| James Morisette. 16th October, 2008 - 12:19 am
 During a recent press conference with the Motown media, Martin Mayhew, who is the new Detroit Lions General Manager who fired aggressive an shot that shipped wide receiver Roy Williams from one soap opera to another in return for 3draft picks in ‘09, stated Williams’ departure does not spell a demise for his team’s receiving corps.
While some pundits may scoff at this “interim” GM’s statement, Mayhew’s ability to persuade Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones to play football roulette with his franchise’s long-term future, may make those same pundits take another look at the strategic intelligence behind Mayhew’s decision.
While the departure of Williams removes a home run threat from the equation, it also saves the Lions key strategic reserves that can be used to develop a winning franchise. Williams was obviously unhappy with the Lions, and there was no guarantee he was going to re-sign with the franchise as a free agent after this season. If Williams did sign with the Lions, the amount of money surrendered, when combined with an unhappy quarterback in Jon Kitna, would undoubtedly bog down the franchise for years to come.
But now that Williams is an ecstatic Cowboy and Kitna will probably be released after controversially being placed on the IR, the Lions have a tremendous amount of money to work with in the upcoming offseason – an offseason that boasts a dynamic plethora of free agents such as Julius Peppers, Marion Barber, Albert Haynesworth, Brandon Jacobs, Ray Lewis, Matt Birk, and T.J Houshmandzadeh.
While all aforesaid free agents would provide the Lions a shot of much needed veteran leadership and brute toughness, Houshmandzadeh’s availability on the ‘09 market generates two big questions. First, do the Lions really have as much depth as Mayhew thinks? Second, will the wide receivers on the current Lions roster be able to help the franchise in the future?
These are good questions worth discussing – so here goes.
With Roy Williams gone, Calvin Johnson will become the undisputed number one receiver, and thus the number one attraction of double teaming and safety shadowing on the football field. When this happens, the pivotal question regarding who will step forward on the opposite side and in the slot to take some of the pressure off Johnson and other skill players emerges.
Young McDonald
Shaun McDonald immediately comes to mind. This 27 year old former Arizona State standout replaced Az Zahir Hakim in Mike Martz’s greatest show on St. Louis turf, shortly before joining the Lions in 2007. McDonald, who as a sidebar is cousins with Atlanta Hawks all star point guard Mike Bibby and Major League Soccer striker Robbie Findley; is coming off a 79 reception, 943 yard, 6 touchdown campaign in Martz’s pass happy offense. While McDonald has struggled to find his groove this season with just 11 catches for 74 yards and no scores, newfound void of Williams as grand shadow may open the door to a great future for the small but shifty and speedy receiver.
The Great Magician
Mike Furrey is another wide receiver on the Lions with great potential. Furrey, who was drafted by the Colts in 2000, burst onto the NFL scene in 2006 with 98 catches for 1,086 yards and 6 touchdowns. However, since then, Furrey has served as a great magician, disappearing into wide receiver anonymity like the great Harry Houdini.
Furrey’s disappearance from greatness has less to do with talent however, for Martz all but abandoned this Wes Welker, Brandon Stokely, Kevin Curtis like slot receiver during his reign as Lions offensive coordinator. However, McDonald’s deployment to Calvin Johnson’s opposite may create outstanding opportunity for Furrey to reemerge from the gridiron gallows as the same tough, high caliber receiver he was two seasons ago.
Bright Future for Ford?
On Tuesday, the Lions signed 6 foot 4, 210 pound wide receiver John Standeford. Per John Niyo of the Detroit News, Standeford, 26, had an impressive training camp with Detroit this fall, but succumbed to the Lion’s depth at wide receiver. Collegiately, Standeford was a three year starter for Purdue where he ended his career as the All Time Big Ten leader in receptions (266) and reception yards (3,686). He also had 27 touchdowns and was an Academic All American.
After college, Standeford was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. While Tony Dungy and Company loved Standeford for his intelligence, work ethic, productivity, hands, and eagerness to learn; his lack of breakaway speed, when combined with the existence of a stacked wide receiver corps led by Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokely, and Dallas Clark helped spell his departure from the Colts.
In the future Standeford, who has during the course of his football career taken throws from 3 Drews: Drew Brees, Drew Henson, and Drew Stanton, could provide the Lions a great presence on the field and in the locker room if given full opportunity.
Of course determination whether Standeford, Furrey, McDonald, and Johnson will excel with the Lions depends on the protective ability of the offensive line as well as quarterback play. As of this campaign, both remain problematic and are as equally responsible for the Lions 2008 demise as its porous defense and feeble special teams.
However, Mayhew’s determined decision to rid the Lions of 2 more players selected and supported by Matt Millen and short-term tolerated by a coaching staff that is passionate about developing a true, pound the rock identity, will not only provide all four aforesaid wide receivers ample opportunity to prove their worth, but will also allow the Lions franchise to take critical steps towards a word that has proven foreign to the franchise since 1991:
Playoffs. |
