Tag: Detroit Lions

Posted on

Report the Detroit Lions have had talks with multiple teams for the third pick in the draft

Embed from Getty Images NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed all 32 NFL teams that the 2020 NFL draft would proceed in a fully virtual format. This is to make sure the the NFL is in compliance with current regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Detroit Lions who currently own the third pick in the draft are looking to trade back.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport, broke the news that Detroit has had talks with multiple teams interested in the third overall pick. This comes as no surprise that Detroit is “open for business.” The ideal is that the Lions would move back while gaining more draft picks.

The Detroit Lions currently have seven picks in the 2020 draft, including one in each of the first four rounds and two in the fifth round. With Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa having been cleared medically, quarterback needy teams began calling Detroit general manager Bob Quinn.

The Detroit Lions have been linked heavily to two defensive players, Ohio State cornerback, Jeff Okudah and Auburn’s defensive tackle, Derrick Brown. Also to a lesser degree Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons.

The defensive needy Lions could land anyone of the three who would upgrade the defense even if they traded back. The Miami Dolphins were said to have serious interest in Tagovailoa.

Bob Quinn is in good position. He could make a trade and get more draft picks and improve the Lions roster. Quinn could also choose to stand pat  and draft one of the defensive players.

The guess here is that Detroit will move back. It is the right move to make. Get the defensive player at a better slot for the value pick. The Dolphins with three first round picks have the assets to pry the third pick in the draft from Detroit.

58 NFL draft prospects are going to be joining the draft virtually.

The draft runs from April 23-25, with the round schedule as follows:

Thursday, April 23: Round 1
Friday, April 24: Rounds 2-3
Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4-7

The first round Thursday, April 23 starts at 8 p.m. ET and will be shown on ESPN.

Posted on

With all four Detroit sports teams rebuilding, could the Detroit Tigers finish first

Embed from Getty Images In 2003 the Detroit Tigers lost 119 games, it was the key turning point in the late Tigers owner Mike Ilitch’s tenure. He was so embarrassed, he vowed to do more, just as he had when he turned the “Dead Things” the into Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. After last seasons 114 losses, will that be the turning point of current Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch’s tenure?

The Detroit Lions lack talent in many areas of the roster, with unproven general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia.  And the Detroit Pistons? Dwane Casey is a solid coach, but they finally chose the time is now to rebuild.

The Detroit Red Wings do have a proven general manager, who will return the Red Wings to the national stage, no one is doubting that. It will take time for Steve Yzerman to complete the task before him though.

Poor management, ownership in activity, bad contracts and bad luck, have defined the four Detroit sports teams. In my opinion it is the Detroit Tigers, have a head start.

First of all the Detroit Tigers have the most valuable commodity in their sport  young, promising pitching. The Tigers have four prospects in the MLB Pipeline’s Top 50, the franchise is as stocked as they have ever been, in route to a top 10 of farm system.

The Tigers also have something the Lions, Red Wings and Pistons do not currently have, the first pick in the draft at their sport. Last weekend Christopher Ilitch in an interview used the phrases “very competitive” and  “the fire is burning inside,” to let media and fans know how he feels about the Tigers, putting all doubt and fear aside.

As is if building the brand new Little Caesars headquarters next to Comerica Park did not send a strong enough signal. It is a short walk from his new office to the ballpark.

Christopher Ilitch is very analytical, much less emotional, probably a product of the corporate world he lives in much of the time. He speaks in measured tones but seems to be  more comfortable in the spotlight.

One thing seems for certain, the Detroit Tigers are closer to being a threat again in baseball, with the Red Wings not far behind. Ilitch says he is confident in delivering on that goal of the rebuild: “Be patient, be disciplined and we’re going to get there.”

Posted on

Detroit Lions GM Bob Quinn ends any and all speculation on quarterback Matthew Stafford

Embed from Getty Images Rumors are just that. There was a report that broke three weeks ago that the Detroit Lions were talking to teams about trading Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Detroit Lions general manager said one of the first things he did was call Stafford and assure him the rumors were not true.

Speaking to reporters at the NFL combine, Bob Quinn said, “I called Matthew and said listen, I haven’t had one conversation. I’m not trying- we’re not trying to trade you.”

Matthew Stafford gave the only answer Lions fans and most assuredly team management wanted to hear. “Yeah, I don’t want to go anywhere.” The rumors also stated Stafford was unhappy in Detroit. But again it was just a rumor.

