Detroit Lions 2011 Draft Picks: Players They Compare to in the NFL
I found it interesting about some of the comments made regarding the draft choices, particularly around Titus Young indicating that because he is from a small school, he won't be successful in the NFL.
Of course, us knowledgeable Lions fans informed those posters if the many "small school" receivers that had some fantastic careers in the NFL such as Jerry Rice and Steve Largent. The current list include Marques Colston, Austin Collie and Randy Moss.
So I did some digging on four out of the five draft picks the Lions had in 2011 to see which players they compare the most to and just my own personal take on how they may do in the NFL.
Debates and comments are always welcome.
Now, on with the show!
Nick Fairley & Sedrick Ellis
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Sedrick Ellis of the New Orleans Saints played for USC. He stands 6'1" and weighs in at 307 lbs.
In his four years at USC, he recorded 145 tackles (74 solo and 71 assits) and 16 sacks.
In Nick Fairley's (6'4", 291 lbs.) two years at Auburn, he made 84 tackles (46 solo, 38 assists) and 12.5 sacks.
For comparisons sake, Ellis averaged 36 tackles and four sacks a year. Fairley averaged 42 tackles and 6.25 sacks per year.
Ellis's stats reflect a solid improvement in each of his fours at USC while Fairley did most of his damage in his last year at Auburn.
Taking that into account, I believe that Fairley was begining to peak and decided to come out early to give his best years to the NFL.
Along with Suh, Vanden Bosch and Williams, Fairley gives the Lions a very deep defensive line and won't be counted on to carry everything in his rookie year. That alone will make him a very effective player.
Titus Young & Marques Colston
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I didn't intend to use two New Orleans Saints players but Marques Colston is my favorite "small time college players makes it big in the NFL" player.
Colston (6'5", 214 lbs) out of Hofstra had a nice three-year career there. He caught 162 passes for 2,400 yards (a nice 14.8 yards per catch) and scored 15 TD's
Titus Young, though smaller and lighter than Colston (5'11", 175 lbs) has the capabilities to become the next small-time college player to succeed in the NFL. In his four years at Boise State, he caught 204 passes for 3,063 yards (15.0 YPG) and 25 touchdowns.
Young will take a lot of pressure off of Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson. He will more than likely play the slot to allow Johnson and Burleson to play out wide.
He'll gain a lot of crucial yards and really open up the passing game.
Mikel Leshoure & Arian Foster
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Arion Foster has developed into a very dangerous runner between the tackles for the Texans.
I can see Mikel Leshoure developing in the same fashion for the Detroit Lions.
In his four years at Tennessee, Foster (6'1", 227 lbs.) gained 2,964 yards on 650 attempts, 4.6 yards per carry and 23 rushing touchdowns. In addition, he caught 83 passes for 742 yards and two touchdowns.
Leshoure (6'0", 227 lbs) played for Illinois for three years, where he ran for 2,557 yards on 424 attempts (6.0 yards per carry) and scored 23 touchdowns. Out of the backfield, he caught 37 passes for 439 yards and scored five touchdowns.
Leshoure may not be the home run threat but he will be the big bopper the Lions have needed for a very long time.
Along with Jahvid Best, who will more than likely get the majority of carries, the Lions will have a really good inside/outside threat at running back.
The improvement at the running game will only protect Matthew Stafford even more...and once he improves his play fake ability, the Lions offense is going to drive opposing defenses nuts.
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Douglas Houge & James Anderson
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James Anderson had a real nice career at Virgina Tech. At 6'3" and 222 lbs., he recorded 219 tackles and seven sacks with no interceptions.
Douglas Houge (6'3", 235 lbs.) played for Syracuse and actually started out as a running back. In 2007 and part of 2008, he rushed for 483 yards and scored 3 touchdowns.
During the 2008 season, for reasons unknown, he switched to linebacker. For the remainder of the 2008 season and all of 2009, he had 219 tackles, 12 sacks and three interceptions.
Houge has very good speed, covers well and knows how to run with the ball from being a running back. He probably won't be the type of linebacker that will takeover a game, but if he does get the ball in his hands, he'll know what to do with it.
While the Lions kingdom was hoping to get a top-flight linebacker in the earlier rounds, Houge will add a spark when he comes in. And he should make an immediate contribution to special teams.
He could also be pressed into service as a lead blocker for short-yardage situations when the Lions need to go with a big package.
With a linebacker mentality to want to hit and running back experience, he'll know what area to hit to open up a hole.
Conclusion
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The Lions had a solid draft.
Fairley and Young will make an immediate impact in 2011, Leshoure will give the Lions an additional threat at running back.
Houge will start with the special teams squad where I predict he will become a force.
Will these players have the same type of career to the players I've compared them to? Hard to say since nothing is guaranteed in the NFL.
But these players, if they play to their level in college, will give the Lions something they have lacked for a while: Depth.
Even the Lions last pick, OT Johnny Culbreath, will give the Lions much beleaguered offensive line, a chance to rest.
Culbreath is versatile enough to play both left and right tackle. Though at 280 lbs., he is way too light for the NFL. He'll need to gain at least another 30 pounds to even have the Lions think about starting him.
All in all, the 2011 season looks pretty promising!
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