Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Morning Lions Links for Wednesday 8-30-23

Articles:

TWENTYMAN: Breaking down the initial 53-man roster:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-breaking-down-the-initial-53-man-roster

53-man roster: Lions keep just 2 running backs, go really big on defense:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/53-man-roster-lions-keep-just-2-running-backs-go-really-big-on-defense.html

Starling Thomas V, a hard-nosed UDFA, squeezed off Lions’ 53-man roster: https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/starling-thomas-v-a-hard-nosed-udfa-squeezed-off-lions-53-man-roster.html

Detroit Lions release RB Benny Snell after late push for roster spot:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/detroit-lions-release-rb-benny-snell-after-late-push-for-roster-spot.html

Lions CB Emmanuel Moseley reportedly coming off PUP list to open season:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/lions-cb-emmanuel-moseley-reportedly-coming-off-pup-list-to-open-season.html


Riley Patterson has won Lions’ kicker job, but more moves at position could loom:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/riley-patterson-has-won-lions-kicker-job-but-more-moves-at-position-could-loom.html

Lions open final round of cuts by trimming tight end rotation to 3 players:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/lions-reportedly-chop-down-tight-end-rotation-to-3-players.html

NFL Films to highlight Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown in brand new series:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/08/nfl-films-to-highlight-lions-amon-ra-st-brown-in-brand-new-series.html



Lions final roster cutdowns includes a couple of surprises:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2023/08/29/lions-final-roster-cutdowns-surprise-list-breakdown/




2023 NFL season: Projecting win share leaders on offense (quarterbacks + non-QBs) and defense (5.  Amon-Ra St. Brown - WIN SHARE: 2.25.  As a native Michigander and Lions fan, I know Amon-Ra’s a stud, but I’m not going to lie: This ranking was a pleasant surprise! According to computer vision, St. Brown ranked third among all receivers last season when it came to gaining separation out of the slot (where he primarily lined up).  Admittedly, this ranking is partially driven by the absence of Jameson Williams over the first six games, which will increase Detroit's reliance on St. Brown. That said, he also carries a bunch of off-ball value, especially on Detroit team that is likely to routinely target a pair of rookies in the passing game (RB Jahmyr Gibbs and TE Sam LaPorta).):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-season-projecting-win-share-leaders-on-offense-quarterbacks-non-qbs-and


Ranking the NFL's best running backs (11. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (age: 21):  Gibbs didn't last long on the draft board once Robinson went to the Falcons. The Lions also were going for a higher ceiling and more explosiveness by getting him to help replace D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, along with veteran David Montgomery. Gibbs is a dynamic receiver and can pick up a lot of Williams' automatic scoring pop.  2022 stats (at Alabama): 195 touches, 1,370 scrimmage yards, 10 TDs):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-running-back-rankings-2023/x4zm69m1u0fxvxciqzh5uw0w

Grading first-round NFL rookies in Week 3 of preseason (18. Jack Campbell, LB, Lions - Grade: B+.  Campbell is good to go for the regular season. He was again hyper-active in his third preseason audition. There was one minor missed tackle on an underneath toss to tight end Ian Thomas. Campbell counteracted that negative play with a remarkable shed of a climbing offensive linemen en route to one of his tackles in the game.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-preseason-week-3-grades-for-first-round-rookies-heres-who-stood-out-disappointed-and-surprised/

The NFL's 101 best players for 2023, Nos. 75-51 (53. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, DB, Detroit Lions:  In yet another of Howie Roseman’s “How did he get away with that?” moves, the Eagles traded a 2023 fifth-round pick and the worst of their 2024 sixth-round picks to the Saints for Gardner-Johnson and a 2025 seventh-round pick last August. All Gardner-Johnson did in response was to have his best NFL season to date — the 20019 fourth-round pick out of Florida allowed 41 catches on 52 targets for 338 yards, 170 yards after the catch, four touchdowns, six interceptions, three pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 79.8.  As a free-range deep safety in one- and two-high looks, Gardner-Johnson provided extreme value with his sideline-to-sideline range and ball skills. Here against the Cowboys in Week 6, he started the play as the deep-third defender in Cover-1, caught backup quarterback Cooper Rush trying to make a deep cross-body throw to CeeDee Lamb against cornerback James Bradberry, and yoinked in for the interception.  And in this Week 10 interception against the Commanders, Gardner-Johnson showed the ability to drop back in quarters coverage, foiling Taylor Heinicke on this deep pass to Terry McLaurin.  The 2022 season marked by far Gardner-Johnson’s most snaps at free safety — 443, when he’d had just 11 in his last two seasons with the Saints. He had been primarily a box/slot hybrid defender before, and he still has those skills — though all six of his picks came in the deep third. Still, Gardner-Johnson is more than capable of stopping a run play in the backfield with timed gap-shooting moves, and taking down enemy quarterbacks when the need arises.  After a one-year, $8 million contract signing with the Lions, Gardner-Johnson is part of his second defensive rebuild in as many seasons. His relationship with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn goes back to his time with the Saints, so maybe Gardner-Johnson is on the precipice of helping yet another defense be better than it was before his arrival.):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-best-players-zack-martin-patrick-surtain-tua-tagovailoa/
Posted by LionsFan at 10:32 AM

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