Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Lions Links for Tuesday 9-3-24

Articles:

Lions' revamped defense to get first test Week 1 vs. Rams:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-revamped-defense-to-get-first-test-week-1-vs-rams



Lions excitement begins this week with focus on topping the Rams:  https://lionslowdown.com/2024/09/02/lions-excitement-begins-this-week-with-focus-on-topping-the-rams/


Potential worries about the Detroit Lions: Defensive newcomers with injury histories:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/09/02/detroit-lions-season-concerns-injury-history-reader-davis-davenport-outlooks/

How Lions Plan to Ensure Secondary Communicates, Executes:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/how-lions-secondary-gels-communicates-effectively

Alex Anzalone Tired of Trying to Tackle David Montgomery:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/alex-anzalone-tired-trying-to-tackle-david-montgomery

Lions Believe Levi Onwuzurike's Strength, Power 'Here to Stay':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-believe-levi-onwuzurike-s-strength-power-here-to-stay



The tight end evolution: Bigger role, more impact, lingering problem:  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41017076/nfl-travis-kelce-george-kittle-tight-ends



Updated 2024 NFL roster rankings: Strengths, weaknesses and X factors for every starting lineup (6. DETROIT LIONS - Biggest strength in 2023: Offense.  Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has worked magic these last two seasons running Detroit’s offense, and the results have led to perhaps the best run the Lions have had in the Super Bowl era. The newly-paid Jared Goff has been excellent, putting up an 84.3 passing grade while throwing for 4,574 yards and 30 touchdowns during the regular season. His top pass catchers were Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie sensation Sam LaPorta. St. Brown was one of the best receivers in the NFL last season, as his 91.3 receiving grade last season trailed only Tyreek Hill and Brandon Aiyuk.  As for LaPorta, his 81.8 receiving grade trailed only Travis Kelce, George Kittle and T.J. Hockenson among tight ends. Then you have arguably the most dynamic running back duo in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, both of whom had rushing grades of at least 80 while rushing for at least 900 yards and ten touchdowns apiece. The offensive line is also a major strength, as all five projected starters heading into the 2024 season had a PFF grade of at least 70 last season, led by Penei Sewell’s league-leading 92.8 mark.  Biggest weakness in 2023: Outside cornerback - While the Lions had one of the most productive offenses in the NFL last season, it often came as a result of having to keep pace with their opponents, as the Lions’ 48.3 team coverage grade last season was the third-worst in the NFL. The Lions recognized this and made it a priority in the offseason, as not only did they spend their top two draft picks on cornerbacks, but they also traded for Carlton Davis III from the Buccaneers. While, on paper, this team is certainly improved at the corner spot, they will be relying a lot on young talent to step up to try and take the next step in reaching the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl.  X-factor for 2024: WR Jameson Williams  - Outside Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Lions are very thin at the wide receiver position, especially after Josh Reynolds‘ departure. Their first-round pick from 2022, Jameson Williams, has shown flashes of playmaking ability, but he hasn’t been able to put it all together for extended periods. He’s entering Year 3, so time is running out for him to become the impact player the Lions thought he would be when they traded up for him. However, if he reaches his potential, this already potent Lions offense could become unstoppable.  Rookie to watch: CBs Terrion Arnold/Ennis Rakestraw Jr. - As previously mentioned, corner was such a massive hole for the Lions that they used each of their top two picks on the position in Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Both guys should get opportunities to play from day one, as Rakestraw was a first-round talent that fell to the second due to core and groin injuries while Arnold was the top corner on a lot of teams’ boards that the Lions were able to take at Pick 24. Both corners offer positional flexibility as they can each play either outside or nickel, which would allow Brian Branch to play safety full-time.Over/Under 10.5 win total: Over.  The Lions came so close to reaching the franchise’s first Super Bowl last season before a late-game collapse doomed them against the 49ers. This year, they’re making a real run for it, as, on paper, this might be the best Lions team of the Super Bowl era. With the rise of Jordan Love and the Bears’ youth movement, the NFC North will be much tougher than in 2023. However, the Lions appear to have the firepower to hold them off as they search for back-to-back division titles for the first time in franchise history.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-roster-rankings-all-32-teams-2024-strengths-weaknesses-x-factors

QB Stock Market: Ranking all 32 starters before Week 1 of 2024 season (16. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/qb-stock-market-ranking-all-32-starters-before-week-1-2024-season

