Morning Lions Links for Thursday 11-1-18

Articles:

O’HARA’S SCOUTING REPORT: Minnesota Vikings:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/o-hara-s-scouting-report-minnesota-vikings

NOTEBOOK: Lions react to Tate trade:   https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-lions-react-to-tate-trade

Detroit Lions believe they can still win division without Golden Tate:   https://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2018/10/detroit_lions_believe_they_can.html

Taylor Decker (back), T.J. Lang (hip) among 6 Lions players limited by injuries:   https://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2018/10/taylor_decker_back_tj_lang_hip.html

Detroit Lions' Golden Tate trade make sense? Yes, in a few ways:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/11/01/golden-tate-trade-eagles-lions/1832732002/

Lions moving on after 'shocking' Tate trade:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/31/detroit-lions-move-after-trade-still-very-good-offense/1838588002/

Does trading Tate give Lions an excuse to fail?:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/31/detroit-lions-trade-golden-tate-no-excuse-failure/1838647002/

Analyst: Golden Tate trade shifts power in NFC:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/31/golden-tate-trade-nfc-north/1836217002/

‘Things happen’: Lions reflect, look beyond Tate era:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/31/things-happen-lions-reflect-look-beyond-tate-era/38349209/

Thielen can break Calvin Johnson's record Sunday vs. Lions:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/31/minnesota-vikings-receiver-adam-thielen-can-break-calvin-johnson-record-detroit-lions/1817753002/

Lions players react to trade that sent Golden Tate to the Eagles:  https://lionslowdown.com/2018/10/31/lions-players-react-to-trade-that-sent-golden-tate-to-the-eagles/

Former NFL GM sees Kenny Golladay benefiting form Lions trade:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Golden-Tate-trade-Lions-Kenny-Golladay-to-benefit-124057264/

Matt Patricia: Lions confident in others after Golden Tate deal:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Golden-Tate-trade-Matt-Patricia-reaction-124048553/

RB Index, Week 9 (Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions: Every year, we're crying out for Detroit to find its ground game. It took a while, but Johnson has filled the void. He's had two 100-yard rushing games so far this season, and it's no coincidence that the Lions (3-4) have won the games in which Johnson's recorded his three largest outputs. The Lions drafted Johnson, who is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, to be their bell cow and he's answered the call. He got more involved as a receiver against the Seahawks in Week 8 (six catches for 69 yards), showing he can also be an asset as a pass-catcher for Matthew Stafford. Expect to see more of everything from Johnson in the coming weeks.  15.  Kerryon Johnson:  Johnson slides down the list after the run game couldn't get going last week. The Lions can't afford poor performances on the ground.):   http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000981789/article/rb-index-week-9-chris-carson-poised-for-secondhalf-breakout

NFL Secret Superstars – Week 8 (A’SHAWN ROBINSON, DI, DETROIT LIONS:  A’Shawn Robinson has strung together two consecutive games where he’s earned an overall grade above 90.0, recording seven total pressures and four defensive stops in the process. He’s also had just one game this season where he’s earned a single-game grade below 69.0, a testament to his consistency. Robinson is blossoming into one of the league’s top run defenders, as his 90.6 run-defense grade this season ranks sixth among defensive interiors with 150-plus defensive snaps. He is still a few paces off the league’s best as a pass-rusher, but as he continues to refine his craft, he comes closer to being a two-dimensional defender in the NFL.): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-nfl-secret-superstars-week-8

2018 NFL rookie rankings through Week 8 (2. DA’SHAWN HAND, DI, DETROIT LIONS (PFF Overall Grade: 89.4):  Hand currently ranks ninth among 139 interior defenders who’ve played at least 50 defensive snaps this season in terms of overall grade. The former Nick Saban pupil has been a steady presence in the middle of Detroit’s defensive line all season long, grading over 70.0 in every game he’s played so far as a professional except one (57.3 in Week 3 against the New England Patriots). The fourth-round pick currently ranks 15th among interior defenders with 12 run stops – and he hasn’t missed a tackle in run defense yet – while also ranking 18th among the group with a 12.5 pressure percentage as a pass-rusher. Hand is one of just five interior defenders who currently own a pass rush grade of at least 80.0 while also owning a run defense grade of at least 75.0, putting him in a group with Aaron Donald, Fletcher Cox, Kenny Clark and Geno Atkins.): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-2018-nfl-rookie-rankings-through-week-8

