Author Archives: pjwascher

Apr 25 2013
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Detroit Lions, Football, Uncategorized

NFL Draft 2013 (Class Overview)

by: P.J. Wascher

The draft is just a couple days a way. There’s no other way to put it, this draft is not looking good. One of the weakest I’ve seen since I started following the draft. Going into this draft, the Lions have a lot of positions they could draft for. This article is a chance to rank the positions and see how likely the Lions are to target it:

Position: QB

Draft Class Grade: (D+) It’s a very weak class. There’s no “sure thing” in this class, or even somebody with amazing potential. There are just a lot of question marks. Count me as no fan of Geno Smith, who never put it all together at West Virginia. His hot start last season quickly cooled off once the competition got stronger. Anybody expecting him to be the next RG3 needs to lower expectations. I’m a fan of Ryan Nassib. Personally think he’s the best QB in the class, but his physical tools do not separate him enough to justify a top ten pick. He will need development like the rest of this class. There may be a few QB’s out of this class that become solid starters in the NFL, it’s just hard to predict which ones.

Possibility: (1 Low – 10 High) (1) Can’t see the Lions even making a late round pick here. They have three QBs they’re comfortable with. If anything they’ll test one out that is undrafted.

Position: WR

Draft Class Grade: (C -) There’s a few interesting pieces at the top and like usual some good athletes available. The top end of this class is not great though and there is a smaller mid-level of talent than usual. The most intriguing prospect is Tavon Austin out of West Virginia. Comparisons to Percy Harvin seem fair. Just a little small to justify the top pick. Can’t be a #1 guy under 6 feet tall.

Possibility: (7) The Lions had Tavon Austin visit before the draft, but the only that pick will happen is if the Lions trade back. They need a new return man with Stefan Logan gone. They will also need some more insurance at receiver with both Broyles and Burleson injured. Lions will likely make a pick for this position, but I anticipate it coming beyond the second round.

Position: RB

Draft Class Grade: (C+) There’s no “star” running back in this class, but there are several solid prospects and quite a few underrated ones. Which is fine, running backs are a dying commodity in the draft. Teams are no longer interested in using top picks on them. A passing league has caused almost all of these player’s stocks to drop over the last decade.

Possibility: (3) Never say never here. Maybe there’s a prospect they fall in love with in the late round and go for it. But with the signing of Reggie Bush and LeShoure/Bell still on the roster, not much space available to make a move here.

Position: TE

Draft Class Grade: (B) TE’s tend to have at least one difference maker in the class. They have become important passing targets in the NFL offense. This year’s TE appears to be Eifert out of Notre Dame. Some other picks will certainly contribute. Dion Simms out Michigan State could be a nice mid round pick.

Possibility: (2) The Lions are not replacing Pettigrew and they have some solid backups at TE. Just don’t see them even taking a project TE this draft.

Position: OT

Draft Class Grade: (B-) This class is tough describe. Yes, there are some solid picks at the top end of the draft. No sure things, but players that look ready to succeed in the NFL, which is more than we can say for a lot of these draft classes. There is even some solid mid-first round prospects. It just doesn’t have that “sure thing” and even more disturbing is how quickly this position’s talent level drops off. If you are going to draft a tackle this season, make it early or prepare for a big project.

Possibility: (8) The Lions need another tackle. They have one spot filled by Reiff, but still have another side to replace unless they are really comfortable promoting backup Hilliard. If the Lions are going to make a move for a tackle it will be early, very early. This class doesn’t offer the depth to wait. They will need to make that selection with that 5th pick. Eric Fisher is the dream pick, but I think he may go number one. Fisher along with Joeckel are the two standouts, if one drops, Lions have to make a move. Would be very lucky if it’s Fisher, who has more physical tools to work with. Most likely tackle option will be Lane Johnson out of Oklahoma. After last year’s draft, it’s clear the Lions have been scouting that school hard. Not as polished as the top two, but if they don’t grab him, there will be no shot at drafting a day one starter for that line.

Position: OG

Draft Class Grade: (C+) Guards are rarely make or break for a team. It tends to be a position teams try to hide discounted players to help with the salary cap. Having said that, the Lions may have tried to do that a little too much. This class has a very strong top candidate and then a lot of average underneath. Warmack will be a first round pick, tough to see much else getting drafted till at least the second round.

Possibility: (8) The Lions got rid of Peterman. If they do not move Reiff or Fox there, they will need another guard. Warmack’s name has been tossed around, but that is a heck of an investment for guard. I think we’ll see one draft in the third round or later.

Position: C

Draft Class Grade: (C+) Center is the other line spot that often is ignored except for a few high-talent players. This class has couple centers in Frederick (Wisconsin) and Jones (Alabama) that are the clear top talents. Just hard to see centers getting taken much earlier than the late first round.

Possibility: (3) Never say never. The Lions restructured Raiola’s contract, he will start this year for the Lions. But maybe they find a late round prospect that will nudge Raiola out the door soon.

Position: DT

Draft Class Grade: (A-) Must be the age of defensive tackles. For a few years in row we’ve been seeing strong DT classes. This looks to be one of the strongest positions in a weaker draft class. Some solid depth in top-talent. Just wonder if this position takes a hit because we’ve had several strong classes from this position. Star Lotulelei is the clear leader in this position, will be a top three pick and should be.

Possibility: (4) A little higher than most expect, I know. Not saying it will happen early. But I could see the Lions consider one later on in the draft. Losing Sammie Hill to free agency they had a spot free up. Could go for a run stuffing DT project in the late rounds. Depends if one they like falls to them.

Position: DE

Draft Class Grade: (B-) This class has some talent, but very little polish. Take your pick and see if you can find something special. Even at the top of this, there are question marks. It’s just hard to tell how high teams are on these DE’s. The top two Bjoern Werner and Ezekiel Ansah have bounced all around the first and even second round. Both look like first round picks to me. Some solid talent after this, but will take some coaching to find what you’re looking for here.

