First, let's state the obvious: Sims will be missed. He is a tackling machine, and has a great feel for the game. However, he is in the last year of his contract and would be very unlikely to resign in the off-season. Moving him gets some value from him, while at the same time gives head coach Jim Schwartz a way to get Zack Follett on the field. Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and Schwartz have both been looking to get Follett on the field more in defensive packages, because of the energy he has brought on special teams.
Some look at the Scheffler acquisition with raised eyebrows. Yes, the team spent its first round pick last year at the position on Brandon Pettigrew, but it was known long before he was drafted that his primary value was as a blocking tight end, and his pass catching abilities were a work in progress. He showed very little progress in that regard year one, and while I doubt the team has given up on him entirely, bringing in Scheffler even for just the one year left on his contract gives developing QB Matt Stafford someone else to target. Scheffler is the anti-Pettigrew--a very polished route runner with surprising speed and great hands and run after the catch abilities. Just don't ask him to do what Pettigrew does in the trenches. Scheffler has never been an effective blocker at all.
Overall, this deal definitely makes sense for Detroit. The staff has done its share of convincing that the Sims-Follett drop off won't be as significant as some fans seem to be grumbling, and you get some value out of Ernie before he bolts in free agency. Oh, did I mention Scheffler is a Michigan guy (born in Morenci) and played collegiately at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo? You're going to get effort from him, and he may be brought back for a reasonable price next year.
photo credits: www.mlive.com (Sims) and webpages.scu.edu (Scheffler)
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