Post by D6 on Apr 25, 2020 21:09:44 GMT -5
2020 NFL draft: Detroit Lions select Georgia RB D’Andre Swift in second round
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This new thread relates to the following threads
Round 2 and Round 3 options for the Lions ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/664/round-2-options-lions-2020
NFL Draft Preview: Running Backs ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/595/draft-preview-running-backs-2020
Lions have Pick # 3 in the 2020 NFL Draft
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/552/lions-pick-2020-nfl-draft?page=3
Lions Free Agency Preview and Results: ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/599/lions-free-agency-preview-results
Ranking Lions needs heading into the 2020 NFL Draft
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/661/ranking-lions-heading-2020-draft
Mock Draft ( 2020 ) - DLF Members
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/655/mock-draft-2020-dlf-members
Round 1: CB Jeff Okudah ( Ohio St. ) : Pick # 3 ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/663/round-jeff-okudah-ohio-pick
…………..
Yesterday afternoon, I mentioned here in the DLF that I would be comfortable if the Lions selected D'Andre Swift with pick # 35. That's still the case, now that the Swift became the Lions selection at # 35.
The reasons why Swift was not in my top 4 choices for pick # 35 and instead he was in a group of 3 of players I would still be comfortable with at # 35 are as follows:
1. The Lions had greater needs than a high caliber RB.
2. I thought the Lions could fill the need at RB in Round 3.
3. The likely greater difficulty of filling a need effectively in the front 7 on Defense, if the opportunity wasn't seized upon pretty early in Round 2.
To the credit of Bob Quinn, I think he anticipated well what transpired with RB options, after pick # 35 and before pick # 67 in the early part of Round 3. More RBs were taken from pick # 36 to pick # 66 than I anticipated. It's also fair to say that Quinn put a greater priority on RB, in terms of the level of need it was for the Lions, entering the draft, than I thought would be the case. Though RB was a position I thought the Lions needed to address, it was 6th on my list of Lions needs.
D'Andre Swift is someone who I view as a late 1st Round prospect. I projected Swift being the 2nd RB taken in the draft. One thing in particular I did anticipate was the Chiefs being the 1st team to take a RB in this draft, with pick # 32. I thought it would be J.K Dobbins, in a close call over D'Andre Swift. I was surprised the Chiefs took LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire that early in the draft, with the other 2 RBs still available. Swift turned out to be the 2nd RB taken in the draft, going to the Lions at # 35, instead of my projection of the Dolphins taking him as the 2nd RB taken ( # 39 ). The combination of RBs usually lasting longer in the top 40 picks or so than their grades reflect and very few teams having the a primary need for RB in the latter part of Round 1 and the early part of Round 2 are why I had Swift lasting to pick # 39.
With Swift, the Lions are getting a RB who has the talent to be used in practically any specific game situation. Swift has big play speed, quickness, moves, instincts, power, and desire. He's a very good receiver and he has the potential/ desire to be an asset on a consistent basis picking up blitzes. Swift needs to improve pass protection techniques but coaching and repetition should enable him to do so. Swift only had 440 careers in his 3 seasons with Georgia, which is SUBSTANTIALLY less than Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor had at Ohio St. and Wisconsin respectively. That's a huge plus moving forward.
My greatest concern regarding D'Andre Swift as an NFL RB is he had a history of injuries in High School and College combined. In college, Swift was able to play in either every game or at most he missed 2 games over 3 years. The problem is injuries limited him in some games, including his work load being reduced substantially. Though the Lions don't need Swift to be a bell cow RB, which adds to Swift's value, it remains to be seen if he can stay relatively healthy the vast majority of the time. Kerryon Johnson, another RB with an SEC background, hasn't come close to staying relatively healthy the vast majority of time. This after, his injury history with Auburn.
Also, Swift had 7 fumbles in his 3 combined seasons with Georgia. That is something he needs to improve on.
Overall, I think the positives with D'Andre Swift clearly outweigh the concerns. IMHO, the Lions RB situation at this point in time is better than it's been at anytime since Barry Sanders retired in the summer of 1999.
