Team Improvements

[Funkytown]

Time to look forward...

[PFF] The Lions began the 2018 season with one of the worst defensive lines in football. They’ll begin the 2019 season with arguably the best.

Link:

www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-after-a-complete-turnaround-the-detroit-lions-defensive-line-should-be-a-much-feared-unit-heading-into-the-2019-season

[thedane]

Worst DL, worst TE's, no depth at RB, LB's with little coverage skills, starting safety who's skill set didn't match the new D, one legit starter at CB, no depth on OL. The only thing they didn't cover in FA and the draft is a coverage LB and the 3rd WR after the exit of Tate is still a question mark.

[Blaming Brad]

May 2, 2019 10:09:06 GMT -6 thedane said:

the 3rd WR after the exit of Tate is still a question mark.

I wonder what happened with Inman. They brought him in and he's still unsigned. I think he could be a decent stop gap guy for cheap.

[thedane]

Inman is 30 years old. If you notice I didn't mention Amendola as WR #3 either as I am really in wait and see mode on that one too.

[TRUMP]

Offense: huge upgrade at TE with Jesse James and crafting Hockenson.
OL: Still need RG and depth.
RB : much better with Anderson unde4 contract and drafting Johnson. Riddick or Zenner or both could be gone.

DL: Flowers signing and drafting Bryant gives us a deep DL. and don’t forget PJ Johnson. Could be a great pick.
LB: jury is out on our draft pick but even if he plays lights out we still are very thin depth wise.
CB/S: good depth and young.

Still plenty early. We could make a few moves and solidify the OL, LB, and upgrade at DB beforevthe season starts.

[liongeezer]

May 2, 2019 10:09:06 GMT -6 thedane said:

Worst DL, worst TE's, no depth at RB, LB's with little coverage skills, starting safety who's skill set didn't match the new D, one legit starter at CB, no depth on OL. The only thing they didn't cover in FA and the draft is a coverage LB and the 3rd WR after the exit of Tate is still a question mark.

Yeah, Quinn has been one busy little beaver over the past year.  In fact, he jettisoned Kerwynn Williams and Jarron Jones just today, and signed Darius Kilgo who played for Denver last year.  I think he combs the waiver wire every day and signs somebody he thinks can improve the team.

[Vic]

That OL is going to stifle the offense if they dont make some moves at RG.

That is the Achilles heal right now. The offense sputtered when facing good defensive fronts that applied pressure on the QB and shut down the run game.

[liongeezer]

I nominate Tyrell Crosby for RG.

[Felix]

May 5, 2019 8:07:43 GMT -6 Vic said:

That is the Achilles heal right now. The offense sputtered when facing good defensive fronts that applied pressure on the QB and shut down the run game.

but....isnt that what good Ds do to every team?

[Blaming Brad]

May 5, 2019 9:23:04 GMT -6 Felix said:

May 5, 2019 8:07:43 GMT -6 Vic said:

That is the Achilles heal right now. The offense sputtered when facing good defensive fronts that applied pressure on the QB and shut down the run game.

but....isnt that what good Ds do to every team?

To a degree. But the truly great teams (those that win playoff games) are able to overcome it.

[Blaming Brad]

May 5, 2019 8:14:28 GMT -6 liongeezer said:

I nominate Tyrell Crosby for RG.

You have to wonder if that's what they are thinking given their apparent complete lack of interest in acquiring a legitimate RG.

[Felix]

May 5, 2019 11:37:25 GMT -6 Blaming Brad said:

May 5, 2019 9:23:04 GMT -6 Felix said:

but....isnt that what good Ds do to every team?

To a degree. But the truly great teams (those that win playoff games) are able to overcome it.

or those great Ds win 5he superbowl...giants and ravens come immediately to mind...

[Blaming Brad]

May 5, 2019 13:45:49 GMT -6 Felix said:

or those great Ds win 5he superbowl...giants and ravens come immediately to mind...

It can certainly go that way. Also doesn't hurt to have your QB play out of their mind through the entire playoffs and Superbowl.

[goldenlions]

They are probably just gonna ride with one of the 4 or 5 OL they have to fill in the RG spot. If they pick up someone else in FA yet, we may know the extent of what they have. I think they will be fine, personally.

[Vic]

May 5, 2019 9:23:04 GMT -6 Felix said:

May 5, 2019 8:07:43 GMT -6 Vic said:

That is the Achilles heal right now. The offense sputtered when facing good defensive fronts that applied pressure on the QB and shut down the run game.

but....isnt that what good Ds do to every team?

The truly great defenses do this. But when you only win 6 games and rank in 20s in offense, they are struggling against average defenses.

When you face a tough defense you need some production, there were times the OL was in such shambles they could not put up points. 

You can bring in all the flash skilled players, but there will be a time when that OL needs to keep the QB clean or gain a yard on short yardage and this OL will cost them.

Quillen shit the bed by not addressing this glaring need. Brought in all the flash, TEs, a RB. They lost their best OL with retirement and did NOTHING to replace him. They plan on going with who at RG? Then you have Wagner...Oh my. 

[badnews3123]

If you don’t have any skill position players that can get open or make plays it doesn’t matter how well your OL blocks, you’re going to struggle.

I know it kills the old school too many blows to the head football mindset, but you do need some skill guys that are capable too.

[Vic]

Really like what they did on the defensive side of the ball!

