Cletis Gordon: Remember him?

by NorthLeft12 on Sep 3, 2009 6:56 AM PDT

Hello, I am a Lions fan from Pride of the Lions who is interested in any information you can pass us regarding Cletis Gordon. The Lions just picked him up form waivers and there are many of us wondering if he could possibly make the roster and contribute.

Yes, we are totally desperate for defensive backs, two of our hoped starters have been injured for most of the training camp and have not played a preseason game.

Cletis [gotta love that name] seems to be a good size, 6'1" 205 pounds, but did not play much for you guys in three years. Was he a nickel back or a special teamer?

Any comments would be appreciated.

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Special Teamer/4th DB

That’s what he was and that’s about the best he’s probably going to be for the Lions. After being cut by the Chargers (he was beaten out for the 4th DB job by two rookies), he was signed by the Texans (who have secondary problems) and then cut a few days later (because he showed them nothing).

Cletis has size and speed and that’s it. He could possibly be a good return man, but he’s never done it in San Diego so I don’t know for sure. He was a decent gunner on punts.

If you have Gordon as a nickelback (or higher) in your secondary, you’ll see exactly why he’s been cut twice already this preseason.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Sep 3, 2009 7:17 AM PDT reply actions

I concur with above

by not humble enough on Sep 3, 2009 8:06 AM PDT reply actions

Lots of Speed

But didn’t like contact. I thought he had a pretty good game filling in for Jammer against NO last year, but he got absolutely demolished in Pittsburgh. He can make some good plays but was out of position occasionally too. The final straw here was when he absolutely whiffed a special teams tackle; I think he could still develop into a reasonable corner. I also saw him return pretty well at an open practice.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Sep 3, 2009 8:43 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks guys. I am linking to this Post from POD.

Appreciate the informed comments.

by NorthLeft12 on Sep 3, 2009 9:56 AM PDT reply actions

might have been the fastest charger on the team

right up there with cromartie… according to Acee. zero physicality.

by truheeyo on Sep 3, 2009 12:52 PM PDT reply actions

An update from our preseason game last night vs Buffalo

I did not see much of the game but Cletis made two excellent plays at the Detroit goal line in coverage. One on a fade to the corner, the next on a buttonhook that he nearly picked off except for a desperate lunge by the Bills WR.
I think he may make our team, depending on who is healthy or not.

by NorthLeft12 on Sep 4, 2009 5:15 AM PDT reply actions

Nice

Cletis is a very nice guy, personally, so I wish him the best. I think he would fit into a different system better (one that didn’t blitz so much and leave their CBs all alone) than the Chargers one, so you may be in luck.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Sep 4, 2009 7:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Will be a mediocre CB for a long time.

No aggression, no power, but can run fast enough to make up for any mistakes, and will get smarter as he slows down. Essentially, with Flash Gordon, you always get a lame shot at a tackle before the receiver gets too far downfield. He’ll deflect some passes, too.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 5, 2009 9:58 AM PDT reply actions

Or help on a tackle… just don’t leave it to him to get the job done on his own.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 5, 2009 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Gordon made our roster.

Not sure how secure he is but I think they will take a longer look at him and give him a chance to stick.
You have no idea how bad off we are in the secondary. The Lions will be going over the cuts with a fine tooth comb for anyone who could contribute on the defensive line or in the secondary.

by NorthLeft12 on Sep 6, 2009 8:52 AM PDT reply actions