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April 28, 2009

Dennis Chase: Lions stuck to board

By DENNIS CHASE

Coach Jim Schwartz said the Detroit Lions "stuck" to their draft board, relying on the evaluations of their scouts, in selecting their picks in the NFL draft over the weekend.

Fine. But I would feel better if that scouting department included someone with credentials like David Chadd (former Boston Red Sox-current Detroit Tigers director of amateur scouting) or Hakan Andersson (European scout for the Detroit Red Wings).

The Lions kept their scouting staff pretty much intact after Matt Millen was dismissed. We can blame Millen, and the various coaching staffs, all we want for past draft failures, but shouldn't the scouting department -- and Martin Mayhew, who was promoted to Millen's job -- take some responsibility, too?

Detroit's fan base is restless, skeptical. They don't trust those making the decisions. There have been too many failures too high in the draft for too many years.

And there are skeptics out there right now questioning last weekend's draft.

I liked what Detroit did on Saturday, other than quarterback Matt Stafford's contract seems quite excessive. I like Stafford's potential. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew helps the running and passing games. Louis Delmas provides a much-needed boost at safety.

I expected Detroit to load up on defense Sunday. It didn't happen. Two of the Lions first four picks on day two were spent on return specialists. I like the fact Schwartz wants to be aggressive in the return game, but I thought there were more pressing needs elsewhere.

I will say this -- the Lions did draft with conviction. Detroit used precious little time in making its picks. It was as if team officials knew who would be available and when, and went in with a draft card already filled out.

Now if every team was like that, the seven-round draft could be completed in four hours.

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