Afternoon Lions Links for Thursday 9-10-15

Lions Articles:

National Media:

Where Calvin Johnson stands all-time and where he could end up:  http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/18716/where-calvin-johnson-stands-in-all-time-marks-and-where-he-could-end-up

QB Index: Ranking the starters 1-32 (13. Matt Stafford: Stafford's erratic accuracy has become expected at this point. There is some optimism he can take a step forward this season, but we've heard that before.):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000524987/article/qb-index-ranking-the-starters-132

Free agent Zach Zenner rushes his way onto Detroit Lions' roster:  http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/zach-zenner-detroit-lions-south-dakota-state-091015

It gets real for Lions Sunday in San Diego:  http://www.foxsports.com/detroit/story/it-gets-real-for-lions-sunday-in-san-diego-091015

Players Who Could Make Breakthroughs In 2015 (Offense - Eric Ebron, TE, Lions. Ebron caught only 25 passes as a rookie, but now is the time for him to step ahead of Brandon Pettigrew to become an added focal point in Detroit's passing game.  Defense - Ziggy Ansah, DE, Lions. Ndamukong Suh is gone and someone must emerge in the Motor City. Look for Ansah, who is relatively new to the sport, to be that rising star in Detroit and to get double-digit sacks.):  http://sports.yahoo.com/news/players-could-breakthroughs-2015-071355237--nfl.html

Why Your Team Won't Win the Super Bowl (Detroit Lions - Ameer Abdullah is getting high praise from prospective fantasy football owners, but then again, so did Jahvid Best and pretty much every rookie Lions running back not named Barry or Billy. They also lost the heart of their defense when DT Ndamukong Suh signed with the Dolphins. Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley are also gone, leaving Haloti Ngata an even bigger hole to fill.):  http://www.si.com/nfl/photos/2015/09/08/why-your-team-wont-win-super-bowl/11

Top 25 NFL breakout players for 2015 (13. Darius Slay, CB, Lions (78.6): Things started to go right for the former Mississippi State cornerback in his second season, and while there were still some ups and downs, he looked much more like the player the Lions were expecting him to become. Allowing a catch rate of just 56.2 percent, he had nine pass breakups over the course of the season.):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/09/10/top-25-nfl-breakout-players-for-2015/

Top 6 Best NFL WR’s 5-Foot-10 And Under (4. Golden Tate, Detroit Lions - Tate joined the Lions last season after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.  The 5-foot-10 receiver set career-highs in targets, receptions and yards last year in his first campaign paired up with gun-slinging quarterback Matthew Stafford. Tate made the Pro-Bowl last season after hauling in 99 passes for 1,331 yards and four touchdowns. Tate was targeted a team-high 142 times, which ranked 10th among WR’s in the entire NFL. His targets have gone up every season since he’s been in the NFL (2010: 38, 2011: 58, 2012: 68, 2013: 98, 2014: 142) and being paired with Calvin Johnson has opened up space for Tate. The 27-year old played his college football at the University of Notre Dame, and was drafted by the Seahawks in the 2nd round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Tate’s numbers have only gotten better as he has matured, so except a huge season from him this year.):  http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/09/07/top-6-best-nfl-wrs-5-foot-10-and-under/

Local Media:

10 QUESTIONS WITH TWENTYMAN: Who will lead Lions in rushing yards?:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/10-QUESTIONS-WITH-TWENTYMAN-Who-will-lead-Lions-in-rushing-yards/2159f189-a647-479a-9483-78201d96e08f

Ameer Abdullah Blog: I'm just ready to play:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/ameer-abdullah/article-1/Ameer-Abdullah-Blog-Im-just-ready-to-play/c564ef0d-97d6-449f-b805-acc583a40430

New Lions WR Ings took amazing path to NFL:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/daily-cutup/article-1/New-Lions-WR-Ings-took-amazing-path-to-NFL/7f1f089a-b0ce-4755-b5d3-67097ed6199a

Jamie: For Lions to flourish, Abdullah must be top rusher:  http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/10/detroit-lions-ameer-abdullah-joique-bell-jamie-samuelsen/71989610/

