Can Hometown Spartan Restore Lions' Roar?

After the Lions drafted wide receiver Calvin Johnson with the second overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, it was pretty obvious as to who the Lions would draft with their second pick...or so it seemed.

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Passing on offensive tackle Joe Thomas for Johnson meant the Lions still have many holes to fill (wide receiver was NOT one of them). This leaves the Lions with a decision that should come at no surprise – it’s time to fill some holes.

Since the Lions drafted offensively in round one, they undoubtedly have to draft defensively in round two. The Lions desperately need to fill the hole left by Pro Bowl cornerback Dre’ Bly after Detroit traded him to the Denver Broncos. The Lions also released two safeties, need a star middle linebacker, and could use some help on the defensive ends.

The draft enters the second round and Lions fans are waiting in anticipation. After taking the “best player in the draft” the Lions couldn’t possibly disappoint their fans with the next pick. Could they?

Could it be Paul Poslusnzny, the star outside linebacker out of Penn State? Maybe Eric Weddles, a safety out of the University of Utah? Or maybe even Chris Houston out of Arkansas, the best cornerback still left on the draft board?

It wasn’t long before the Lions made their decision…to trade the pick. Detroit traded their second round pick for Buffalo’s second and third round picks.

40 minutes and nine picks later, Detroit was back on the clock.

Poslusnzy? … Gone.

Weddles? … Gone.

Houston? … Gone.

All three are on their way to other teams, buts that’s OK. The Lions need a star inside linebacker, and who else on the board but the University of Michigan’s own David Harris! Detroit has their future defensive star sitting right in front of them! This is someone they can build around and count on for years to come!

On mlive.com’s live draft chat room fans are going crazy for Harris! His name floods the computer screen and everyone is praising the Lions for trading down and acquiring a star inside linebacker!

As the Lions get ready to select their next pick, ESPN switches their coverage over to none other than Michigan State Quarterback Drew Stanton - who happens to be on the phone. A nervous and uncertain Stanton suddenly breaks into a big smile that stretches from cheek to cheek - pearly whites and all.

The atmosphere of the chat room has changed. Everyone knows what is coming. David Harris will not be the next player to put on a Lions jersey.

- With the 43^rd pick in the 2007 draft, the Detroit Lions select Drew Stanton, quarterback, Michigan State University. -

The Lions have done it again. They found a way to waste another draft pick. Alright Lions fans, time to pack it in…

…Or is it?

With veteran quarterback John Kitna running on little fuel left in the tank, the young Dan Orlovsky without a snap in 2006, and Josh McCown on his way to Oakland, Stanton has the chance to step in (in 2008) and take hold of the reigns in Detroit – he will certainly have the weapons available to get it done.

Stanton played on a team with little to no support around him. You could call it average at best. A group of receivers who seemed to have more drops than catches and an offensive line that left Stanton scrambling for his life on nearly every other play were about all the support he had.

But at least Stanton is familiar with Detroit’s offense. Their receivers like to drop balls too, and the offensive line allowed more sacks than any other team in the NFL last year. It should be like playing for the same team, only Lions coach Rod Marinelli doesn't slap himself during interviews.

However, that could all change in a year’s time (minus the slapping). The Lions will have what could be the deadliest wide receiver core of all time (this was also said when the Lions drafted Roy Williams in 2004 – oops!) and a trio of running backs who, when healthy, are all very deadly scoring threats.

With Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz controlling the offense and quarterback John Kitna showing Stanton the ropes for a year, Lions fans can only hope that Drew Stanton is the next Carson Palmer. Palmer was mentored a full year by Kitna before replacing him a year later and eventually taking the Cincinnati Bengals into the playoffs.

Something to consider is that this was not a strong draft for quarterbacks outside the first round. The Lions took Stanton as the fifth quarterback off the board. So anyone who says the Lions could have drafted Stanton later in the draft, it wouldn’t be worth the risk. Harris would have been a nice pick, for this year, but the Lions weren’t drafting for this year. When you only win three games in a season you have too much rebuilding to do to look just one year into the future.

The Lions demonstrated today that they are drafting for the road ahead. The next two picks went defensively, but unless you went to the university of Hawaii or Boise State you probably have no idea who the Lions drafted. (Defensive end, Ikaika Alma-Francis and safety, Gerald Alexander – I’ll let you guess which one is from Hawaii)

Stanton has the skills and the weapons around him to turn Detroit around. The fact that most people attending Lions games can’t remember the last time Detroit had a steady, reliable quarterback will place the bar very high for Stanton. Don’t expect him to be given the same treatment that quarterback Joey Harrington received. University of Michigan fans will be the harshest critics of all, and they make up about half of Detroit’s fan base.

When the 2008 season comes around Stanton should be ready to step in, familiar with the offense. For now this is still Kitna’s team. He will take the weekly beating, eating turf as Stanton watches from the sidelines. Hopefully when it’s Stanton’s turn to lead the huddle the Lions won’t be drafting for the future, but for the playoffs and beyond.