Tag: Detroit Lions

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Former Detroit Lions linebacker/defensive end Mike Cofer passes away

Embed from Getty Images Mike Cofer was a A third-round pick out of Tennessee in 1983. He played his entire 10 year career with the Detroit Lions. A standout player on some bad Lions teams, Cofer earned a Pro Bowl nod in 1988, one of two seasons where he topped 10 sacks.

Mike Cofer, 58, had suffered from an uncommon (  amyloidosis ) disease that affects organs and tissue. His death hit former teammates hard and rocked the city of Detroit. He was a Lions legend.

Mike’s most defining characteristic was his physical prowess. Cofer had 62½ career sacks. There was no official  cause of death  given. Mike Cofer’s son, Phil Cofer is a forward on Florida State’s basketball team and learned of his father’s death after the team’s 76-69 victory over Vermont in the NCAA Tournament Thursday. Receiving the phone call during the open locker-room period and broke down into tears.

For those who saw Mike Cofer play, we understood he was a tremendous talent on a team that did not have much. For those who never saw Cofer play, I offer this, One of the greatest sports moments I have ever witnessed was when Mike Cofer on 3 straight plays lined up at Right LB, Left LB and Middle LB and sacked the quarterback on all 3.

In September 2013, Cofer was honored as a Volunteers  Legend of the Game during Tennessee’s game against South Alabama. Mike Cofer, was a treat to watch. Fans knew he was going to do something during a game that would be outstanding.

Rest In Peace, Mike Cofer.

 

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The Detroit Pistons look like they will end the cities playoff drought

Embed from Getty Images Detroit has not seen a professional sports team in the playoffs since 2016. The city has produced eight championships since 1984. No Detroit team is close to winning a championship. These are sad days in Motown.

The Detroit Tigers have not been in the post season since they were swept in 2014 by the  Baltimore Orioles. Now coming off the second consecutive 98 loss season the Tigers are still in rebuild mode.

In 2015 the Detroit Lions lost to the  Seattle Seahawks, in the wild-card round.  In 2018 the Lions finished 6-10, but have their sights on the 2019 playoffs after a solid free agent signing period and a top ten draft pick. That is enough to give Lions fans hope.

The Red Wings will miss the playoffs for the third year in a row. While the Wings are closer to returning to competitive hockey, they are still a couple years away from being a serious Stanley Cup threat. Yet they are getting better that is the good news.

That leaves the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons currently hold the 6th position in the East.  The Pistons are likely to be a one round playoff team, certainly if they face Milwaukee or Toronto,  in the East it could very well be the case.

The Pistons fought through a sluggish January and February and the team opted not to tank and go into a rebuild. That could have perhaps sent some fans over the edge. The team now is looking at a playoff spot under first-year coach Dwane Casey.

The Detroit Pistons have not won a playoff game since 2008. While it does not look good at the moment, if the team can somehow slide into the 5th spot in the East, they would have a more favorable match up. Best case, Detroit draws Indiana in the first series. Otherwise, it will be a quick post-season for the Pistons.

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After free agency are the Detroit Lions better?

Embed from Getty Images Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn was aggressive. Starting day one of the free agent signing period. Nabbing two of the NFL’s top free agents as well the markets top tight end. The Detroit Lions appeared to be better. Upon further review there are still questions.

The Detroit Lions still need:

RB2

CB2

Linebacker

Right Guard

Wide Receiver

These are rather large glaring holes that did not get filled during free agencies first week. It is unclear right now, but conventional wisdom says Quinn may look to the NFL draft to fill those needs. He could also use waivers and player cuts to improve the roster.

The question at the moment is, are the Detroit Lions a better team? Adding Trey Flowers helped strengthen an already stout defensive line. Do not get me wrong I am all for bringing in more talent and creating depth. But the Lions had  and have bigger holes to fill.

Nickel defensive back Justin Coleman was a need and Quinn filled it. Detroit had released Nevin Lawson who had been the Detroit Lions nickel back but struggled to find any sort of consistency. Coleman is a big upgrade.

Jesse James TE, was signed because even though Bob Quinn allowed former tight end Eric Ebron to leave as a free agent. Even though Detroit had three TE’s on the roster. The group of tight ends did not improve in dropped passes. James is a player who was used wrong during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Detroit envisions Jess James as a great blocker and a downfield threat. He will have every opportunity to prove he is the guy to break the Detroit Lions run at bad TE’s.

