Zero. Honestly, it’s not another punch line. After three years’ worth of first-round draft picks – Mike Williams, Roy Williams and Charles Rogers – that hardly became starters and/or suffered at the hands of Joey Harrington, the Lions did not take anyone at the position this year. Not even Santonio Holmes. And they could have taken him! Nil. Zip.

Instead, general manager Matt “Fire” Millen may be actually listening to his head coach this time around – much to the appreciation of the growing legion of Coach Rod Marinelli’s enthusiasts – and Detroit’s draft class of 2006 should further boost Lion fans’ hopes.

The number nine pick in the draft, Florida State DT/LB Ernie Sims performed well enough during the scouting combine that most teams were prepared to overlook a nasty personal incident. The Lions got there first, and Sims is being touted as a fit anywhere from “excellent” to “perfect” in Marinelli and Lions defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson’s defensive scheme. (In fact, Marinelli may have unwittingly given Sims his first NFL nickname when he referred to his first-round draft choice as a “collision hunter.”) Because of his smallish size, Sims will be filling the role of the “Will” linebacker in Detroit to allow his speed free reign. Ernie left college one year early, after a junior season in which he racked up seventy-seven tackles and three interceptions.

Also to be given a shot to join the Detroit linebackers is seventh-round pick Anthony Cannon. The Tulane linebacker was originally thought to be a middle rounder, but dropped far due to rumors of an unspecified health condition. Cannon put together an impressive college career, earning a Freshman All-America nod, a Butkus Award nomination, and an all-Conference USA selection. Cannon played in all special teams situations and spent his senior year at the MLB position.

Marinelli’s marines have also got to be pleased as punch with the second-round selection of safety Daniel “Never Mind The” Bullocks out of Nebraska. High priority for the new head coach is to juice up the speed of the D, and Bullocks is just the guy to do it. Judging by the praise Marinelli and Henderson are heaping on this pick, Bullocks had been their choice all along; the coach went so far as to describe the safety as having “all … we’ve been looking for.” Bullocks is projected to fill the free safety spot, but may see time at strong safety.

In Round Three, the Lions opted for a more traditional running back choice, picking up Wisconsin’s Brian Calhoun. Calhoun is more speed for Marinelli’s Motor City crew. While taking a year off from football due to his decision to transfer from Colorado, Calhoun ran track, and helped his 100-meter relay team take the Big Ten title. In his senior year, Calhoun racked up 1,636 yards on 348 carries for 4.7 yards per carry and 22 touchdowns.

The silver-and-blue made good use of their other choices as well: Fifth-rounder Texas OT Jonathan Scott, sixth-rounder West Virginia CB/special teamer Alton McCann and USC OG Fred Matua are all worth at least another good hard look.

In fact, the only obvious negative for the Detroit Lions on draft weekend was the pick they didn’t get. Ready to settle for even a late-round pick from the Cleveland Browns after the Miami Dolphins dropped out of bargaining, this deal for QB Joey Harrington also fell through. It seems that more than a Marinelli miracle is necessary to lose that particular albatross…
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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