Friday, October 18, 2024

Lions Links for Friday 10-18-24

Articles:


NOTEBOOK: Move to safety paying off for Branch, Lions' defense:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-move-to-safety-paying-off-for-branch-lions-defense

10 QUESTIONS WITH TWENTYMAN: How does defense adjust without Hutchinson?:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/10-questions-with-twentyman-how-does-defense-adjust-without-hutchinson




Lions defense impressed by Vikings QB Darnold: 'I didn't know he was like that':  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/10/18/lions-vikings-sam-darnold-brian-branch/75721679007/



James Houston must seize his 'great opportunity' with all the Lions' injuries:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/10/18/lions-vs-vikings-final-injury-report-and-medical-analysis/



Ben Johnson says Lions still have more tricks up their sleeve after Dallas game:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/10/18/lions-offensive-trick-plays-ben-johnson-has-more/


NFC North Roundtable: Lions Biggest Key to Victory Against Vikings:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/nfc-north-roundtable-lions-biggest-key-to-victory

Take It or Leave It: Best Lions Trade Offer for Maxx Crosby:   https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-best-crosby-trade-offer

Hutchinson Set Up for Full Offseason, Avoids Major Damage:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/hutchinson-set-up-for-full-offseason

Former NJ Governor Blasts Dan Campbell: 'He's Got No Class':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/former-governor-blasts-dan-campbell

Jameson Williams Expects 'Touchdown' Whenever He Catches Ball:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jameson-williams-expects-touchdown-each-catch

Comments of Maxx Crosby Opens Door For Lions Trade:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/max-crosby-comments-open-door-lions-trade









Here's How the Detroit Lions Can Pressure Quarterbacks Without Aidan Hutchinson:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/aidan-hutchinson-detroit-lions-alim-mcneill

Analyzing the matchups that could define the NFL in Week 7 (Lions‘ Jared Goff vs. Brian Flores’ pressure packages - Despite being one of the NFL's most solid quarterbacks, Goff has regularly faltered when pockets break down. That lack of career success under duress hasn’t changed much in 2024: Among qualified quarterbacks, Goff’s 45.3 PFF passing grade under pressure ranks 21st.  But, there may actually be a silver lining. Even though his metrics under pressure are subpar, Goff has maybe been at his best when blitzed. His 66.7 {FF passing grade when blitzed ranks 13th among qualified quarterbacks — higher than his passing grade when not blitzed (54.1).  That might leave Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in a bit of a bind. Minnesota’s 178 plays with a blitz are the second most in the NFL, and its 52.4% pass blitz rate is the highest in football. Flores’ defense is predicated on walking up positionless players, then rendering it a guessing game as to who will blitz. That formula has baffled almost every opposing quarterback this year, culminating in the best defensive EPA per play mark in football.  Goff fared well overall against Flores when the two matched up last year, notching passing grades of 73.4 or better each time and committing only one turnover-worthy play on 72 attempts. Indeed, Goff was surgical against the blitz, posting passing grades of 85.7 and 74.9 with extra rushers arriving.  Will Flores want to continue to make Goff uncomfortable — at least theoretically? Can the Vikings' defense hold up against a potent Detroit offense if it doesn’t bring heat? This chess match will be one of the most fascinating to follow this week.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-matchups-that-could-define-the-nfl-week-7

NFC North rankings: Will Bears, Lions, Packers or Vikings win NFL's best division? (1. Detroit Lions - Why the Lions WILL win the division: Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have assembled an impressive roster without a glaring weakness. Detroit can win with force or finesse on offense, relying on a stout line and a talented collection of playmakers to light up scoreboards around the league. No one is scoring more points per game than this team (30.2), which ranks third in yards per game (416). With quarterback Jared Goff playing at a Pro Bowl level, the Lions can control the game with a balanced attack that carries explosive potential. If the defense keeps forcing turnovers and making timely stops in crucial moments, Detroit will be a tough out in the postseason.  Why the Lions WON'T win the division: The loss of Aidan Hutchinson. The third-year pro was playing at a Defensive Player of the Year level (having logged a league-high 7.5 sacks) when he suffered a season-ending injury last week. Now, Detroit is left without a high-end pass rusher on the front line. While Alim McNeill can pick up some of the slack as an interior defender with disruptive potential, the rest of the burden will be shouldered by a collection of unheralded worker bees (Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike, DJ Reader, James Houston and Isaac Ukwu). If the Lions are unable to swing a trade to bring in a more established pass rusher, the pressure will be on defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to find creative ways to disrupt the timing and rhythm of opposing aerial attacks.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfc-north-rankings-will-bears-lions-packers-or-vikings-win-nfl-s-best-division

Lions RBs 'Sonic and Knuckles' key to Sunday's showdown vs. Vikings:  https://www.nfl.com/news/lions-rbs-sonic-and-knuckles-key-to-sunday-s-showdown-vs-vikings

Biggest need for each NFL team ahead of Week 7 (Lions: Edge rusher - Marcus Davenport, Derrick Barnes, Aidan Hutchinson and John Cominsky are on injured reserve. The Lions have invested a second-round pick in Josh Paschal and need him to rise to the occasion. James Houston and Isaiah Thomas, who was recently off the Bengals practice squad, are the other notable names at that spot. They will likely explore trade opportunities to upgrade this position over the coming weeks.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/biggest-need-for-each-nfl-team-ahead-of-week-7-aidan-hutchinson-injury-stresses-lions-giants-starting-ot-out/

