Lions Blog: Morning Lions Links for Sunday 8-9-20

Articles:

The Lions still don’t know who will call their defensive plays this season: https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/08/the-lions-still-dont-know-who-will-call-their-defensive-plays-this-season.html

Bevell excited to see rookie D'Andre Swift on the practice field: https://www.detroitlions.com/news/bevell-excited-to-see-rookie-d-andre-swift-on-the-practice-field

Detroit Lions take TE T.J. Hockenson, 2 others off reserve/COVID-19 list: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/08/08/detroit-lions-activate-t-j-hockenson-covid-19-list/3327898001/

New Lions LB: ‘My stats is through the roof’: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/08/08/detroit-lions-jamie-collins-versatility/3323142001/

Lions' Undlin to meet defense for first time: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/08/08/detroit-lions-kenny-golladay-fantasy-football/3326493001/

Lions look to develop Golladay into NFL's top-tier of receivers: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/08/08/lions-look-develop-golladay-into-nfls-top-tier-receivers/3326558001/

Report: Lions are releasing WR Travis Fulgham: https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/08/08/report-lions-are-releasing-wr-travis-fulgham/

Matt Patricia on Matthew Stafford: 'love his passion and grind for the game': https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/08/08/matt-patricia-on-matthew-stafford-love-his-passion-and-grind-for-the-game/

Lions are NFL guinea pigs once again after Stafford's false-positive: https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/08/08/detroit-lions-nfl-guinea-pigs-matthew-stafford-false-positive-covid-19-result/

Check the Report: Daniel Kelly Scouts CB Jeff Okudah: https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/scouting-report-on-lions-jeff-okudah

NFL Previews:

NFC North Division Preview: Will Aaron Rodgers enjoy a fantasy bounce-back in 2020? (Detroit Lions: Kenny Golladay led all receivers with 11 TDs in 2019, and he’s now being taken as the seventh WR in drafts. Will touchdown regression ruin his potential fantasy ROI, or is his production safe thanks to Stafford's return? Scott: I’m not going to sweat regression for Golladay, given that he’s likely to get a full year tied to Stafford. Those 11 touchdowns came despite two months of absolutely grotesque quarterback play in Detroit. And even if Golladay slips to seven or eight scores, so what? It’s the era of the wide usage tree (something the Lions, incidentally, do not have); a mere three players had double-digit touchdown catches in the NFL last year. Only injury can keep Golladay from set-and-forget status; he’s a very reasonable target in the second or early third round. Matt: Odds are he scores fewer touchdowns in 2020 but that doesn’t mean he can’t return on an ADP that falls within the top-10 wide receivers and the top-25 overall picks. Kenny Golladay came into his own as a true No. 1 receiver. He beat press coverage routinely and separated at all levels of the field. While Marvin Jones looks like a value at his ADP, for sure, that doesn’t mean he has to wreck Golladay’s ceiling. In fact, Golladay delivered 80.5 yards per game at 21.1 yards per catch with Jones on the field compared to 56 yards per contest without his teammate. Some of that is noisy because of Stafford’s injury absence but having both of these guys on the field makes the offense more efficient. Liz: I’ve been high on Golladay since his days as a Huskie. I even have an FF squad — Rosé all Golladay — named after the 26-year-old. There’s no doubt that Golladay has emerged as one of the league’s most exciting deep threats. In 2018 he posted a top-15 total target depth and top-nine contested catch rate, illustrating how he could best be used. As a third-year player in 2019, he officially broke out and averaged 4.3 catches and 80 yards per contest with Matt Stafford under center. Even after a back injury prematurely ended Stafford’s season, Golladay continued to put up numbers, posting at least a top-20 fantasy finish in four of seven games with Jeff Driskel and David Blough starting. In fact, from Weeks 10 through 14, before Marvin Jones hurt his ankle, Golladay averaged 73.6 yards per contest and managed three spikes. If he can be productive with Driskel, he’s going to smash with Staff. OVER/UNDER on 6.5 Win Total from BetMGM. Scott: Matt Patricia hasn’t fixed the defense or won the locker room during his Detroit tenure, so I have to fade this team, no matter my admiration for Stafford and friends. Poor coaching is harder to overcome in the NFL than in any of the other major American sports. Punch the UNDER.: https://sports.yahoo.com/nfc-north-division-preview-will-aaron-rodgers-enjoy-a-fantasy-bounceback-in-2020-162543623.html

2021 NFL Draft:

2021 NFL Draft: What to know about Rondale Moore after Purdue receiver opts out of 2020 season: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2021-nfl-draft-what-to-know-about-rondale-moore-after-purdue-receiver-opts-out-of-2020-season/

Pittsburgh DL Jaylen Twyman opts out of 2020 college football season: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2020/08/08/pittsburgh-dl-jaylen-twyman-opts-out-of-2020-college-football-season/

Defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins has ability to overcome adversity: https://www.profootballnetwork.com/defensive-lineman-ronnie-perkins-has-ability-to-overcome-adversity/

2021 NFL Draft: What to know about Gregory Rousseau after Miami pass rusher opts out of 2020 season: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2021-nfl-draft-what-to-know-about-gregory-rousseau-after-miami-pass-rusher-opts-out-of-2020-season/

While raw, Rousseau could soar into Top 10: https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/miamis-gregory-rousseau-opts-out-declares-for-2021-nfl-draft

2021 NFL Draft: What to know about Micah Parsons after Penn State linebacker opts out of 2020 season: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2021-nfl-draft-what-to-know-about-micah-parsons-after-penn-state-linebacker-opts-out-of-2020-season/

Pittsburgh Panthers safety Paris Ford is a difference maker: https://www.profootballnetwork.com/pittsburgh-panthers-safety-paris-ford-is-a-difference-maker/

Video:

Matt Patricia joins Good Morning Football: https://www.detroitlions.com/video/matt-patricia-joins-good-morning-football

Coombs on competition for special teams spots: https://www.detroitlions.com/video/coombs-on-competition-for-special-teams-spots

Undlin on getting defense ready for training camp: https://www.detroitlions.com/video/undlin-on-getting-defense-ready-for-training-camp