Bob Quinn said that Stafford would be the Lions quarterback for the foreseeable future. “In terms of the whole rumor on Stafford, I think I’ve texted a lot of people here that it’s 100% false, if we need to add a third exclamation point we will.” Quinn concluded.

The Lions are in win-now mode. Matthew Stafford is 32 years old and still has good years in front of him. Unless the Lions trade Stafford and draft a quarterback, he is the guy. There is little to no chance of that happening. If it did then the Lions would enter a full blown rebuild.

As I wrote in a previous blog, the Lions are two good players from being a very good football team. The team has high draft picks and $50 some-odd million in salary cap space. I fully expect this to be a defensive heavy offseason for Bob Quinn as he brings in more talent to help the unit.

Until then please do not read a rumor as the gospel. In fact look at it like a mock draft, the names are right but little else.

Posted on

The Detroit Lions are building defense like the New England Patriots

Embed from Getty Images It does not take long to see the connections between the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions. Just look at the coaching staff, front office and roster. You can argue about plans all day. You can go back and forth on theories and philosophies and how to judge the best way forward. That way is the Matt Patricia Patriot Way, which boils down to getting players who accept his hard-driving style.

With the NFL combine set (February 23-March 2) the question is what the Detroit Lions could do with the No. 3 pick? The Detroit Lions have been linked to two players, Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah, Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown (No. 2). With glaring needs at both cornerback and defensive tackle.

Jeffrey Okudah, the chance for him to come in and play coverage, he is the best defensive back in this years class and it is not even close. Particia believes you work your defense back to front, fit more of the philosophy, if you are going to go by the Patriots and how they have done things and make that connection.

Much like Okudah, equally glowing things can be said about Derrick Brown, who could help replenish the Lions severely depleted interior defense following news the team plans to release Damon Harrison. Brown is the closest player to former Lion Ndamukong Suh, who everybody in Detroit knows quite well.

Brown is brutally strong and powerful. “Brown can really punch off blocks, separate, find the ball, make plays. He plays really hard. Derrick Brown is outstanding and I think if the Lions draft him they can plug him in there, talk about immediate impact, Brown would make an immediate impact on every single down as an interior player.

Even if Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn trades down and accumulates more draft picks, odds are he would only slide down two-four slots. Brown and Okudah could both be there. If Quinn picks up more picks and walks away with either Okudah or Brown that would be viewed as a huge win for the Detroit Lions and help a defensive unite that is being rebuilt this off season.

 

Posted on

ESPN analyst and former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky says the team is close

Embed from Getty Images Former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky recently said “You’re probably two really good players away from, all right, let’s have a conversation of being one of the better teams in the conference,” I think they caught a lot of bad breaks last year, just keeping it real. So if they stay healthy, they’re two good pieces away from being in the conversation of being a good, good football team. A good, solid, you-can-win-every-game football team.”

Some Detroit Lions fans have scoffed at Orlovsky’s statement. But should they? After all, the Lions could have won every game they played last season. They led in 14 of 16 games played.

The Detroit Lions being two players away seems out of place, but not completely far-fetched, either. In the NFL, you are what your record says you are Detroit was 3-12-1, bad.

That said from a talent perspective, Detroit is better than most of the other teams picking in the top 10 of the NFL draft, and it is not a stretch to think they would have doubled their win total if quarterback Matthew Stafford not missed two months with fractured bones in his back.

The Detroit Lions do not need to make a big jump to get to the next level. The offense should see 10 of last seasons 11 starters come back. While the Lions are not great offensively, they have the potential to be at least above average offense with a healthy Stafford, wide receiver Kenny Golladay and with tight end T.J. Hockenson expected to take on a bigger role next season.

The defense is where Dan Orlovsky’s “two-players-away” theory comes in to play. The Detroit Lions need pass rush help in a BIG way. They also need a starting cornerback. They have questions at safety beyond Tracy Walker. Not too mention the linebackers lack speed.

With free agency and the draft, Detroit could possibly find the two players that can help get the team over the hump. Yes, they will get more that two players. However, they need to nail the two positions of need in order to improve next season.

Posted on

The Detroit Lions are closer to being a good team than you think

Embed from Getty Images The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl. The Detroit Lions secured the third pick in the 2020 NFL draft. The Chiefs look like the NFL’s next superpower. The Lions are not as far from the Chiefs as many people believe. Do not laugh.