NFL Week 7 bold predictions: Lions hand Vikings first L (Goff powers Hutchinson-less Lions to road upset of undefeated Vikings - The Minnesota Vikings are a dominant 5-0. They have trailed for just three minutes and 26 seconds this season, which is the fifth-fewest amount of time by any team through five games since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger. Minnesota hasn't trailed in a game since Week 1. However, the Vikings are going to trail and lose, for the first time this season, in Week 7 because of Lions quarterback Jared Goff's mastery of Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores' blitz concepts.  Last season, Flores' Minnesota defense blitzed at the highest rate in the NFL, 50.7% of opponent dropbacks, but that did not phase Goff. He was never sacked on 54 dropbacks against the Vikings blitz in two games and played turnover-free football in those situations. This season, Flores is still a heavy blitzer, sending extra pass rushers on 41.6% of opponent dropbacks, the third-highest rate in the NFL. Goff's proficiency against the blitz is also the same in 2024 since he leads the NFL in yards per pass attempt (13.3) against it.  He also enters Week 7 with what can be argued as the most efficient, single two-game span throwing the football in NFL history, minimum 40 pass attempts. Goff has completed 36 of his 43 passes in his last two games -- wins against the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys -- for 607 yards and five touchdowns for an average of 14.1 passing yards per attempt and a passer rating of 157.5. His 157.5 passer rating across the Lions' last two games is the best in a single two-game span in NFL history, minimum 40 pass attempts.  I'm betting Goff keeps it rolling on the road and hands the Vikings their first loss of 2024.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-7-bold-predictions-jared-goff-lions-hand-vikings-first-loss-giants-daniel-jones-ends-home-td-skid/

NFL Week 7 QB Power Rankings: Goff storms into top 10 (9 . Jared Goff - Everyone, welcome Elite Jared Goff back to the table. He's got arguably the most favorable setup in the NFL, but he's also a perfect distributor for the Lions' deep speed (see: Jameson Williams). (+5)):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-week-7-qb-power-rankings-jared-goff-jordan-love-enter-top-10-as-nfc-north-steals-the-show/

Greg Olsen: Why Aidan Hutchinson is 'irreplaceable' for Lions:  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/greg-olsen-why-aidan-hutchinson-irreplaceable-lions

NFL's top 10 passing trios: Where do Jets rank with Davante Adams addition? (7. Detroit Lions: QB Jared Goff, WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.  Jared Goff is the most underrated quarterback in the NFL, and he has been since his days in Los Angeles where he took the Rams to a Super Bowl. He's always been smart and accurate with a strong-enough arm. He certainly can get himself into trouble and has had a few years with way too many interceptions. But for the most part, he's shown he can win, as long as he doesn't have to carry a team.  In Detroit, he doesn't. The Lions have a terrific defense and running game for that. Goff also has a strong receiver duo in St. Brown and Williams. St. Brown is just a notch below the top-tier receivers in the NFL. He had a huge season last year, but it was more because he knows how to get open and is a high-volume player (164 targets last year, fifth most in the NFL).  Williams is the explosive one. He only has 16 catches so far this season, but they've gone for 365 yards. His average of 11.6 yards after the catch leads all wideouts. In fact, the next closest receiver (Xavier Worthy, Chiefs) averages 9.0. Brown is the safety net for Goff. But Williams is always one play away from being gone. — Ralph Vacchiano):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfls-top-10-passing-trios-where-do-jets-rank-davante-adams-addition

2024 NFL odds: Will Lions or Vikings win huge NFC North showdown?:  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2024-nfl-odds-will-lions-vikings-win-huge-nfc-north-showdown

NFL Week 7 bold predictions: Who will turn heads this weekend? (Lions hold Justin Jefferson to under 100 yards receiving.  Maybe this doesn't seem so bold on its face. But in eight contests against Detroit, Jefferson has averaged more receiving yards per game (134.1) than he has against any other opponent. The Lions, meanwhile, are without their best asset for throwing Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold off his game after Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken tibia and fibula. But here's a vote of confidence for defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who knows he can't let Jefferson off easy. That could mean attempting to replicate the New York Jets' physical approach last week, in which they were flagged five times in the secondary but limited Jefferson to six catches on 14 targets for 92 yards. And with aggressive newcomers at cornerback in Carlton Davis III and rookie Terrion Arnold, the Lions shouldn't shrink from the challenge.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/10/18/nfl-bold-predictions-week-7-davante-adams/75728047007/



The Lions are rolling on a busy road with the Vikings a step ahead in NFC North:  https://www.wxyz.com/sports/the-lions-are-rolling-on-a-busy-road-with-the-vikings-a-step-ahead-in-the-stacked-nfc-north

Podcast:

Twentyman in the Huddle: Lions-Vikings Week 7 preview:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-in-the-huddle-lions-vikings-week-7-preview

Video:





What will decide winner of Lions-Vikings Week 7 matchup | 'GMFB':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/what-will-decide-winner-of-lions-vikings-week-7-matchup-gmfb

Rapoport on latest injury report for Lions-Vikings | 'GMFB':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/rapoport-on-latest-injury-report-for-lions-vikings-gmfb

The 'Mad Minute' on Lions-Vikings in Week 7 | 'GMFB':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/the-mad-minute-on-lions-vikings-in-week-7-gmfb

WATCH - Hammer reports from Lions practice where their head coach knows this is a big game Sunday against the Vikings:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1534461

WATCH - Woody sits down with Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeil who is fresh off a new contract extension:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1533800

The Key to the Lions Trick Plays | Kurt's QB Insider:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/the-key-to-the-lions-trick-plays-kurt-s-qb-insider


Posted by LionsFan at 8:03 PM

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