I had planned on writing about more than just Sammie Lee Hill in my last post, but I got carried away with ranting and raving about other bullshit, and so I decided to save the next pick for my next post, which made me decide that I'm just going to do one player per post, otherwise the word count could get out of control in a hurry. And so, we have four more picks to go, which means four more posts - including this one - before we are done with this draft nonsense.
I'm just going to dive right in to this one, the sixth round pick that the Lions picked up from the Cowboys in the Roy Williams deal. With the 192nd pick overall, the Detroit Lions selected Aaron Brown, currently found on PBS and formerly of CNN. What Brown brings to the table is a calming influence, best illustrated by his coverage of the events of 9/11 on his first day on air at CNN. Obviously, this shows a remarkable poise and maturity for a rookie and is a good sign for his rookie season with the Lions, and . . .
Wait. What? Oh.
It would seem that the Aaron Brown the Lions selected is not a 60 year old broadcaster but rather a running back out of TCU. My mistake.
Anyway, the Aaron Brown soon to be found wandering the desolate killing fields of Detroit seemed to be a curious draft pick by the new regime at Ford Field. Brown is an explosive athlete who has the potential to do good things with the ball in his hands. The problem is that, for the most part, an injury riddled college career only allowed him to show flashes of that explosiveness. Playing in the Mountain West - which has proven itself to be, if not on a par with the BCS conferences, certainly several steps above the other mid-major conferences - Brown was a versatile weapon for TCU, one of the top programs in the conference.
When one thinks of TCU running backs, one thinks of Ladainian Tomlinson. Unfortunately, when one thinks of Aaron Brown, one thinks of Aveion Cason. You see, while Brown has the tools to be a versatile weapon, he has never really been able to put it all together. A big part of the problem is his inability to remain healthy. But another problem is that Brown really doesn't have a position. Drafted as a running back, many teams reportedly worked Brown out at receiver. A man without a position is a man who has a hard time finding steady work in the NFL - unless there is one thing he is really good at. Fortunately, for Brown and for the Lions, there is a chance that he does bring something to the table that not many other guys can.
As a running back, Brown isn't going to be very good. His scouting report basically screams CAN'T RUN THE BALL THROUGH THE MIDDLE. Not exactly the thing you want to struggle with as an NFL running back. But, Brown does possess the tools to be an explosive kick returner. He has the kind of fluid athleticism that teams look for back there, a kind of elusiveness that is inborn, the ability to control your body and make people miss in the open field. Chances are all Brown will ever be is a kick returner in the NFL. And for a sixth round draft pick, that's pretty okay, and if it works out, for a team like the Lions who have wandered in the desert feeble and dying for a few years now when it comes to the return game, that's better than okay. But, it's a big if. There's a decent chance that Brown doesn't make it as an explosive return man, and chances are that all he ever will be is an Aveion Cason sort who gets cut and brought back by some sorry ass team 1100 times during his career. Besides, if the Lions can get Derrick Williams to hit as a returner, that makes the need for Brown pretty small, and out of everyone the Lions drafted, he might be the most likely to be cut.
What they could have done differently: Once you get into the sixth and seventh round, you're basically just looking for guys who can either do one thing well or guys who aren't really great at anything but who can provide quality depth for you down the road. Some of the names still available here include James Davis, a running back out of Clemson who was very good in college at a top level. But the Lions already have Kevin Smith and just signed Maurice Morris so a running back without an accompanying set of skills like kick returning was a low priority. Curtis Painter, a quarterback out of Purdue was still available here too. Mel Kiper had a hard on for Painter since the time the last draft had ended. The only problem is that, well, Curtis Painter sucks. Kiper's boner for Mr. Painter was pretty bizarre, and if the Lions would have taken him I would have thrown up and died. THAT'S RIGHT, THROWN UP AND THEN DIED. How's that for hyperbole?
What we can expect this season: Brown really only has one shot at making it, and that's as a kick returner. If he doesn't win the job right away, if someone like Derrick Williams grabs it or if some retread off the street wrestles the job away, then Brown is probably a goner. And even then, he'll be under fire to perform right away at a position where the Lions desperately need somebody to perform. When the offense stinks - which it almost definitely will again this year - and the defense is coming off being the worst in NFL history, you need all the help you can get in terms of field position. Bare adequacy won't keep Aaron Brown in Detroit.
Early Pick Grade: C. This pick really feels like a flier. Brown would seem to have potential as a kick returner and if a major miracle happens, maybe - maybe - he could stick as a running back. It's a gamble by the Lions. Chances are good that he's out of the league sooner rather than later, and while the sixth round is ordinarily a good place to take a flier on someone, the Lions can't really afford to have someone not work out. The fires of hell are still licking at their asses(that sounds filthy), and even though most of us - at least the sane among us - understand that this thing is going to take time and that not every pick is going to be Liquid Metal Terminator Tom Brady, we still desperately need players. Every pick counts when it comes to this and if Aaron Brown sticks, then awesome. The coaches apparently think he has a shot at returning kicks for them, and if you can patch that hole with a sixth round pick, well, you're doing good things. But if he doesn't, and I think the chances of this happening are just as good, well, you've got one less horse to ride as you frantically try to escape the hell that lies just behind us. And yes, I realize I did just refer to Aaron Brown as a horse.
No comments:
Post a Comment