Friday, May 24, 2024

Lions Links for Friday Evening 5-24-24

Articles:

Davis looking to bring energy & physicality to Lions' secondary:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/davis-looking-to-bring-energy-physicality-to-lions-secondary




A 'matured' Jameson Williams ready to take on bigger role in Lions offense:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/05/24/jameson-williams-lions-ota-maturity-press-conference-quotes/

Carlton Davis 'really excited' for the Lions chances at a Super Bowl:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/05/24/carlton-davis-really-excited-detroit-lions-super-bowl-chances/

Dan Campbell: 'I Don’t See Bust, I See Super Bowl':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/dan-campbell-i-see-super-bowl


Why the Detroit Lions may not need to add UFL kicker Jake Bates after all:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/5/24/24163834/detroit-lions-dont-need-jake-bates-michael-badgley-ufl-kicker

The 2022 NFL Draft’s Boom and Bust Players (Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, DE | Jameson Williams, WR - Predictions: Yes on Hutchinson, no on Williams.  One of these calls was very easy. The other not so much. Hutchinson has turned into one of the league’s best pass rushers, amassing 21 sacks and 48 quarterback hits over his first two seasons. He’s already in the elite category. Then there’s Williams, who missed most of his rookie year with a torn ACL and has yet to make a big impact. Across 18 games, Williams has caught just 25 passes for 395 yards and three scores.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2022-nfl-draft-boom-bust-players-fifth-year-option

Ranking 2024 NFL defenses: Browns, Jets among elite (Somewhat Unlikely - Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders.  Some of these teams are in this tier instead of the previous one for the most part due to their coaching. Atlanta, Seattle and Washington do not have particularly inspiring defensive depth charts. But Raheem Morris, Mike Macdonald and Dan Quinn will be running those defenses, and they have each shown the ability to get more out of less pretty consistently throughout their careers. The Lions played well at the start of last season before stumbling down the stretch. They upgraded the talent this year with D.J. Reader on the interior, plus Carlton Davis and rookies Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. at corner. But Reader's age and health are at least a bit of a question mark and counting on rookie corners to be true positives right away isn't always the best bet. Arnold and Rakestraw should be good eventually, but maybe not soon enough to turn this into a top-10 unit this year -- even if the team showed surprising pass-rush juice last season.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-2024-nfl-defenses-browns-jets-chiefs-among-teams-most-likely-to-crack-the-top-10/

Six 2024 NFL scenarios that once seemed preposterous (3. The Detroit Lions advance to a second straight NFC title game - The Lions were an NFL darling to close 2022, disrupting a potential Aaron Rodgers retirement tour in Green Bay with a spirited Week 18 victory to keep the Packers from the playoffs. But few could've predicted how far that momentum would carry them to this day. Jared Goff reached new career heights as the gutsy signal-caller for their ultra-balanced setup in 2023, pulling Detroit within one win of a Super Bowl appearance. And now, going into 2024, with Goff and other core pieces locked up, it's hard not to call the Lions one of the few total packages primed for another championship bid.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/six-things-that-could-happen-in-2024-nfl-season-that-wouldve-seemed-preposterous-entering-2023/

Bounce-back candidates for all 32 NFL teams in 2024 (DETROIT LIONS: EDGE MARCUS DAVENPORT - Davenport’s time in Minnesota last year almost feels like a fever dream. The former Saints pass-rusher played just 114 snaps because of a high ankle sprain, and even when he was active, he disappointed. Davenport collected only seven pressures on 77 pass-rushing snaps, and he missed 40% of his tackles.  In New Orleans, though, Davenport proved to be a regularly disruptive defensive lineman. He generated 30 or more pressures in each of his first five seasons and especially peaked toward the end of his first contract, with an 88.8 overall grade in 2021.  The Lions’ defensive line should be formidable this year with Aidan Hutchinson, D.J. Reader and Alim McNeill, but don’t discount Davenport looking more like himself and also wreaking havoc.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-bounce-back-candidates-all-32-nfl-teams-2024

Every NFL team's most underrated player (Detroit Lions: DL Alim McNeill - From John Randle to Geno Atkins to Aaron Donald, I tend to have a weakness for the potential of smaller defensive tackles. So, when McNeill hit my radar in 2020, I wasn’t surprised that I enjoyed his disruptive tape. The 6′ 1⅞”, 317-pound McNeill was selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2021 draft, and while it took him a second to get the reps he needed to become a real force on Detroit’s defensive line, he had no issue doing so in 2023. Last season, McNeill totaled six sacks and 43 total pressures, embarrassing a lot of Pro Bowl-level guards and centers along the way.):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-underrated-players-geno-smith-baker-mayfield-frankie-luvu/

Ranking all 32 NFL teams by Relative Athletic Score (RAS) (12. Detroit Lions: 7.5):  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-rosters-athletic-ras-2024/

Grade:

Grading every NFL team's 2024 offseason (2. Detroit Lions - Grade: A. Key additions: RG Kevin Zeitler, EDGE Marcus Davenport, DT D.J. Reader, CB Carlton Davis, CB Terrion Arnold, CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.  The Lions have been so good overhauling their team through free agency and the draft the past few offseasons with GM Brad Holmes that they could focus on tinkering with the remaining holes. Zeitler helps replace Jonah Jackson, while Davenport can uncork some upside up front playing off the run-stuffing reader and star Aidan Hutchinson. Arnold and Davis are much better cornerback options and Rakestraw also can end up playing a vital playmaking role.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-offseason-grades-2024-rankings/f6de9d6b2d8bec410b6d3327

Podcast:

Lions OTA 3 Takeaways: Defense Is Better, Will Hooker Backup Goff?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/podcasts/lions-ota-3-takeaways-defense-much-better

Video:


Posted by LionsFan at 8:24 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

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