| 14 March 2010
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan continues to rebuild the Lions offense in the style of the 2002-04 Minnesota Vikings...not that it's a bad thing, as those Vikings teams were explosive offensive machines.
But yes, the Lions have signed another former Viking...who is now a former 49er as of tonight.
Via the "49ers Blog" at the Sacramento Bee:
The 49ers have agreed to trade quarterback Shaun Hill to the Detroit Lions for a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, according to a league source. Hill, who was 10-6 as the 49ers starter, finished the season behind Alex Smith on the depth chart. The 49ers recently signed a new backup quarterback in David Carr. The Lions offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan, is familiar with Hill having coached him in Minnesota. Linehan also was the Rams head coach in 2008. Hill and the 49ers swept the Rams that season.
Shaun Hill played for Linehan from 2002-04 (he left the Vikings after the '05 season), when the Lions' coach was running the Vikings offense. "Played" being a relative term, as Linehan only saw the field once (a token appearance at the end '05) as 3rd string QB behind Daunte Culpepper...whom Hill replaces as the backup in Detroit. Thus, the circle is complete...or something like that.
Hill will fit in nicely as Matthew Stafford's backup. He has experience as a starter with the Niners, and had some success, actually winning games. Hill is experienced, already knows Linehan's offense and what he expects from a QB.
Without question, Hill is a vast upgrade over the gone for good, over the hill Culpepper and the perpetually stuck as 3rd string Drew Stanton. The odds are good Hill will see time on the field, considering Stafford's physical playing style can lead to injury (as we saw twice in 2009).
To acquire a solid NFL backup QB for a 7th round draft pick is a steal of a trade. It's another feather in the cap of GM Martin Mayhew.
But a question remains. When will these personnel moves, most of which I've agreed with, pay off on the field? If you go my Mayhew's statements, claiming he inherited a roster full of backups, the Lions may be another year or two away, at the very least.
Actually, it's quite likely. It's going to take more than 2 years to undo Matt Millen's ineptitude. Though you have to wonder, what was Mayhew doing all those years under Millen?
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