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Gosder Cherilus (Photo: Boston College University)

The Goods on Gosder Cherilus

By Mick Miller | April 29th, 2008

The draft is fun for all, isn’t it? Is any team more scrutinized or ridiculed than the Lions?

Much of it may be justified and especially during the Millen era. But In watching each and every pick for many years, I know that many of the picks at the time were lauded as smart. It is only in hindsight that many of these picks haven’t panned out and the Lions have simply not only had clouded draft patterns, but also some of the worst luck in the NFL.

With the arrival of Rod Marinelli, the focus shift has been to more of the eternal make-up of the players as well as the external. Numbers still make sense, but the Lions are looking for a different breed of animal. The love of the game and the appreciation of the NFL is also a major component of what the team is looking for. With the interview process looking like it played a bigger role than any recent Lion draft, you have to think that the players selected were taken by those interviews, out of need, and direction.

Like it or not (and some don’t), the Lions believe Jeff Backus is their left tackle of the present and the future. He’s tough, he plays hurt, and doesn’t miss a start. He was asked to play in a system that did not play to his strengths as many of the Lion lineman were. He kept it to himself until the departure of offensive coordinator Mike Martz and has been vocal in his appreciation of the new direction the offense is going to go in. This why the team passed on the available Jeff Otah of Pittsburgh and went with the player they needed, right tackle Gosder Cherilus of Boston College.

Point blank, George Foster, the right tackle that came over with Tatum Bell from Denver, had a horrible season and his failure was felt up and down the line. Was he a fit for Matrz’s offense? Of course not. But false starts are not acceptable and although his pass blocking responsibilities may have caused him anxiety, he couldn’t pass block, run block, sun block, nothing. He was brought back for depth reasons and perhaps he will be a better fit for the new power running game.

Cherilus is a run blocker. He is an earth mover. Could he have been had lower that at 17? Yes, I do not dispute that. But just as I have said before, they selected Ernie Sims where they wanted to take him and did not allow the “experts” dictate where they select whomever they want. This is where the team wanted their new right tackle and public opinion or the media did not dictate, which you have to admire. And for all intents and purposes, Cherilus is a good fit for the team and should excel.

At 6-6 and 313 pounds, he has a nastiness and mean streak that you love in an offensive lineman. He has quick feet, exceptional balance and comes off the ball quickly. He has his areas in which he will need improvement of course . His interview must have convinced the team that he will be receptive of coaching and is willing to work on these weaknesses.

Cherilus needs to work on his technique, finishing his blocks and his on-field awareness in order to be efficient in blitz pick-up, stunts, and second level blocking. Although the power running game will allow for less thinking and more reacting, on-field intelligence is still vital for Cherilus to improve on to lessen situational mistakes that can result in not only penalty but a play-breakdown.

Overall, the Lions stuck to their guns and drafted the player they needed to move forward. They have a plan and a direction, maybe more so now than at any time during the Millen era. Cherilus will be under a microscope and there will be pressure there. Its up to the Lion staff to make sure this was the right choice as well Cherilus to get into camp on time and put in the work. He has the opportunity to make the Lion brass look good here and for the fans, lets hope so.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 at 11:30 am and is filed under Detroit Lions, Football, NFL, NFL Draft, Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “The Goods on Gosder Cherilus”

DOC says:

April 30th, 2008 at 8:57 am

Same old story for the lions. Seems like there is no brain power running this team. Kitna isnt the answer at QB, they need a decent RB, and they jump at the bit for cherilus.
DetFan1979 says:

April 30th, 2008 at 7:44 pm

Doc — how is it the same old story? They picked up a guy who, in weaker RB classes, would have been a low first, high second round pick in Smith. Cherilus would NOT have been there later — in case no one noticed, Othah, Baker AND Brown — the last 3 OL rated with a first OR second round grade, were gone by pick 26 — 19, 21, and 26 were all OT — and Carolina traded up to 19 just so they could get an OT as they knew that by the end of round one the starting talent was taken.
5Bakerstreet says:

April 30th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

Long time reading, this is first post. Am going to disagree with “the same old story for the Lions,” however understand that its just a difference of opinion, PLEASE, lets not make this into a battle of who’s more right like MLive gets when differences of opinion occur.

It seems to me that the 2008 draft was significantly different primarily for one reason. That being former OC Mike Martz is no longer with the team. While not knowing for sure, I happen to believe Mike Martz had more persuasion in discussions leading to decisions about whom we should draft or which free agent we should bring in than the Lions will ever acknowledge to the public. The author of The Greatest Show on Turf who’s been to the Superbowl, who’s had more head coaching experiece than coach Marinelli, would seem to me have the entire Lions warroom yielding to his [Martz] personnel decision. I don’t think I could be persuaded from opining that CJ and Calhoun were Martz’ recommendations to draft. Look at all the former Rams we brought in also. Nope, Martz had much more say in what the Lions were doing than they’ll ever let us know. Something like learning weeks/months after the fact that the Lions as a team almost imploded during/after the Cards game last year because coach Marinelli wanted a balanced offensive attack and Martz 80%+ of the time called passes. A carryover situation from former OL coach Bechtol coaching the line one way while Martz wanted the blocking scheme different.

We quietly had a very good draft. I think all the post draft negativeness derives from thinking we haven’t had very good drafts in some time, so that, by extension, leads some to believe that the 2008 draft wasn’t very good either. With both Stanton and Orlovsky in the wings, 2008 wasn’t the year for a glitzy QB pick, rather it was the year to quietly begin building on what little foundation we have as a team, and I think that mission was accomplished with this draft.

And I believe the mission of the 2008 Lions is to get into the playoffs. Can they, perhaps, more probable if they’ve learned from their 2nd half collapse of last year.

Go Lions
5Bakerstreet
nubsnobber says:

May 6th, 2008 at 12:29 am

I have to humbly agree with detfan1979 and baker street. You can see Millen wants to be set free of his past transgressions, and has solidly built upon what Marinelli’s principals are. Millen has changed his draft philosophy.

Before (Joey) you could see how Millen would attempt to take the wrong player at the right position. Joey was a guy who could’ve been a great QB. Not a west coast QB.

Then Millen would take guys (Boss and Teddy) who should’ve went higher in their draft class, but fell due to injuries in college. The “bargain shopping” approach didn’t work either, because there is a “no return policy” when the goods come back damaged at a clearance sale.

Millen used sound Mari-logic when they snagged these players. Gosder is a four-year starter who has played RT until last year he was forced to try the left because of team need. Alberts was a college guard who has never played tackle. He may not fit there, and the Lions can’t use a back-up plan of playing him at guard.

Dizon is a fit at MLB in a T2. He’s a 4 year starter at CU in a very similar defense. Gooden and Lofton are great MLB’S, but would they fit in a deep dropping T2 defense?

Avril played a position very similar at PU to what the Lions will ask him to do.

Flewelling played at FSU where a few of the coaches have coached with Rod and they use not only the same defense but the same terminology on the “D” line.

Smith’s coach in college coached at ND with Coletto. I’ll bet Smith already knows more of the new offense than TaTum Bell and Brian Calhoun because of it.

Bottom line, Millen has changed the way he drafts and Rod is a huge part of it.