Detroit Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew: Production Projects a Pro Bowler

It wasn’t long ago that I found myself headed north in the family vehicle, listening to the 2009 NFL Draft and waiting anxiously for the announcement of the 20th pick.  I pondered the possibilities and thought strongly on the player I would select if given the opportunity.  A voice spoke, an utterance was made, and all I could see was red.

For days.

Weeks. 

Months.

When we are bereft of all the facts which create the stacking order of the Detroit Lions draft board, sometimes we are left to wonder how the organization could make a personnel decision that would differ from our personal paradigm?  I mean, “How could they?  How dare they?”

They dare.  Oh boy, do they dare.

As previously mentioned, I wasn’t there at Ford Field when the 2009 NFL Draft party was going on, but it is my understanding that with the announcement of Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew becoming the Detroit Lions second selection in the first round was met with a vociferous hail of boos, the courage of such conviction being physically manifested in Lions fans immediately exiting the stadium in short order.

It is a fair statement to suggest that the Detroit Lions roster was bereft of talent following the notorious 2008 “OwenXVI Championship” season.  The questions that raged following the winless season were largely dominated by the theory of how best to utilize the Detroit Lions’ top draft resources to best affect positive change, not only for the short term, but the long term as well.

If I’m not mistaken, Mike Mayock, former NFL safety with the New York Giants and NFL Network draft expert extraordinaire, had Brandon Pettigrew ranked as high as the eighth-best player overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.  Apparently the minds of Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, team president Tom Lewand, and head coach Jim Schwartz were found in concurrence.

With the 20th overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, Brandon Pettigrew became a Detroit Lion, and the doubters and loyalists have been at each other ever since.

To me, there were three personnel choices to be made ahead of Pettigrew at this juncture of rebuilding the franchise from ruin:  Ole Miss left tackle Michael Oher, Southern Cal linebacker Clay Matthews, III, or Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis.  On my personal draft board, all were highly favored over the Oklahoma State tight end who skillfully blocked “All-World” Texas defensive end, Brian Orakpo.

We’ll get to see a rematch on Brush Street on Halloween Sunday, October 31, 2010.

I have tried to set aside my personal prejudice against the selection of a tight end with top resources at such an early stage in a rebuild, sometimes successfully and sometimes not.  Really, all I would like to see is production that is commensurate with spending a first round pick on a tight end coming off a winless season.  It just seemed to me that the resources might be better spent shoring up the left tackle position, or find a young, athletic, multi-talented linebacker, the son of an NFL legend, or draft a cornerback with tremendous skill, strength, speed, and athleticism; all to replace veterans who had no business on an NFL roster.

We still hear fans bemoan the play at the left tackle position; we still hear the need for linebackers (and how); and we still can see the need to find at least one more starting-grade cornerback, who could be or develop into a “shut-down” corner or “cover” corner.  The Detroit Lions defensive back seven is still the land of opportunity for opposing offenses and the prime reason why the Lions are 1-5.

The differences we have are mired in theory relative to how best to reconstruct a winless NFL franchise when afforded excellent draft selections.  The front office stacked their board, made their decisions, and stuck to their guns.

In my August 2, 2010 article, “Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions TE, Realistic Production Goal in 2010?” I offered some prognosticative thoughts regarding production for Detroit Lions starting tight end Brandon Pettigrew:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/428447-what-is-a-realistic-production-goal-for-te-brandon-pettigrew-in-2010

HäMMëR’s production goal for Brandon Pettigrew for the 2010 season was set at 64 catches and 800 yards receiving, a 12.5 yard per catch average and 50 yards per game average, while scoring eight touchdowns.

Basically, I set a production goal of one catch for a dozen yards every quarter, and score a touchdown every-other game.  To me, that sounded like a fair second-year production requirement for a tight end taken with the 20th overall selection in his draft class.

Without first divulging the statistical data, you can see a remarkable difference in the play of Brandon Pettigrew in this his second season with the Detroit Lions.  It appears that the Detroit Lions have finally found a way to use Pettigrew’s talents to the betterment of the team.

Have they won anything yet due to his play?  I can’t say that such is the case.  What I can say is I see quarterback Shaun Hill making effective use of tight end Brandon Pettigrew in the Detroit Lions offense, and that is something I’ve wanted to see since the day he was drafted.

