Lions News

[jaadam4]

I called the Brady to the Lions weeks ago. But I hope that doesn’t happen. Maybe 3 years ago Brady but right now, he just needs to retire

[froot loops]

Brady to Detroit doesn't make any sense. He can still play but they already have Goff.

[Futureshock]

Florio must hate Goff. It was every QB in the 2022 draft. And then there was Baker. And now Brady. Meanwhile, his team, the Queens, have Cousins who isn't better then Goff, but he doesn't try to ruffle feathers that way. He thinks Detroit is a dumping land.

It makes sense when you factor in he's a Queens fan.

[whatever_gong82]

I now must curse you for posting that idiot's words here.

Sorry about that.

[whatever_gong82]

Lions' Aidan Hutchinson Rookie of Year finalist, Dan Campbell misses cut for Coach of Year

Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is one of three finalists for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, but Dan Campbell did not make the cut in Coach of the Year voting.

The NFL announced finalists for its eight major end-of-season awards Wednesday via Associated Press voting.

Campbell generated Coach of the Year consideration after leading the Lions to a 9-8 record this season, but was not one of five finalists for the award after the Lions missed the playoffs. The Lions won eight of their final 10 games after a 1-6 start to finish with their first winning record since 2017.

All five Coach of the Year finalists — Brian Daboll of the New York Giants, Doug Pederson of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers, Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills and Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles — led their teams to the postseason. The Lions beat the Giants and Jaguars, and lost to the Bills and Eagles in the regular season.

In an appearance on ESPN's ManningCast of the Dallas Cowboys-Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoff game in mid-January, Campbell said there were coaches more deserving of the award.

"It would absolutely be an honor, because there are some really good coaches that deserve that," Campbell said. "To me, better ones out there than me by the job they did this year. Daboll would be one of those, he just did a heck of a job. Doug Pederson, I mean I could go down the list there."

Hutchinson, the No. 2 pick of last April's NFL draft, led all NFL rookies with 9½ sacks and finished with 52 tackles and three interceptions. He won two Defensive Rookie of the Month awards, in November and December/January, but is considered a longshot to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.



New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, a first-team All-Pro, is the favorite for the award after leading the NFL with 20 passes defensed, and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen is the other finalist.

Ndamukong Suh was the last Lion to win Rookie of the Year in 2010.

The nationwide panel of 50 sports writers who cover the league ranked their top five picks for MVP and top three for every other award. Winners will be announced at the 12th annual NFL Honors ceremony Feb. 9, three days before Super Bowl LVII, in Phoenix.



Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is one of three finalists for assistant coach of the year, along with 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.

Johnson interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts this offseason, but withdrew his name from consideration for all three jobs.

Under Johnson's guidance, the Lions finished fifth in the NFL in scoring offense (26.6 points per game) and fourth in total yards (380 ypg) this season, and quarterback Jared Goff had one of the most productive seasons of his career.

Among other awards, quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and receiver Justin Jefferson are finalists for MVP, and pass rushers Nick Bosa, Micah Parsons and Chris Jones are finalists for Defensive Player of the Year.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

[whatever_gong82]

Detroit Lions OG Jonah Jackson, up for contract extension, 'would love to be a Lion forever'

Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press


They're big and burly and not at all dandelions, but cultivating an elite offensive line in the NFL is like growing a prize garden — both require plenty of pruning to keep the weeds out.

That's the spot the Detroit Lions find themselves in this offseason as they look to keep one of the NFL's best lines blooming well into the future.

The Lions have four of their five starters under contract for 2023, with only right guard Evan Brown scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, but forward-thinking decisions to make at all three interior line spots.


At right guard, the Lions have a decision to make on Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who missed the 2022 season after undergoing back surgery. Vaitai has two years left on the free agent contract he signed in 2020, with base salaries of $9.4 million due each of the next two years.

The Lions could keep Vaitai at his current salary if they believe he can return healthy, ask him to take a pay cut after he played 25 of a possible 50 games over the past three seasons, or look elsewhere for his replacement, perhaps in the draft where they have five of the first 81 picks, while freeing up $6.5 million in cap space.


Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence, USC lineman Andrew Vorhees and Minnesota's John Michael Schmitz are among the top interior line prospects in the draft.

Brown had an up-and-down season while playing through an ankle injury, but has been invaluable to the Lions while starting 13 games at center and 11 at guard the past two seasons. He could command a free agent deal worth more than $10 million annually, according to Spotrac, which likely would put him out of the Lions' price range, especially if they keep Vaitai.

If Brown leaves in free agency, the Lions will need to find a capable backup for Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow, who played through a toe injury this season and is contemplating offseason surgery. Ragnow missed most of the 2021 season after undergoing surgery on the same foot.

Ragnow is one of the best centers in the NFL, but has missed at least one game every season since his rookie year. Backup tackles Matt Nelson and Dan Skipper also will be restricted free agents.

⋅ Jonah Jackson is locked into place as the Lions' starting left guard, but is eligible for a contract extension heading into the final year of his rookie deal.

Jackson told the Free Press in multiple interviews late in the season he is open to staying in Detroit long-term.


"Oh, without a doubt. I love Detroit," Jackson said. "I would retire in Detroit. I would love to be a Lion forever. I love the city. It’s not much different than Philadelphia (where Jackson grew up). A little bit smaller, but culture wise, the nitty-gritty blue collar. Good food. I just love everything about it. It’s not much different from where I come from. The elements. The people are awesome. They fully embrace you. (The media is) great. I wouldn’t mind calling it a day out here."

Lions general manager Brad Holmes signed Ragnow to an extension in 2021, when he spent his first spring in Detroit fortifying the offensive line. The Lions took right tackle Penei Sewell with the seventh pick in the 2021 draft, and inked Ragnow to a four-year extension a week later while Ragnow still had one year left on his rookie contract.

Jackson, in a similar spot contractually, likely will not approach the $20 million annual salary Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson averaged on the extension he signed in September, but could fall into the next tier of guards that begins at $14 million as one of four Lion linemen to receive Pro Bowl votes (along with Ragnow, Sewell and left tackle Taylor Decker),

Some past Lions regimes have been philosophically opposed to signing guards to large contract extensions. If Holmes does not intend to re-sign Jackson, it may be even more important to add a young blocker to the pipeline to keep the Lions' line among the game's elite.

“Whatever happens, happens," Jackson said. "If it doesn’t, I’m the same guy, the same (No.) 73 who showed up for work every day from COVID Year 1 to now, hopefully getting better. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

[whatever_gong82]

A 2023 roadmap for the Detroit Lions' offseason

Justin Rogers

The Detroit News

Allen Park — The offseason arrived for the Detroit Lions at least one week earlier than the team had hoped. Despite winning eight of their final 10 games, the Lions were left on the outside of the NFC playoff picture after losing a head-to-head tie breaker to the Seattle Seahawks, who claimed the conference's seventh and final seed.

It was a fun ride to the finish, including forcing the Green Bay Packers to share in the misery of missing the postseason, but the Lions only have themselves to blame. In addition to that Week 4 loss to Seattle, Detroit started 1-6 on the year, a hole that proved too deep to climb out from in the end.

So here we are, in a familiar place around these parts, left only to discuss free agency and the draft in January. But things aren't so bad. The Lions look to be legitimately on the upswing after winning six more games than the first year of general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell's regime.

So what will it take to make the next step in the progression? Glad you asked. As we did last year, we're going to borrow the GM hat from Holmes and lay out what the next several stages of the offseason look like for the Lions, while offering some thoughts on the best courses of action.


Roster cuts


Honestly, I'll never be comfortable offering my opinion on this topic. Sure, it's a basic component of professional sports economics, but it's not easy to suggest a player should lose their job, even when the production clearly doesn't match the salary.

When Holmes arrived to town two years ago, he aggressively trimmed the roster those first few months, cutting several veterans who weren't going to factor into the rebuild. Last year, that list dropped to one: Defensive end Trey Flowers. The veteran's salary likely wouldn't have been tenable even had he been able to stay healthy the previous season, but the fact he had been plagued with durability issues made the choice to part ways easier.

