Bleacher Report - Daunte Culpepper

News, notes on draft prospects

Wes Bunting — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:01:00 -0500

News, notes and opinions about some of the top prospects in the 2010 NFL draft class:

In what’s considered an uninspiring senior quarterback class, one guy who has really caught fire in recent weeks is Sean Canfield of Oregon State. Canfield is completing more than 70 percent of his passes and showcases an ability to be accurate with the football and anticipate routes on all levels of the field.

He has also seen his share of adversity over the years, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up having the most productive NFL career of all the senior quarterback prospects.

Will an NFL Team Devise an Unconventional Offense for Tim Tebow at the Next Level?

One quarterback who might have something to say about that is Florida’s Tim Tebow.

Tebow hasn’t had the type of senior season many expected and has not taken the steps needed to prove he has what it takes to be a traditional dropback-type quarterback in the NFL.

But, that’s not to say he can’t be a successful starting-caliber QB. Look at what the Titans have done in recent weeks with Vince Young, who’s not a traditional dropback passer and is not the type of quarterback most NFL teams covet.

If a team is open to using an unconventional offense for Tebow, allowing him to work from the spread, get him outside the pocket and run some power inside, there’s really no reason he can’t be a capable NFL quarterback. The idea of every team having a traditional dropback, strong-armed Carson Palmer-type quarterback is unreasonable because there’s a limited number of guys who can do that.

However, if a team is willing to look outside the box and be creative with its play-calling, I think Tebow could end up having a successful career leading an NFL offense.

The senior running back class is one group that could be significantly enhanced by an influx of early junior entries. With the possibility of junior running backs Jonathan Dwyer, Jahvid Best, Ryan Mathews, Noel Devine, Joe McKnight, and DeMarco Murray all entering the draft, we could very quickly see the likes of senior RBs Toby Gerhart, Montario Hardesty, and Anthony Dixon all fall down draft boards.

Keep an eye on Gerhart, who has a potential promising baseball career ahead of him and could opt for the diamond if his draft stock falls too far.

Alabama DT Terrence Cody is a Big—and Big-Time—NFL Prospect.

It’s a good year to be an NFL team in need of talent at the defensive tackle position as the 2010 senior crop is one of the best to come along in years.

Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh leads this year’s talented class, while Penn State’s Jared Odrick, Alabama’s Terrence Cody, and Syracuse’s Arthur Jones all look like big-time prospects in their own right. Plus, guys like Tennessee’s Dan Williams, Texas’ Lamarr Houston, and Purdue’s Mike Neal all add depth to the group as prospects who could eventually mature into starting-caliber linemen.

The same can’t be said for the senior cornerback class, where, in my opinion, there’s really not much separating the top seniors from some of the mid-level guys like Alabama’s Javier Arenas and Virginia Tech’s Stephan Virgil.

However, two guys I really like are Oregon’s Walter Thurmond and Indiana-Pa.’s Akwasi Owusu-Ansah. Both look like prospects who will end up falling into that mid-round range but could have better careers and would be far better values then some of the “top-rated” senior corners (Patrick Robinson, Syd’Quan Thompson) in this years class.

One guy who doesn’t get the attention he deserves from this year’s safety class is Indiana’s Nick Polk, a physically strapping kid at 5'11", 220 who can run, change directions and create collisions in the run game. He’s one of my favorite senior safeties and, in my opinion, grades out higher than some of the other top-tier defensive backs such as Kam Chancellor, Darrell Stuck,ey and Kurt Coleman in terms of ability at the next level.

LSU's Harry Coleman Was Moved to Linebacker This Season.

If LSU’s Harry Coleman is such a talented potential strong-safety prospect, why was he moved to linebacker this season? Sure, you can say he’s a team player and that the LSU coaching staff needed to get its best athletes on the field, but if Coleman really was such a big-time NFL prospect at the position, you can bet he would still be playing safety.

Could you imagine Pete Carroll moving Taylor Mays to outside linebacker as a senior in order to get some talented underclassman on the field? The point is that Coleman looks like a core special teams guy who could end up finding a role as a nickel linebacker at the next level, but he’s not a potential starting strong safety. And if you want proof, just look at his game tape from last season.