Possibility (9) Hard to not see the Lions being aggressive here. They let both their DE’s go at the end of the season. They signed Jason Jones in free agency and have several lower round picks that have had limited contributions. I anticipate the Lions will make a move early here. Still think the Lions will go OT first round and DE second round. But if the OT’s they are interested get drafted, they may go after Ansah or Dion Jordan with that fifth pick.

Position: MLB

Draft Class Grade: (B+) This is a better than usual draft class at MLB. There are at least 5 players that will be considered in the first two rounds. Will be interesting to see where Teo ends up, would probably have been top of this position if not for some off the field issues.

Possibility: (2) With Tulloch locked up, can’t see the Lions making a move here unless they have a prospect they really like.

Position: OLB

Draft Class Grade: (C+) Another position that just doesn’t have as much depth as usual. The top two players in this position, Dion Jordan and Barkevious Mingo, are both tweeners with DE. Jarvis Jones was great at Georgia, but injury concerns will hurt him.

Possibility: (6) Lions have drafted at least one linebacker several years in row to mediocre results. For awhile Jarvis Jones was a hot name with the Lions. That has cooled. Could still see them searching for a playmaker pass rusher. But I also see them waiting till the later rounds. That doesn’t exactly line up in this draft, with limited talent later on. We’ll have to see if a player drops to them.

Position: CB

Draft Class Grade: (B) I’m not convinced Milner is a shutdown corner yet. He may develop into one, but I’m concerned there is a little bit too much hype around this player. Looking beyond the top spot there are several solid prospects that will get selected in the first two rounds. One that I am particularly interested in is Desmond Trufant out of Washington. Will probably go in the middle of the first.

Possibility: (7) It’s very likely the Lions will look for one more piece here, it’s just a question of which round. Mayhew is on record saying he doesn’t love drafting corners high. The fragility of the position makes it tough to invest a lot. Mayhew has in the past searched for larger more durable corners in later rounds hoping that a solid pass rush will cover up any inability to shutdown a receiver. He has several options from last year’s draft and with Houston resigned, can’t see them drafting a CB in the first round unless they trade back. Would expect to see a CB drafted in the third round or later.

Position: Safety

Draft Class Grade: (C) Free safety looks decent, strong safety not so much. Vaccaro looking like the only first round possibility in this draft class, but there are teams that are looking for some safety help. There may be a few stretches in this position. Teams are starting to need help in the back end of their pass game. Looking at teams like Denver after that last second loss to Baltimore.

Possibility: (6) The Lions resigned Delmas and also made a free agent signing in Glover Quin. They seem set here, but may make a late round pick to add depth. Delmas still fragile and Spievey injured they do not have many backup options.

PJ’s Draft Board (First Round Predictions)

  1. Lane Johnson, OT, Oaklahoma
  2. Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
  3. Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
  4. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
  5. Bjoern Wener, DE, Florida State
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Apr 21 2013
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Detroit Lions, Football

Lions Draft Outlook 2013 (First Round)

by: P.J. Wascher

It’s back! My favorite offseason weekend in football is less than a week away. This is my first of hopefully many draft articles building up to the week and throughout the draft weekend. Adding a highly talented player to your team always feels like a game changer. Few sports have players that can be drafted and make contributions as quickly as they do in football. I find it fun looking through the scouting reports and picking out players of interest. Sometimes I’m right and sometimes I’m wrong. That’s what the rest of the year is for, a chance to review your predictions and see what went right and wrong. I’ve been doing this routine for 9 years. I like to think I’m getting better.

Focusing on the first round, the Lions are in familiar territory.  After drafting late in first round last year for the first time in recent memory, the Lions 2013 season had its wheels fall off in a big way. It has fans believing 2012 was a fluke and this franchise is in more trouble than we realized. Several contract expirations and the retirement of Jeff Backus is setting this team up for substantial roster turnover. The Lions were more active then usual in free agency, giving them a chance to fill most of their remaining holes in the draft.

Making things difficult this year, the 2013 draft class looks particularly weak. No position is jumping off the page and this is shaping up to be one of the weakest QB classes I’ve seen since I started following the draft a decade ago. This weak class will make predicting next weeks draft very difficult, anticipating trades even more difficult. It’s hard to tell how teams are rating this year’s talent. Scouts appear to be split on a lot of this year’s talent. With no top QB’s to draft, it will make it difficult for the Lions trade out of the fifth spot in the draft. QBs tend to be the one position that can get teams to make aggressive trades to move up. There has been some talk of potential trades for the Lions, which would be preferred with a lack of elite talent at the top of this draft. But that lack of elite talent is why I consider this trade talk to be based more in hope than reality.

With the retirement of Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus leaving in free agency, the offensive line is having a major shakeup this offseason. Stephan Peterman being cut has forced the Lions to replace both tackles and a guard. The lions have re-signed backup tackle Corey Hillard to be a potential starter this season and no one is quite sure what the plans are for last year’s first round pick Riley Reiff. Lions can’t make up their mind if they’d like him at guard or tackle. Either way they are still one player short on next year’s line. Not typical to draft a guard in the top five picks of any draft, but the Lions have mentioned that as option. I’m going to believe it when I see it, but there is a decent guard prospect available, Chance Warmack, from Alabama. But once again, it’s a GUARD. Just doesn’t make sense to put that kind of investment there.

If the Lions do not draft an offensive lineman in the first round, most projections have the Lions drafting defense. While the secondary is what most Lions fans have been concentrated on, the defensive line is in more need of help. Seems strange to be drafting another defensive lineman, considering the amount of investment already there, but free agency has caused big changes there. Both Avril and Vanden Bosch are no longer with team. The Lions replaced one of those ends with Jason Jones signed in Free Agency, but they are still one starter short unless they are comfortable with Willie Young. I am predicting the Lions will draft a defensive end in the first two rounds. Looking at the secondary. The Lions still have several picks from last year that made limited contributions last season. If healthy, they will provide the Lions with several options, but Dee Milner out of Alabama would easily be an upgrade at this position. Would give the Lions two solid corners, but once again this may be at the expense of other positions more in need. There are a few interesting cornerbacks, like Desmond Trufant, that could also be an upgrade. But the Lions would need to trade back to consider these players.