Bob Quinn also signed a right guard who is lightly regarded from the Seattle Seahawks. Oday Aboushi. A solid pass blocker. This seems like a quick fix or a depth move. Aboushi did play under current Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell in Seattle, for those who like to connect dots.

The short answer is no. No, the Detroit Lions are not better right now. With needs at skilled positions. More talent is needed. Detroit can not count on one running back to shoulder the load in today’s NFL. They also can not head into the season with a right guard who by all accounts is a backup.

Not too mention WR and safety. Detroit wants the defense to step up and be the unit that carries the team. That is fine. It works well in New England. But they are going to need offensive players who can move the chains and put points on the scoreboard.

Things should become more clear the closer draft day approaches.

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The Detroit Lions make big,bold moves first day of free agency

Embed from Getty Images Bob Quinn put his end of the season stamp on the Detroit Lions 2018 season by saying “I did not put us in a position to win.” While that was true, Quinn also followed it up by saying “We need playmakers on both sides of the ball.” That also was a true statement. Yesterday, the first day of NFL free agency, Quinn put his words into action.

While signing top flight free agents is nice, it by no means guarantees success right off the bat. That needs to be stressed first and foremost.Team chemistry is the key to winning games. Last season the Detroit Lions did not have enough players who bought into head coach Matt Patricia’s system. Those players are now gone.

Detroit has needs all over the place. They address slot receiver early in the morning by grabbing Danny Amendola,  from the Miami Dolphins. It is some what a ho-hum signing because Amendola has never had 1,000 yards receiving. He has not even broken 700 yards. But he will be a safety valve for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Next Detroit went with a bigger signing. Netting Justin Coleman a cornerback with the Seattle Seahawks. One of the top CB on the market. Coleman is not a CB2. The Lions still need to find one. What Justin Coleman is, is a very good nickel-package cover guy. In fact the best nickel corner in the league. He fits Patricia’s defense perfectly.

Then we get to the final two signing. They were HUGE additions for the Detroit Lions. Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit’s top pass rusher was not coming back. Enter Trey Flowers, New England Patriots. This is a monster get for the Lions. Flowers is a very good player. His value is not so much rushing the quarterback. It is his ability to slide into a 3T/0T alinement. Flowers quickness  gives offensive linemen a ton of problems. He is excellent at finding creases on stunts.

Next the Detroit Lions, in desperate need of a tight end, agreed to terms with the best one on the open market. Pittsburgh Steelers Jesse James. At 6′ 7″ James is a huge target. The Lions like him because Jesse James is the best blocking TE in the NFL. Be it on the line of scrimmage or down field.

Of the four players Detroit signed, three are former New England Patriots. Amendola, Coleman, Flowers. They all have connections to Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia. All three players are “by-in” players. Flowers said yesterday he would “run through walls to play for Patricia again.”

It is those players who Detroit has focused on. In one day the Lions got three of the top players at their positions. Flowers, Coleman and James. Playmakers. Just like Bob Quinn said.

 

 

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The Detroit Lions enter free agency with 40 million in cap space

Embed from Getty Images As the Detroit Lions season concluded general manager Bob Quinn said he was looking to add playmakers for his team. The day he announced that the Detroit Lions had $31,237,788 in available cap space. That changed yesterday when the team released team captain T.J. Lang.

$40 million in cap space is the most money the Lions have had headed into free agency. Ever. Once he took over the general mangers chair Quinn has held money back to give the team wiggle room.

He has used that wiggle room to add players during the season, as well as sign players off the practice squad. It is difficult to cut any captain. But from a business stand point it was the right move.

T.J. Lang had signed as a free agent from the Green Bay Packers two years ago. Injuries has kept him off the field more than on it. At 33 years old and due a large pay raise, the Lions cut bait.

Given Bob Quinn’s insistence to add playmakers some names to remember as free agency starts next week are;

Defensive End, Trey Flowers, New England Patriots, One of the best pass rushers on the open market coupled with Quinn and coach Matt Patrica’s Patriots history is something to keep an eye on. The team is in need for a veteran edge rusher.

Wide Receiver, Adam Humphries, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit is in dire need at slot receiver. Humphries is the best of the free agent bunch. Last season Humphries had a career high 816 yards and 5 touchdowns. Would be a really good signing.

