Revisiting Dick Vitale—and Talking About QBs
Ask Mike | by Mike O'Hara | 04.3.2009/2:12PM
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Before we get to our latest batch of e-mails – about the state of the Lions and old hands who are new to this site – I want to share a special moment from Thursday afternoon.
The Final Four is in town, and along with it come the national media, celebrities and a reconnection with people whose paths have crossed years ago.
Dick Vitale is in town as part of ESPN’s Final Four broadcast team. Years ago, before I began my long tenure covering the Lions for The Detroit News, college basketball was one of my many beats. It started with the University of Detroit in 1968, and I picked up the Titans again after a two-year hitch in the Army.
Vitale was hired by the University of Detroit in 1973, and he arrived from Rutgers, where he had been an assistant, with energy and bombast. He made a splash in his introductory press conference – and I wrote for The News an analysis that he might be successful some day, but hiring “an obscure coach from New Jersey” didn’t make sense at that time.
Of course, I was wrong – even more off the mark than last year, when I predicted the Lions would go 9-7. Vitale brought excitement, big crowds and national recognition to U. of D.’s campus. He coached only four years and was athletic director for a year before leaving.
In that time, Vitale and I became friends and stayed in touch off and on over the years after he departed Detroit to work full time for ABC and ESPN.
In his visit to U. of D. to make a motivational speech, I saw both sides of Dick – the one who enthralls and inspires his audience with his fiery speeches, and the private man who is quieter but just as compelling. On both sides, he is passionate and considerate – and both sides are real.
In his tenure at U. of D., Vitale made basketball something special. He had good kids with great ability – John Long, Terry Tyler, Earl Cureton, Terry Tyler, Kevin Kaseta and Dave Niles – and all from Metro Detroit high schools.
While schools in major cities – Louisville, Villanova, Memphis (Philadelphia), Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to name a handful – compete and thrive, one must wonder why it hasn’t been done in Detroit with any consistency since Vitale left.
As Vitale will tell you, nothing is impossible if you believe it can be done.
And now on to questions, comments and a dig here:
From BassetCats, on finding the site: “Mike, imagine my surprise when I found your site! It is really, really good to read you once again. So, here’s a question from one rock legend to another: The Leos won’t be able to trade out of the No. 1 spot, so OK, if they’re smart they take Stafford.
“However, instead of moving down from 20 as lots of folks mention, what do you think about packaging 20 and 33 and trying to move up to Seattle’s slot at No. 4 to get either Smith or Curry or Monroe, whichever happens to be there?
“I know the Leos have more holes than the Swiss cheese on your ham sammich, but WCF has never been shy in spending money, I think he’d pay the No. 1 and No. 4 if he was getting difference-makers.
“Like you, I don’t like Laurinatis at 20, or even Maualuga, but Peria Jerry at 20 would be a nice pick, methinks, if the Leos stand pat.
“What say you?”
BC: I’m glad you found me, but I have a question: what took you so long, and did you miss me as much as I missed you? I wouldn’t be against getting Aaron Curry at No. 4 for the two picks, although I’d rather keep both. Stafford and Curry would be a good combo, but so would Stafford and Jerry without giving up a pick. And you’re right – William Clay Ford will spend the money. He always has – but not always wisely.
Stay tuned, BC. We’re hitting the draft harder after the hoopsters leave town.
From Rick in Southfield: “I know you’re retired, but come on!! I love reading your web site. You’re starting to slack on us, Mike.”
Rick: “Here’s what happened. After my nap, I had a big shuffleboard game and pulled a muscle trying to clear the court with one shot. Don’t believe that, do you? Figured not. You’re right, and I’m back in gear here.”
From Dan, on the QB issue: “I have been a fan of your sports writing for many years, but I do not understand your recent statements about Stafford including: ‘The odds of the Lions drafting Stafford: 92 percent.’
“I am no expert, but I thought the current Lions management had two primary goals Run the ball, and stop the other team from running the ball.
“If the preceding is true, why would the Lions move away from their primary goals? I could understand if Stafford was a ‘can’t miss’ prospect like Peyton Manning or even Matt Ryan, but I understand he rates lower than them coming out of college. Please explain what I am missing about the selection of Stafford who appears to be a high risk as a No. 1 choice.”
Dan: Good questions. I’m not saying there’s no risk with Stafford. I don’t think the risk is that he’ll fail – like Joey Harrington or Andre Ware. At worst, he’ll be a solid starter, like Kerry Collins, but he has more upside than that. That would be a huge improvement over anything the Lions have had. The Lions can draft a QB and still run the ball and stop the run. Part of it is emphasis and scheme – and they have more than one pick. They got a very good tackle prospect last year at No. 20 – Gosder Cherilus, who plays tough and got better as the season went on. He’s a player’s player.
From Rick K, on QBs again: “I can understand your statements about the Lions needing a QB but wonder about Sanchez as a better choice than Stafford, as a number of mocks are starting to show? I know that Sanchez does not quite have Stafford’s arm, although his strength is considered at least good, but with better accuracy and possibly better decision-making. I also reviewed reports on Sanchez’s assault accusations from 2006, and it looks like charges were dropped and that he has been clean since.”
Rick: I discount the second part. What happened in 2006, at that level, has no bearing on this year. Sanchez doesn’t have Stafford’s athletic ability, arm strength or leadership. Stafford is a great kid who can command a huddle. Also, mock drafts are wonderful and fun to do – my own included – but Stafford is rated way ahead of Sanchez by personnel people.
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Readers Write on Komlo, QBs, Rogers, Memories
Ask Mike | by Mike O'Hara | 03.21.2009/6:45PM
E-mail Mike O’Hara at
Do I remember Jeff Komlo?