To recap the four positions the Lions are most likely to draft in the first round: Tackle, Guard, Defensive End, Cornerback. I will keep adjusting my draft predictions as we get closer and go into the deeper rounds. For now, here are my top targets for the Lions in the first round:

PJ’s Draft Board (First Round Predictions)

  1. Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
  2. Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
  3. Dee Milner, CB, Alabama
  4. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
  5. Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon
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Feb 18 2013
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Basketball, Detroit Pistons

How Do The Pistons Get Better?

by: P.J. Wascher

Yes, I’m a little late to this Pistons trade. That’s life in the “I’m really tired after working” world. So everything that’s been needed to be said about that trade is pretty much done. In short, I like the trade. Gives us a lot more flexibility and this team finally has a point guard, one of the biggest glaring weaknesses on this team. But we all know this trade won’t fix the Pistons. We still have to look down the road to see where this is going. With this trade Pistons are on the verge of becoming buyers over sellers. Since the disastrous Ben Gordon/Charlie V signings, the Pistons have been handcuffed by their contracts and lack of talent. They’re full of pieces nobody wants, or contracts nobody will touch. After this trade the Pistons may finally have recovered since those awful signings. So what’s next how do we get better?

Listening to fans after this trade, there appears to be a lot of fear that Joe Dumars will make the same mistakes again. The Pistons have money to spend. The last time this happened, Joe went on a spending spree trying to find free agents the year before the big ones (Lebron, Wade etc.). Figuring people would save the big spending for the next year, Joe D. decided to make his move early, hopefully getting more bang for the buck. The fact is Detroit is never going to attract a Lebron or Wade to Detroit. So there is no point saving for that. So how do you get better when you can’t draw top free agents? Well there are two options:

1.)   What Joe D. did last time. Find some B-Level free agents that are on their way to becoming A-Level talent. The problem with any free agent signing is they never come cheap. Any sighting of talent gets overpaid in this league. That’s why players like Roy Hibbert have a max contract. This league doesn’t understand the concept of control. A player like Omer Asik, who started two games last season, is now making $5 million a year. If anything, it’s only gotten worse since Joe made the Charlie V/Ben Gordon signings. There is some hope here going into the next free agency. New cap rules make the luxury tax a lot less desirable. Not sure if teams have learned that lesson yet, so it might not make much of an impact yet. It also may not deter big teams unafraid to spend money.

2.)    Make Trades! Detroit is not able to convince top talent to sign with Detroit? Then force them to come to Detroit. Make trades with teams that are dumping contracts, common practice in the NBA. Lots of top talent is let go every year by teams trying to free themselves of these guaranteed contracts. That’s how the Raptors acquired Rudy Gay and the Pistons got Calderon. The tricky part with this option is that most of these players being dumped have very rough contracts. But if teams are desperate enough, you might be able to get the player plus a few perks. Ask Charlotte how that Pistons first round pick is doing after the Ben Gordon trade. The Pistons trade for Calderon is an example of the Pistons openness to use option 2. Calderon’s expiring contract gives the Pistons a ton more flexibility, but I won’t right him off yet. This trade may have acquired us a top-end point guard. Of course that depends on what his off season contract market looks like, but we have now had a chance to reduce risk by auditioning him in our system. We have also had more time to recruit him to stay. Tough to attract talent to Detroit that has never experienced it. Not as bad as it looks, but quick in and out visits does not this city enough time to show that.

I don’t think it’s fair to say Joe D will go into the offseason feeling like he needs to go option 1 again. Joe D has adjusted in his tenure as the GM of the Pistons. While he’s made several mistakes, they’ve been different every time. I’m hopeful he’ll look at his past mistakes and adjust. That doesn’t mean he’ll get it right. This league continues to change and there’s no blue print for a mid-market team to get better without sheer luck in the draft. But a combination of options 1 & 2 will probably be in order with Pistons draft position getting steadily worse.

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Jan 10 2013
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Football, Syracuse Football

Keeping It Together (Syracuse Hires New Head Coach)

by: P.J. Wascher

As if carrying the momentum from last season wasn’t already tough enough for Syracuse. A coaching change was the last thing this team needed. Changing quarterbacks and more importantly conferences, obstacles keep mounting for this program to gain respectability. I have to admit I am frustrated at Coach Marrone’s decision to leave Syracuse at a crossroads point like this. When Marrone was hired, I thought he was just what Syracuse needed: a spokesman for the university that actually respected the program and would be invested in its success. As a fellow alumnus, he came in saying all the right things to get both the players and fans reinvested with the program. It was his “Dream Job,” not some stepping stone job for him to move up the ranks. But the NFL apparently was another “Dream” of his. Off to Buffalo along with Syracuse’s OC Nathaniel Hackett, Syracuse is left trying to keep the train on the tracks after winning six of their last seven games and earning a split of the Big East title.

The problem with losing a coach to the NFL is timing. Schools have missed the window to hire a coach. Most of the coaching shuffle happens between the last regular season game and the bowl game. This gives schools enough time to reconnect with their recruits and gives their new coach a fighting chance to hold on to a few of them. Starting a search this late puts a school on the hook to find a coach quick. Aware of these problems, Syracuse responded fast to their opening, but probably responded a little too fast. Hiring Scott Shafer this soon leads me to believe they never even bothered to interview outside candidates. They were so desperate to keep recruits, current players and fans convinced that this program was moving in the right direction they went straight to hiring from within. This did not give the program a chance to look around and see if any other candidates were on the rise and worth a look.

