Cliff Avril (1 Viewer)

[RavensUNFL]

I read this the other day:

According to NFL.com's Adam Schefter, DE Cliff Avril is one of the Lions' three untouchable players as they begin to rebuild.

Analysis: Schefter says Calvin Johnson and Ernie Sims are the other two, with everyone else in play. It appears Avril, who had four fumbles and five sacks as a 2008 rookie, will be the Lions' starting right defensive end next season.

http://chat.nfl.com/front/archived_chat/104

Its from a chat with Adam, and someone in the chat asks about Ernie Sims and that is his reply.

I picked Cliff up in hopes that maybe he would get a shot as more than just a 3rd down pass rusher.

Anyone see the potential in this guy that Adam thinks Detroit thinks he has? I know, we are talking about Detroit (A.I. is talking about practice) here but maybe they got lucky with this kid?

 

[Weiner Dog]

I liked Avril's long-term chances better just one month ago. While he definitely showed some ability to rush the passer this year, the house-cleaning in DET probably does not bode well for Avril.

The hire of Gunther Cunningham (...and the defensive minded Jim Schwartz as HC) will prompt the DC to look for his "own crew" thru the draft and free agency. Avril...like all the players on the team...are from a former regime. Even though Cunningham will probably continue with the 4-3 D, there's talk that Cunningham's D could place an emphasis on size over the speed needed in the Tampa-2. Avril has speed, but he doesn't have size.

I will say this...

The Lions made a huge commitment to the defensive side of the ball with the hire of Schwartz and Cunningham. The new staff will not simply cut every player and start new. Guys like Ernie Sims and Dewayne White will probably become building blocks for '09. Arguments could obviously be made for Avril, Bullocks and Bodden as building blocks, as well.

 

[Jene Bramel]

I've had my eye on Avril since last season's draft. He seemed like a good fit for Detroit's defense as an edge rusher and there wasn't much competition opposite Dewayne White. The rub with Avril is the same as it is/was with Mark Anderson. He's a small, edge rusher who has had good success in a short period of time. He's not yet shown that he can play every down, hold up consistently against the run, or have enough of an array of pass rush moves to remain effective once teams get some tape on him.

He's certainly worth taking a risk on in nearly all league setups, and should still get a chance to start in the new defensive scheme. Jim Schwartz and Gunther Cunningham have given plenty of smallish edge rushers a chance.

 

[Holland Freeze]

I liked Avril's long-term chances better just one month ago. While he definitely showed some ability to rush the passer this year, the house-cleaning in DET probably does not bode well for Avril.The hire of Gunther Cunningham (...and the defensive minded Jim Schwartz as HC) will prompt the DC to look for his "own crew" thru the draft and free agency. Avril...like all the players on the team...are from a former regime. Even though Cunningham will probably continue with the 4-3 D, there's talk that Cunningham's D could place an emphasis on size over the speed needed in the Tampa-2. Avril has speed, but he doesn't have size.I will say this...The Lions made a huge commitment to the defensive side of the ball with the hire of Schwartz and Cunningham. The new staff will not simply cut every player and start new. Guys like Ernie Sims and Dewayne White will probably become building blocks for '09. Arguments could obviously be made for Avril, Bullocks and Bodden as building blocks, as well.

I think to highly of Cunningham to accept the argument that he is incapable of working with the talent he has rather than just his "own crew". White has been a disappointment in my opinion and a rookie putting up better numbers his 1st year doesn't bode well for his job security.

 

[corpcow]

I grabbed him in as many leagues as I could right when UFA opened, just to see... def keeping an eye on this and hoping he emerges. It wasn't like teams had to pass all that much on DET either, right?

 

[Tenacious D]

He is the latest Purdue tweener off the same "Den of Defensive Ends" assembly line as Chike Okeafor, Rosey Colvin, Akin Ayodele, Shaun Phillips, Ray Edwards, and Anthony Spencer. All those guys have found some success or still have the potential to (Edwards and Spencer) and no reason to expect Avril not to join them next year in finding some success. Four sacks and three forced fumbles in the final six games, he is set to see the majority of the snaps on the right side. Even as a pass rush specialist, he's a good threat to see double-digit sacks. It's not like they have other good options on the roster with Ikaika Alama-Francis not looking as promising as hoped and DeVries, when he manages to stay healthy, without much upside.

 

[pretender]

Slight hijack but what about Alama-Francis - there was a lot of talk when he came out in the draft and has never seemed to have gotten much opportunity to play. Is he a bust or a slow learner - does anyone think he still haves a chance to break into the starting postion of DE??

 

[Jene Bramel]

Slight hijack but what about Alama-Francis - there was a lot of talk when he came out in the draft and has never seemed to have gotten much opportunity to play. Is he a bust or a slow learner - does anyone think he still haves a chance to break into the starting postion of DE??

Though he wasn't the DL position coach, Rod Marinelli's inability to get much out of him doesn't bode well for his future. Barring an unexpected improvement in pass rush skill, he's probably a rotational end on rushing downs for now. There might be a little upside if he moves to defensive tackle, if someone eventually sees him there.

 

[Zoomanji]

Thought this was interesting regarding the DEs in DET.

Link

Looks like White & Avril will compete for one end but doesn't say who is the other end