Safety, Landon Collins, New York Giants, It is hard to believe the Giants are not resigning Collins who is one of the best safeties in the NFL. Detroit just cut Glover Quin and would be both a solid replacement and a more athletic player. Collins is the best player in the free agent class.

Detroit will enter free agency with a shopping list. Expect Bob Quinn to fill his cart and prepare his team for a playoff run next season.

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Detroit Lions 2019 draft plan

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Lions need help across the board. Tight End, Wide Receiver, Guard, Cornerback, Safety, Defensive Edge Rusher. The Lions pick in the first round at #8 where will the team go?

There is need. There is also the best player available. In recent years Lions general manager Bob Quinn has gone down both avenues. When the need is many there really is no wrong way to go about drafting.

Here is my big-board for the Lions at #8. In the order that I view the value of the pick. Agree or disagree. It should be noted this list is before free agency. So it is possible the Lions fill a need before the draft.

  1. Tight End, T.J. Hockenson Iowa Hawkeyes, he averaged 51.5 snaps/game. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds Hockenson is ideal size for the NFL. running the 40 in 4.5 the big man can move. He is a dynamic pass catcher. T.J. is an excellent blocker on the line or downfield. Making him the top choice for the Lions who desperately need a tight end.

2. Defensive Edge Rusher, Clelin Ferrell, Clemson Tigers, One of the nations best at getting into the backfield rushing the passer and shutting down the rushing game. What appeals teams and should jump out at the Detroit Lions is Ferrell can play with no hands on the ground or one hand on the ground. Meaning he can play either the 3-4 or 4-3 defense with no issues. While Clelin  lack the speed and strength that Nick Bosa and Josh Allen have, his overall strength stands out as he is stronger than his draft hopefuls.

3. Ed Oliver, Defensive Edge Rusher, Houston Cougars, The 6-foot-2, 290-pound playmaker flashed big-time potential.  He shows a great first-step quickness, lateral movement skills, explosive strength and hustle for a pass-rushing defensive tackle playing as a one-technique.  One of the top defensive prospects in college football makes Oliver a player of interest for the Detroit Lions.

While there is no telling what the Lions big-board looks like. It is safe to say that one of these p[layers lands in Motown. Any one of the three will be able to step in and help out immediately.

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Detroit Lions hire Kyle Caskey as the teams running back coach

Embed from Getty Images When Detroit Lions running backs coach David Walker announced he was retiring to spend time with his family following the conclusion of the regular season it left a void on the coaching staff. The Detroit Lions filled the void and then some.

Kyle Caskey has a bad habit of turning out 1,000 yard running backs. Caskey spent the last nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Kyle has  worked with 1,000-yard rushers Joe Mixon and Jeremy Hill early in their careers. That is good news for a Lions team looking to control the clock more.

The Lions have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Reggie Bush in 2013. That is not a misprint. Lions rookie running back Kerryon Johnson was set to hit 1,000 yards before a knee injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season after week 10.

This can not be said enough, Kyle Caskey is a strong addition to Detroit’s staff. A staff that has seen a shakeup since the season ended. He will team with  Darrell Bevell to give head coach Matt Patricia what he wants. A ball controled offense. With a back (Johnson) who can break loose at any moment.

While football has been pass-happy for a while now. It still comes down to running the football. It is a safe bet Detroit looks to add a solid No.2 back during this April’s NFL draft.

The Detroit Lions need a good running game in order to reach the playoffs. The team has counted on quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receivers way to much. The two positions can only take a team so far. Balance is what is needed.

With Bevell and Caskey the Lions should be in better position to imrove the overall offensive production. Which is clearly what the team is working on doing this offseason.

It will be interesting to see how it all comes together. Patrica, has made some big strong moves to bolster his coaching staff. It should pay off in a big way for the Lions.

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Detroit Lions remembering WR Jeff Chadwick

Embed from Getty Images He stared at Grand Valley State University. A small school approximately 11-12 miles west of Grand Rapids Michigan. From 1979-1982 Jeff Chadwick a wide receiver caught 75 passes for 1,512 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was also a track star.

Then it happened. Never drafted by an NFL team Chadwick, played for 10 seasons and 126 games. The football gods must have been smiling as Jeff Chadwick would earn a roster spot for the in-state Detroit Lions in 1983.

He would play in Detroit from 1983-1992. Chadwick would also play for the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. His career stats totaled 4,549 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns.