I am not thrilled with the Shafer hire, but I’m not ready to call it the wrong decision. Shafer has been a solid defensive coordinator. While he may not be a Syracuse alum familiar with its traditions, he is a passionate coach that players gravitate to. There are three concerns I have with Shafer being promoted to head coach:

  1. Can he recruit? – This is probably the least of my worries. It will probably be more attached to his results on the field. But I am curious if he can sell this program. Can he convince recruits that he has a system in place and that this school should be worth their time? He is now the face of the program. He needs a message, some way to pitch these recruits. Being a first time coach, we’ll have to wait and see how he does here.
  2. Can he lead? – I think it is always surprising how little a head coach often is involved with game operations. They are often not involved with lots of game day operations like play-calling. It’s gotten to the point where you have coaches like Brady Hoke who do not even where headsets. They are trying to keep an eye on the team as a whole. Shafer will need to delegate and establish some type of system with his coordinators.
  3. What about the offense? – Shafer is being promoted from defensive coordinator and has lost his offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. This will be a very important hire for him, since Shafer will be out of his element on this side of the ball. Syracuse has made a commitment to incoming recruits to keep a similar system in place, which is good since it was successful. Not sure if Shafer has a network to find an OC, I suspect he will find someone with Syracuse ties. After watching the offensive mastermind Rich Rodriguez struggle with his defense at Michigan, I have become nervous about a coaches ability to coach both sides of the ball.

As Shafer is introduced as Syracuse’s new head coach, prepare to hear the word “continuation” several times. It’s the theme of this hire, a coach that will keep this program moving in the right direction. Since there will be no major changes, I am prepared to give Shafer three years to prove that he can keep this program moving forward. That will not be an easy task. Switching conferences will be difficult, which is why I can’t dislike this coach selection. Less change may be better going into a season full of change. Syracuse has gone conservative with this hire, is it too conservative? Not sure. We know this program ended the season on a high note. Syracuse also has a promising recruiting class coming in, including QB recruit Zach Allen. In my opinion it’s probably worth trying to keep the momentum intact. Let’s just hope if Shafer finds success at Syracuse, he can remain a little more committed than his predecessor.

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Jan 06 2013
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Detroit Lions, Football

It Didn’t Work (Lions Season Review, Part 1)

by: P.J. Wascher

8 game losing streaks always seem to ruin the optimism. Coming off last year’s playoff birth, it was clear upper management’s goal was to keep this team intact to grow and take the next step. Instead of growth, the Lions went the self-destruction route. Losing close was this year’s theme. This team was rarely blown out. It just never made enough plays, or did enough right to win the game. Whenever they became a real threat to win, they would always find a way to give it away.

The Full 16 Recap

Rams – W (27-23) – Predicted Win – Not a great showing, but clutch late drive gives us optimism

@49ers –L (19-27)- Predicted Loss – Ugly primetime loss, not panicking yet…

@Titans – L (41-44) – Predicted Win – Special teams were not so special

Vikings – L (13-20) – Predicted Win – Special teams back at it + we were bad

@Eagles – W (23-26) – Predicted Win – OT against a bad team playing bad

@Bears – L (7-13) – Predicted Loss – Offense disappears on MNF

Seahawks – W (28-24) – Predicted Win – Best win of the season, against a surprisingly good team

@Jaguars – W (31-14) – Predicted Win – Lions walk over a terrible team

@Vikings – L (24-34) – Predicted Win – Vikings better than I expected

Packers – L (20-24) – Predicted Loss – Had a chance, beginning a run of close losses

Texans – L (31-34) – Predicted Loss – Of all people, Hanson’s turn to let this game slip

Colts – L (35-33) – Predicted Win – Just Cruel, Just Cruel

@Packers – L (20-27) – Predicted Loss – Defense not able to get late stop

@Cardinals  - L (10-38) – Predicted Win – Worst loss of the season, just not their day

Falcons – L (18-21) – Predicted Loss – Close loss

Bears – L (24-26) – Predicted Loss – Close loss

Prediction Results: Like to hold my predictions accountable. Finished 11-5, some extra losses throwing my predictions off a little. Looking at those losses to Arizona and Tennessee. My prediction had the Lions winning 10 games; Lions won 4 games this season.

Offense

It’s clear the Lions spent heavily to turn this offense into a real threat in the league, yet it still feels unrealized. More turnovers and no true running threat hurt this offense throughout the season. As the season played out, injuries began to catch-up. The offense became a two-man show (Stafford and Johnson). For the amount of draft picks invested in the offense, fans were expecting more.

QB (A-) – This team is not losing because of Stafford. No, he was not as good as last year, but the production is there. Turnovers became an area of concern. The fumbles throughout the season were a complete head scratcher. The interceptions, on the other hand, just seem to be miss-throws. I’m personally convinced he can be a top 5 QB when the team is clicking.

RB (D+) – It’s not all their fault, but even when given the chance this group has not been able to break one off for a big run. Turnovers in the red zone are beyond frustrating. So is spending a second round pick on a running back (Leshoure) that is outplayed by an undrafted one (Bell). With Best most likely done, Lions need to find another option here.

WR (B-) – This grade is all Calvin Johnson. If not for him, it would be an F. Injuries and off the field issues decimated this group. Ryan Broyles looks like a reliable weapon if he can stay healthy. Big if. Titus Young is a mess. Shouldn’t be on this team at this point. Will probably get one small chance to stay with the team. One chance too many IMO.

TE (C) – Pettigrew’s weak grip on the ball cost the Lions several times with untimely fumbles. It’s not tough to look at him and see so much potential. But we keep waiting and seeing his flaws hold him back. Scheffler was solid, probably should have been used more. Will Heller was also reliable this season. But the real playmaker should be Pettigrew.

OL (C) – It’s been a frustrating year for this line when it comes to running the ball. They just have not opened the holes, or gotten any push all season long. Doesn’t help when your center and right guard are undersized. They have had a very rough season. In pass protection this line was solid, running it was a complete disaster. Limited this offense throughout the season.

Defense

Fans were baffled when the team did not draft any defensive help in the first two rounds. All things considered the defense was not as bad as some expected. But it was not good. Lots of late round picks were made for the defense, none of which contributed this season. That’s a problem.

DL (D+) – The strength of defense did not live up to the hype.  Defensive tackles were stronger than the defensive ends throughout the season, but neither unit preformed to a level that made any difference to the opponent’s offense. Looking at the defensive ends, neither side got much pressure. Kyle Vanden Bosch was a ghost this season. Age appears to have caught up. Cliff Avril did not live up to the franchise tag. Willie Young had a great preseason and disappeared. Ndamukong Suh was better than last year, but still not good enough. Nick Fairley has improved, but still very inconsistent with bad penalties. Cory Williams was not healthy much of the season. Unit needs to able to apply more consistent pressure to give this secondary a chance.

