Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Morning Lions Links for Thursday 8-31-23

Articles:

TWENTYMAN: Breaking down the Lions' initial practice squad:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-breaking-down-the-lions-initial-practice-squad

Cris Collinsworth deems Lions vs. Chiefs opener ‘perfect game’ for both teams:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/cris-collinsworth-deems-lions-vs-chiefs-opener-perfect-game-for-both-teams.html

Lions not awarded any waiver claims, lose Starling Thomas to Cardinals:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/lions-not-awarded-any-waiver-claims-lose-starling-thomas-to-cardinals.html

Lions add kicker Michael Badgley, running back Zonovan Knight to practice squad:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/detroit-lions-add-kicker-michael-badgley-to-practice-squad-after-trade-rumors.html



Social Media Reacts to Jared Goff Taking Offensive Line to Dinner:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/social-media-reacts-jared-goff-bonding-offensive-line


Landing spots for the top free agents after roster cuts: Bailey Zappe, Bradley Roby and more (WR ROBBIE CHOSEN - Robbie Chosen is not far removed from a 95-reception, 1,096-yard season in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers and can still stretch the field for a handful of teams in 2023. The speedster broke off a 75-yard reception in Week 1 of 2022, finishing with a stat line of five receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown. From that point on, with Carolina and eventually Arizona, the production wasn’t really there, but Chosen’s 14.6-yard average depth of target was near the top of the NFL.  Potential landing spots: Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions.  K CADE YORK - While things obviously went south in a hurry for York in Cleveland, his getting waived is in part due to the nature of the position in the NFL. For the Browns, in particular, this is a total do-or-die season for every single person in the building, and they can’t take the risk of carrying a struggling kicker into the season.   York’s talent was immediately apparent during his rookie campaign, going 4-of-4 on field goals with a 58-yard game-winner and being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in his debut. Things went downhill almost immediately, with missed extra points in back-to-back games, including in a 31-30 loss to the New York Jets in Week 2.  The struggles carried over into this preseason, but we’ve seen many examples of a highly drafted kicker getting a fresh start and jump-starting their career, with Matt Gay and Daniel Carlson being recent success stories.   Potential landing spots: Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-landing-spots-top-free-agents-after-roster-cuts-bailey-zappe-bradley-roby

2023 NFL triplets rankings: Jaguars, Jets make massive jumps; Broncos, Packers drop (T-16.  Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions - Score: 79.5 pts.  Quarterback: Jared Goff -- Rank: 16 (One game: 17 | 2023 prod.: 14), Running back: David Montgomery -- Rank: 17, Pass catcher: Amon-Ra St. Brown -- Rank: 14.  Goff enjoyed a renaissance under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in 2022. Detroit generated +94.0 passing EPA when Goff dropped back to pass, which trailed only Patrick Mahomes (+148.8). The key to this efficiency was a lack of negative plays. With an elite pass-protection unit, Goff was sacked at the second-lowest rate in the NFL (3.8 percent) and set a career-low in interception rate (1.2 percent). St. Brown was an essential ingredient to this recipe for success. With his ability to win underneath, Goff was able to get rid of the ball 0.20 seconds faster on average when St. Brown was on the field and was sacked at less than half the rate. Goff generated negative EPA without St. Brown on the field last season. On the ground, Montgomery will be the thunder to first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs' lightning, providing steady production in the Lions’ diverse run scheme.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-triplets-rankings-jaguars-jets-make-massive-jumps-broncos-packers-drop

10 under-the-radar rookies who'll be difference-makers (Antoine Green, WR, Lions :  Green is the outside wideout the Lions need on their offense given the loss of D.J. Chark and the suspension of 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams. At a shade under 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Green has prototypical X receiver frame and flashed his boundary receiver skill along with serious breakaway speed this preseason. He had a 70-yard touchdown which came on a deep in-breaking route in which he caught in stride, flipped on the afterburners and was gone. I actually had a higher grade on him than fellow North Carolina wideout Josh Downs, who went four rounds earlier.  Green too was a pesky YAC option who consistently absorbed contact like a much more compact receiver through his Tar Heels career. For as fun as the Detroit offense should be, the receiver group is relatively thin, which should provide Green with ample opportunity as a seventh-round rookie to prove he should've been picked much higher in April.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ten-under-the-radar-rookies-who-could-be-difference-makers-in-2023-including-a-ravens-rb/

NFL cutdown day: Best players available, team fits (WR Chosen Anderson - Anderson battled for the No. 3 receiver job for the Dolphins this summer, but ultimately couldn't make the 53-man roster. The 30-year-old receiver could still be a valuable piece within an offense looking to stretch the field with his speed. Could that potentially be the Lions? The wide receiver depth chart isn't that impressive for Detroit behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. Anderson could be an ideal replacement as a deep threat while second-year receiver and former first-round pick Jameson Williams serves his six-game suspension.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-cutdown-day-bailey-zappe-among-notable-available-players-on-the-market-best-team-fits-for-each/

