Johnny Baldwin

[AmericanMoose84]

First I heard he was starting in the middle for Detroit. Now I read Lenon is starting in the middle...

 

Is Baldwin going to be starting anywhere?

[Zooty]

Like most rookies, especially those drafted in the 5th round, he is starting on the 2nd team and will have to win the job from a vet. The Lions are talking him up but it doesn't look like they are handing anything to him.

[Bronco Billy]

Lenon is a classic journeyman LB. He's great depth on a team and he should be a great special teams contributor, but he shouldn't be a starting LB for anyone. Last season he played virtually the entire season at MLB and racked up 60 solo tackles and 37 assists. Those are career high numbers for him and probably the best anyone ought to expect.

 

Lehman also plays MLB when needed, but he is also a classic journeyman LB, much like Lenon. He's also hurt quite a bit, mostly due to hjis very reckless style of play.

 

DET doesn't have any other vets to play MLB on their roster. Bailey isn't thick enough and is a prototype SLB when healthy.

 

That leaves Baldwin. He's the perfect size/weight for a MLB, he's athletic as hell, he's strong, and he's a ferocious hitter. The main reason he lasted so long in the draft is because he played for Alabama A&M, so he got bypassed for guys who won't be as capable as pros as Baldwin but they have big name school pedigrees.

 

Baldwin walked into a kind of 'perfect storm' type of situation for him. I don't think DET even realized what they were getting when they drafted him. He's fast enough to stay on the field in passing downs, and he's strong & aggressive enough to stay in in short yardage situations. That's he's #2 on the depth chart is only the result of players not being in pads yet and DET showing some respect to a veteran. Lenon & Lehman can't hold this kid off the field. barring an injury, DET may have found their MLB for the next 10 years.

Edited June 19, 2007 by Bronco Billy