Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Morning Lions Links for Tuesday 8-3-21

Training Camp Notes and Observations:

Day 5 notes and observations: Amani Oruwariye, Jeff Okudah off to strong start in Lions’ secondary:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2021/08/day-5-notes-and-observations-amani-oruwariye-jeff-okudah-off-to-strong-start-in-lions-secondary.html


Articles:



Detroit Lions linebackers still getting feel for intricacies of new-look defense:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2021/08/detroit-lions-linebackers-still-getting-feel-for-intricacies-of-new-look-defense.html

Wax on, wax off: Lions’ bulked-up Jonah Jackson adds martial arts to offseason training:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2021/08/wax-on-wax-off-lions-bulked-up-jonah-jackson-adds-martial-arts-to-offseason-training.html

Lions assistant head coach Duce Staley embracing far-reaching role on Dan Campbell’s staff:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2021/08/lions-assistant-head-coach-duce-staley-embracing-far-reaching-role-on-dan-campbells-staff.html



Lynn says St. Brown 'could be' sleeper of the draft: 'Hell of a slot receiver':  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/lynn-says-amon-ra-st-brown-could-be-sleeper-of-the-draft

Jared Goff Addresses Lack of Deep Passes Early in Training Camp:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/nfl/lions/news/jared-goff-addresses-lack-of-deep-passes


Packers' AJ Dillon, Ravens' J.K. Dobbins among running backs poised for Year 2 breakout in 2021 (D'Andre Swift
Detroit Lions (Year 1: 13 games | 114 att | 521 rush yds | 4.6 ypc | 8 rush TDs | 46 rec | 357 rec yds | 2 rec TDs):  Swift was the Lions' most efficient running back a year ago, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He was outgained by Adrian Peterson (604 to 521), although the future Hall of Famer had just over 40 carries more than the rookie. Swift was able to show everyone why he was such a highly touted player coming out of college as a quick, do-it-all back. With the change in coaching staff and QB over the offseason, look for Dan Campbell's squad to run the ball plenty with Swift leading the way. He has the tools to double his 2020 production, but there are two potential roadblocks in front of him: free-agent signee Jamaal Williams and the fact that this rebuilding team (no disrespect) could often be playing from behind.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/packers-aj-dillon-ravens-j-k-dobbins-among-running-backs-poised-for-year-2-break

Projecting 2021 starting lineups for all 32 NFL teams:  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-projecting-starting-lineups-32-nfl-teams-training-camp#DET

NFL receiving corps rankings ahead of the 2021 season (31. DETROIT LIONS:  The roster overhaul in Detroit has hit the receiving unit hard, and they will have a completely different look in 2021. They’ve become one of the biggest groups in the league with the additions of 6-foot-4 Tyrell Williams, 6-foot-2 Breshad Perriman and 6-foot-3 Geronimo Allison. Williams last played with the Raiders in 2019 and has been an effective big-play threat throughout his career, averaging 16.1 yards per reception.  Perriman is a big-play threat of his own, having averaged 16.5 yards per reception in his career. He has two years with 70.0-plus receiving grades in 2018 and 2019, and this will be another opportunity to show that he can handle a bigger workload. Allison will compete for the No. 3 spot after grading at 61.4 or lower over the last three years. Last year's fifth-rounder Quintez Cephus and 2021 fourth-rounder Amon-Ra St. Brown will also be in the mix at receiver.  At tight end, T.J. Hockenson has developed nicely and graded at 75.4 overall last season, good for 10th-best among tight ends. Darren Fells also joins the Lions after a career-high 69.4 grade last season with the Texans. He adds even more size to the mix, as the 6-foot-7 270-pounder has developed into a good red-zone threat.  The Lions have overhauled one of the better groups of pass-catchers in the league, and while the names don’t stand out on paper, there’s plenty of potential — and size — in this group.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-ranking-all-nfl-receiving-corps-ahead-of-the-2021-season

Backfield rankings entering the 2021 NFL season (25. DETROIT LIONS:  The best-case outcome for Detroit is that D’Andre Swift earns more of a bell-cow role in 2021 and excels in it. After all, his receiving ability was a big reason why he was PFF’s top-ranked running back coming out of Georgia in the 2020 NFL Draft. Swift’s rookie season had its ups and downs, though. His 69.4 overall grade on the year finished behind several other rookie running backs who got out to hot starts.  Jamaal Williams does represent a quality addition to the backfield to complement Swift next season. He is coming off consecutive PFF grades of at least 74.0 and has shown at various points throughout his career that he can contribute on all three downs.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-ranking-all-32-nfl-running-back-units-ahead-of-the-2021-season

Offensive line rankings entering the 2021 NFL season (10. DETROIT LIONS:  It's fair to be optimistic about Detroit building one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.  Left tackle Taylor Decker is coming off career-highs in overall grade (82.0) and pass-blocking grade (85.8) while ranking 12th overall among tackles last season. He’s ranked above average in both pass blocking and run blocking since entering the league in 2016.  The Lions will trot out rookie Penei Sewell at right tackle after drafting him with the seventh overall pick. He was the top offensive tackle on the PFF draft board. Sewell posted the highest grade we’ve seen from a true freshman and the highest overall grade for any offensive tackle since 2014 prior to his opting out of the 2020 season. Sewell has the tools and production to become one of the better all-around tackles in the league very soon.  Center Frank Ragnow has improved in all three of his NFL seasons, headlined by an 80.3 grade last season, the third-best mark among centers. Ragnow allowed half as many pressures last season as he did in 2019 on just about the same number of snaps.  Guard is the biggest question mark for the Lions’ offensive line. 2020 third-rounder Jonah Jackson started at left guard last year, but his 57.0 overall grade ranked just 58th out of 84 qualifiers. Jackson showed plenty of potential as a pass protector in college, so the hope is that his 67th-ranked 51.2 pass-blocking grade will improve. Halapoulivaati Vaitai is the starter at right guard, where he performed well on 282 snaps a year ago. Vaitai has spent most of his career at right tackle, but his power is a better fit at guard, which should mitigate some of his pass-blocking woes.  The Lions appear to have built the foundation of an excellent offensive line for the foreseeable future.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-ranking-all-32-nfl-offensive-line-units-entering-2021-season


Power Rankings:

PFF's NFL Power Rankings for the 2021 NFL season (32. Detroit Lions - Super Bowl Win Probability: <1%.  Highest-Graded Player: ED Trey Flowers (83.3)):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-for-the-2021-nfl-season

2022 NFL Draft:


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Posted by LionsFan at 4:32 AM

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