Morning Lions Links for Thursday 9-5-19

Articles:

NOTEBOOK: D-line getting valuable practice reps together:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-d-line-getting-valuable-practice-reps-together

Lions at Cardinals practice report: Sept. 4:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-at-cardinals-practice-report-sept-4

Detroit Lions reportedly worked out former first-round wide receiver Treadwell:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/detroit-lions-reportedly-worked-out-former-first-round-wide-receiver.html

Snacks Harrison says extension was important due to age, comfort level with Lions:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/snacks-harrison-says-extension-was-important-due-to-age-comfort-level-with-lions.html

Lions rookie Jahlani Tavai: ‘All you can do is just adapt or die’:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/lions-rookie-jahlani-tavai-all-you-can-do-is-just-adapt-or-die.html

Wojo: To be better than .500, Lions have lots to prove:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/bob-wojnowski/2019/09/04/wojo-better-than-500-lions-have-lots-prove/2208947001/

Kelly Stafford opens up on brain surgery: 'I'm relearning how to walk again':  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/04/kelly-stafford-opens-up-brain-surgery-im-relearning-how-walk-again/2209035001/

Patricia's Lions Hope To Ground Kyler Murray And The Cardinals:  https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2019/09/04/patricias-lions-hope-to-ground-kyler-murray-and-the-cardinals/

NFL 2019: Ranking divisions, from easiest to toughest (can the AFC East be better?) (1. NFC North:  From top to bottom this should be a strong division. The Lions are clearly the fourth-best team heading into the season, but they probably won’t be an easy out. The Bears were fantastic last season and if Mitchell Trubisky improves, they could repeat as division champs. Perhaps Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is revitalized with new coach Matt LaFleur. And the Vikings still have a ton of talent; they’re in the mix for the division crown too. There won’t be any easy games in this division.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-2019-ranking-divisions-from-easiest-to-toughest-can-the-afc-east-be-better-173024745.html

Game 1 Previews:

NFL Week 1 PFF Preview: Players to watch, fantasy football advice and betting projections (Detroit Lions @ Arizona Cardinals: NFL Players to Watch - Kyler Murray earned a 93.7 passing grade and an 84.4 rushing grade during his final college season, recording a 143.9 passer rating from a clean pocket and 667 rushing yards from designed runs in a Heisman-winning season. He played up to his expectation in the preseason, too. Through three games, Murray completed 63.9% of his 36 pass attempts for 193 yards, three big-time throws and not a single turnover-worthy play, and his 75.9 passing grade ranks second to only Daniel Jones among rookie quarterbacks. Last year in Cleveland, we saw just how much a game-changing quarterback could lift a struggling franchise. Murray has the chance to induce some deja vu if he can get off to a quick start. Detroit’s incredibly deep defensive line will be lining up to wreck Murray’s dream debut, however. Trey Flowers earned career-high marks in overall grade (89.7), run-defense grade (84.9) and pass-rush grade (79.9) a year ago, finishing the 2018 season ranked tied for eighth among edge defenders in pass-rush win percentage (17.4%) in the process. A’Shawn Robinson (89.8 overall grade in 2018), Da’Shawn Hand (87.4), Damon Harrison (92.0) and Mike Daniels (71.3) will also be ready and waiting to thwart this Cardinals offense.  Fantasy Football Preview - Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray takes the field in his first professional outing in this one, and there’s certainly the potential for fireworks. Murray has blazing speed, but he’s also fully capable of spinning the football. While there’s a wide range of potential outcomes for Murray this season, there’s no denying his major fantasy upside.  PFF Greenline Preview - Spread: ARZ +2.5 | Total: 47.  This game opened as more of a pick ‘em, with money coming in on Detroit as the season has come closer.  That said, if you were willing to back the Lions at -1, there’s not a huge dip in implied probability with respect to backing them at -2.5.):  https://www.pff.com/news/pro-nfl-week-1-pff-preview-players-to-watch-fantasy-football-advice-and-betting-projections

All 32 NFL teams' 2019 defenses, ranked (15. Detroit Lions:  The Lions may have the worst linebacker group in the league, but it may not matter with how the defensive line has been constructed. Detroit’s front is big and talented after DE Trey Flowers and DT Mike Daniels were brought into to supplement holdovers Damon Harrison and Da’Shawn Hand. If Matt Patricia can get anything out of the secondary, the Lions will have a playoff-caliber defense.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/09/nfl-defense-rankings-2019-season-patriots-broncos-vikings

Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray unfazed ahead of NFL debut vs. Lions:  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2019/09/04/arizona-cardinals-kyler-murray-nfl-debut-detroit-lions/2217388001/

Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona Cardinals prepare for opener against Lions:  https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2019/09/02/kliff-kingsbury-arizona-cardinals-prepare-opener-against-lions/2191933001/

2020 Draft:

2020 NFL Draft: Five breakout candidates coming off strong starts to the 2019 college football season: https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-five-breakout-candidates-coming-off-strong-starts-to-the-2019-college-football-season

College Football Rankings: Highest-graded defensive linemen through Week 1:   https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-rankings-highest-graded-defensive-linemen-through-week-1

College Football Rankings: Highest-graded wide receivers through Week 1:  https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-rankings-highest-graded-wide-receivers-through-week-1

NFL DRAFT PROSPECT SHOWDOWN: WEEK 2:  https://www.rotoworld.com/article/prospect-vs-prospect/nfl-draft-prospect-showdown-week-2

Video:

Tavai on trusting the game plan:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/tavai-on-trusting-the-game-plan

Diggs on facing Cardinals offense:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/diggs-on-facing-cardinals-offense

Harrison Sr. on building chemistry within defense:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/harrison-sr-on-building-chemistry-within-defense