LB (C) – Not bad, but not great. They made lots of the plays necessary to keep games from getting out of hand. There are just no playmakers in this group. Levy has improved and Tulloch has been consistent. But neither can blitz and neither flies across the field to make an offense take notice. Durant could also be described as “meh.”

Secondary (D) – It was the weakness everyone knew about coming into the season and this one lived up to the hype. Honestly, it could have worse. I think Gunther worked some magic to not have this become a bigger disaster, but let’s not act like it was good. After talking about Chris Houston, the good stops. All but one of the rookie corners was injured this season. The only to stay healthy, Jonte Green, was very rough. Improved as the season went along, but I’m not convinced he can make it in this league. The team had to resort to several random signings, none of which worked. The safeties probably had the worst season of any position. With Delmas injured most of the season, there was no support. Most top defenses have one elite safety that makes plays across the field. The Lions had none.

Next week we’ll give out our 2012 “awards” and talk about what this team needs to change for 2013.

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Dec 19 2012
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Other

Music Recap 2012

by: P.J. Wascher

I’ve taken a little break from writing while I adjust to working 9-5. Trying to find new time windows to write. This space will still be mainly sports, but I need to interrupt that one time a year to share my favorite albums of the year. I love music, like most people, but I also love lists. Throughout the year, I try to listen to everything and rank em. I clip the list at 5 albums. On my work desk I keep 5 post-it notes ranking the top albums. Some years are easier than others to find 5 albums worth ranking. I am looking for albums that have a collection of songs, not just a really good single. This year I had close to 10 albums worth ranking. Several artists I was already a fan of released some great material and I also found several new artists with great albums. Here’s my top 5 albums of the year:

Top 5 Albums:

1. Best Coast by Best Coast

There are lots of people that will find this record somewhat repetitive, but its simple formula has created a collection of beautiful tracks in my opinion. Quality album depth is hard to come by. It’s become the toughest part of ranking albums. Finding an album that sucks you in track after track is worth congratulating.  This is Best Coast’s second album. They decided to tweak instead of overhaul, but the changes have made this album truly enjoyable. The vocals on this album are incredible. There not Adele amazing, it’s just a voice that makes you smile every time you hear it. The cheerful guitar is a perfect sidekick. Best Coast ends up sounding like a clean grunge/garage rock that just screams California coastline. Ranging from happy to hopeless romantic the songs are simple tunes that don’t last much longer than 3 minutes. They connect quite well and the short song length can get you listening through 5 songs before you even thing about changing.

Top Tracks

  • Do You Love Me Like You Used To
  • How They Want Me To Be
  • The Only Place

2. 151a by Kishi Bashi

It was very tempting to put this album number one. It blends several unique sounds to create a cheerful folk/pop mix that is very enjoyable. A few forgettable songs were the difference for me keeping it from being number one, but its top songs are unbeatable. A heavy mix of violin with several synth sounds are blended together with some crazy vocals to create a full sound. It makes you easily forget it’s just one person doing this. If you’re in need of a cheer-up song with a touch of inspiration, this is the album for you.

Top Tracks

  • Atticus, In The Dessert
  • Bright Whites
  • Manchester

3. Away From The World by Dave Matthews Band

I’m new to the world of DMB, but it looks like I choose a good album to jump in on. Working through a lot of his material, I find myself liking a lot of his songs live compared to the studio versions. Having no live versions, I had no comparison point. It was take it or leave it. I will take it! Solid balance in the audio, gives everything a chance to be featured, which has not always been the case for this group. Lots of great songs that build into something special.

Top Tracks

  • The Riff
  • If Only
  • Drunken Soldier

4. An Awesome Wave by Alt-J

I know this album is way too low on this list. It’s the second new artist on this list. Their debut in America came late in the summer. The vocals on this group are so much fun. The openings to these songs are very catchy. With great vocal mixes and sparse backgrounds on many of the songs, it gets you searching into the song as it swells and builds. Love songs that travel. This album has plenty of that.

Top Tracks

  • Tessellate
  • Bloodflood
  • Fitzpleasure

5. Babel by Mumford and Sons

I struggled with my 5th album. A lot of albums sneaked into this spot. But depth continued to knock each one out. I would still say there was room to put something big here, but I think this album deserves it. This album was one of my most anticipated of the year. I love that they stuck with what works. My biggest problem with it is some of the songs mesh together a little bit too much and I was really hopping for another Thistle and Weeds track (Broken Crown was the closest I could find). They also changed the acoustics to the track a bit, removing the empty hall echo and boosting the vocals, kind of preferred their original studio sound. The biggest reason I put this album on the list is that it continues to grow on me. Much like the last Mumford and Sons album, I go into phases of liking each song to the point I fall in love with the whole thing. This album is a grower and shouldn’t be punished for that.

Top Tracks

  • Broken Crown
  • I Will Wait
  • Babel

Song of the 2012: Bright Whites by Kishi Bashi

New Artist of 2012: Kishi Bashi

Honorable Album Mentions:

  • The Temper Trap by The Temper Trap
  • St. Lucia by St. Lucia
  • Boys & Girls by Alabama Shakes
  • Adventures in Your Own Backyard by Patrick Watson
  • Synthetica by Metric
  • Wrecking Ball by Bruce Springsteen
  • Lights Out by Graveyard
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Oct 31 2012
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Basketball, Detroit Pistons

Time To Care Again? (Pistons Season Preview)

By: P.J. Wascher

It still hurts to see the Palace empty. The Pistons are irrelevant, that should be clear by now. Since the disastrous Chauncey Billups trade, the Pistons have become the forgotten team in Detroit. The once always full Palace has tried every trick in the marketing playbook to attract fans, but Detroit has given them the cold shoulder. Get better and we can talk. The good news is the Pistons appear to have finally bottomed out. Last season showed the Pistons finally have some pieces to build around. This year’s draft addition, Andre Drummond, may have given the Pistons their trio.  Look around all the top teams in the league and you’ll notice one trend. All of them have a trio of talented players combined with role players. This offseason also featured a “major” trade for the Pistons. The Pistons were able to move Ben Gordon and remove one of their terrible long-term contracts, giving them some financial flexibility to make moves. This team finally seems ready to move in the right direction.