Tell me, what am I missing in North Carolina State DE Willie Young, who’s considered in some scouting/media circles as a potential first-round pick?

Young has eight sacks, six of which came against the likes of Murray State, Gardner-Webb, and Wake Forest. He has recorded only one sack over his last six games and doesn’t exhibit the type of strength or body control to make me think he can beat blocks at the next level. He’s an intriguing athlete for his size and possesses good length, but Young has a lot of maturing to do before he can be considered a legitimate NFL pass rusher.

Every time I watch Notre Dame right tackle Sam Young and LSU left tackle Ciron Black, my opinion of them drops. Both guys have struggled tremendously at times this season, yet both are still considered top-10 offensive tackles in most media circles. The reason: They’ve started the past four seasons at big-time programs and are assumed by most media outlets to be good football players.

But, when you flip on the tape on each of them, you see a shell of the player you’re expecting to evaluate. At best, both prospects look like backup type linemen in the NFL.

Follow me on Twitter: WesBunting

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Keep The Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day

Pete Dymeck — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:04:44 -0500

For those that would love to see nothing more than the Detroit Lions removed from the NFL’s programming on Thanksgiving Day, I applaud your efforts because I can not argue against most of your points.

Last year’s game was brutal. Tennessee smacked the Lions around something fierce. Before a late score by the Lions in the second quarter, the Titans were up 35-3. Everyone at home had already lost interest. At the half, many in-law’s starting arguing blue and red, Yankees and Red Sox, or Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

The Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game of 2008 destroyed more holidays than it helped, presumably.

We have to go all the way back to 2003 to find the last time Detroit won on Thanksgiving Day. Led by five field goals from Jason Hanson and a running score from Shawn Bryson, the Lions up-ended the Packers 22-14.

So much has changed since then for Detroit. They have gone 0-16. Joey Harrington is no longer their quarterback. Shaun Rogers, Dre Bly, and Robert Porcher no longer play defense for the Lions. Az-Zahir Hakim is long gone.

The Lions in 2009 look good but their record doesn’t say so. Who doesn’t like Matthew Stafford’ toughness? How about Calvin Johnson’s finesse or Kevin Smith’s hard-nosed running? Unfortunately though, tomorrow the Lions may be without Stafford and Johnson.

Regardless, the Lions go together with Thanksgiving just like how Snoopy is synonymous with Charlie Brown.

So much has changed in the NFL through the years, from the two-point conversion to instant replay, that the thought of the Lions no longer being on the tube on Thanksgiving makes me cringe. The NFL Draft is no longer the same format. We have the ever-excessive “Tom Brady” rule. Can we please keep one thing the same and keep the lousy Lions on Thanksgiving Day?

Growing up as a Philadelphia Eagles fan, I know all about tough times. The Eagles are just an interstate’s drive away from the city of Pittsburgh where six Lombardi trophies linger in their halls. In America, we used to like the little guy. We used to adore those from the bottom trying to make it to the top.

The Statue of Liberty bears a quote which states:

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

It is time to reignite the lamp beside the golden door and welcome the Lions back into our homes. These aren’t Matt Millen’s Lions anymore. These guys play with heart. Did you happen to see Matt Stafford last week? Do you remember last year when running back Kevin Smith set aside the prospect of rushing for 1,000 yards in the final week of the season in order to get a win. He tried. They tried.

They have failed. They are up on one knee right now though, thanks to Matt Stafford. With a little more help, the Lions will be dusting themselves off. They have the perfect opportunity to turn themselves into the perfect from “rags to riches” story for the NFL.

In as difficult times as these may be with a deepening recession, high prospects of worsening inflation, and worries of continued job-loss, it is time for us again to root for the little guy.

Regardless of how bad they have been this decade, or the decade before, or since they traded Bobby Layne to the Pittsburgh Steelers, let’s open up for the Lions and cheer our you-know-what’s off for them tomorrow, even if you are a Packers fan.

I again declare, keep the Lions where they belong, on Thanksgiving Day.

Pete Dymeck is the owner of Boiled Bacon , one of the hottest sports blogs on the web. Find out how you can win prizes for guess the most college bowl games correct through the Bacon Bowl Challenge .

