Culpepper not '09 QB starter for Lions yet

BcLion · 01-29-2009, 08:00 AM

Culpepper not '09 QB starter for Lions yet
John Niyo / The Detroit News
Expecting Scott Linehan, the new offensive coordinator for the Lions, to name his starting quarterback after only five days on the job is about as reasonable, one could argue, as expecting Daunte Culpepper last November to make his first start for the Lions five days after signing with the team.

And, well, that's worth noting as Linehan, who met with the local media for the first time Wednesday, sifts through the wreckage of last season's 0-16 game film and tries to assess what it is he's got to work with in Detroit.

Linehan said he has spoken with three of the four quarterbacks signed through next season: Culpepper, Jon Kitna and Drew Stanton. Drew Henson is the other, with Dan Orlovsky, who finished the season as the starter, likely headed elsewhere as a free agent this winter.

So who's his starter?

"In fairness to all the quarterbacks, we haven't really looked and done enough to say what we would or wouldn't do," said Linehan, the former St. Louis Rams coach. "We've got to let it work itself out. I wouldn't make any assumptions."

The implied message, of course, is that Culpepper, with whom Linehan developed a strong relationship several years ago in Minnesota, isn't the anointed starter for 2009. Not yet, anyway. With Linehan serving as the Vikings offensive coordinator from 2002-04, Culpepper thrived in a leading role for one of the league's most productive offenses. In 2004, he threw for a career-high 4,717 yards and 39 touchdowns.

"I know a lot of people draw conclusions to the fact that I have an affinity for Daunte because of our background, and I do," Linehan said. "He was a special, special player for me -- and a (special) person as well.

"(But) in all fairness to all the quarterbacks and to Jim (Schwartz), in our evaluation process and to the whole process, we haven't really looked and done enough to say what we would or wouldn't do. I mean, I think you've got to go through the due process and kind of let it work itself out."

Linehan, whose offense also led the NFL in rushing in 2004, talked about his shared "vision" with Schwartz, emphasizing the need to establish a power running game. He singled out receiver Calvin Johnson and running back Kevin Smith as building blocks, and had good things to say about center Dominic Raiola, and tackles Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus. But the questions, as expected, focused on the quarterback.

"Certainly, you're going to have to make a decision on players as the calendar year rolls around, but at this point, I wouldn't make any assumption at all what we're going to do really at any position."

Clearly, though, Culpepper, who turned 32 on Wednesday, appears to be the front-runner. After weeks of behind-the-scenes talks last fall, the Lions signed the 10th-year pro to a back-loaded, two-year contract Nov. 4. And though he hadn't played in nearly a full year, he immediately was installed as the starter.

Asked Wednesday if his history with Culpepper would help him in evaluating the quarterback's play, Linehan responded, "Oh, heavens yes."

"That's only fair, because I do have a background. But again, I'm real conscious of this process. I don't think it is at all fair to the other quarterbacks on the roster or to the head coach, the division of our personnel and our franchise, that we let ... emotions or a tie to a player affect our ability to make the right decision."

Extra points
One of general manager Martin Mayhew 's next big decisions will be whether or not to pay the $2.5 million roster bonus Culpepper is due in late February.

Culpepper, whose salary for 2009 would be an additional $2.5 million, hasn't responded to several messages seeking comment. But he has been in touch with Linehan, and the two are expected to meet face-to-face in the next week.

http://detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...126/SPORTS0101

I thought about linking this article to multiple threads already started. but after some thought this deserves its own for the simple fact it can head many directions.

Quarterback is going to be interesting this offseason. I think we can all make cases for any of our current QB's getting a chance to start.

Daunte= history with Linehan and to be fair he didnt stand a chance of being any good this last year walking in off the street to start five days later.

Kitna= Solid veteran that can manage a game, he won't wow anyone but gets the job done.

Stanton= Do we really know what we got in him? I wont write off a second round pick under the previous management. Let the coaches decide and Im ok with that.

Henson= Is he still a project worth developing?

Orvolosky= Probobly gone thropugh FA.