So is this the year people will start caring about the Pistons again? Probably not. Development in the NBA is a painfully slow process. At this point, the Pistons are young and raw. Going down the roster, the Pistons are going with the “learn by fire” approach. It’s a tricky process to judge talent, but with no ability to attract veterans the Pistons are left throwing these players in and letting them learn. If you like watching a team build from the ground up it’s a fascinating process. We get to see what raw skills a player possesses and how they translate that potential into success…or failure. Let’s take a look this year’s roster expectations.

Roster Expectations

G Will Bynum – Will be the backup PG. Expect to see him packaged with Drummond a bit, this combo should be flashy. Same concerns as last year still exist with this player. Can be a black hole with the ball, would rather see a PG who can move the ball.

F Austin Daye – Surprised he is back, but it looks like the Pistons are going to give him one last chance to prove himself and bounce back from last season. Leash won’t be too long with several options at forward. Might have a better chance at touching the floor as a 4, but that experiment has not gone well in the past. If he can get his shot straight, he’ll find a way onto the floor.

F Andre Drummond – Get ready to have some fun. This player is the center Pistons fans have been waiting for. Contrasting Monroe, he has plenty of flash to get fans excited. Similar to Monroe, he has a nose for the ball when it comes to rebounding. We will all have to keep reminding ourselves he is young and very raw. Needs some post moves and really needs to work on his free throws. Foul trouble will also be a battle in his first season.

G Kim English – Pistons have had some luck finding pieces in the second round. English is the pick everyone is talking about. The positive scouting reports remind me a lot of the Afflalo pick. Different players, but I’m coming in with those expectations. Have a feeling he is still a year from seeing any real minutes, but any injuries could accelerate that time scale. He’s a big 2 guard (6-6) that can shoot.

F Jonas Jerebko – Trying to figure out if we’ve reached Jerebko’s ceiling. He’s a solid hustle player that can do a lot of small things but was up and down all last season. Given a chance to start, he struggled to stay on the floor. He settled down on the bench. He’s moving back to the 4 this season. Still think he’s too small for the position, but if paired with Drummond it won’t get exposed too badly.

G Brandon Knight –If the Pistons are going to rise above expectations he’s going to be a big reason why. Knight has shown all the skills needed to be a top PG in the league, it’s just putting it all together. Needs to become a stronger creator to help improve his facilitating. Pick and rolls and drive-kicks will be the two plays I will keep my eye on with him.

C Viacheslav Kravtsov – Big body, but that’s about it right now. Won’t see too much of him unless we are in deep foul trouble. He’s a project that will require a lot of development. It’s just so hard to find true centers anymore, Pistons taking a chance on a raw player to see if they can find a diamond in the rough.

F Corey Maggette – One of only two “veterans” on this team.  He’s a one-year loaner from the Gordon trade that will rotate in at the 3. Should mostly be a good clubhouse guy.

F Jason Maxiell – Team’s starting center for now, will eventually lose that role to Drummond. Had a solid season and started to develop some chemistry with Monroe. Part of that was just allowing Monroe to move back to the 4. Maxiell is still too small to really be a long-term solution here.

F Khris Middleton – The other second round pick by the Pistons this season. He is coming off an injury and will probably be filling the Dajuan Summers role this season on the Pistons bench. He is supposed to be a shooting forward. Seems like he plays more like a 2, but size will probably make him a 3. Playing style reminds me a bit of Rip.

C Greg Monroe – Monroe continues to get more respect across the league. His fundamental no-flash highly productive approach to the game is very refreshing. Needs to clean up his defense and composure at the end of games to take the next step forward. Moving back to the 4 full-time should help a lot.

F Tayshaun Prince – Tayshaun will be relied on for a lot of the little things a veteran filled club does. Will need to be a leader as the last connection to the last championship era. His jump shot still drives me nuts. Needs to drive and post, leave the outside shooting to someone else.

F Kyle Singler – Will see heavy minutes this season at the three. Second round pick spent the season in Europe and has developed into a solid player. Lot of hype around this player. Should be a heavily rotated bench player. May be a contender for that 3 spot once Tayshaun is done in Detroit.

G Rodney Stuckey – I called him the MVP last season. He’s not considered part of the trio, but he is the light switch that makes this team click. Some of the Pistons best stretches last season feature Stuckey on a roll. The key for him is consistency. The Pistons need to figure out how succeed when he’s having an off night though.

F Charlie Villanueva – Please let this be the last season. Not much to say here. This has just never worked. Pistons will say the right things, may give him a couple minutes to kick the tires, but it’s not happening. If everything goes to plan, should be amnestied if they can’t find any way to trade him.

Pistons Preseason Predictions

1. Andre Drummond is going to be a star.

By the end of the season, this will be the player all the fans are talking about. He’s flashy and will make several highlight reel plays. I am anticipating at least three plays will make SportCenter’s Top 10.

2. Pistons are one year away from the playoffs

I know there won’t be much of a way to check this at the end of the season, but I think the Pistons are moving up. They just need to grow. If things really click, maybe the squeeze in thanks to a really weak Central division. Don’t see it happening this year though.

3. Rodney Stuckey will finally get some respect

If the Pistons ever make a run that makes fans in Detroit take notice, Stuckey will be a key reason why. Time for fans to realize he is going to be a part of the future with this team.

4. Charlie V will still be a disaster

Not sure anyone thinks something different here. This signing has just never worked out. Thanks to the ridiculous contracts in the NBA, Pistons are stuck waiting this mistake out.

5. Greg Monroe has a very lengthy double-double streak this season

Greg is stud. If you looked at his numbers last season, this last prediction is not really out of the box. Rebounds and points are not his problem, needs to fix the defense. But these numbers are going to be his bread and butter. Expect lots of busy stat lines from Greg.