Can Brandon Pettigrew live up to or actually surpass the expectations placed on him relative to his draft status?  As long as he continues to drop the football at key times, or at any time for that matter (catchable balls, that is), he will not be able to live up to these expectations, regardless the notion that he was drafted primarily “for his blocking skills.”

The physical mismatch that Brandon Pettigrew creates against linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties downfield offers his quarterback a tremendous weapon when properly levied against the defense.  Shaun Hill has been very effective as of late in identifying the mismatches gained by Brandon Pettigrew, and has hit the big target on several occasions in meaningful situations.

In this regard, the play of Brandon Pettigrew is making a solid difference in terms of helping to keep the Lions within scoring range of victory on any given Sunday during the 2010 campaign.  What we have yet to see is the consistency that will put him “over the top” and actually garner him votes for the Pro Bowl.

Detroit Lions Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders has spoken highly of “sophomore” Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew, and suggests Brandon has all of the physical attributes and football skill to become a Pro Bowl-caliber player.  Brandon’s receiving numbers are starting to trend in that direction.

Oh what an offseason can do.

While at Detroit Lions training camp in early August, I remarked to friends what a physical monster Brandon Pettigrew is:  he’s huge, folks.  Here is a man who is 6’ 5 ½” who is big, built, huge, ripped, and cut:  he is a premier physical specimen and athlete.  Stacked against linebackers who are 6’1” or less, or defensive backs who are even smaller, you’ve got one lethal weapon to have to stop on the field, and that is what Pettigrew is proving to be in 2010.

In only six games this season, Brandon Pettigrew has essentially equaled his production from the 2009 season.  That is a very encouraging sign, Lions fans

	G	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
2010	6	6	33	336	10.2	35	1
2009	11	11	30	346	11.5	30	2

While projecting forward is hardly ever met in a “straight line,” it is always fun to “wonder out loud.”

If the Detroit Lions offense is able to support Brandon Pettigrew’s current level of receiving productivity, his numbers at the end of the season might look something like this:

	G	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2010	16	16	88	898	10.2	3

When compared to last season’s tight end receiving production, 88 receptions would have placed third behind Dallas Clark and Jason Witten, and ahead of such talents as Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Vernon Davis, Kellen Winslow, and Brent Celek. 

Yes, projecting forward, Brandon Pettigrew would actually be putting up “Pro Bowl numbers” as a receiving tight end, while maintaining his prowess as a known blocker.

What, what, what?!?!?!  (Yes, you have to think “Kyle’s mom” from South Park)

At this level of performance, the play of Brandon Pettigrew could not be ignored by voters, sending the second-year tight end to the Pro Bowl, thereby meeting or exceeding the expectations of production relative to his draft status.  It would further solidify the acumen of the Detroit Lions front office by having a top offensive selection be recognized with a prestigious post-season honor.

Can you imagine what Pettigrew’s numbers might look like if he didn’t routinely drop passes that hit him in the hands?  Look out.

Through the end of six weeks of competition in the 2010 NFL season, Detroit Lions starting tight end Brandon Pettigrew is tied for 12th in the NFL in receptions with 33, and second in receptions among tight ends, behind Dallas Clark with 37, and ahead of Antonio Gates with 31 catches.

With Shaun Hill fracturing his non-throwing arm and Matthew Stafford throwing a 70-yard bullet in practice the other day, one must wonder how the arm strength of Stafford might cause a different distribution of the football after the bye week.

One must also wonder if time actively spent running offensive coordinator Scott Linehan’s dual-tight end offense hasn’t helped refine the former Terrapin’s ability to locate the open tight end as progression reads dictate.  To that end, I have to wonder the rate at which Matthew Stafford can shake any mid-season rust and operate the Linehan offense with skill and precision.

Based on my conversation with Detroit Lions starting quarterback Matthew Stafford this past Tuesday, there is no question in my mind that Matthew has been diligent in study and is ready to get back upon the field of play.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/495847-detroit-lions-qb-matthew-stafford-says-fans-are-passionate-deserve-a-winner

A confident aura exudes from the young Lions signal caller, who appears calm and mature beyond his years.  Should Stafford find himself surrounded by a sea of angry Redskins, perhaps it is the former Cowboy who can come to his rescue.

GO LIONS WIN!

HäMMëR