The big ol' 2024 NFL preview: Breaking down all 32 teams with MVPs, underrated players and more (Detroit Lions - Most important non-quarterback: Terrion Arnold. The rookie cornerback will be counted on to address the fatal flaw that kept Detroit out of Super Bowl 58; a thin, leaky secondary.  Under the radar key to 2024: LB Jack Campbell.  Postseason odds: -245.  From: 67 years of Detroit Lions futility have been building to 2024’s actual, incredible hype.  For the second straight season, Detroit has taken steps to fix this [secondary]. The team’s 2024 solution seems a bit more airtight than then one that failed last fall.  Cornerback Carlton Davis arrived via trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Davis has never been a Pro Bowler in his six years in the league or even played more than 14 games in a season, but he’s a steady corner who can hold his own in coverage and be trusted to understand his assignment. Amik Robertson, who improved across each of his four seasons as a Oakland/Las Vegas Raider, signed with the team on the first day of free agency. Emmanuel Moseley, the oft-injured corner who is solid when available but whose 2023 in Detroit lasted two snaps, re-signed on an inexpensive deal as well.  Those are all useful pieces, but the headliner arrived in April’s draft. The Lions sent the Dallas Cowboys the 29th pick as well as a third rounder in order to select Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold 24th overall. Arnold was neck and neck with Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell to be the first defensive back selected. Now he pairs with Brian Branch, Jack Campbell, Kerby Joseph and Aidan Hutchinson as the young, rising core of this defense.  And brother (or sister), that core. Hutchinson’s 62 pressures last season were 12 more than anyone else in the NFL. Branch showed up as a dynamic nickel back who can erase slot threats and knocked down or intercepted 16 passes in 15 games (and he’s eying a move back to safety, at least in stretches, in 2024). Campbell’s rookie campaign was more of a mixed bag, but he proved a versatile off-ball linebacker whose coverage will improve with experience. Joseph allowed just a 70.5 passer rating when targeted last fall.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/2024-nfl-preview-32-teams-mvp-playoff-odds

1 Player on the Hot Seat for Every NFL Team This Season: Daniel Jones, Russell Wilson, and Others (Detroit Lions | Kindle Vildor:  This one was easy. The lasting image of Kindle Vildor in 2023 was the football ricocheting off the visor of his helmet and into the hands of 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. That play completely changed the NFC Championship Game, swinging all the momentum over to the 49ers.  Detroit’s secondary was a problem last season, but there are still a lot of great and established players. Vildor, though, needs to show that he is more than just that one play in the NFC championship.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/1-player-on-the-hot-seat-every-nfl-team-2024/

Lions prepare for Sunday night rematch with Matthew Stafford and the Rams:  https://apnews.com/article/lions-rams-stafford-e967f37c837c4ae46e1aad1969e50222

Video:



Lions "excited" for season opener:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1510346

Posted at 10:32 AM


Articles:






A couple of Lions players have officially changed their jersey numbers:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/09/03/detroit-lions-jersey-number-changes-strickland-joseph-nowaske/




Jameson Williams aiming to lead NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns this season:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-jameson-williams-has-big-goals-in-year-three

Updated 2024 NFL offensive line rankings: Lions take top spot, led by Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow (1. Detroit Lions:  When healthy, the Lions' offensive line was arguably the best unit in the NFL last season. Right tackle Penei Sewell was the league's highest-graded offensive lineman, and Frank Ragnow earned the top spot among centers.  Although the unit lost right guard Jonah Jackson in free agency, the Lions signed veteran guard Kevin Zeitler, who ranked 15th in PFF grade among guards in 2023.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2024-offensive-line-rankings-detroit-lions-penei-sewell-frank-ragnow

CBS Sports NFL staff best 2024 division bets, picks (Breech: Lions. The Lions have one of the best rosters in the NFL and after winning the division last year, I don't think the other teams in the NFC North have caught up to them quite yet.   Dajani: Lions. Detroit is for real.  Dubin: Lions. I know the Packers are everybody's favorite dark horse, but the Lions are still the class of this division. With additions in the secondary, they should be able to stave off the type of defensive slide they had down the stretch of last season.   Edwards: Lions. Chicago should be improved and the Vikings will still be a quality opponent even with the J.J. McCarthy injury. With that being said, the Lions are built to overcome adversity and should be able to weather the storms in a battle with Green Bay.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-division-winner-odds-picks-eagles-edge-out-cowboys-in-nfc-east-clean-sweeps-for-chiefs-and-texans/


NFL GM Rankings 2024: Howie Roseman, Brett Veach, and Eric DeCosta Lead the Way (5. Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions - If any general manager has nailed the draft in recent years, it’s Brad Holmes.  Since taking over as the Lions GM in 2021, Holmes has drafted foundational players such as Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeil, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch.  He also hit a home run by hiring Dan Campbell as head coach, and the Matthew Stafford trade has paid off massively, as Jared Goff has been a revelation in Detroit.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-gm-rankings-2024-howie-roseman-brett-veach-eric-decosta-at-the-top/

Podcast:

The PODcast gives its definitive Lions season preview, predictions:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/9/3/24235066/2024-detroit-lions-preview-podcast-predictions

Video:




Lions approach season opener against Rams as "business as usual":  https://www.wxyz.com/sports/lions-approach-season-opener-against-rams-as-business-as-usual

Aidan Hutchinson on 3rd year as a Lion: 'This year is going to be a special one'

Lions players preview season opener vs. Rams:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1510877

Posted at 7:42 PM
Posted by LionsFan at 10:08 AM

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