Sunday, April 25, 2004
ALLEN PARK -- For the second consecutive year, the Detroit Lions used the first two rounds of the draft to improve one of their biggest weaknesses: the lack of speed.
After grabbing receiver Roy Williams with the seventh pick overall, the Lions traded up into the first round to get Virginia Tech running back Kevin Jones with the 30th pick and the picked up Oklahoma linebacker Teddy Lehman with the 37th choice.
"I think we've addressed some holes and upgraded our team," said Lions president Matt Millen, who moved up to get Jones even though he only had to wait six more spots. "We leapfrogged over a couple of teams that were in need of a running back. The kid's just sitting there and you don't know how far he's going to fall.
"It was knowing there was a good football player there and he could help your team so you go get him."
While Lions head coach Steve Mariucci has always liked to use a two-back platoon system, that might change with the speedy Jones. Mariucci, who already has Artose Pinner on the roster, won't commit to anything now.
"There's nothing wrong with having multiple backs," Mariucci said. "We'll see how they're doing. I'm not opposed to (a platoon system), as you know. We'll see who's healthy and who's playing well and that sort of thing, but I'm not opposed to it."
Lehman, meanwhile, was the Butkus Award winner as college football's best linebacker and was one of the fastest in the draft. He runs 4.55 in the 40 and has the size (245 pounds) to play any of the linebacker positions.
"He has pure speed. We can play him inside or outside. He's a throwback, he's a football player," said Millen, who didn't expect Lehman to still be on the board. "No way. But he's there. He'll probably pack a toothbrush and an extra T-shirt and he'll be here. And that's why I like him."
Lehman, who will also play on all special teams units, is expected to be the top candidate to fill the vacancy at weakside linebacker left by Barrett Green, who signed with the New York Giants as a free agent.
Last year, the Lions took receiver Charles Rogers in the first round and linebacker Boss Bailey in the second. Both players were the fastest in the draft at their respective positions.
For all the draft-day celebrations, Millen remains cautious and refuses to make any predictions about Detroit's new players.
"I'll tell you three years from now. Then we'll know," he said. "You're always excited because you look at the board and you've done all this work and you get all fired up and then reality sets it. Then we'll see where they're at."
The news of the death of former Arizona Cardinals safety and Army Ranger Pat Tillman struck everyone hard and several people in the Lions organization felt it hit close to home.
Millen's high school-age son, Marcus, who has committed to West Point, used Tillman as a role model in making his decision.
Another member of the Lions family, assistant coach Stan Kwan, was very close to Tillman. Kwan was a special teams coach with the Cardinals in 2001 and had Tillman on several units. It was Tillman's last year in football.
At the start of his press conference to introduce Detroit's first-round pick, Millen addressed the situation.
"Let us first say that the Detroit Lions organization would like to extend to the family of Pat Tillman our condolences because that's something that affected all of us," Millen said. "For those of us who were familiar with Pat and what he stood for, we're really sad about it. I wanted to say that first because that's more important than anything."
Roy Williams is the first Texas receiver to be selected in the first round since the New York Jets took Johnny "Lam" Jones with the second overall choice 1980. Jones, who was a huge bust for the Jets, was the selection after the Lions took Oklahoma running back Billy Sims with the top pick.
Here are a few impressions of Williams by other NFL teams.
"(Larry) Fitzgerald really knows how to beat people. Roy is a little more freakish in terms of the physical ability, the length of his arms and body and the speed," said Phil Savage, the Baltimore Ravens director of player personnel. "He just physically beats people."
"I haven't seen a receiver as good since (James) Lofton. He's like Terrell Owens after he catches the ball. Very physical. Great hands. Great speed," said Charlie Armey, general manager of the St. Louis Rams.
The Lions might not be out of the bidding for Larry Allen, the Dallas Cowboys eight-time Pro Bowl guard.
While the Lions have refused the Cowboys' asking price of a third-round pick, the Lions might offer Dallas a selection from the 2005 draft. If that fails, Allen isn't likely to land in Detroit anytime soon.
RESTORE THE ROAR IN 2004
