For me, the one most memorable impression of last year’s college football season happened during the Big XII championship game. During the 60 minute 13-12 battle, Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh made the Texas offensive line look like a bunch of elementary school kids. I believe Colt McCoy still wakes up in the middle of the night thinking of being tossed around the field like a ragdoll. If things go their way on Thursday night, the Lions will have an impressive force on the defensive line.
While the temptation to trade for Ben Roethlisberger is clearly in my mind, the Lions find themselves in the position to complement some pieces already in place. They are pretty settled in the TE, WR and QB departments, and now with the trade of Ernie Sims, the defense is left with even less talent than they began the week with. Even if things suddenly shift and the Rams don’t take Sam Bradford, the Lions will likely look to shore up that offensive line. In a year where the draft is this deep, the Lions need to add pieces that can step in immediately.
I wouldn’t be shocked if the Lions made a move at the end of round one for Missouri’s impressive Sean Weatherspoon. He developed from a 2-star coming out of high school, to a 3-time Big XII first-teamer. Weatherspoon is a steal at the end of the first round, and would form a nice 1-2 punch with the pick at no. 2.
The common thread about players like Suh and Weatherspoon, is that they have performed their best when it mattered the most. The Lions have been chock full of college stars over the past decade-plus, that didn’t know how to perform when it counted. Maybe this will be the year that the Lions breakthrough with perennial Pro Bowlers. Then again, these are the Lions, and you never know what you’re going to get!
