Holmes was lucky to be gifted stud o linemen from Bob Quinn. Brad hasn’t proven that he can draft o line
Brad drafted Sewel and Ratledge, who I’d wager will at least be a serviceable lineman at worst, and good at best. Jury’s also still out on OL Frazier, who was, of course hurt all season…but if he stays healthy, he has a ceiling to be servicable/good imo. I’m def not sold on Mahogany. So you cant really say he’s done nothing re the OL. This is Brad’s biggest off season by far, let’s see how he “cooks” now that it’s getting hot in the kitchen.
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I agree, but I don’t think that’s quite where we’re at.
“Like I said, ideally, I would play. I would continue to play, but I just need to sit and evaluate, and this is not a decision that I want to make now or kind of consider right now, cause it would be an emotional decision.”
He knows the time is drawing near.
He also knows NOW is not the time to consider it, because it’s literally the worst time of year to contemplate it, when a season’s hopes and aspirations have come crashing down all around you, along with the pain of recovery and frustration of not being able to play at 100%.
It’s that 100% that has to be weighed, kind of like it needed to be for Frank. It’s one thing to prep every week for the opponent, it’s another to constantly manage prep with recovery.
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Shows you how much I know. I thought the first two seasons after Holmes took on a perennial loser team desperately lacking in talent were pretty big.
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In related news I’m still curious about Frank’s thinking.
The general sense seems to be that Rags ain’t coming back. Jared was clear that he doesn’t expect a return. Doesn’t it seem odd that a guy who was ready to go this year would write off coming back year?
Whether he is retiring or not we need to draft a tackle early. Could be a Right Tackle or Left Tackle cause Sewell can play either. Even if Decker is back for 1 more year, the rookie could play guard for a season before moving to tackle.
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Not if it truly was a grade 3 hamstring. I have my doubts about that. But if it was then he’s looking at 4 to 6 months of rehab again. Plus the chronic toe injury. I think his brain wants to play but his body doesn’t.
I think most Lions fans would have crucified Holmes if he spent another 1st round pick on a player coming off a major knee injury…. especially since the torn patellar tendon is typically more damaging to NFL careers than an ACL.
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Why?
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Tru - but the toe’s what it is, regardless, and the hammy’ll need rehabbing in any case. Course, rehabbing to play NFL football vs. rehabbing so you can live a normal life are very different.
Still, Frank doesn’t strike me as a frivolous guy. For him to retire from a game he clearly loves, from a team and teammates he loves, etc. etc. - that’s a big deal. For him to un-retire - also a very big deal. He had to hear the siren call VERY loudly for him to attempt the return.
My guess: he’s still hearing it. He’s 29 right now - that’s an in-his-prime age. His body will be feeling better than it has in a long time. There’s a gaping hole in the middle of that Lions OL. Now, if Decker retires and Glasgow moves on, that OL room looks a little less appealing. And he won’t want to return unless he’s damn sure.
But I bet he’ll be thinking about it.
Even if Frank said I’m 100 percent coming back which sounds doubtful. Can he last a full season? I think it’s probably just time to hand the position to Tate. GG is gone too IMO
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Oh, they definitely have to proceed as if he isn’t coming back.
I’m mixed-at-best on handing the center position to Ratledge. He had a very good year at RG, especially as a run blocker, and I LOVE the idea of him and Penei road grading defenders on the right side for years to come. Let him develop his craft there.
Center, who knows? He’ll have to navigate a much steeper learning curve to become as good at center as he already is at guard. I say keep him at guard, get a solid FA vet to play center, and draft a center in the first 3 or 4 rounds.
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I’m good with that too. The key is upgrading center one way or another. Throw the kitchen sink at Linderbaum and we’d be set.
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@CuriousHusker mentioned Panthers C Cade Mays as a possibility.
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In addition to Mays…. I’d even take a look at his teammate… Austin Corbett. Corbett has played more ORG in his career and even this season… but filled in for Mays due to injury in a few games this season. I watch the Rico Sowsle highlights against Green Bay.. and thought Corbett was playing well at Center.
Corbett will be 31yo though, and has had a few knee injuries in the past.
I think both Mays and Corbett have the size and run blocking ability to fit in the Lions offense.
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Pto cant be carry over to next year, if we keep him this year,watch out for tj Lang again
Fair point about the injuries.
We needed a #2 DE and a #3 really to keep butch fresh so he doesn’t risk snapping his leg playing meaningless minutes. Relying on Davenport was silly, when your other guys are so out prone (Levi, paschal) especially when Barnes went down early. Majority of fans and pundits agreed we needed help especially because our DB depth was bad as well.
I appreciated the trade for Carlton Davis but he was known for missing games. We def win that superbowl if kindle vildor isn’t our starter in the 9ers game.
My larger point is that we had money to spend and instead sat back with urban got cute