A2Leo
12-30-2008, 09:47 AM
I don't dispute this for one second. My issue is how they go about doing it. To my way of thinking there's just no point in taking a QB 1st overall. Firstly they are the most expensive position and will kill your cap while they sit on the sidelines developing. Secondly, any QB the Lions draft the Lions will feel a strong need to start too early. Thirdly if they do start him too early I have every expectation he will go the way of Alex Smith or Joey Harrington, not Matt Ryan. IMHO, the Lions' track record bears out that line of logic.
Eh, what do I know, its not like I'm the sharpest tool in the shed. Here's a guy who knows what he's doing...take a gander:
Wolf: Lions need a QB
Super Bowl-winning GM says passer is crucial piece of the puzzle
Terry Foster / The Detroit News
Ron Wolf helped build winners in Los Angeles and Oakland with the Raiders. He did the same as the head man in Green Bay. He has three Super Bowl rings as fruits of his labor and clearly has a blueprint for winning in the NFL.
Wolf said the Lions can turn themselves around -- if they find a franchise quarterback.
Wolf said a winning team needs a quarterback who performs at an elite level on the field -- but also can galvanize and unite the dressing room.
He said that would be one of the first moves he'd make if he were rebuilding the Lions today.
"If you don't have a quarterback, in today's game you don't have a chance to win," Wolf said in a phone interview from Miami. "To me, that is paramount. That is the number one thing. And within that you have to get coaches and a staff that believe in everything you do."
Wolf knows the importance of leadership behind center. He got that in Green Bay when he acquired Brett Favre, who guided the Packers to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning in 1997 and losing in '98. Ken Stabler and Jim Plunkett won Super Bowls during Wolf's days with the Raiders.
Wolf said he isn't sure the Lions possess that caliber quarterback among Dan Orlovsky, Daunte Culpepper, Drew Stanton and Drew Henson.
Orlovsky begs to differ. He said Monday he's the sort Wolf talks about. Orlovsky said his confidence grew this season, even while losing, and believes he did a good job leading.
"I don't think there is a doubt in a lot of people's minds with the situation this year," Orlovsky said. "I think I have done enough to prove I can be a high-level starter."
Orlovsky, however, will be a free agent and might not return.
"Everybody knows where my heart is," he said, affirming his choice would be to remain with the Lions. "I think there is a young nucleus. If you have guys like Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith, you need a guy who can get them the ball. I have complete confidence in myself being able to do it."
The Lions have sought a high-profile quarterback since Bobby Layne was traded in 1958. They tried to fill the void with Greg Landry, Andre Ware, Chuck Long, Scott Mitchell, Joey Harrington and Jon Kitna.
"The Lions are not going to have any success until they fill that need," Wolf said.
Wolf said he has no desire to come to Detroit. Besides, the Lions announced Monday that Tom Lewand will become president and Martin Mayhew the general manager. Both had been working in those roles on an interim basis since Matt Millen was fired in September.
Wolf said he hasn't studied the Lions closely, but he said the lack of talent was the team's downfall.
"You must not have very good players today," he said. "In today's football to accomplish something like this (going 0-16) is pretty incredible considering free agency and the fact you have so many ways to make your team better. They must not be a very good football team."
Former Lions vice president Larry Lee wants to see players, coaches, front-office managers and ownership come together and forge an identity.
"Get it all out in the open and develop a strategy," Lee said. "Go have a meeting of the minds. Allow everybody to speak. It is freedom of speech and there are no right or wrong answers. And once it is all over make sure everybody is on the same page when they leave that meeting. Everyone is selling the same thing from the front office to the players."
Wolf agreed a common theme is needed. His philosophy was to bring in character players who were tough and aggressive. He believed in building tough defenses and solid ground games.
"I wanted guys with speed and I wanted tough guys," Wolf said. "And you all have to be on the same page. There are certain parameters and certain beliefs. They have to all have character and be smart enough to play the game. All of those things are important."
Besides a quarterback, Wolf said the Lions need a bright coach. He said hiring Mike Holmgren in Green Bay was as vital as finding Favre.