……………….
This new thread relates to the following threads
Round 2 and Round 3 options for the Lions ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/664/round-2-options-lions-2020
NFL Draft Preview: Running Backs ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/595/draft-preview-running-backs-2020
Lions have Pick # 3 in the 2020 NFL Draft
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/552/lions-pick-2020-nfl-draft?page=3
Lions Free Agency Preview and Results: ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/599/lions-free-agency-preview-results
Ranking Lions needs heading into the 2020 NFL Draft
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/661/ranking-lions-heading-2020-draft
Mock Draft ( 2020 ) - DLF Members
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/655/mock-draft-2020-dlf-members
Round 1: CB Jeff Okudah ( Ohio St. ) : Pick # 3 ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/663/round-jeff-okudah-ohio-pick
…………..
Yesterday afternoon, I mentioned here in the DLF that I would be comfortable if the Lions selected D'Andre Swift with pick # 35. That's still the case, now that the Swift became the Lions selection at # 35.
The reasons why Swift was not in my top 4 choices for pick # 35 and instead he was in a group of 3 of players I would still be comfortable with at # 35 are as follows:
1. The Lions had greater needs than a high caliber RB.
2. I thought the Lions could fill the need at RB in Round 3.
3. The likely greater difficulty of filling a need effectively in the front 7 on Defense, if the opportunity wasn't seized upon pretty early in Round 2.
To the credit of Bob Quinn, I think he anticipated well what transpired with RB options, after pick # 35 and before pick # 67 in the early part of Round 3. More RBs were taken from pick # 36 to pick # 66 than I anticipated. It's also fair to say that Quinn put a greater priority on RB, in terms of the level of need it was for the Lions, entering the draft, than I thought would be the case. Though RB was a position I thought the Lions needed to address, it was 6th on my list of Lions needs.
D'Andre Swift is someone who I view as a late 1st Round prospect. I projected Swift being the 2nd RB taken in the draft. One thing in particular I did anticipate was the Chiefs being the 1st team to take a RB in this draft, with pick # 32. I thought it would be J.K Dobbins, in a close call over D'Andre Swift. I was surprised the Chiefs took LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire that early in the draft, with the other 2 RBs still available. Swift turned out to be the 2nd RB taken in the draft, going to the Lions at # 35, instead of my projection of the Dolphins taking him as the 2nd RB taken ( # 39 ). The combination of RBs usually lasting longer in the top 40 picks or so than their grades reflect and very few teams having the a primary need for RB in the latter part of Round 1 and the early part of Round 2 are why I had Swift lasting to pick # 39.
With Swift, the Lions are getting a RB who has the talent to be used in practically any specific game situation. Swift has big play speed, quickness, moves, instincts, power, and desire. He's a very good receiver and he has the potential/ desire to be an asset on a consistent basis picking up blitzes. Swift needs to improve pass protection techniques but coaching and repetition should enable him to do so. Swift only had 440 careers in his 3 seasons with Georgia, which is SUBSTANTIALLY less than Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor had at Ohio St. and Wisconsin respectively. That's a huge plus moving forward.
My greatest concern regarding D'Andre Swift as an NFL RB is he had a history of injuries in High School and College combined. In college, Swift was able to play in either every game or at most he missed 2 games over 3 years. The problem is injuries limited him in some games, including his work load being reduced substantially. Though the Lions don't need Swift to be a bell cow RB, which adds to Swift's value, it remains to be seen if he can stay relatively healthy the vast majority of the time. Kerryon Johnson, another RB with an SEC background, hasn't come close to staying relatively healthy the vast majority of time. This after, his injury history with Auburn.
Also, Swift had 7 fumbles in his 3 combined seasons with Georgia. That is something he needs to improve on.
Overall, I think the positives with D'Andre Swift clearly outweigh the concerns. IMHO, the Lions RB situation at this point in time is better than it's been at anytime since Barry Sanders retired in the summer of 1999.