That is a question from one of the readers – if I remember Jeff Komlo, the starting quarterback for most of the Lions’ 2-14 season in 1979 who died in a car crash in Greece.
That’s one of the tragic e-mails in this week’s batch. Others were about the draft, quarterbacks and Shaun Rogers.
And Janet wrote to see if I remember a popular assistant coach who had white hair. I suggested several candidates to Janet – but added most coaches who worked for the Lions left with white hair, or no hair.
We’ll start on a sad note, with Komlo:
From Joe Roberts: “As a long-time reader (you called me sharp-eyed at one time when I contacted you regarding an article you did on Tom Landry in the early ‘80s) I was wondering if you had any reaction or memories of the 2-14 1979 season with the now deceased Jeff Komlo at QB.?”
Joe: There are many similarities between the Lions of 1979 and 2008. The biggest difference is that the owner, William Clay Ford, did not fire Monte Clark after the 2-14 season. Rod Marinelli wasn’t as fortunate.
Both years gave the Lions a reward for losing – the first pick in the next year’s draft.
In 1980, they took running back Billy Sims of Oklahoma. He actually made the Lions respectable for four years—9-7, 8-8, 9-7 and 4-5, with two playoff appearances.
As for Komlo, the 1979 season was Clark’s second as head coach. A strong finish in 1978 left the Lions at 7-9, and 1980 was full of promise. It dissipated in a hurry.
Gary Danielson, the starting quarterback, went out with a knee injury in the fourth quarter of the last exhibition game at Baltimore. Why he was still in the game in the fourth quarter remains a mystery of weird coaching. Before that, Joe Reed, his backup, pulled an abdominal muscle lifting weights in some stupid conditioning test in training camp.
Reed aggravated the injury in the opener. That made Komlo, a ninth-round draft pick from Delaware, the starter.
Komlo had a decent arm, but he lacked mobility. Clark also started Reed briefly, Scott Hunter and Jerry Golsteyn, but Komlo got most of the starts and was in over his head. He was gone after the 1981 season.
Football aside, it was a sad ending for a man who reached a pinnacle early.
Mike in Royal Oak asks about Aaron Curry: “Ever since the combine, it seems Detroiters have gotten Aaron Curry fever. But I’ve maintained that there is no value in drafting a LB No. 1 because of how badly you would have to overpay for the position. Brian Urlacher is the highest paid LB at $40 million/5 years. How can you give Curry $60 million/5 years? I think the pick comes down to value, which means picking from the two highest-paid positions: QB (Stafford or Sanchez) or LT (Smith or Monroe). Thoughts?”
Mike: Whoever is drafted first overall will be overpaid, regardless of position. It’s just a fact of having the No. 1 pick. To me, the equation is simple. The Lions have been looking for a quarterback for 51 years, and now they have a chance to take the best QB in the draft. Matthew Stafford might not be the next Peyton Manning, but so what? He just has to be a good, solid starter to help the Lions win. Forget the left tackle—and I assume you mean Jason Smith. Take the QB, and Stafford is way ahead of every other QB in this draft. Pay him, train him, and win with him.
From Craig in Toledo: ”Thanks for the great article “Rememberances.” All you hear in sports is the “T.O” type of crap. It is so refreshing to hear something about some truly good people. Your personal memories truly bring a human perspective that us fans don’t get a chance to find on our own. It brought tears to my eyes to lose these terrific people.”
Craig: Thanks for your kind thoughts. There are many, many great people in sports—and even more associated with them. Players like Dave Pureifory, for example, should not be forgotten.
From a Josh Freeman fan: “What about Josh Freeman at the twenty slot instead, sir? Nah, They’re not that smart, are they Mike? Until they bring in a proven winner like a Mike Shanahan or a Marty Schottenheimer, a good portion of informed fans are gonna pass on purchasing tickets.”
Sorry, but I can’t agree on Freeman. If they’re going to draft a QB, take the best. And Josh Freeman, from everything I’ve seen and heard—you should have heard Jim Miller’s critique on Sirius—is far, far from the best.
From Joe G, on trading for a QB: “Assuming a willing trade partner, would you trade the Lions’ 2nd round pick for either Matt Leinart or Brady Quinn? In terms of pre-draft ratings, how does Stafford compare to either Leinart or Quinn with respect to their pre-draft scores at their same stages? In other words, is he rated as high as each of them were on the eve of the draft, not as high or about the same?
Joe: Great question. Leinart and Quinn both are somewhat taller. Quinn had the best time in the 40 of the three. Stafford is second. Leinart is still running – OK, he’s not that slow, but close. The ratings I’ve seen on Stafford in one service are very high. I don’t recall Quinn or Leinart being as high. Stafford is clearly the best QB in his draft class. Leinart and Quinn clearly were not, but that has no bearing on their rating with Stafford, head to head. Having said all that, I’d be more inclined to trade for Quinn, but I’d rather have Stafford.
Paul from Harbor Beach skewers Shaun Rogers, who says he doesn’t want to stay in Cleveland: “Now I see where Shaun doesn’t want to play in Cleveland because his new coach didn’t say hi to him! Sweet Mother of Pearl! Maybe the coach doesn’t want to be there because Shaun didn’t say hi to him! I have a hard time trying to figure this one out. I cannot see how someone who has been molly-coddled throughout his athletic career can be offended by this. Wait. I just re-read my last sentence. Now, I can see how.”
Paul: I can guarantee this: you are more worried about this than Shaun Rogers is. He is what he is – a big man, with big talent, and a small heart when it comes to playing football.
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