The Kansas City Chiefs have ultra-talented Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. The Detroit Lions have Matthew Stafford who shares the same arm strength and accuracy as Mahomes. To me it is a wash if both quarterbacks are in the pocket.

The offensive line of the Chiefs has Pro Bowl left tackle Eric Fisher and Pro Bowl right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. The Detroit Lions do not have an offensive lineman who has earned all star honors,  center Frank Ragnow seems likely to earn that honor in the near future. The Lions finished the season ranked 11th the Chiefs were 16th long the offensive line.

Wide receivers is interesting as well, for the Chiefs,  Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce,  had 1,229 yards, Tyreek Hill 860 yards, Sammy Watkins 673 yards. Detroit lead by Kenny Golladay’s 1,190 along with 11 touchdowns,  Marvin Jones 779, Danny Amendola had 779, the Detroit tight ends were a non-factor.

At running back, the Chief’s Damien Williams ran for 107 yards, (Kansas City is a pass first team) Lions running back Kerryon Johnson went for 403, Bo Scarbrough on 83 carries ran for  377 yards. The Lions running game should improve with the health of their backs.

Defensive line goes to the Chiefs. The Lions did not get the production out of the unit and will look to make upgrades this offseason.

Linebackers is interesting as well. The Lions’ linebackers struggled with injuries and inconsistency. Kansas City, linebackers did well enough to support the defensive line and secondary while not being a liability, linebackers are not a strength for either team.

Secondary is where the Chiefs shine brightest. The Lions finished last in pass defense, allowing 284.4 yards per game in the NFL.  The Chiefs ranked eighth against the pass with a 221.4 yard average.

Special teams the Chiefs in sixth place, the Lions in 10th. But coaching goes to the Chiefs in a landslide.

In six out of nine stats, the Lions are  close to or better than the Chiefs. That does not mean the Lions do not still have a lot of ground to make up if they want to approach the play of a Super Bowl champion. But when you lose a head to-head game by four points, maybe you’re not that far away after all.

 

Posted on

With a new defensive coordinator and linebacker coach how will the Detroit Lions improve

Embed from Getty Images A couple weeks ago the Detroit Lions brought in Cory Undlin from the  Philadelphia Eagles as the teams new defensive coordinator. That news was met around the NFL and in the media at large as a solid hire. Needing to fill the linebacker’s coaching position the team then hit a home run and brought in  Tyrone McKenzie.

With the two most important defensive coach’s positions filled, what is next? What does it mean for the toothless Detroit Lions defense? Can the two coach’s both widely viewed as very good at their jobs take the majority of players still on the roster and improve them?

The Detroit Lions linebackers were bad and well below average to just plain awful in pass coverage and did not provide much hope in general with their play. The one thing the unit did reasonably well was rushing the coverage on delayed blitz play calls.

In Cory Undlin, the Lions are getting a coach who understands man coverage, something Patricia loves. In Tyrone McKenzie, who comes to Detroit from the Tennessee Titans, the Lions are getting a coach who immediately got his players to provide a much bigger impact on the defense and overall improvement in their play.

The Tennessee Titans linebackers were the third best tackling linebackers in the NFL this past season. That is something that has sorely been lacking from the Lions defense for a while now.

The Lions do have a couple of linebackers who were drafted in the first and second round. Neither of them excel or are even okay at pass coverage, making that a priority in either free agency or the 2020 NFL draft.

So far, Matt Patricia has at the very least upgraded a couple defensive coach’s. He needs to leave them along and allow them to do what has made them and the players they coach successful. If that happens and the Lions bring in a coverage linebacker the defensive turn-around could be swift.

Posted on

A Hall of Fame tight end believes Detroit Lions TJ Hockenson can join the list of elite tight ends

Embed from Getty Images Just how important has the tight end position become in the NFL? Last year the best tight end in the game played in the Super Bowl, now the two best tight ends in the NFL are getting ready to play in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday night in Miami. What does that mean for the Detroit Lions and first round draft pick TJ Hockenson?

Tony Gonzalez, who was one of the best tight ends the NFL has ever seen and a member of the NFL Hall of Fame recently said, “He can be an All-Pro, no doubt about it,” speaking of TJ Hockenson.

