Monday, July 15, 2024

Lions Links for Monday Evening 7-15-24

Articles:

2024 training camp preview: Tight end:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2024-training-camp-preview-tight-end-lions-laporta-wright-mitchell

Lions defensive line depth could be the strength of the defense:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/07/15/detroit-lions-defensive-line-depth-strength-camp-preview/

Training Camp Preview: Do Lions Have Enough Offensive Line Depth?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/do-lions-have-enough-offensive-line-depth


8 Storylines to Watch at Detroit Lions Training Camp:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/storylines-to-watch-2024-training-camp





NFL execs, coaches and scouts name Jared Goff second best quarterback in NFC:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/nfl-evaluators-name-detroit-lions-qb-jared-goff-no-2-in-nfc


NFL's 15 burning questions: What's in store for Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott in 2024? (11. Have the Lions finally elevated their defense to championship caliber?  Yes, and general manager Brad Holmes made sure of it. When he took back-to-back corners in the draft, he told everyone that come hell or high water, Detroit was going to field a complete secondary this year. This was also after the team traded with Tampa for veteran corner Carlton Davis. The Lions' weakest position group last year is now their deepest on defense and that should create a domino effect throughout all levels on that side of the ball. With a secondary that can actually cover, that should give the guys up front like Aidan Hutchinson time to get some pressure. Or, if Hutch gets pressure to start, the Lions should be able to exploit errant throws and poor decisions, turning them into turnovers.  What I really love about this secondary is how versatile so many of its players are. The team got a steal in Brian Branch out of Alabama in the second round last year. He can play everything from strong safety to nickel. Kerby Joseph is another hard-nosed young player who can be moved around. Detroit had next to no rotation last season due to injury, but this season promises to be a different story. The Lions were one half away from the Super Bowl last year. With the additions made this offseason, they should be able to close that gap. —Vitali):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfls-15-burning-questions-whats-store-aaron-rodgers-dak-prescott-2024

Top 10 offensive position groups in the NFL (3. Lions backfield: David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs were the perfect thunder-and-lightning combination that you'd typically like to have coming out of a backfield. Detroit was fifth in the league in rushing last season largely on the back of these two. Montgomery led the way with 1,015 yards on the ground, and Gibbs was right behind him with 945 yards. Each of these backs exceeded 1,100 yards from scrimmage a season ago and tallied double-digit touchdowns. While Montgomery is entering his sixth season in the league, he's still only 27 years old and the ascension of Gibbs should keep him fresh to continue producing in a major way heading into 2024. As for Gibbs, it's his ceiling that has us bullish on this backfield as a top-three offensive unit in the league. There were plenty of Alvin Kamara comparisons to Gibbs coming out of the draft and if we get one of those prime Kamara seasons out of him in 2024, this backfield will reach a different stratosphere, especially behind the unit we'll talk about next.  2. Lions offensive line: Of course, we had to put an offensive line in here! And what better unit than the one that the Lions have put together? When healthy, Detroit's O-line is the best in the NFL and has star players at each starting spot. Right tackle Penei Sewell has been as-advertised since being the No. 7 overall pick in 2021 and was the league's high-graded offensive lineman last year, according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, center Frank Ragnow was the highest-graded center in the league. The unit did lose Jonah Jackson in free agency but did a splendid job replacing him by bringing aboard right guard Kevin Zeitler, so they may not even skip a beat at that position.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-nfls-top-10-offensive-position-groups-for-2024-texans-wr-room-takes-no-1-spot/

Why is Justin Simmons unsigned? Plus 5 best fits (4. Detroit Lions:  They got aggressive to upgrade cornerback, spending early draft picks on both Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. while adding veteran Carlton Davis from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With second-year utility man Brian Branch well-suited in the slot, however, they could boost their Super Bowl aspirations with a more proven name at the back end alongside the solid Kerby Joseph.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-is-former-broncos-star-justin-simmons-still-unsigned-plus-five-best-fits-for-2024-free-agent/

PFF50: The 50 best players in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season (47. C FRANK RAGNOW, DETROIT LIONS
Detroit’s Frank Ragnow is about as good as it gets at the center position, despite battling injuries at times for the Lions. He has allowed just one sack in each of the past two seasons, earning a 90.1 PFF run-blocking grade in 2023 on his way to recording the highest overall grade at the position (88.1).):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-pff50-ranking-50-best-players-2024

Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins Among Top Players Who Missed the Cut in PFN’s Top 100 List:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/jared-goff-kirk-cousins-top-players-missed-cut-pfn-top-100/

Best Offensive Lines in the NFL 2024: Eagles Still at No. 1, Lions and Browns Catching Up (2. Detroit Lions - Starting five: LT Taylor Decker, LG Graham Glasgow, C Frank Ragnow, RG Kevin Zeitler, RT Penei Sewell.  Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will unexpectedly return to the Detroit Lions in 2024, giving the club’s run scheme a boost. Ragnow’s long-term health remains a concern, but the Lions have elite options at three of their five offensive line spots.  Glasgow re-signed on a three-year pact and will shift to the left side to make room for Zeitler, who landed with Detroit after spending the past three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/best-offensive-lines-nfl-rankings/

PFN Top 100 Snubs: Jonathan Taylor, Nico Collins, Javon Hargrave Among Top 15 Omissions (Brian Branch, S, Detroit Lions - Viewed as a hybrid safety/corner coming out of Alabama, Brian Branch made an immediate impact after being selected in Round 2 of last year’s draft. He picked off Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on Opening Night of the 2023 campaign, returning his first career interception for a pick-six in the Detroit Lions’ Week 1 victory.  Playing primarily in the slot, Branch intercepted two more passes during the regular season while showing off his abilities as a run defender and nickel blitzer. Now that Chauncey Gardner-Johnson has left Detroit, Branch could see time as a true safety in base packages.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/pfn-top-100-snubs-nfl-2024/

Video:

Video: Previewing the Lions defensive tackle position ahead of training camp:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/07/15/detroit-lions-podcast-training-camp-defensive-tackle-preview/

Packers or Lions: Who will win the NFC North?:  https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/40568135
Posted by LionsFan at 7:31 PM

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