This offseason, Holmes is facing a handful of decisions, including moving on early from some players he acquired or re-signed.

Moves to consider: The most obvious is moving on from defensive tackle Michael Brockers. He was brought in via trade to both help on the field and establish the culture. He fulfilled the second half of that equation admirably, but the anticipated production never arrived. Inactive most of the second half of the season, his release will create an additional $10 million in cap space.

It's also probably time to let go guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai. A good player when healthy, and wildly popular with his teammates, the Lions can't afford to keep his $12.5 million cap figure on the books after he missed all of 2022 with a back injury. Detroit still will be on the hook for a good chunk of dead money, but his release would create another $6.5 million in space.


Up next are two edge rushers, Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris. Both were limited by injury in 2022, with Okwara missing most of the season while recovering from last year's torn Achilles injury and Harris limited to six games because of a nagging groin issue. Both have one year remaining on their deals, and their releases could save $7.5 million and $4 million, respectively.

A case could be made to cut both, given the recent injection of productive youth up front, but it makes more sense to hold on to Okwara, who has a better frame and skill set for the crush-the-pocket style the Lions prefer to play on the edges. Harris was such a great story in 2021, but his body type and skill set have considerable overlap with James Houston, who emerged in the second half of the season. At his year-end press conference, Holmes said the team wouldn't make decisions that would hinder player development, and keeping Harris feels like a move that could limit Houston's playing time and potentially stunt his growth.

On top of those big four, there are several smaller cuts on the table, but most would probably be worth seeing how the rest of the offseason plays out before making any hasty decisions. For example, Josh Reynolds' release could free up $3.25 million, while fullback Jason Cabinda's departure would give the Lions back $2 million. But both players have clear roles that would need to be replaced.

It's somewhat easier to make the case to release wide receiver Quintez Cephus and guard Logan Stenberg, with each freeing up about $1 million in space.


Just by releasing Brockers, Vaitai, Harris, Cephus and Stenberg, the Lions would more than double their projected cap space.


Tags and tenders


Obviously, the Lions have the ability to use the franchise or transition tags, but none of their pending free agents merit that kind of big-money, one-year commitment. Ezekiel Ansah, in 2018, was the last Lions player to receive the franchise tag and it should remain that way.

In terms of restricted free agents, the Lions have three. There's the option to tag those players with either first-, second-, or original-round tender, but there's no way to justify that cost for offensive tackle Matt Nelson, cornerback Bobby Price or guard Ross Pierschbacher. If Holmes wants any of them back, they could likely be had at, or close to, veteran minimum.

Finally, there are seven exclusive-rights free agents. These are players with two or fewer accrued seasons, and if tendered, it's a non-guaranteed, one-year, veteran-minimum contract. With those terms, there's little reason not to tag most, if not all. That group includes tight ends Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra, defensive tackle Benito Jones, running back Craig Reynolds, linebacker and special-teams standout Anthony Pittman, long snapper Scott Daly and guard Tommy Kraemer.

Veteran minimum for a player with two accrued seasons is scheduled to be $940,000 in 2023, so tendering all seven exclusive-rights players will use a little more than $6.5 million in cap space.


In-house free agents


Here's where Holmes will start to face more challenging decisions. The team has 18 players set to be unrestricted free agents, and, if the GM sticks to his typical strategy, he'll likely be looking to bring several of them back.


In no particular order, here's who we would target to retain, with estimated contract figures.

▶ Linebacker Alex Anzalone — Two years, $10 million, $5.5 million guaranteed

There are multiple reasons to bring back Anzalone. First and foremost, he's coming off a career year, racking up personal bests in tackles, tackles for a loss and quarterback pressures. He also played well in coverage and sharply reduced his missed tackle rate after struggling to wrap up ball carriers in 2021.

