O'HARA: Valles persistent & patient in working to build an NFL career: https://www.detroitlions.com/news/o-hara-valles-persistent-patient-in-working-to-build-an-nfl-career
Lion's wife due Thursday, then he plays Friday: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/08/13/detroit-lions-hakeem-valles-baby/980708002/
RB Barkley hurts leg, could miss Lions practices: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/08/13/giants-saquon-barkley-injury/981729002/
Lions focused on fixing sloppy run defense: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/08/13/detroit-lions-focused-fixing-sloppy-run-defense/981235002/
Niyo: Lions free agent Francois leads by example: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/john-niyo/2018/08/13/niyo-detroit-lions-free-agent-ricky-jean-francois-leads-example/976078002/
Hand shows big promise on Lions D-line: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/08/13/detroit-lions-rookie-dashawn-hand-shows-big-promise-defensive-line/981920002/
The Lions might not see Saquon Barkley this week after all: https://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2018/08/the_lions_might_not_see_saquon.html
Kerryon Johnson excited for Lions Ford Field debut: https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Kerryon-Johnson-excited-for-Lions-Ford-Field-debut-120633005/
Former Oregon Duck Tyrell Crosby inconsistent in preseason debut with the Detroit Lions: https://www.oregonlive.com/nfl/index.ssf/2018/08/former_oregon_duck_tyrell_cros.html
After Oakland loss, Lions prepare for home opener: https://wtvbam.com/news/articles/2018/aug/14/after-oakland-loss-lions-prepare-for-home-opener/
Giants' Will Hernandez not looking to start anything vs Lions, but won't back down, either: https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/nfl/giants/2018/08/13/ny-giants-rookie-hernandez-not-looking-fight-vs-lions-but-wont-back-down-either/978862002/
NFC preseason grades: Kirk Cousins, Dallas Goedert ace Week 1 (Detroit Lions: Kerryon Johnson, RB. The Lions might've found their ideal combo playmaker at running back in Johnson. The rookie tallied 67 scrimmage yards on 11 touches (seven runs, four catches) against the Raiders, displaying outstanding quickness, balance and body control with the ball in his hands. The Lions gave the football world a sneak peek at how they could use him in the regular season, feeding him the ball on a handful of draws, delays and screens to balance out an offensive attack that could be a little pass-heavy with Matthew Stafford at the controls. Grade: A): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000947614/article/nfc-preseason-grades-kirk-cousins-dallas-goedert-ace-week-1
Winners + losers: Rookie QB class creating impact (Kerryon Johnson, RB, Detroit Lions: I don't quite trust anything in the preseason except season-ending injuries and how young running backs look in live action. The Lions rookie came on the field after LeGarrette Blount and Ameer Abdullah, but he immediately showed a more complete skill set than either of them, able to be called upon in short-yardage situations, break tackles and excel in the passing game. Johnson made every snap count and didn't blow any pass-protection assignments (unlike Abdullah). It's becoming routine for young backs to come into the league with a sophisticated understanding of the passing game, a trait that should get Johnson on the field sooner rather than later.): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000947524/article/nfl-preseason-winners-and-losers-rookie-qbs-define-week-1
Grading every 2018 first-round pick's performance in Week 1 of NFL preseason (20. Frank Ragnow, LG — Detroit Lions, GRADE: A, The college center started at left guard for Detroit; he did not allow any pressure and created movement in the run game. A solid debut for a guy taking up a new position.): https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/08/nfl-preseason-2018-rookies-highlights-grades-baker-mayfield-sam-darnold-josh-rosen
20 things we learned from preseason Week 1 (17. It’s preseason, so sloppiness is to be expected. But the debut of Lions coach Matt Patricia (eight penalties for 69 yards and one turnover) and the first game of Chargers coach Anthony Lynn’s second season (15 penalties for 155 yards and four turnovers) were filled with issues that need quick correcting. 20. Finally, we also learned that the Packers, Saints, Steelers, Patriots, Rams, and Lions feel comfortable enough with their starting quarterbacks to sit them out of the preseason opener. With names like Brady, Rodgers, Stafford, and Brees, we would, too.): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/08/13/20-things-nfl-preseason-week-1-marshawn-lynch-patriots-josh-rosen-jets-baker-mayfield-browns/973779002/
The Camp Trail - Lions: Goalposts and Gargantuan Backs (ALLEN PARK, Mich. — So Matt Patricia doesn’t say much, or allow his players to say much, about the inner stuff of the Lions. When I asked Matthew Stafford about Patricia, he said some laudatory things about what a smart and prepared guy he was, then said he’ll keep everything specific behind closed doors. Okay. But I did learn one very Patricia thing this week, about his attention to detail. So when Patricia got the job and toured the Lions facility in suburban Allen Park, he looked around the practice fields and thought, Something’s missing. This is weird. He asked a couple of Lions’ people why there were no goalposts on the practice fields. He queried GM Bob Quinn, who’d gone two years at the helm of the team with no permanent goalposts (just temp posts, wheeled out during practice). Patricia said to Quinn, “The quarterbacks need that as a landmark.” Receivers too, on post routes. Patricia was befuddled about it. So when I showed up, I saw four permanent goalposts on the two long practice fields: two with standard width, and two with narrow width, for the kickers to be tested with tougher kicks. One other thing that surprised me: The three solid backs in camps are Theo Riddick, rookie second-rounder Kerryon Johnson and LeGarrette Blount, who I believe in on pace to play for all 32 teams in the NFL. “I can try!” Blount told me. “But I might age out!” On his sixth team now, Blount is 31, and quite valuable. Two 11-on-11 periods in the practice I saw, and both had 247-pound power back Blount, the closest thing to Jerome Bettis (but not really close) in football today, carry the ball on the first snap. So what is Patricia doing? A couple of things, as I read it. He wants to establish a toughness on the offense that he thinks just wasn’t there in the last couple of years, when the running game has stunk. Two: He wants to tell his players, The days of living and dying with Matthew Stafford are over.): https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/08/13/jimmy-garoppolo-49ers-camp-fmia-peter-king/
Ranking the most tortured fanbases in the NFL for 2018 (6. Detroit Lions: You know the story here: guys in the conversation for best running back and best receiver in NFL history played here, and Detroit won nada. It’s a cautionary tale for Green Bay, sure, but it’s a long, plodding nightmare for Lions fans. Matthew Stafford, he of the everybody-go-long-and-get-open mentality, is back, and that always gives hope. But unless Hope can run for 150 yards a game and open up the offense, Detroit fans are once again going to content themselves with … well, nothing, really. Last year’s Broken Fanbase ranking: 6, Last championship won: 1957, Yahoo Sports preseason ranking: 16th): https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-tortured-fanbases-nfl-2018-212633602.html
Video:
Training camp highlights: Day 12: https://www.detroitlions.com/video/training-camp-highlights-d
Camp spotlight: Devon Kennard: https://www.detroitlions.com/video/camp-spotlight-devon-kennard
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