Linebacker High On Lions' Wish List
Without question, the Lions' weakest link in 2010 was their outside linebackers. Thus, it is no surprise that the three players who started most of the games are gone - Julian Peterson was released, Landon Johnson is a free agent and Zack Follett suffered a serious neck injury that has his NFL future still very much in doubt.
That leaves two young veterans - Ashlee Palmer and Bobby Carpenter - as the only outside linebackers on the roster, not including Caleb Campbell, a special-teams ace who spent most of the season on the practice squad.
General manager Martin Mayhew said recently that he thinks both Palmer and Carpenter can evolve into capable starters, but he is still looking to upgrade.
The problem is, this draft is especially bereft of quality outside linebackers, particularly ones that would fit the Lions' 4-3 defensive scheme.
"The biggest thing, if you are a 4-3 outside linebacker with us, your ability to rush the passer isn't as important as your ability to play behind the ball, make tackles and play in coverage," coach Jim Schwartz said.
There is no shortage of pass-rushing linebackers available at this draft and very few that fit Schwartz's description, certainly none worth the Lions' 13th overall pick.
"There's not a ton (available)," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "Teams are going to have to do some very astute scouting to find linebackers in that third- fourth- fifth-round area that would be factors right away."
The one wild-card in that discussion is North Carolina's Bruce Carter. Before injuring his knee, Carter was projected as a first-round pick. Post-reconstruction surgery, though, he has fallen off most experts' boards.
"I think he's really slipped back," Kiper said. "I didn't like him as much (before the injury)."
The Lions, though, haven't completely given up on him. They brought him in for a physical and were encouraged.
"Talking with our doctors, he is on schedule with his rehab," Mayhew said. "He'd be like where Kevin Smith and Brandon Pettigrew were last year going into camp. If he was with us, (Carter) would be a guy that might start on the physically unable to perform list, but he's coming along and moving in the right direction."
Still, he's not a guy the Lions would take until maybe the third round, at the earliest.
The Lions might decide to fill one of the outside linebacker vacancies from within. During the league meetings, Mayhew and Schwartz admitted there was a chance that starting inside linebacker DeAndre Levy could be moved to the outside.
Levy might move to the outside next season.
"Part of our criteria for linebackers is that we like multi-dimensional players," Schwartz said. "That means the ability to play inside or outside and that means being good against the run and pass. That's one of the reasons we drafted (Levy). Wherever he played, he's played well. He can move around."
Schwartz made it clear, though, that moving Levy wasn't Plan A. Once he was healthy, Levy was a stabilizing presence last season.
"One of his strengths is his ability to control the defense," Schwartz said. "There is value to having him in the middle. But he's confident in doing both and he's had success doing both."
The only way the Lions would move Levy is if they could acquire a proven veteran to replace him in the middle. One candidate could be potential free agent Stephen Tulloch, whom Schwartz coached at Tennessee.
Among the traditional 4-3 outside linebackers that might have value for the Lions, at least as Kiper sees it, include:
--Mason Foster, 6-1, 245, Washington. Projects to be a low-risk pick and a potential starter on the strong side. He showed good range against the run and the ability to cover backs and tight ends man-to-man. Kiper considers Foster to be rising through the draft process and thinks he would have value as a third-round pick.
--Ross Homan, 6-1, 240, Ohio State. A bit undersized, but could play on the weak side. He showed excellent speed and is considered better against the pass than the run at this point. Another player that could go in the third or fourth round.
--Lawrence Wilson, 6-1, 229, Connecticut. He showed good athleticism, but needs to gain strength. Kiper projects him to go in the fourth through sixth rounds.
--Colin McCarthy, 6-1, 238, Miami. He has been impressive throughout the draft process, though Kiper still considers him to be a late-round pick.
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