Morning Lions Links for Wednesday 8-20-14

Lions Articles:

National Media:

Matthew Stafford sharper early for Lions: http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/10037/matthew-stafford-sharper-early-for-lions

Practice Report: Still no DeJon Gomes: http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/10033/practice-report-still-no-dejon-gomes

Lions rely on veteran Mathis at corner: http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/10020/lions-rely-on-veteran-mathis-at-corner

Inside Slant: An alternative to longer XPs: http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/136212/inside-slant-an-alternative-to-longer-xps

How a kicker will be picked: http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/10016/morning-roar-how-a-kicker-will-be-picked

Tom Brady, not Peyton Manning, tops preseason All-Kirwan Team at QB (CJ and Suh made the team): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pat-kirwan/24667666/tom-brady-not-peyton-manning-headlines-preseason-all-kirwan-team-at-qb

2014 Preseason All-Prisco Team: Assembling the best of the best (CJ made the All-Prisco team, Suh made the All-Nasty team and Levy made the All Under the Radar team): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pete-prisco/24667808/preseason-all-prisco-team-assembling-the-best-of-the-best

Sporting News Power Rankings (Lions ranked 19): http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2014-08-19/nfl-power-rankings-preseason-2014-seahawks-49ers-broncos-packers/slide/19

Opposing Team's Media :

Blocking Detroit's Ndamukong Suh will be a challenge for Jaguars interior offensive line: http://members.jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400642/hays-carlyon/2014-08-19/blocking-detroits-ndamukong-suh-will-be-challenge

Local Media:

Notebook: Weight Of Franchise On Stafford's Shoulders: http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/NOTEBOOK-Weight-of-franchise-on-Staffords-shoulders/acfddc2f-83ca-4f70-8507-9f09634c0f83

Get Ready For The Calvin Johnson Effect: http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Get-ready-for-the-Calvin-Johnson-effect/5fcd092a-5c85-43f4-9169-9df5aaa70af5

Help Is On The Way For The Lions' Defensive Line: http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Help-is-on-the-way-for-the-Lions-defensive-line/7dde6b5c-2dee-4969-bb0c-612ab195f979

Rb George Winn Knows Special Teams Play Could Be 'deciding Factor': http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/RB-George-Winn-knows-special-teams-play-could-be-deciding-factor/bb84e2d7-8bdb-46c3-b898-646c164d35c2

Dominic Raiola Honored By Preseason All-pro Nod: http://www.detroitlions.com/news/ohara/article-1/Dominic-Raiola-honored-by-preseason-All-Pro-nod/68607f3b-7593-4342-acab-1783a580f0eb

Lions' running game off to sluggish start, but they're not worried: http://www.freep.com/article/20140819/SPORTS01/308190090/detroit-lions-reggie-bush

Lions Gab: New-look offense might allow Stafford to turn corner: http://www.freep.com/article/20140820/SPORTS01/308200063/detroit-lions-gab-matthew-stafford

Caldwell steadily impressed by Stafford's dedication to improve: http://www.freep.com/article/20140820/SPORTS01/308200060/detroit-lions-matthew-stafford-leader

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford poised to take the next step: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140820/SPORTS0101/308200027/Lions-quarterback-Matthew-Stafford-poised-take-next-step

Lions to get Calvin Johnson some playing time, gauge Jaguars' response: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140819/SPORTS0101/308190123/Lions-get-Calvin-Johnson-some-playing-time-gauge-Jaguars-response

Lions center Dominic Raiola says winning is all that's left: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140819/SPORTS0101/308190132/Lions-center-Dominic-Raiola-says-winning-all-s-left

Detroit Lions RB Reggie Bush looking to improve timing with QB Matthew Stafford after pair of drops: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/08/detroit_lions_reggie_bush_not_1.html

Detroit Lions have open roster spot after cutting CB Drayton Florence: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/08/detroit_lions_have_open_roster.html

Detroit Lions' Giorgio Tavecchio to share first-team reps with Nate Freese against Jaguars: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/08/detroit_lions_giorgio_tavecchi_1.html

George 'Dump Truck' Winn bulldozes his way into roster consideration with Detroit Lions: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/08/george_winn_dubbed_dump_druck.html

An inside look at Detroit Lions training camp: Hotels, Hemingway and the happy wife principle: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/08/inside_detroit_lions_training.html

Detroit Lions' Dominic Raiola on Browns QB Johnny Manziel's obscene gesture: 'Enjoy that FedEx': http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/08/dominic_raiola_to_johnny_manzi.html

Detroit Lions notes: Kicking competition too close to call: http://oplions.blogspot.com/2014/08/detroit-lions-notes-kicking-competition.html

Caldwell Pleased By Stafford's Progress In Mastering New Offense: http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/08/19/caldwell-pleased-by-staffords-progress-in-mastering-new-offense/

Lions Notes: Stafford embracing pressure, expectations of being QB: http://www.foxsports.com/detroit/story/stafford-embracing-pressure-expectations-as-lions-qb-081914

Jim Caldwell's quotes from Tuesday: http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/8/19/6046031/jim-caldwell-quotes-lions-tuesday

Lions notes: DeJon Gomes, Justin Jackson, more: http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/8/19/6034917/lions-notes-dejon-gomes-justin-jackson

Miscellaneous:

National Media:

Local Media:

Titus Young has court date pushed back, faces another hearing: http://www.freep.com/article/20140820/SPORTS01/308200054/detroit-lions-titus-young

Video:

Local Media:

Caldwell on Stafford, kicking competition: http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Caldwell-on-Stafford-kicking-competition/fcb31034-7c78-4b70-85fa-3c19f6603e05

Stafford on leadership: http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Stafford-on-leadership/71f149e1-2a8b-4835-975a-d374e77241df

Fauria on roles of Lions tight ends: http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Fauria-on-roles-of-Lions-tight-ends/ca778db0-349f-498b-b23f-22c236e50997

Raiola on longevity, expectations for 2014: http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Raiola-on-longevity-expectations-for-2014/0e311b83-af39-48c6-8d51-b33c0db2c6ff

Matthew Stafford leading team into new offense: http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Matthew-Stafford-leading-team-into-new-offense/1f7f5d69-cef1-49a4-985b-d2b52ff70299

Video: Detroit Lions reporters discuss Jim Caldwell's win-now mentality and how it plays into roster decisions: http://videos.mlive.com/mlive/2014/08/video_detroit_lions_reporters_6.html