Conclusion

The Pistons are at least a year away from grabbing any real attention from Detroit fans. It’s unusual to see this city act this away about one of their teams, but its drastic fall from grace really did a number on these fans. I can’t blame the fans, being terrible in the NBA is not even remotely entertaining. I anticipate most fans to still give the cold shoulder to the Pistons this season, but the smart ones will start to look back and realize we are moving on up. The trio is set, if the Pistons are going to grow, this trio needs develop. I predict the Pistons will finish third in the division behind the Pacers and the Bulls. Missing the playoffs again. We’ll get there soon.

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Oct 19 2012
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Baseball, Detroit Tigers

Tigers AL Champs!

by: P.J. Wascher

Man it feels good to be back. For the second time in my life I will get to witness the Tigers play in the World Series. Growing up in the Randy Smith era, the 119 loss season, the idea of ever competing for a championship seemed like a fairytale dream. Becoming a Tigers fan in that era makes these two visits (2006, 2012) to the World Series something to treasure.  

It’s hard to not look at this team and feel like were living in the same era as that team that won the American League seven years ago. There are lots of similarities, but looking down the roster it slowly dawns, this team is very different.  Only three players (Verlander, Santiago and Infante) are still on this team since that run in 2006. From trading for Gary Sheffield, to the blockbuster for Cabrera, and the three-way deal for the Scherzer-Jackson-Coke trio the Tigers have been making moves in every offseason to get back. The Tigers have also been aggressive on the free agent market grabbing players like Victor Martinez and Prince Fielder. Fill in some spots with the farm and we almost have a completely different team.

Since the first run, the Tigers decided it was time to win it all. The new motto was “win at all costs.” A motto the fan base sure adopted. With owner Mike Ilitich fighting the clock, he was prepared to make any move that could make the Tigers true championship contenders. In the seven years between World Series trips, the Tigers salary exploded and fan patience went away. This team was setup to win it all. But baseball is a funny game. Ask any Yankees fan who lives in the realm of checkbook-baseball every year. Having a high-payroll team presents its own challenges. First and fore-most, Pressure! Money can buy talent, but I can’t buy team chemistry. No matter how much money you pour into a team, there will always be role-players and chemistry issues money cannot control. The reliance on role player performances in the postseason is something this year’s team shares with the 2006 run.

The Tigers looked like a team that had the talent but could not put the pieces together all season. Like the New York Giants in 2011, the pieces have clicked late to give this team a new life. For the Tigers that change happened in late September, battling a reeling White Sox team.  Down 3 with two weeks to play, the Tigers finally found consistency in their starting pitching, which became their building block. Finally having a consistent strength, things began to fall into place. The Tigers defense settled down thanks to Infante and Peralta. The bats continue to be a mystery, but that’s baseball. It’s all about timely hitting, something the Tigers were missing all season. Peralta and Delmon Young have given the bottom half of the lineup the spark we’ve been waiting for. The bullpen was my concern heading into the playoffs, it has not disappointed. With a few stumbles along the way, the Tigers have had to glue that unit together and hope. Three out of four isn’t bad!

In 2006, this team came out of nowhere to make that first run in the playoffs.  Since that run, fans have entered each season with World Series expectations. This season was hyped as the most hopeful team yet. Frustration built continually along the 162 games, to the point fans were ready to throw in the towel, but along the ride interest in this team never went away. I’ve never seen the Tigers dominate the sports environment of Detroit like this year. They have pushed everything else to page 2. Despite the frustration, this city is behind the Tigers and ready to celebrate the success this postseason has brought Motown.

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Oct 19 2012
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Football, Michigan Football

Are They Contenders? (Michigan Mid-Way Report)

by:  P.J. Wascher

Upon second thought, maybe scheduling Alabama to open the season was not the best idea. Making your introduction to the 2012 season a nationally televised beat down didn’t give fans much of a chance to feel optimistic about this team’s future. Since that game, Michigan has found its sea legs and steadily improved to become a strong contender for the Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl bid. 6 games into the season, with 6 to play let’s take a look at where Michigan Football is at.

The First 6 

Alabama – L (14-41) – Predicted Loss – Just not on their level yet.

Air Force- W (31-25) – Predicted Win – Tough win, triple option was not friendly to this defense.

UMass – W (63-13) – Predicted Win – The real warm up game, not sure what it’s buried as the third game of the season.

Notre Dame– L (6-13) – Predicted Win – Literally gave this one away.

Purdue – W (44-13) – Predicted Win – The dark-horse of the Big Ten, was apparently too much hype for this squad.

Illinois – W (45-0) –Predicted Win – Knew they wouldn’t be good this season, but not I sure I anticipated them falling apart like this.

Prediction Results Like to hold my predictions accountable. Currently sitting 5-1, not too bad. Definitely underestimated that Notre Dame game.

Offense

It’s frustrating to see this unit struggle because there is so much it can do well. Offensive turnovers cost this team a win at Notre Dame. Since that game, the game plans have gotten more conservative favoring the run. It makes since, if you can get away with it. This team has shown how dangerous it is on the ground the last two games, but once the competition steps up another notch will they be able to adapt? Can their passing attack step up to the challenge? Questions this offense appears to be putting on hold. The Big Ten is extraordinarily weak this season, this conservative offense may not need to go out of its comfort zone. Let’s grade this squad out:

QB (B) – Denard has been up and down, but he’s still the key producer in this offense. Turnovers are the big flaw holding him back. Just can’t handle making throws under pressure.  When he gets time, he has been able to show off the work put in during the offseason, releasing some very accurate throws.

RB (C-) – Lots of questions around this position. Toussaint’s feature back role appears to be softening as Rawls continues to grab attention. The big question is why can Denard crack off large runs while the RBs continue to struggle? There’s probably multiple ways to answer that question.

WR (B-) – This position was a concern entering the season, but has settled in since the opener. Devin Gardner looks raw, but dangerous. Gallon is the new go-to target. The offense has finally adopted the bubble screen again and Gallon has been the main benefactor.