20 takeaways from NFL's cutdown day (13. The Lions are getting a secondary boost
Detroit made plenty of headlines for upgrading its defensive backfield this offseason, but now one of its top veteran additions, former 49ers corner Emmanuel Moseley, is eligible to play, coming off PUP after missing the summer due to ACL rehab.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/20-takeaways-from-2023-nfl-roster-cuts-bears-patriots-rolling-dice-at-qb-jonathan-taylor-saga-continues/

Top 5 Most Perfect, Must-Watch, Most Exciting NFL Games of Week 1 (Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs (TNF) - The defending Super Bowl champions versus Thanksgiving's team. The Chiefs have won 12 or more games and made the AFC Championship Game during all five seasons Patrick Mahomes has been their starting quarterback and Mahomes is still the starting quarterback so that means the Chiefs are going to be really good again. And the Lions should be decent again for the second straight season! If their offense is anywhere near as good as it was last year, the NFL season could begin with a high-scoring shootout and many shots of Dan Campbell on the sideline being a maniac.):  https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/top-5-perfect-must-watch-most-exciting-nfl-games-week-1-01h90nqtp1jv

Every NFL team's most surprising roster cut (or trade) (Detroit Lions: RB Craig Reynolds - There were a few mild to moderate surprises in Detroit’s final cuts but nothing that rocked the boat too much. Releasing Reynolds, who had clearly won the No. 3 RB job, constitutes the biggest surprise as much because it only leaves the Lions with David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs at the position, plus veteran fullback Jason Cabinda. Reynolds is not subject to waivers and could very well return. On defense, Steven Gilmore winning the battle of undrafted rookie CBs over Starling Thomas raised some eyebrows, as did keeping oft-injured DB Ifeatu Melifonwu over Thomas, who thrived on special teams and made some plays throughout camp. – Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-roster-cut-surprises-by-team-2023/

Surprise NFL Roster Cuts: Notable Players Include Robbie Chosen, Bradley Roby, Bailey Zappe, and Melvin Gordon (Detroit Lions: RB Craig Reynolds - There were a few mild to moderate surprises in Detroit’s final cuts but nothing that rocked the boat too much. Releasing Reynolds, who had clearly won the No. 3 RB job, constitutes the biggest surprise as much because it only leaves the Lions with David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs at the position, plus veteran fullback Jason Cabinda. Reynolds is not subject to waivers and could very well return. On defense, Steven Gilmore winning the battle of undrafted rookie CBs over Starling Thomas raised some eyebrows, as did keeping oft-injured DB Ifeatu Melifonwu over Thomas, who thrived on special teams and made some plays throughout camp. – Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/surprise-nfl-roster-cuts-2023/

NFL Practice Squads: 25 Most Interesting Additions, Including Will Grier, Zonovan Knight, and Christian Kirksey (Zonovan Knight, RB, Detroit Lions:  The Jets’ addition of Dalvin Cook pushed Zonovan Knight off their roster, but the 22-year-old RB landed in an excellent position with the Lions. Detroit kept only two running backs on Tuesday after surprisingly releasing Craig Reynolds.  Knight will become an immediate candidate for elevation on game days, although the Lions will probably try to add Reynolds to their taxi squad, too.  Chase Lucas, CB, Detroit Lions:  Although Chase Lucas produced during the preseason and posted an interception in Week 3, rookie undrafted free agent Steven Gilmore’s emergence pushed him off the roster.  The Lions have far more defensive back depth than they did a year ago, but Lucas’ versatility to play inside, outside, or at safety could place him back in Detroit’s plans sooner or later.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-practice-squads-25-most-interesting-additions-2023/


Podcast:

Dungeon of Doom: An inside look at the Detroit Lions’ unique 53-man roster:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/dungeon-of-doom-an-inside-look-at-the-detroit-lions-unique-53-man-roster.html

Video:

Dales: Lions defense 'looks entirely different' entering 2023:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/dales-lions-defense-looks-entirely-different-entering-2023

O'Hara: One matchup Lions could exploit vs. Chiefs in Week 1:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/o-hara-one-matchup-lions-could-exploit-vs-chiefs-in-week-1

The player you'd name as your number 1 breakout personality (Kerby Joseph is picked):  https://www.nfl.com/videos/which-dark-horse-team-has-a-realistic-chance-of-winning-the-super-bowl-gmfb

Posted by LionsFan at 7:08 AM

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