Ranking all 32 NFL defenses after Week 8 (28. Detroit Lions 64.1):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-ranking-the-nflstop-defenses-after-week-8

Grading the NFL trade deadline's biggest deals: Lions, Redskins get high marks (The Eagles were desperate to add an offensive weapon at the deadline; and while Tate is certainly a weapon out of the slot, Philly was already getting solid production out of Nelson Agholor in that role. The Eagles parted ways with a third-round pick — which the cap-strapped team could have used to continue to fill out the roster — in order to marginally improve a position they were already solid at. Meanwhile, the Eagles are still in need of a starting running back, a field-stretching receiver and secondary help. Detroit was smart to unload Tate before he inevitably walked in free agency. It’s unlikely the Lions would have received anything more than a fifth-round compensatory pick for the free-agent-to-be, so getting a third-round pick for him, as well as nearly $4 million cap savings, has to be considered a major win. Grade:  A):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/gallery/nfl-trade-deadline-grades-lions-eagles-redskins-packers-golden-tate

NFL curses: Who are most haunted teams, players? (Lions, Bengals and Bears, oh my: An intimidating, predatory mascot hardly translates to football fortune. The aforementioned Bengals have those two unsuccessful Super Bowl trips, yet haven't notched a playoff win since 1990, the longest active streak of futility in the league. Detroit is one of four teams (Browns, Jags, Texans) to never advance to the Super Bowl, and the Lions have just one postseason victory (1991) since the merger. (Google "Curse of Bobby Layne," kids.) Chicago has a proud history ... though eight of the franchise's nine titles predate the Super Bowl. Though no one will forget the '85 Bears, even their players feel they should've won another two to three rings. More recently, the (supposed) Monsters of the Midway have one playoff berth in the past dozen years.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/10/31/nfl-curses-halloween-haunted-browns-bengals-lions/1764391002/

The Logic Behind the Biggest Deals at the 2018 NFL Trade Deadline (Detroit logic: Tate was in a contract year, and while he seemed to exemplify what the Lions want in players—tough, competitive, hard-working—the price point at the position, even for a 30-year-old, was going to make it difficult to bring him back for a sixth year as a Lion. That said, Detroit would have been content, based on what he’s bringing to the table, to ride the year out. Some in the building are very surprised he was moved, and when I asked one if there was any problem with him he reiterated a point he’d previously made to me via text: “N.O.”” The compensation—vs. a comp pick, it’s more substantial and comes a year earlier—is what altered that plan.):   https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/10/31/nfl-trade-deadline-2018-takeaways-analysis

Vikings get several players back at practice, but Stefon Diggs sits out:  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/10/31/vikings-get-several-players-back-at-practice-but-stefon-diggs-sits-out/

Articles from Opposing Teams Media:

Vikings scouting report: Detroit Lions:   http://www.startribune.com/vikings-scouting-report-detroit-lions/499214661/

Trade takes Lions' Tate out of the picture:  http://www.startribune.com/trade-takes-tate-out-of-the-picture/499214651/

Zimmer has losing record against Lions. Here's a big reason why:  http://www.startribune.com/turnovers-tell-the-story-of-mike-zimmers-3-5-record-against-detroit/499130221/

2019 Draft:

Meet Oshane Ximines, the nation’s best small-school pass rusher:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2018/10/30/2019-nfl-draft-college-football-oshane-ximines-interview-old-dominion/

Video:

Jones Jr. on moving forward:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/jones-jr-on-moving-forward

Jones on having more opportunities:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/jones-on-having-more-opportunities

Decker on familiarity with Vikings:   https://www.detroitlions.com/video/decker-on-familiarity-with-vikings

Quin on moving on from Tate trade:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/quin-on-moving-on-from-tate-trade

Lawson on creating turnovers:   https://www.detroitlions.com/video/lawson-on-creating-turnovers

Lions Lowdown: On to Minnesota:  https://www.detroitnews.com/videos/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/31/lions-lowdown-minnesota/1834944002/

Lions vs. Vikings Week 9 preview | NFL Playbook:   http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/0ap3000000981919/Lions-vs-Vikings-Week-9-preview-NFL-Playbook

Mic'd Up: Matthew Stafford vs. the Seahawks | Week 8:   http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/0ap3000000981900/Mic-d-Up-Matthew-Stafford-vs-the-Seahawks-Week-8