TE (A) – Funchess!!! Breakout player of the year. This position also features the most underrated performance this season by Kwiatkowski.

OL (B) – Some good, some bad. Mealer surprised many at the opener as the new Center for Michigan. He’s been OK. This line continues to struggle to open up running lanes for the RBs. The left side has been much more reliable than the right.

Defense

Greg Mattison is a magician. This squad has bounced back from the Alabama game to become the team’s strength. Mattison has found ways to work through a major injury in the secondary and heavy attrition along the defensive line to keep from falling back to past mistakes.

DL (B) – It’s not the strength of this team, but it’s getting better and letting other units make plays. Gap control is my new favorite phrase with this group. By occupying offensive lineman, they have given their LBs space to make plays. Roh has finally settled into a productive role as Van Bergen’s replacement. Will Campbell will never be elite, but he finally has a game plan on the field, when he executes this defense is tough to beat. This unit still has room to grow, but it looked like a weakness offenses would be able to exploit at the start of the season. It’s not as bad as I once feared.

LB (A-) – When they have space they are making plays all over the field. Jake Ryan has emerged as a star for this defense. Demens battled with Bolden early in the season at MLB, but that appears to have settled down. When the DL can occupy the OL, the LBs have been excellent.

Secondary (B+) – I might be a little harsh with this grade. They have actually been pretty good considering. Losing Blake Countess in the first game of the season brought some new faces into the mix. Ramon Taylor has become this team’s Alphonso Smith (Lions Reference). Not necessarily crisp, but he is making plays. JT Floyd has adjusted well as the team’s top CB. Both corners still have some work to do in run support. Kovacs and Gordon have been very good, been a long time since I’ve seen a safety combo this strong at Michigan.

There’s a lot of positivity in this review, but it could all quickly change. Michigan is about to enter it’s most important stretch of the season. MSU and Nebraska are two critical division games and of course Ohio on the road will be tough.  This is the weakest Big Ten I can remember in recent memory. Anything less than a Big Ten Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl will be considered a disappointment this season.

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Oct 10 2012
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Detroit Lions, Football

No Time For Slow Starts (Lions Bye Week Review)

by: P.J. Wascher

After four games, it’s safe to say the Lions are in trouble. Only 15% of teams that start a season 1-3 have gone on to make the playoffs. While that leaves room for underperforming teams, the Lions decided to underperform in a friendly section of their schedule. Coming out of those first four games the Lions should have been at worst 2-2, if they had any desire compete in the postseason this season. Not helping matters, an already dangerous division looks to be even tougher than we first thought. If the Lions are not careful they could quickly drop from a second place finish, last season, back to the bottom.

Division

Coming into the season, the NFC North had 3 teams expected to contend for the playoffs. It’s now all four, unless you cross-out the Lions. When you go down the list, this division is breaking down differently than anyone expected. Despite their offensive issue the Chicago Bears look like the team to beat early in the NFC North. This team has put together several impressive performances. The defense continues to be the staple of this team, but the offense has contributed as well. The offense will continue to be the weaker side of the ball with that offensive line and a fluky Jay Cutler, but it has the ability to snap into something dangerous. The Minnesota Vikings have surprised many with their start this season. They upset the Lions at home and took down arguably the best team in the NFC San Francisco. The Green Bay Packers have not clicked on all cylinders yet this season, but looking at this team, it seems inevitable. A terrible loss to Indy won’t help though. Looking at this division, it’s very easy to see the Lions finishing last after this slow start.

Offense

This offense has failed to live up to the billing. Slow starts, untimely turnovers and one dimensional scheme has not given the Lions much room for error. Breaking it down by position, Stafford has not been nearly as sharp early this season compared to last. In a good news/bad news way, it’s not clear why. Lots of side arm throws and several turnovers have been signs of regression. The receiver core has not been hitting on all cylinders. Ryan Broyles appears to be a year away from contributing, while Titus Young and Brandon Pettigrew have some explaining to do. Titus Young has been frustratingly inconsistent when it comes to effort and effectiveness. It’s clear Stafford and Young are on different pages. Pettigrew on the other hand is close to being a quality tight end. The size and skill is there, but the mistakes continue to pile up. His untimely drops are drive killers. The offensive line has been ok not great, still not creating much space for any running game to thrive. Raiola and Peterman have been struggling in every game. Both undersized lineman that make the middle of this line vulnerable to any decent blitzing team.

Defense

Compared to the offense, this is a unit we expected to struggle and they have not disappointed. They actually have not been as bad as expected, but they have not been anything close to reliable. Looking at the defensive line, the supposed “strength” of this squad, they have not been performing. Suh and Fairley have both been disappointing. Not sure Suh has any awareness for gap-control at this point. When a guard pulls he continues to get sucked out of the way on running plays up the middle. Fairley’s inability to hold or create pressure has made this first round pick very worrisome. The edges have been fine. Avril, in particular, has been decent after a rough preseason. The linebacker core overall has not been bad either. Durant has been solid and Levy has noticeably improved. It’s the secondary that continues to be the black hole on this defense. The safety spots have been a revolving door. Even with Delmas coming back, they’re still short one. Cornerbacks have been raw as well. Houston has been reliable. Bentley has been up and down. Jonte Green has been unusable; he’s instantly targeted when on the field.

Special Teams

There’s no way to sugarcoat this, they’ve been a disaster. Huge mistakes in the Vikings and Titans game were huge factors in two losses that should have been wins. Both the punt and kickoff squads have given up touchdowns. Special teams used to this team’s bright spot, but that feels like a distant memory at this point. Hard to imagine this squad struggling like this for too long, changes will be made sooner or later if need be.

Well that wasn’t a very positive breakdown. It’s safe to say a lot of the positives from last season have not carried over. The Lions are in trouble, but this is something a couple wins could quickly correct at this point in the season. On the other half of that coin, a couple more losses and it will be fair to cross the postseason off Detroit’s calendar. At Philly and then Chicago on Monday night are two very tough must-wins for this team. If they cannot find a way to at least split these two games, the playoffs will be long gone.

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