"I was fortunate to have Mike Holmgren," Wolf said. "He was an asset and was marvelous. You didn't have to worry about that position. Holmgren and his coaches believed in making the Green Bay Packers the best team they could and everybody bought into it and worked (at) making it work.
"Mike had had success before in San Francisco as an assistant coach. Those same type of people are available in football today."
Eh, what do I know, its not like I'm the sharpest tool in the shed. Here's a guy who knows what he's doing...take a gander:
Wolf: Lions need a QB
Super Bowl-winning GM says passer is crucial piece of the puzzle
Terry Foster / The Detroit News
Ron Wolf helped build winners in Los Angeles and Oakland with the Raiders. He did the same as the head man in Green Bay. He has three Super Bowl rings as fruits of his labor and clearly has a blueprint for winning in the NFL.
Wolf said the Lions can turn themselves around -- if they find a franchise quarterback.
Wolf said a winning team needs a quarterback who performs at an elite level on the field -- but also can galvanize and unite the dressing room.
He said that would be one of the first moves he'd make if he were rebuilding the Lions today.
"If you don't have a quarterback, in today's game you don't have a chance to win," Wolf said in a phone interview from Miami. "To me, that is paramount. That is the number one thing. And within that you have to get coaches and a staff that believe in everything you do."
Wolf knows the importance of leadership behind center. He got that in Green Bay when he acquired Brett Favre, who guided the Packers to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning in 1997 and losing in '98. Ken Stabler and Jim Plunkett won Super Bowls during Wolf's days with the Raiders.
Wolf said he isn't sure the Lions possess that caliber quarterback among Dan Orlovsky, Daunte Culpepper, Drew Stanton and Drew Henson.
Orlovsky begs to differ. He said Monday he's the sort Wolf talks about. Orlovsky said his confidence grew this season, even while losing, and believes he did a good job leading.
"I don't think there is a doubt in a lot of people's minds with the situation this year," Orlovsky said. "I think I have done enough to prove I can be a high-level starter."
Orlovsky, however, will be a free agent and might not return.
"Everybody knows where my heart is," he said, affirming his choice would be to remain with the Lions. "I think there is a young nucleus. If you have guys like Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith, you need a guy who can get them the ball. I have complete confidence in myself being able to do it."
The Lions have sought a high-profile quarterback since Bobby Layne was traded in 1958. They tried to fill the void with Greg Landry, Andre Ware, Chuck Long, Scott Mitchell, Joey Harrington and Jon Kitna.
"The Lions are not going to have any success until they fill that need," Wolf said.
Wolf said he has no desire to come to Detroit. Besides, the Lions announced Monday that Tom Lewand will become president and Martin Mayhew the general manager. Both had been working in those roles on an interim basis since Matt Millen was fired in September.
Wolf said he hasn't studied the Lions closely, but he said the lack of talent was the team's downfall.
"You must not have very good players today," he said. "In today's football to accomplish something like this (going 0-16) is pretty incredible considering free agency and the fact you have so many ways to make your team better. They must not be a very good football team."
Former Lions vice president Larry Lee wants to see players, coaches, front-office managers and ownership come together and forge an identity.
"Get it all out in the open and develop a strategy," Lee said. "Go have a meeting of the minds. Allow everybody to speak. It is freedom of speech and there are no right or wrong answers. And once it is all over make sure everybody is on the same page when they leave that meeting. Everyone is selling the same thing from the front office to the players."
Wolf agreed a common theme is needed. His philosophy was to bring in character players who were tough and aggressive. He believed in building tough defenses and solid ground games.
"I wanted guys with speed and I wanted tough guys," Wolf said. "And you all have to be on the same page. There are certain parameters and certain beliefs. They have to all have character and be smart enough to play the game. All of those things are important."
Besides a quarterback, Wolf said the Lions need a bright coach. He said hiring Mike Holmgren in Green Bay was as vital as finding Favre.
"I was fortunate to have Mike Holmgren," Wolf said. "He was an asset and was marvelous. You didn't have to worry about that position. Holmgren and his coaches believed in making the Green Bay Packers the best team they could and everybody bought into it and worked (at) making it work.
"Mike had had success before in San Francisco as an assistant coach. Those same type of people are available in football today."