Abdullah-Gordon rivalry leaps from college to pros:  http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/09/rushers-rivalry-leaps-college-pros/71978854/

New season, new hope for Super Bowl-less Lions:  http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/09/super-bowl-take-aim-top/71986330/

Detroit Lions reportedly restructure Golden Tate's contract, create $2.25M in cap space:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/detroit_lions_reportedly_restr.html

Detroit Lions unsure how much rookie CB Alex Carter will be able to contribute this year:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/detroit_lions_alex_carter_1.html

First look: Chargers' offense, pass-happy QB Philip Rivers to test Lions' defense:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/first_look_chargers_offense_pa.html

Five things to know about WR Kendrick Ings:  http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150910/detroit-lions-x2014-five-things-to-know-about-wr-kendrick-ings

Joique Bell Says Lions Are Offensively ‘Clicking’ Better Than Last Year:  http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/09/10/joique-bell-talks-sundays-opener-personal-goals-offensive-cohesion-for-lions-video/
 
Facebook Study: Lions Fans Are Optimistic About The 2015 Season:  http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/09/10/facebook-study-lions-fans-are-optimistic-about-the-2015-season/

Lions notes: Fauria's new team, Golden Tate, more:  http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/9/10/9299917/lions-notes-joseph-fauria-signs-golden-tate-more

Articles and Videos from Opposing Team's Media:

Articles:

Chargers Mailbag (Q: What should I know about the Lions? We never play them! – Javier Ramona.  A: The biggest misconception I’ve heard from fans this week was how their main focus is on the Lions’ offense. That is certainly understandable considering they have a high-flying attack led by Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. However, I don’t think enough has been made about how dominant Detroit’s defense was in 2014. The Lions boasted the number two overall defense a year ago, surrendering only 300.9 yards per game. They ranked first in rushing defense (63.9 ypg) and third in points allowed (17.6). Like every team, Detroit saw some change over in personnel, especially up front where Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker replace Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. Still, many pieces remain in place):  http://www.chargers.com/news/2015/09/09/mailbag-thoughts-about-depth-chart

Scouting report: RBs Gordon, Abdullah meet again:  http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/08/chargers-lions-melvin-gordon-ameer-abdullah/

Lions coach goes way back with Rivers:  http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/09/chargers-jim-caldwell-telesco-lions-philip-rivers/

Chargers taking hits at TE; Lions LB ails:  http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/09/chargers-ladarius-green-nfl/

For Chargers, it sure helps having CB Verrett:  http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/09/chargers-lions-jason-verrett-revis/

Chargers Hoping To Cage Some Dangerous Lions:  http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/09/10/chargers-hoping-to-cage-some-dangerous-lions/

Videos:

Bolts Breakdown: Calvin Johnson and Ameer Abdullah:  http://www.chargers.com/video/2015/09/10/bolts-breakdown-calvin-johnson-and-ameer-abdullah

Previews and Predictions:

MLive Game-by-game predictions for Detroit Lions (Both Kyle and JRog have the Lions going 10-6):   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/game-by-game_predictions_for_d_2.html

CBS Expert Picks (Five have the Lions finishing 3rd in the North, 3 have them finishing second in the North.  One expert picks the Lions as a wildcard team):  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25296337/nfl-predictions-our-picks-for-where-all-32-teams-finish

Miscellaneous:


Local Media:

Joseph Fauria could end up dancing against Lions in Week 5 after signing with Cardinals:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/ex-lions_te_joseph_fauria_sign.html

Video:

Local Media:

What are realistic expectations for Eric Ebron, Calvin Johnson?:  http://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/10/71997256/

Audio:

Chargers conference call: Mike McCoy, Week 1:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Chargers-conference-call-Mike-McCoy-Week-1/52ac2eb3-3d5a-4684-ba43-da29ee79752b

Chargers conference call: Philip Rivers, Week 1:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Chargers-conference-call-Philip-Rivers-Week-1/adda47b0-c4bd-4749-b824-63623ce3a2a0