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Thanksgiving Preview | Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers

Zac Snyder — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:36:50 -0500

Matt and Zac Snyder of Bleacher Report and mittensportsreport.com break down this week's Detroit Lions football matchup.

When the Lions have the ball...

Detroit's passing attack vs. Green Bay's defensive backs

Zac says: Expect the suddenly potent Lions air attack to find itself grounded once again on Thursday. With Matthew Stafford unlikely to play and Calvin Johnson listed as questionable, last Sunday's numbers won't be duplicated. Daunte Culpepper will be asked to simply manage the game against a Packers defense that will be without cornerback Al Harris and outside linebacker Aaron Kampman. Pass selection may be limited to short and medium depth routes, especially if Calvin Johnson doesn't play. Advantage: Packers

Matt says: Matthew Stafford is listed as questionable on the injury report, and that doesn't bode well for the Lions. The last time the Lions played the Packers, Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton combined to complete only 44 percent of their passes with three interceptions and no touchdowns. Stafford showed true grit and guts in the win over Cleveland. He mixed up his receivers, completing 60 percent of his throws for an NFL rookie record five touchdowns. It would be a huge blow for the Lions if Stafford is unable to play. Advantage: Even

Detroit's running game vs. Green Bay's front seven

Zac says: Green Bay boasts a tough run defense that hasn't allowed a rusher to hit the 100-yard mark in any game since Steven Jackson in Week Three. Certainly an impressive stat considering they faced Adrian Peterson twice in that span. The Green Bay defense has been aided by their offense establishing early leads that force opponents to abandon the running game, a problem the Lions faced in Green Bay earlier this year. Advantage: Packers

Matt says: The Lions may not have run the ball well against Cleveland, but they were successful with the screen pass, which accomplishes the same end. A true ground game has eluded Detroit this season. The Lions will face a difficult matchup on the ground this week, the Packers rank fourth in the NFL against the run (yards/game). Advantage: Packers

When the Packers have the ball...

Green Bay's passing attack vs. Detroit's defensive backs

Zac says: Check last Sunday's box score against the hapless Browns and let me know if you think this warrants any discussion, I think its pretty self explanatory. Advantage: Packers

Matt says: Aaron Rodgers had a very nice day when these two teams met in October. He connected on 78 percent of his passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns. After watching the Lions give up four touchdown passes to Brady Quinn and the maligned Browns passing game, I expect to see Rodgers put up similar numbers on Thursday. Advantage: Packers

Green Bay's running game vs. Detroit's front seven

Zac says: Ryan Grant managed just 3.8 yards per carry in the first game against the Lions. The defense will have to limit Grant again to stay competitive in this one. If problems along the Packers' offensive line continue, then the Lions' defensive front may be able to find their way into the backfield and cause some trouble. It seems that for every moment of greatness on defense the Lions are able to allow two or three horrible plays. Advantage: Packers

Matt says: Detroit was average against the run last week, allowing 3.3 yards per carry to the Browns, but they'll need to do at least that to be successful against the Packers. The Green Bay passing game should put pressure on the defense which should allow running back Ryan Grant some room to run. He's not a particularly impressive runner, but he can more than get the job done. It will be up to the Lions' front to get a good push to stop Grant before he can get going. Advantage: Packers

Bottom line...

Zac (8-2) says: Lions coach Jim Schwartz got an up close look at Thanksgiving football in Detroit last year as the defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans. The Titans jumped out to a 35-10 half time lead and never looked back in posting the 47-10 victory. Schwartz may be able to use that experience to get a little something extra out of his guys. However, the injuries may be too severe with this being a short week to pull off one of those magical Thanksgiving upsets. Green Bay 31, Detroit 20

Matt (8-0) says: The Lions have seen only embarrassment lately in their rare national appearances, losing by double digits in the past five Thanksgiving games. They were able to get over the hump last week against Cleveland, and there's hope that this team is getting better, which they very well may be. The only problem for the Lions is that there is still a large gap between simply "better" and good. Green Bay 26, Detroit 17

This article is also featured on The Mitten Sports Report. Visit the MSR for more content on sports across the State of Michigan.

