Friday, June 6, 2025

Lions Links for Friday 6-6-25

Articles:

Rakestraw making the most of his opportunity this spring:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/rakestraw-making-the-most-of-his-opportunity-this-spring



Fans React to Ben Johnson Copying Lions Practice Routines:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/fans-react-ben-johnson-copying-lions-practice-routine

Lions Fans Are Donating to Frank Ragnow's Charity:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-fans-donating-to-frank-ragnow-charity

'It's Football Utopia For Me': Lions CB D.J. Reed Q&A:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/dj-reed-lions-interview-nfl-football-utopia


Lions love the gauntlet that awaits them, like 'an animal when its back's against the wall':  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-love-the-gauntlet-that-awaits-them

Training with Sewell, Christian Mahogany ready to step up on Lions' O-line:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-christian-mahogany-ready-to-step-up-on-o-line

'He's probably irreplaceable': Lions call for rapid growth after Ragnow retirement:  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45459583/detroit-lions-offensive-line-frank-ragnow

10 second-year players poised for bigger roles in 2025 (G Christian Mahogany, Detroit Lions:  The Lions drafted Mahogany in the sixth round (211nd overall) in last year’s draft, a move considered a steal at the time for the 106th-ranked prospect on the PFF Big Board. A guard only and a powerful run-blocker for a team that aims to establish itself on the ground, he was a natural fit along the Lions’ dominant offensive line.  Mahogany served as a backup in the regular season, but when starting right guard Kevin Zeitler went down with a hamstring injury in Week 18, he was inserted into the starting lineup for the Lions' wild-card playoff game against the Washington Commanders. Mahogany dominated in his spot start, earning an elite 92.2 PFF overall grade, the highest for any offensive player that night.  Zeitler signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency, and long-term center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement earlier this week, leaving one of the top offensive lines in the league with some questions along the interior. Mahogany and 2025 rookie Tate Ratledge will be counted on to fill the void for the NFC North favorite Lions.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-second-year-players-bigger-roles-2025

Every NFL team's biggest loss in 2025 offseason (Detroit Lions: OC Ben Johnson/DC Aaron Glenn - Detroit losing both of its coordinators in one offseason isn't unprecedented, but that doesn't mean it won't be difficult. Johnson built perhaps the most efficient and explosive offensive machine in the league, and the transition to a new coordinator in John Morton will obviously be an area to watch. Glenn's aggressive defense crumbled under the weight of injuries last season, but he was a big part of the personality of the team. Kelvin Sheppard is coming in to replace him, and that, along with the returns from injury of so many key pieces, will be of incredible importance to Detroit's efforts to regain its defensive identity.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/each-nfl-teams-biggest-offseason-loss-49ers-wont-look-same-without-deebo-samuel-chiefs-to-miss-joe-thuney/

Five NFL teams that had the worst offseasons (5. Detroit Lions - The Lions are likely to be a playoff team in 2025, but we are really about to find out what this team is made of -- and at +160 to miss the postseason according to FanDuel Sportsbook, it's worth thinking about a flyer after a tough offseason. Detroit lost both its offensive and defensive coordinator this offseason, and both leaders were incredibly important when it comes to the team's recent rise.  Ben Johnson established himself as one of the best offensive coordinators in the NFL, and oversaw a unit that put up more points than any team in the league last year, and more points than any Lions team before (33.2 points per game). The 29.0 points per game the Lions averaged after Johnson took over as offensive coordinator in 2022 ranks first in the NFL, and he helped Jared Goff continue to develop after he was thrown aside by the Los Angeles Rams. Now, Johnson will be leading the rival Bears.  Aaron Glenn is a former NFL cornerback who is also ready for his opportunity as a head coach. Detroit's scoring defense rank improved each season under Glenn's leadership, and that includes a jump from No. 23 to No. 7 over the past two seasons. The Lions also increased their number of takeaways each season under Glenn.  Dan Campbell is viewed as one of the best coaches in the NFL, but Johnson and Glenn were the architects of the offense and defense, respectively. Now, there is significant pressure on new offensive coordinator John Morton and new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.  Do you remember what happened to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 when they lost Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon? After a 14-3 campaign which ended in the Super Bowl, the Eagles went 11-6 in 2023, and limped to the finish line, losing five out of their last six regular-season games. Then, Philly was destroyed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round, 32-9. The hires of Brian Johnson and Sean Desai did not work. They could not replace what Steichen and Gannon brought to this team. Can Morton and Sheppard replace what Johnson and Glenn did for Detroit?   There wasn't a high amount of turnover when it came to the Lions' roster this offseason. Most notably, they swapped Carlton Davis for D.J. Reed at cornerback. However, Goff did lose two important offensive linemen in right guard Kevin Zeitler and center Frank Ragnow. The former signed a new deal with the Titans in free agency, while the latter surprisingly retired on Monday. Detroit has high hopes for No. 57 overall pick Tate Ratledge out of Georgia, but Zeitler and Ragnow were two consistent difference-makers up front. One of the best offensive lines got a bit weaker. Speaking of the trenches, why didn't the Lions add another legitimate starting pass rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson? The Lions still have plenty of talent, but losing the leaders of both your offense and defense in the same offseason is tough. What is Goff going to look like without Johnson? And with Johnson game-planning against him twice a year? It's fair to say Detroit is expected to take a step backwards this season. After winning 12 games in 2023 and 15 games in 2024, BetMGM Sportsbook has the Lions' Over/Under win total listed at 10.5! That's in large part because the NFL gave the Lions a very, very tough schedule. Eight of Detroit's nine road games come against teams that finished above .500 last season, which is the most in NFL history.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/for-these-5-nfl-teams-the-2025-offseason-cant-end-soon-enough-lions-49ers-are-trending-downward/

Ranking Each NFL Team’s Top Defensive Triplets for 2025 (13. Detroit Lions - Triplets: Aidan Hutchinson, Jack Campbell, Brian Branch.  Hutchinson was in the midst of a career year before sustaining a season-ending leg injury five games into the season. Campbell found his footing after a rocky rookie season, recording 131 total tackles in 2024. Branch emerged in his second season as an elite do-it-all defensive back.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/ranking-top-defensive-triplets-for-2025


Video:

Posted by LionsFan at 7:26 PM

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