[Funkytown]

Last year at this time of the year, Detroit Lions fans were extremely concerned about the status of the team’s defensive line. Ezekiel Ansah was struggling with injury issues, and Detroit didn’t seem to have a promising prospect anywhere else. There was potential, but nothing more.

Detroit is entering OTAs with a very different situation. With Damon Harrison Sr. in tow, along with the sudden developments of A’Shawn Robinson and Da’Shawn Hand, the defensive line is looking like a pretty big strength. Oh, and instead of the unreliable Ziggy Ansah, the Lions now have the crown of free agency in Trey Flowers.

Of course, much of the league hasn’t taken notice yet. But one national analyst who has is Danny Kelly of The Ringer. Kelly listed the Lions’ defensive line as one of the seven most underrated units in the NFL.

“The Lions already boast a strong run defense, but the addition of Flowers—who tied for 10th among all edge defenders last year in pressures, per Pro Football Focus, with 64—could really augment their anemic pass rush,” Kelly wrote.

At this point in the offseason, everything remains hypothetical. But Detroit’s defensive front does look impressive on paper, and it’s nice to see at least one publication recognize that.

[Funkytown]

Detroit Lions film breakdown: Da’Shawn Hand is a player the Lions can build around

The Detroit Lions largely ignored their need at pass rusher in the 2018 NFL draft. Despite it being the biggest hole on the roster last spring, they neglected to address it in the first two days of the draft.

In the fourth round they finally made an addition to their pass rushing arsenal, when they selected Alabama defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.

Hand was the No. 1 recruit in the nation in 2014 coming out of Woodbridge High School in Northern Virginia. Many expected him to commit to the University of Michigan, but he surprised the college football world by joining the Alabama Crimson Tide.

He was largely ineffective in Tuscaloosa, only racking up 71 combined tackles and nine sacks. Hand did stack up some hardware, though, leaving for the NFL as a two-time national champion and three-time SEC champion.

Not much was expected out of the rookie in year one, but he proved to be a star. He was the most effective pass rusher on the Lions defensive front and was the best interior pass penetrator to wear a Lions uniform since Ndamukong Suh.

His stats don’t jump off the page, only being credited with 27 combined tackles and three sacks before his season ended with a late-season knee injury. He did notch two forced fumbles, though.

While Hand was drafted as a defensive end out of Alabama, he primarily played on the interior of the defensive line in his rookie year. Before the arrival or Damon Harrison Sr. midway through the year, Hand played a lot of snaps at nose tackle.

He was very effective when he rushed from the nose. Hand is incredibly strong and is great off of the snap. He uses his hands well and is able to come off of the snap fast and get beneath the pads of his opposition. The rookie gets inside leverage and has the strength— and effort—to collapse the interior of the pocket and force the quarterback to drop into a more vulnerable spot.

...

Hand is a stud.

He is a smart player with the perfect athletic profile needed to have long-term success in the NFL. The defensive tackle fell in the draft because many doubted his ability at the next level. He did not produce at all in college and he was thought to be more of a long-term project rather than a instant contributor. Hand shocked everyone in his rookie year, and was one of the best young defensive tackles in football last season.

In a league where versatile interior defenders who can pass penetrate and stop the run have become especially useful, Hand is exactly what the Lions need. He is an incredible player with a sky-high ceiling. While there is always a chance that he undergoes a sophomore slump or regresses in the future, for now it looks like the Detroit Lions have found a franchise piece that they can build around for the next decade.

Film study and in-depth analysis at the link:

www.prideofdetroit.com/2019/5/27/18633829/detroit-lions-film-breakdown-dashawn-hand

[Funkytown]

[liongeezer]

Jun 21, 2019 14:05:27 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

I hope so, but you have to have an effective run game in order for play action to work properly.  Most defenses have ignored the Lions run game and concentrated on stopping Stafford.  Faking the hand-off took too much time and became a detriment due to lineman not taking the bait.  The Lions were better off placing Stafford in the shotgun which allowed him to survey the field during the entire time of the play.  

[thedane]

A couple points, if there are 32 teams in the NFL, how could we be 33rd in 2018? Second, if your passer rating is higher when you use play action, how could it be a detriment?

[Blaming Brad]

Jul 1, 2019 8:46:42 GMT -6 thedane said:

if there are 32 teams in the NFL, how could we be 33rd in 2018?

My guess is that is individual QBs, not teams.

[badnews3123]

Jul 1, 2019 0:53:34 GMT -6 liongeezer said:

Jun 21, 2019 14:05:27 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

I hope so, but you have to have an effective run game in order for play action to work properly.  Most defenses have ignored the Lions run game and concentrated on stopping Stafford.  Faking the hand-off took too much time and became a detriment due to lineman not taking the bait.  The Lions were better off placing Stafford in the shotgun which allowed him to survey the field during the entire time of the play.  

Not necessarily. There’s studies that have been done that don’t show the correlation of run game and play action success. And a lot of OLineman will tell you play action is sold by the OL selling run off the snap.

[badnews3123]

Jul 1, 2019 8:46:42 GMT -6 thedane said:

A couple points, if there are 32 teams in the NFL, how could we be 33rd in 2018? Second, if your passer rating is higher when you use play action, how could it be a detriment?

Most teams are better on play-action than regular drop backs. Argument can be made it’s under-utilized league wide.