Draft= This is whats most interesting to me about this article. Is it smoke screen saying we draft QB by saying our LT,RT,C is ok?

Next thing about this article is I think it cements we do not draft OT with the first pick. So where do we go if he thinks LT,RT,C are ok on the team as is?
I can see us drafting a OG with #20 but not #1 so is it QB or maybe DT?

ChefMike · 01-29-2009, 10:15 AM

I can't see you drafting a QB right now in the 1st rd with as many OL needs and I think the best choice would be a trade to someone that could use a QB now that desperately thinks Stafford or Sanchez won't be there when they pick... and stock pile more picks and maybe a 1st next year as well when you have Tebow, Bradford, McCoy among others that will be coming out at QB. Allow your team to get built better at the other spots before you invest tens of millions in guaranteed money to a rookie that isn't going to bring a winning tradition to your franchise like Stafford can't. I am a HUGE proponent to winning breeds winning and you look at the great teams they have QBs that have won at almost every level and the great draft picks at QB have always been guys that have won in college and HS.. (Manning, Manning, Brady, Brees, Rivers, Montana, etc.) Your look through the great QB's and they all won while they were in College and stepped up in big games.. the program might not have the best tradition of winning but while they were at that school that were winners...

Look at David Carr, Tim Couch, Ryan Leaf, Jim Drunkenmiller, Kyle Boller, Joey Harrington, Akili Smith, Alex Smith all 1st rd QB's and all big time flops...

draft a QB next year not this year... your not going to be drafting in the bottom of the draft next year lets live in reality here.. you were 0-16 this year.. your not going 9-7 next year?!

noondog · 01-29-2009, 10:51 AM

That's ridiculous. So you want to list off QB's who won in college like the Manning brothers, Rivers, Brees etc. They didn't win any more than Stafford. NONE won a championship as far as I can remember. So they are all on par with Stafford. Not to mention that aside from Peyton, Stafford has arguably a better scouting report heading into the draft then the rest did.

Why in the world would we give up a chance to take a potential franchise QB this year to take a chance on MAYBE being able to get one next year with no guarantees whatsoever that they would be a better pro prospect to begin with?

As you said: Winning breeds winning. I think that we have a better shot at developing a winning team with a potential franchise QB drafted now rather than by using the #1 pick to shore up the line on either side of the ball. If we can grab Duke Robinson at #20 and maybe even Herman Johnson with the second 3rd pick, that would help tremendously. Basically invest the balance of the picks on defense. That, IMHO, would be a great start to building a winning team.

BcLion · 01-29-2009, 11:01 AM

The reason I posted this article wasn't to promote drafting anything. I put this here because I think it eliminates drafting a OT with the number 1. So that begs the question, What are we drafting? I brought up QB's for comparrison to get everyones feelings on if we are in fact going to draft one or do we have our QB on the roster already? If we do not draft a QB or OT then whats left worth the #1 pick?

I think we should explore every possable chance at trading down this year and then target BPA. I dont know we will have a trading partner tho.
So if we are stuck with #1 then what do we draft? QB,DT,DE? who is worth what we are going to give up for them?

Me personally I think we are almost stuck taking QB if we get no trades.

Prowler · 01-29-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChefMike

I can't see you drafting a QB right now in the 1st rd with as many OL needs and I think the best choice would be a trade to someone that could use a QB now that desperately thinks Stafford or Sanchez won't be there when they pick... and stock pile more picks and maybe a 1st next year as well when you have Tebow, Bradford, McCoy among others that will be coming out at QB.

Look at David Carr, Tim Couch, Ryan Leaf, Jim Drunkenmiller, Kyle Boller, Joey Harrington, Akili Smith, Alex Smith all 1st rd QB's and all big time flops...

draft a QB next year not this year... your not going to be drafting in the bottom of the draft next year lets live in reality here.. you were 0-16 this year.. your not going 9-7 next year?!

bradford, tebow, and mccoy are all system gimmicky type quarterbacks. the only safe picks are this year....so no we'll take the qb of the future now.