Morning Lions Links for Wednesday 9-9-15

Lions Articles:

National Media:

Five things we learned about the Lions this preseason:   http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/five-things-we-learned-about-the-lions-this-preseason-090815

Ameer Abdullah hoping he becomes the Lions’ return man:   http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/08/ameer-abdullah-hoping-he-becomes-the-lions-return-man/

Lions hoping defense can still excel without Suh:   http://sports.yahoo.com/news/lions-hoping-defense-still-excel-without-suh-005558214--nfl.html

Lions Gear Up For Regular Season:   http://sports.windsorsquare.ca/archives/80387/lions-gear-up-for-regular-season

Grantland: Watching Watt, the Inevitability of Dez, and Steve Smith's Retirement Tour: Meet the 2015 NFL Triangle All-Stars (Linebacker: DeAndre Levy, Detroit Lions: After being named second-team All-NFL and generally causing havoc for one of the league’s best defenses all season, DeAndre Levy spent his winter living the best life anyone has ever lived. It included — but was not limited to — skinny dipping in the Amazon, standing on top of an airborne plane, and sledding down a volcano in Nicaragua. People apparently sled down volcanoes. I don’t know. Of course, he had reason to celebrate. Levy has been an absolute terror his past couple of seasons in Detroit, and what’s scariest is that he does it in so many ways. He had six interceptions in 2013, and last year, he was one of the best run defenders in football. The guy just moves, and at times, his combination of speed and ferocity seems like it’s a better fit for National Geographic than the NFL.):   http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-nfl-preview-triangle-all-stars-dez-bryant-jj-watt-steve-smith/

Local Media:

NFC NORTH: Week 1 primer:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/NFC-NORTH-Week-1-primer/d567e068-70dc-4234-9a9b-beeb23dce7f4

Lions' Mayhew says conversation key to recent deals:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/08/detroit-lions-martin-mayhew/71882602/

TJ Jones jumps from roster bubble to Lions top returner:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/08/detroit-lions-tj-jones/71888360/

Lions range from 10th to 18th in analysts' NFL rankings:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/08/detroit-lions-nfl-power-rankings/71893804/

Highlights from Lions coach Jim Caldwell's news conference:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/07/detroit-lions-jim-caldwell/71861386/

'Really tough': Debut of promising rookie Carter on hold:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/08/really-tough-debut-of-promising-rookie-carter-on-hold/71879836/

Rookies Abdullah, Tomlinson not starters on first depth chart:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/08/rookies-abdullah-tomlinson-not-starters--first-depth-chart/71888886/

Jean-Baptiste looks to prove himself with Lions:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/07/jean-baptiste-looks-prove-lions/71859350/

TJ Jones survives stressful Lions cut day with a little shopping, 'Mad Max;' now what?:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/mad_max_helps_lions_wr_tj_jone.html

First-round pick Laken Tomlinson trying to maintain focus with Lions' opener on horizon:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/first-round_pick_laken_tomlins.html

Stanley Jean-Baptiste passes on New York Jets to join Detroit Lions; switch to safety not current plan:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/stanley_jean-baptiste_spurned.html

Justin Rogers' 8 Detroit Lions predictions for 2015:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/justin_rogers_8_detroit_lions.html

TJ Jones listed as return man, Laken Tomlinson second-team on latest Detroit Lions depth chart:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/tj_jones_listed_as_return_man.html

Unlike teammate Darryl Tapp, Jermelle Cudjo re-signed in time for annual team photo:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/jermelle_cudjo_detroit_lions.html

Lions sign Az-Zahir Hakim's brother, Saalim Abdul Hakim, to practice squad:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/lions_sign_az-zahir_hakims_bro.html

Detroit Lions sign ex-Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi to practice squad:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/detroit_lions_sign_ex-iowa_qb.html

Notes: 2015 hype video, Lions in Super Bowl?:   http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/9/8/9275647/lions-notes-2015-hype-video-super-bowl-candidate

Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Scouting Report: Chargers vs. Lions:   http://www.chargers.com/news/2015/09/08/scouting-report-chargers-vs-lions

Previews and Predictions:

2015 Detroit Lions game-by-game predictions (Rothstein has the Lions finishing 9-7):   http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/18601/2015-detroit-lions-game-by-game-predictions

Lions preview: Scouting report, what to watch on offense:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/08/detroit-lions-offense/71916334/

2015 season preview: No. 12 Detroit Lions:   http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13564906/no-12-detroit-lions

Video - Lions Vs Chargers Preview:   http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=0ap3000000524342

Power Rankings:

Foxsports Rankings (10. Matthew Stafford showed a lot of progress this preseason in year two under offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, and he’s done so without Calvin Johnson and Joique Bell. If the addition of Haloti Ngata can help negate the losses of Suh and Nick Fairley, the Lions will be contenders again.):   http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/power-rankings

ESPN Power Rankings (12. The Lions have reached the playoffs twice since drafting Matthew Stafford first overall in 2009. Not surprisingly, those were the two seasons the Detroit defense was significantly better than average in EPA (the team has had a losing record every other year with the QB.) Stafford has led the NFL in dropbacks over the past three seasons with 43.7 per game, but this could be a case of diminishing returns -- even with Calvin Johnson at 100 percent -- as the signal-caller has not proved he can carry such a load consistently. The issue now becomes whether the Lions will ask for even more from Stafford -- more than he can reasonably handle -- after losing DTNdamukong Suh in free agency. They think an improved running game will help Stafford in particular and the team overall. -- Mike Sando):   http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13525863/seahawks-patriots-packers-lead-espn-power-rankings

NFL.com's Power Rankings (12. Even Rotten Tomatoes would approve of Haloti Ngata getting back into the mix, especially with the Lions using him as a 3-technique (DT in a 4-3). On to other matters: I realize everyone's all hot dogs and apple pie about Ameer Abdullah(especially in fantasy leagues), but when exactly was he named the starter over Joique Bell?):   http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000524088/article/nfl-power-rankings-seattle-seahawks-begin-season-at-no-1

Yahoo's Rankings (14. Detroit Lions (LW: 14) - If I'm the Lions I'm finding out very early in the season exactly what I have with rookie running back Ameer Abdullah. If he's special, it brings that offense to a new level.):   http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-power-rankings--some-changes-after-a-crazy-preseason-150053421.html

CBS Power Rankings (17. The loss of Ndamukong Suh will show up more than they expect. The offense should be really good and improved running the football.):   http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/25294486/nfl-power-rankings-youll-hate-this-list----unless-youre-a-cheesehead

SN's Power Rankings (Lions ranked 18):   http://www.sportingnews.com/list/4654687-nfl-week-1-power-rankings-2015-patriots-tom-brady-seahawks-packers-eagles-steelers/slide/353092

Video:

Local Media:

Watch Detroit Lions reporters debate which rookies will contribute the most in 2015:   http://videos.mlive.com/mlive/2015/09/watch_detroit_lions_reporters_29.html