Monday, May
1, 2006
Lions Strike Gold With Late
Round Picks
By Jason Berger
TLF Staff Writer
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Jonathan Scott and Fred Matua |
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After a first day that seemed to have Offensive Line Coach Larry
Beightol locked out of the War Room, the Lions came back on Day 2 to make a
splash. In the 5th round, the Lions drafted offensive tackle Jonathan Scott from
the University
of Texas and then added to the line again in the 7th round with offensive guard
Fred Matua from the University of Southern California.
Without a fourth round pick (traded last year in a move to draft Dan Orlovsky),
the Lions watched as many of the top prospects that were not drafted in Day 1
came off the draft board. Similar to many Lions fans, President and Chief
Executive Officer Matt Millen described looking at the draft board in the 4th
round wishing he had a pick so that he could draft Jonathon Scott.
According to Lions beat writer Tom Kowalski, the Lions actually attempted to
trade quarterback Joey Harrington to the Cleveland Browns for a fourth round
pick to select Scott. When this deal fell through due to Harrington's agent’s
refusal to negotiate, the Lions were forced to sit and wait.
Three months earlier, after winning the National Championship in college
football, Scott was considered a possible first round pick. ESPN’s Draft Guide
rated him the fifth best offensive tackle in the draft, projecting him to be a
second round pick.
Lucky for all of us, Scott continued to drop to the 5th round where he was
promptly drafted by the Lions. Although Millen later admitted the Lions were
eyeing offensive guard Fred Matua with this pick, Jonathan Scott was the perfect
pick. Even Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp calls Scott a steal.
Although Lions’ fans were pleased that Scott dropped to the 5th, Scott was
frustrated with not being a first round pick, stating “It was a little
frustrating, but I know how to keep my head strong in a negative situation. It
worked out for the best and I get a chance to go out there and prove myself.”
With Jeff Backus still not signed to his tender and third-year Kelly Butler
starting at right tackle, the Lions were looking to upgrade the position now and
in the future.
Scott provides versatility to the offensive line, with the ability to play
either tackle position. When asked if he could play right tackle, Scott
commented "Sure. Whatever they need me to play, I can play it… I prefer left
tackle, because I played at that position consistently. But like I said, tackle
is tackle.” Scott would be even open to moving inside. “Hey, I wouldn't mind
trying. I like playing offensive line regardless, so I wouldn't care what
position it was.”
Beightol echoed Scott’s comments, stating “He's played both right and left
tackle at
Texas.
We'll probably start him off there because that's the easiest transition for
him, at the tackle position. But moving him inside, we'll take a look there as
well, see if he can help us inside as an offensive guard, he's certainly
athletic enough to play any of those spots. He's got the feet you look for with
an offensive lineman."
Reassuring to Lions’ fans, Beightol believes Scott’s weakness can be corrected.
“If there's one thing that probably held him back from going earlier, I think
it's his overall body strength, but that's something he can improve upon. All
he's got to do is get in the weight room, get with some good strength coaches
like we have here, and improve his overall body strength."
As the draft continued, guard Fred Matua continued to slide. Matua’s slide ended
at the 217th pick overall, becoming the other new addition to the Lions’
offensive line. Like Scott, Matua was projected to be a much higher pick. ESPN’s
Draft Guide rated Matua the fourth best offensive guard in the draft. They
projected him to be a 3rd round pick.
Only being a junior, some scouts believed Matua would have been smart to stay
another year at USC. Respectfully, Matua’s decision to leave school early was
largely influenced by his mother's battle with breast cancer and his family's
financial situation.
Falling all the way down to the 7th round after being considered a first day
pick, it is understandable that Matua was disappointed. Fred described watching
other guards be taken before him. He said “It was very excruciating, especially
seeing guys come before you that you know were not better than you at all. I've
been in the top-five guard (rankings) of every NFL analyst, so just to see 10-12
guards picked in front of you, it's very surprising. I knew it had to be
something besides my playing ability.”
When asked what this something was, Matua speculated that it was his medical
history. “I guess a lot of teams were talking about my medical history and stuff
like that, but I expected to be drafted on the first day. But you know what,
things happen for a reason and I'm just happy to be with the team now."
Matua’s medical history includes a sprain right knee in 2002 that required
arthroscopic surgery, hernia surgery following the 2002 season and a sprain back
and right ankle that he played with during the 2004 season.
If anything, falling to the 7th round has put a chip on Matua’s shoulder. "I
think it puts more fuel in my fire, and I have a lot of that. I'm going to go
out there and try to work.”
Similar to Scott, Beightol sees versatility in Matua. "I think he can be a
center as well as playing the left or right guard positions. I really like his
demeanor. This is a tough, hard-nosed football player."
Beightol did not have to rely solely on tape of Matua, he had an inside source
with the Trojans, a friend that just happened to be USC’s Offensive Line Coach
Pat Ruel. According to Beightol, Ruel gave Matua high marks. “Pat says he thinks
there's a big upside to this fella. He's hard-nosed, very good at pulling at
both the power and the power-sweep plays.”
Neither Scott nor Matua should have a hard time in Detroit. Both players are
surrounded by college teammates.
“I know a couple of guys. Mike Williams, and Shaun Cody, I went up against Shaun
Cody throughout college, so it's going to bring back the old days going up
against him,” remarked Matua
Scott commented, “"It will be like the good old days. We can get back to the
little fist fights and everything. It is definitely something to look forward to
and plus I know the kind of man Cory is. He is definitely a person who can
uplift another person to get better. That is definitely a positive.”
Watching these two championship caliber players grow as Lions should be a treat
for all fans.
