Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Morning Lions Links for Tuesday 8-1-23

Lions Training Camp Articles:

Camp Notes: No block, no rock - Williams listening to OC's message:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/camp-notes-no-block-no-rock-williams-listening-to-oc-s-message

Training camp observations: Lions’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson stars in physical practice:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/07/training-camp-observations-lions-cj-gardner-johnson-stars-in-physical-practice.html


Observations: Tensions Rise, Jahmyr Gibbs Has 'Welcome to NFL' Moment:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/observations-jahmyr-gibbs-welcome-to-nfl-moment


Other Lions Articles:

Lions tight end Shane Zylstra reportedly could miss 6 months after taking shot to knee:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/lions-te-shane-zylstra-reportedly-could-miss-6-months-after-taking-shot-to-knee.html

Detroit Lions’ secondary ready to roar under Dre Bly’s leadership:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/07/detroit-lions-secondary-ready-to-roar-under-dre-blys-leadership.html

Marvin Jones returns to practice, embracing role as veteran leader for Lions WRs:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/07/marvin-jones-returns-to-practice-embracing-role-as-veteran-leader-for-lions-wrs.html

Gridiron Devotion: Faith is the center Lions’ Derrick Barnes football transformation:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/07/gridiron-devotion-faith-is-the-center-lions-derrick-barnes-football-transformation.html





Chris Spielman has one goal in second shot with Lions: "The only standard is the Super Bowl":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/chris-spielman-detroit-lions-only-standard-is-super-bowl

No extra 'urgency' for Jameson Williams, who vows: "You're going to see a lot coming from me":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-jameson-williams-makes-waves-in-practice

One rookie for each NFC team with the most to gain from 2023 NFL training camp (DETROIT LIONS: TE SAM LAPORTA - LaPorta’s training camp will be more about confirming priors than breaking out or gaining significant ground in a depth chart battle. One look at the Lions’ tight end room confirms that. He joins Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, James Mitchell and Derrick Deese Jr. — a quartet that has combined for 59 NFL catches.  Almost all of Detroit’s top rookies have something to gain in training camp, but LaPorta is the future at a position once occupied by T.J. Hockenson, a top-five tight end now with the Vikings. LaPorta’s 2.10 yards per route ranked seventh among Power Five tight ends last year, and his 82.7 receiving grade placed fourth.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-one-rookie-each-nfc-team-most-to-gain-2023-nfl-training-camp

3 most impressive under-the-radar young edge rushers in NFLJAMES HOUSTON IV, DETROIT LIONS - While everyone was rightly impressed with Aidan Hutchinson‘s rookie season, it was the Lions' other rookie edge rusher that led all rookies in pass-rush grade (88.2) in 2022. While it only came 140 total snaps (92 pass-rush snaps), bringing sample size concerns into consideration, it still illustrates how spectacular Houston was in limited opportunities this past season.   After being selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Houston spent the first 11 weeks of the season on Detroit's practice squad before getting called up to the active roster in Week 12 for a Thanksgiving Day contest against the Buffalo Bills. After supplying two sacks in his four pass-rush snaps, Houston remained on the active roster the rest of the season, which proved to be wise as he recorded a sack in each of his next three games as well.  Altogether, Houston finished the season with 17 total pressures and eight sacks on the back of a splendid 19.3% pass-rush win rate — the latter of which ranked tied for sixth among all edge defenders with Micah Parsons.Given his short stature (6 feet and 244 pounds), Houston's ability to bend low to the ground to corner around offensive tackles is excellent for such a young player, as he's able to dip below opposing tackles' waistline, reducing his lockable surface area and forcing 300-pounders lower their pad level — a winning combination.Nonetheless, the most exciting portion of Houston's pass-rush repertoire given his age and previous draft status is his ability to manipulate pace to lull offensive tackles to sleep before exploding with speed, flexibility and balance around the corner in combination with his deadly effective cross chop to generate pressure.  Nonetheless, as he earns more pass-rush snaps in Year 2, it will be important for him to expand his pass-rush repertoire to limit the predictability of his pass-rush plan from snap to snap. While he uses deceptive footwork well, Houston tends to go to his outside speed rushes over and over again. It wasn't a problem given his limited snap count as a rookie, but it will become one once opposing tackles see him enough to pick up on Houston's pass-rush patterns.  Incorporating more inside and speed-to-power moves will be enough to keep tackles guessing, which prevents them from cheating to defend Houston's speed up the edge.  Unfortunately, Houston's lack of size will likely limit him to being a pass-rush specialist for the foreseeable future, but if he broadens his pass-rush repertoire, the former sixth-rounder could graduate from an efficient speed-rusher to an all-around feared pass-rusher who will receive more opportunities to get after opposing quarterbacks.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-3-most-impressive-under-the-radar-young-edge-rushers-in-nfl

The NFL's 12 best interior offensive linemen (6. Frank Ragnow, Center, Detroit Lions - Detroit selected the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Ragnow with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 draft, and while he played left guard in his first season with the Lions, he’s been the team’s starting center since 2019, and to great effect. He didn’t allow a single sack in either the 2020 or 2021 seasons, and he was a big part of the Lions’ redefined offense under Ben Johnson. Returning from a turf toe injury that cost him all but four games in 2021, Ragnow decided against surgery in 2022 when a similar problem popped up. All he did last season was to allow one sack, no quarterback hits, and 12 quarterback hurries in 627 pass-blocking snaps, with one sack and eight hurries in True Pass Sets.  Ragnow combines power and functional mobility as well as any center in the NFL right now, and if you’re in his way on a run play, you’re probably not going to like the result. On this nine-yard Jamaal Williams run against the Packers in the Lions’ season finale, Ragnow finished the season as he started it — by dominating his opponents. Here, he took nose tackle Tedarrell Slaton out at the line of scrimmage with help from left guard Jonah Jackson, and then, Ragnow erased linebacker De’Vondre Campbell at the second level.  The Lions have much more of a chance to meet their offensive goals in 2023 with Ragnow on the field, and he’s a joy to watch, so let’s hope for good health in the new season.):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-best-guards-centers-jason-kelce-joel-bitonio-zack-martin/

Video:



Posted by LionsFan at 5:11 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
.main-inner .sidebar .Poll { background-color: #AD966C; padding: 15px; }