Sunday, October 2, 2022

Morning Lions Links for Sunday 10-2-22

Articles:

Lions rule out another receiver, DJ Chark, in flurry of late roster moves:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2022/10/lions-rule-out-another-receiver-dj-chark-in-flurry-of-late-roster-moves.html

Lions’ Jamaal Williams fined $13,261 for hip-pumping TD dance he’s done for years:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2022/10/lions-jamaal-williams-fined-13261-for-hip-pumping-td-dance-hes-done-for-years.html

Detroit Lions tickets versus the Seahawks can be had for as low as $50:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2022/10/detroit-lions-tickets-versus-the-seahawks-can-be-had-for-as-low-as-50.html


Jamaal Williams, Lions' backup RBs ready for larger role in D'Andre Swift's absence:  https://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/38748/jamaal-williams-lions-backup-rbs-prepared-to-step-in-for-dandre-swift



Lions Fans React to Jamaal Williams' Punishment: 'Dumbest Fine Ever':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/nfl/lions/news/lions-fans-react-to-jamaal-williams-fine

Why Lions-Seahawks Could Be 'Week 4 Classic':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/nfl/lions/news/lions-seahawks-preview


Things Happen in This Game': Dan Campbell on Early Injuries:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/dan-campbell-discusses-lions-early-injuries


INTERVIEW: James Houston explains similarities, differences between Deion Sanders, Dan Campbell:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2022/10/1/23380230/james-houston-interview-detroit-lions-similarities-deion-sanders-dan-campbell



Lions being favored with their 2 best playmakers out is proof of how far they’ve come:  https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/09/lions-seahawks-betting-odds-amon-ra-st-brown-dandre-swift-injury

Trevor Lawrence validating hype in Doug Pederson's system; third year's a charm for Jeff Okudah (Okudah is who we thought he was:  In the scouting world, it's widely believed that it takes three years to determine whether a player is a baller or not. Regardless of draft pedigree, that's how long most prospects need to fully showcase their talent and potential as pros.  The emergence of Jeff Okudah as an elite cover corner in Detroit this season is a testament to that scouting truism.  Okudah's rookie season (two passes defensed, 47 tackles in nine games) was truncated by multiple injuries and coincided with the final year of Matt Patricia's disappointing tenure as head coach. Okudah's second pro season was ended by a torn Achilles in Week 1 last year.  This season, though, the former Ohio State standout has become exactly what many expected when he was selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.  The 6-foot-1, 202-pounder is evolving into a lockdown specialist who excels at playing old-school, bump-and-run coverage in a man-to-man scheme. Going into Week 4, Okudah had spent more snaps in press coverage (81) than any other defender in the league, per Pro Football Focus, and his sticky coverage has helped the Lions' defense become more competitive this season. Okudah has surrendered just 6.7 yards per reception (tied for fifth-fewest in the NFL heading into Week 4) in press coverage on 10 targets.  This is a significant change from Okudah's rookie season. In just three games, he's already nearly matched the number of snaps he played in press coverage in nine games in 2020 (110). He's also significantly increased the percentage of coverage snaps that are played in press, pushing that figure from 43.8 percent in 2020 to 65.3 percent this season.  Given his success in bump-and-run, the Lions have deployed Okudah as a "travel" corner, assigned to the opponent's top receiver. Per Next Gen Stats, against the Vikings in Week 3, Okudah matched up against Justin Jefferson on 78 percent of Jefferson's routes. In Week 2, Okudah aligned opposite Washington's Terry McLaurin on 57.8 percent of McLaurin's routes.  Okudah did not travel in Week 1 against the Eagles. Still, he held his own against A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith as the left cornerback in the Lions' scheme.  Studying the output from each of the aforementioned pass catchers against Okudah, it is easy to see why buzz is building about the 23-year-old as a star on the island. Per NGS, Jefferson, McLaurin, Brown and Smith were each held to two receptions or fewer when Okudah was in primary coverage, with most of their completions coming on wide receiver screens or pick plays. The utilization of pick plays and rub routes to create separation from Okudah suggests that the young cornerback is dominating his matchups on the edge and forcing offensive coordinators to create space for their top wideouts.  This week, I reviewed my pre-draft scouting notes on Okudah from watching him at Ohio State, and I loved his ability in man-to-man coverage. He displayed impressive technical skills in coverage and possessed the tools to flourish as a Stephon Gilmore-like defender on the island.  On a Move the Sticks Podcast shortly after the 2020 NFL Draft, I doubled down on that assessment when I projected how the then-rookie would play in Matt Patricia's system. Here's what I said at the time:  "The Detroit Lions are a team that lives in man-to-man coverage. Jeffrey Okudah a guy that can play man as well as anybody, but he can do it in a variety of different ways. The thing about it with Okudah ... I don't know if Stephon Gilmore is what I call an A+ athlete, meaning he's going to check off all of these high-level boxes as an elite athlete when it comes to speed, explosiveness, leaping ability, and I don't think Jeffrey Okudah is that.  "But what both guys are, they are very detailed and thorough technicians. When you watch them, it is like watching clinic tape. They're tough, they'll tackle, they'll do those things. That is always going to give Okudah a chance to be a high-level player. I liked him a lot. It's tough, because I don't know if they have enough pass rush for him to hold up on that island all by himself in that division, but I think they got a good one. We'll just see how Matt Patricia is able to integrate him into the lineup and put him in a position to succeed."  Injuries prevented Okudah from realizing his potential early in his career, but the third-year pro has finally found his way on the perimeter. He has regained his confidence after some early struggles, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has put his star cornerback in a position to succeed as a CB1 by allowing him to play to his strengths.  With more man-to-man responsibilities and press-coverage calls, the Lions have found a way to unlock the potential of a former top-three pick.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/trevor-lawrence-validating-hype-in-doug-pederson-s-system-third-year-s-a-charm-f

Predictions:


2023 NFL Draft: 

Why Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr. Is Prospect Lions Should Watch:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-prospect-profile-joey-porter-jr





Video:

Breaking down the keys to Seahawks-Lions in Week 4:  http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=34697618
Posted by LionsFan at 4:43 AM

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