Don’t overthink it. Quit digging for ghosts of the past.

The Detroit Lions should take Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith on Thursday at No. 13 overall in the first round of the NFL Draft.

It’s not the conventional pick. It’s not the name fans have clamored for. And be warned: It’s a boom-or-bust deal if you select Boulder’s finest.

His problem isn’t on the field. No, his long, lanky physique and impressive strength-speed combination bode well on the gridiron.

It’s those ghosts in the room that has people backing off.

Character issues — Jimmy Smith has them. To the extent of which these issues exist is what everyone, including personnel people and executives, are trying to figure out.

Smith has failed at least one drug test for marijuana in 2007, though it’s rumored that number could possibly be as high as four. He also has been cited for two minor in possession charges.

Some even question his football character — is he a gym rat? Does he take plays off? Will he step up in run fits?

It’s widely known Detroit needs help in the back end of its defense.

Adding Chris Houston at corner prior to last season paid major dividends. The Lions still need help even if Houston sticks around, though he’s insistent on testing the free agent waters, assuming he gets the right to do so after this Collective Bargaining Agreement and lockout mess eventually clears.

The popular sentiment recently told us that Nebraska star corner Prince Amukamara may slip into the Lions’ lap at No. 13. Amukamara, which we’ll affectionately call “Prince” from now on, stands a solid 6-feet, is thickly built and negated any questions about his speed after running a 4.43 40-yard dash at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine in February.

Assuming LSU’s Patrick Peterson is the first defensive back off the board, it is widely assumed Prince will go next.

But in time, the secret of Jimmy Smith has begun to emerge.

Smith has Chris McAlister size and presence, the former All-Pro corner for the Baltimore Ravens.

He’s 6-foot-2, 211 pounds and at 32 ¼ inches he has the longest arms of the top three corners, nearly two inches longer than Prince’s. He also ran a 4.46 40 in Indianapolis.

But what separates Jimmy Smith from Prince, and even Peterson, is his strength. Smith’s 24 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press was nine more than the mark set by the other two.

And he has the attitude and willingness to press at the line that the Lions absolutely love. Once his gets his long arms attached, the receiver is undeniably rerouted.

Prince, who’s hip swerve may be more impressive than his straight-line speed, will be a fine pro.

But Smith has the potential to be special. Really special.

His off-the-field problems occurred early in his time at Boulder.

The Lions were interested enough to hold extensive interviews with not just Smith, but his high school coach and a high school teammate. If they feel comfortable with Smith’s maturation, then the risk is minimized.

There are plenty of options at No. 13 overall and, with more options, also comes more risks.

Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers was supposed to be a top 5 pick until a serious degenerative knee issue raised some serious red flags.

Detroit will stockpile on defensive linemen under Schwartz, but this risk may be too much to gamble on.

Other possibilities at 13 include USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith, Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo or Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith, to name a few.

General Manager Martin Mayhew has said repeatedly that you do not draft because you have a weakness this year. Drafts set the foundation for the future and, sometimes, a dyer need this year — like at corner — can wait for the sake of adding a piece to the puzzle that will benefit the team for years.

But that’s not why you draft Jimmy Smith.

Every team covets a long, lanky, powerful cover corner who can run. One who can lock down half the field, or perhaps the opposing team’s best receiver.

That’s why you draft him.

That’s why you take him at 13. Trade down if it’s possible — which it entirely could be if a guy like Alabama receiver Julio Jones falls down the board — and take him there.

But don’t overthink this one. The reward completely overshadows the risk.

It’s time to tell those ghosts to disappear.

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Or maybe that win was bigger because it ended a losing streak.

Whatever the case, the Central Michigan baseball team needed the jolt of adrenaline it received March 30. CMU brought a 9-16 record into East Lansing. It was in the midst of a four-game losing streak.

A week and a half later, the Chippewas are 16-17.

CMU lost four in a row prior to beating MSU, including dropping its first three Mid-American Conference games to Miami University. But since then, the Chippewas have won seven of eight. They knocked off the Spartans, but that wasn’t enough.

After taking two of three from Ohio, they beat Michigan 9-4. And over the weekend, they swept Akron. It seems they’ve righted the ship, at 5-4 in the MAC.

Suddenly, a team that struggled for the first month of the season is 4-0 against Big Ten schools — and 2-0 against in-state foes.

In both games, CMU coach Steve Jaksa turned to a new addition to the pitching staff, a guy who has pitched at three schools in as many years.

Ryan Longstreth started at Saginaw Valley in 2009, then took a detour through Kellogg Community College to get to where he’s at. That’s not to say he hasn’t had his struggles during his debut season as a Chippewa, judging by a 5.62 ERA.

But he got the ball rolling against Michigan State, giving up just five hits and a walk through eight innings and getting the win.

Out of the weekend rotation, Longstreth will get a lot of mid-week starts. It should be no surprise his next assignment came against Michigan. And it should be no surprise that, after his performance against MSU, his team had a chance to win when he left the game — even if he only pitched three innings against the Wolverines.

That’s a formula to live by: Have your mid-week starters give you a chance to win. Then, rely on your horses over the weekend.

It seems to be working.

Take Sunday, the finale of a three-game series on the road against Akron. Senior Jake Sabol pitched a complete game shutout against the Zips, clinching the sweep.

To start the series in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, Trent Howard pitched seven innings of one-run baseball, and CMU won 3-2.

Zach Cooper didn’t fare as well during the second game of the series, but his 3.40 ERA proves he’s a weekend rotation mainstay. But throw away the statistics.

The only one that matters is the one in the standings, and CMU is 7-1 since March 30. That’s a far cry from winning nine out of its first 25.

It’s a far cry from panic. No, instead, the Chippewas finally seem at ease.

It only took them a little over a month. But with MAC play just beginning, the timing is more than ideal.