Was Jeff Chadwick a HUGE star? No. That does not matter. You see for a 13 year old Detroit Lions fan Jeff Chadwick represented us. The regular guy. Who got a break and ran with it.

To make it even better he was a guy from Michigan who went on to play for the Lions. Giving all young kids the feeling that anything is possible. You do not need to be Herman Moore or Calvin Johnson. Those are two great Detroit receivers no question.

But for me it was easy to identify with Jeff Chadwick. He was me running around on the Pontiac Silverdome astroturf. Coming up with a clutch catch to keep a drive alive or scoring a touchdown. At least in my mind. That is what Chadwick allowed me and others to dream.

We read and hear a lot about legacies. How we remember this person or that person. For me I remember #89 for what he allowed me to do. Dream. Dream of thinking why not me?

It did not happen for me. God had other plans. But, still somewhere I still hold on to that dream. The legacy that Jeff Chadwick had and has is he gave us all a local man to root for and dreams to reach for.

 

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A recent poll at the Detroit Free Press has the Detroit Lions winning a title

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Free Press polled the four professional sports beat writers and asked which team would win the next championship for the city. The Detroit Lions were the winners.

As I read the pros and cons for each team winning a championship I looked at the state of all four teams. When I broken them down this is what I found.

The Detroit Pistons are a wreck. Stuck with bad contracts and a team that by and large has hit their ceiling. The team is years away from being a serious playoff threat let alone making it to the NBA Finals. The plan is to build around Blake Griffin. That is a start.

The Detroit Tigers are in mid rebuild. There is talent in the minor leagues. Serious talent. But most of the prospects are going to have to hit their ceiling and some are going to have to out play their projections. Still the Tigers are close to being competitive again. About 3 years.

The Detroit Red Wings are coming to the end of their rebuild. The Wings are set to win for a while. This is going to be a nasty hockey team. First they need to get into the playoffs and get their brains beat in. That is how it works in hockey. Young teams need to learn how to win the post season play. The Wings could make a playoff push next season. Even as bad as they have been. Young players have taken huge steps forwards and the Red Wings will have a league high $20 million in cap space.

Then we have the Detroit Lions. Rebuilding since 1957. Ask any Lions fan it is not a joke. It is how they view the team. For some strange reason the NFL is a league that sees teams turn around seemingly at the blink of an eye. L.A. Rams anyone? The Detroit Lions are actually a team that is 3-5 players away from becoming a very good team. Right tackle, edge rusher, tight end, wide receiver, backup running back and the Lions will be good.

So which team is in the best title position? The Tigers and Red Wings are set up for long term success. The Pistons need a direction. Leaving the Detroit Lions as the team that should bring the next championship to the city. I can not believe I just put that down.

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The Detroit Lions cut Glover Quin

  Embed from Getty Images There are times when a sports franchise is blessed with a good person. In 2013 the Detroit Lions signed free agent safety Glover Quin to a 5 year $23.5 million dollar contract. They signed more than a football player.

Having watched and follow the Detroit Lions since 1980, I can honestly say I have seen players come and players go. This one hurts almost as much as when the Lions let linebacker Chris Spielman go.

During his time in Detroit, Glover Quin never missed a start. In the rough and tough world of professional football that is extraordinary. 148 games played. He doubled games played by other safeties during the same time span.

Glover Quin was and will continue to be the benchmark for consistency.  On a personal note Glover is one of my all-time favorite Lions. I try not to attach personal feelings to a player. But man alive…….

By releasing Quin the Detroit Lions save $6.25 million in salary cap money. He always had a way with coaches and teammates and the Detroit media that made people both feel better and feel respected.

Much the way Spielman was the heart and soul of the late 1980’s though mid 1990’s Detroit defenses. That is what Quin has been for his time in.

Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn released a statement:

“We thank Glover for his countless contributions to the Detroit Lions during his six seasons with our team. Since joining the organization in 2013, Glover exemplified everything it means to be a true professional in the league- as both a competitor on the field and a leading voice in the community. Coach (Matt) Patricia and I have the utmost respect for him as a man and as a player, we wish him nothing but the very best in the future.”

On the surface this looks like a cold cut. Quin’s play did drop off this past season. Glover also admitted he thought about retiring. Those I am sure were factors in the Lions decision.

Detroit Free Press Lions beat writer Carlos Monarrez, took it a step further. Saying the Detroit Lions need to put Glover Quin in the Lions Ring of Honor. I agree!