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Why Drew Stanton should start over Daunte Culpepper for Lions on Turkey Day

Keith Shelton — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:03:15 -0500

It figures.

Many Lions fans watched and listened at the edge of their seats last Sunday as they watched the star rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, complete a thrilling game that ranks as the greatest comeback in Detroit Lions history, and he did it with a separated AC joint (shoulder).

It's the archetypal birth of a legend story and it will be told for years to come when Stafford is a perennial pro-bowler, when the Lions can look back on these days and laugh;just ask Peyton Manning.

It figures then, that Detroit's newest hero will almost certainly be out for the annual Thanksgiving Day game and probably Calvin Johnson too.

*groan*

Do I need to explain how big of a bummer this is? The Lions get one nationally televised game per year; ONE.

For pretty much the past decade, the Lions have used this one nationally televised game to basically give the NFL reason to take away their one nationally televised game.

They have been blown out repeatedly on Thanksgiving. I don't even want to remember last year's game, when the Lions seemed to go to new heights by allowing Tennessee to score inside the first minute of the game, and the Lions got the ball first!

This is especially painful for those of us who vaguely remember the days when Detroit played their best game on Turkey Day. Even in a rough season, the Lions would rise up and defy all logic, beating a better team.

My point? With Stafford and Johnson, the Lions had a chance to do just that this Thanksgiving. Green Bay is decidedly mediocre this year, which means they are leaps and bounds better than our Lions.

But with Stafford coming off the game of his life, and Calvin Johnson returning to dominating form, the Lions had chance for a Thanksgiving win. Even the media thought so.

No Stafford? No Johnson? Forget about it.

The Lions of course were without both Stafford and Johnson the first time they faced the Packers this season, and they were thoroughly dominated by a score of 26-0. Do we really want to watch that again?

Really, who wants to watch Daunte Culpepper throw to scrub receivers that will drop passes all day long. It's no fun watching the Lions defense repeatedly get burned, when the offense has no recourse.

That's the funny thing about Culpepper too. Most years, the Lions backup quarterback is the most popular man in Detroit.

This year, he is anything but. Lions fans, get this, actually like their starting quarterback; crazy, I know.

Culpepper gives us no reason to be excited. A freshly sold out stadium bought tickets believing they were going to get a show and now they'll get a nap instead.

Most importantly, the nation will fume once again. There will again be talk of taking away the Lions hold on the annual Thanksgiving Day game.

Daunte Culpepper cannot take that field and the Lions at least have to be competitive. They at least have to show the nation something.

So the Lions must start Drew Stanton in the event that Matthew Stafford is too hurt to play.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

I know Stanton is nothing to get excited about either. I know the Detroit coaches think poorly of him. Hell, the Lions former offensive line coach, Jim Coletto famously declared last season that he couldn't in good faith start Stanton. Why? Because he didn't want the kid to embarrass himself.

This was in the middle of an 0-16 season in which Dan Orlovsky had lost a game by running out the back of the endzone and Coletto didn't want Stanton to embarrass himself?

Truthfully, Drew Stanton is a poor practice quarterback. He always has been though, going back to his days at Michigan State and going all the way back to his high school days at Harrison High School.

Stanton however, is a gamer like Stafford.

This is why I've always wondered why the coaches soured on him. He embodies great football qualities. He's far from the most talented quarterback out there, but he will compete for you until the bitter end.

I guess in the NFL, or maybe just on the Lions, you make or break yourself on the practice field. Hell, we always hear about how great the Lions play in practice.

If Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson cannot play, William Clay Ford, Martin Mayhew, and the coaching staff, owes Lions fans and the nation, a competitive game.

They aren't going to get it from Daunte Culpepper, he's gone next year anyway. Maybe Drew Stanton is too, but he at least deserves a real shot at latching on with the team at proving to the coaches that he can play.

Put Stanton out there on Thanksgiving and lets see what he can do. Why not? I suspect he'll be playing by halftime anyway once the score is out of hand. Let's avoid that and let the man compete from the start.

The Lions should do whatever possible to avoid forcing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's hand.

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