That is quite the endorsement coming from one of the positions all-time greats. It gets better for both the Detroit Lions and TJ Hockenson. Tony Gonzalez would like to workout and mentor the young tight end.

Hockenson began his NFL career with a big training camp, then had a big game against the Arizona Cardinals in a 131 yard debut. That is more yards than any rookie tight end making his debut in NFL history.

That was the high point for Hockenson and the Lions. After that big start TJ came down to earth a bit, he averaged 21.5 yards per game the rest of the way, never had more than 56, and was average as a blocker. Then he suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for the final month of the season. He finished with 367 yards on 32 catches for the year.

Tight end is the most difficult position to play. The player needs to be a receiver, a blocker as well as understand defensive coverages. Tony Gonzalez, said “Like I said, you just got to keep taking it to that next level and you got to keep challenging him. And hopefully I’ll get a chance to talk to him. I talked to all these tight ends, young tight ends in the league, so if you do see him, tell him to reach out to me because to me that’s what separates the good ones from the great ones.”

TJ Hockenson said he would love the opportunity to get to gather with the former NFL legend, which can do nothing but help.

Posted on

Are the Detroit Lions planning life after Matthew Stafford

Embed from Getty Images Rumors! I like rumors about as much as I like Mock Drafts. Not at all!!! However, when multiple people are reporting the same thing it does at the very least, turn heads. The Detroit Lions coaching staff has been in Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl. It was reported this past week they are willing to move quarterback Matthew Stafford.

With a playoffs or no job mandate from Lions owner Martha Ford, it would seem counterintuitive to part with a starting quarterback who has been with the Lions since 2009.

Before a back injury ended his season Matthew Stafford was having a solid season for the Detroit Lions, but his large salary may not serve the Lions best interests to retool this season. There is already a defensive overhaul coming.

Yet, Omar Kelly, from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting the Lions are willing to trade Stafford.

This would and would not be a surprising move. Yes, general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia have been told to get to the playoffs or else. Yes, the team is rebuilding the defense. Yes trading Stafford means a total rebuild.

That said Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa  who is very good and very accurate should be there when the Lions pick third over-all in the first round. But, a playoff or bust with a rookie quarterback? That would be daring.

This could all be a smoke-screen. The Lions could be dangling Stafford (in name only) to see if they can gather more draft picks or it could be legit. Detroit feels like they are going into the 2020 season with the best running game the franchise has had in a while. They have good wide receivers and tight ends. If they believe they can put enough good players around him then they could draft Tagovailoa.

It could be something, it could be nothing. Time will tell. It is worth keeping an eye on for Detroit Lions fans.

Posted on

The Detroit Lions hope Kerryon Johnson and Bo Scarbrough can be a solid running tandem

Embed from Getty Images When he was selected by the Detroit Lions to spearhead the teams running attack Kerryon Johnson looked good at times, looked ho-hum at times and was injured at times. Enter former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough, who played well in games Johnson missed.

Kerryon Johnson and Bo Scarbrough have contrasting running styles, that could end up being the combination that solves the Detroit Lions run game in 2020 and beyond. It is a duo both are comfortable with. They know they have different styles — Scarbrough is a big, power back while Johnson is a smaller, shiftier runner.

NFL teams now include a construction of backfields, with teams now employing more than one running back capable of handling a large workload. It keeps them fresh and gives teams options if injuries arise. It could also help to avoid injuries as well.

This past season, the Lions saw Johnson rush 113 times for 403 yards while Scarbrough had 89 carries for 377 yards. It was only a two-game sample size as Johnson and Scarbrough played two games together the final two games of the season. But it was enough to see the two backs have a combination that can be difficult for defensive coordinators and the front seven players tasked with tackling them.

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia has always wanted a solid running game with two backs well, both from his New England pedigree and also in his attempt to keep his backs healthy for a full season.

In  week 16 against the Denver Broncos,  the duo of Johnson and Scarbrough combined for 76 yards against the Broncos and 95 yards in the season finale against the Packers. It might not sound like a lot of yardage, but both averaged over four yards per carry over the last two weeks.

Next season, the Lions will enter games with two running backs who have proved they can feed off of each other. The team also has found they can grind time off the clock as a good ball-controlled offense should, putting the team in better position to win tight games.

This is part of the reason I believe the Lions will be better next season and win those tight games.