Scouting Report: John Owens

by Tom Kowalski
Wednesday June 11, 2008, 6:00 AM
2008 Scouting Report

Owens was signed in the middle of last season because the Lions wanted to add some muscle to their running game and Owens can provide that. Although, he's a big guy - 6-3 and 275 pounds - he can play low to the ground and knows how to utililize his leverage. Owens has good speed and decent hands, but he's never looked comfortable with his route-running or catching the ball.


He had just one reception for nine yards in his seven games with the Lions last year. He had one catch for 21 yards in the first two games of the season when he played with the New Orleans Saints. A former Detroit fifth-round pick in 2002, Owens played for two-plus years with the Lions before he was released. He had stops in Chicago and Cleveland before landing with the Saints in 2006.

With Dan Campbell and Michael Gaines already on the roster, Owens' future could come down to a battle with Casey FitzSimmons for the No. 3 spot. It will all depend on what the Lions are looking for out of that position. If they want a guy who's a better receiver than blocker, it'll be FitzSimmons. If they're looking for a guy who is a better blocker than receiver, it'll be Owens.





MY THOUGHTS
It is hard to say what the Lions will do here. On one hand they have Dan Campbell who has been injured the past 2 seasons and they want to have some 2 tight end sets. With Gaines being one blocking TE and hopefully Campbell being the other they could keep Owens and let Fitzgerald go and if need be, have Sean McHugh ( McHugh switched to FB this year and should be the 3rd FB on the roster )play some TE again this year. On the other hand Fitzgerald is a pretty good recieving TE. If he could get better at blocking then this is the better situation but since he has been here for several years and hasnt got any better at blocking. I say we will keep Owens and let Fotzgerald go unless something drastic happens.