Anzalone provides leadership on the field and in the locker room for a young unit lacking veteran voices, particularly if the offseason plan includes moving on from Brockers. Watch closely on a given defensive series and you'll see Anzalone physically moving teammates, getting everyone in position ahead of the snap.

There also aren't a lot of viable alternatives. This draft class isn't loaded with plug-and-play prospects, capable of quarterbacking a defense out of the box, and one of the handful of clearly better free agents will command a significantly larger contract.

We based the projected contract off the two-year, $10 million contract Jordan Hicks received from the Vikings last year. Like Anzalone, Hicks is well-rounded and capable of putting up big tackle totals annually. He's actually a few years older than Anzalone, but also came to Minnesota with fewer, recent durability concerns, balancing out the ceiling and risk.

▶ Defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs — One year, $2.5 million

Joining the Lions shortly ahead of training camp, Buggs ended up playing a whopping 755 defensive snaps, easily doubling his three-year workload in Pittsburgh to begin his career. With the added work, he finished with a solid stat line of 46 tackles, 10 quarterback hits and a forced fumble.

Buggs is more of a stabilizing force than a game-changer, although the fumble he caused was a key play in Detroit's victory over Minnesota in the second half of the season. The Lions clearly need more firepower on the interior, but even if they pursue that elsewhere, Buggs can continue to be a solid hand, even in a reduced role.

There aren't many great comparable contracts. Buggs doesn't have nearly the track record Bilal Nichols did when he inked a two-year, $8.6 million offer from the Raiders last year. Another interior player who shoulders a big snap count and offers some pass-rush ability is Morgan Fox. He only made it through the first of a two-year, $8.1 million deal he signed with the Panthers in 2021 before joining the Chargers on a more modest one-year, $1.2 million pact.

The Lions should hold back from a long-term investment, but Buggs is worthy of a pay bump after showing what he's capable of providing for the defense in 2023.

▶ Wide receiver DJ Chark — One year, $10 million

When healthy, Chark offered the Lions what the team had envisioned when signing him to a prove-it deal last offseason. And while Jameson Williams is going to merit a far larger role in his second season, the Lions still will have a need for a big-bodied X-receiver who can both stretch the field and move the chains, while giving quarterback Jared Goff a reliable outside option in the red zone.

Chark's surgically repaired ankle, which sidelined him six games, remains a concern, and makes a long-term investment in the player difficult. If someone else is willing to purse that risk with a multi-year pact at a similar rate, the Lions should let them and be prepared to explore alternative options. Additionally, bringing back Chark might admittedly be an either-or conversation with Josh Reynolds, who is already more at risk of losing playing time to Williams at the Z receiver spot in the scheme.

With four picks in the first two rounds of the draft, the Lions alternatively could look for size in the draft. The case for Chark over a rookie is the budding chemistry he seemed to be forming with Goff as the year progressed.

▶ Defensive lineman John Cominsky — Three years, $18 million, $10 million guaranteed

Cominsky, an offseason waiver claim, immediately showed he embodies the concept of grit the Lions have wholeheartedly embraced under Campbell. The husky, 285-pounder is strong, athletic, versatile and plays with pure hustle. He finished second on the team in quarterback pressures, despite missing three games and playing most of the season with a club over his hand to protect a broken thumb suffered in Week 2.

He can rush inside and outside, set a strong edge when playing the run and handle a sizeable workload. Unless you get badly outbid on the open market, bringing back Cominsky should be a no-brainer. The contract projection is similar to the one the Lions offered Harris, but a year longer, reflecting Cominsky's schematic versatility and still-untapped upside.


▶ Running back Jamaal Williams — Two years, $9 million, $4.5 million guaranteed

Williams is one of the trickiest conversations Holmes will have to navigate in the coming months. There's no denying the positive emotional energy Williams brings to the roster, but the league has proven time and time again it's risky committing significant resources to a veteran running back.


Williams obviously did some great things in 2022, most notably rewriting the franchise record book with 17 rushing touchdowns, but you have to be careful overinflating the value of a stat that relies so heavily on situational opportunities.

A bigger-picture view of Williams' shows you a back who averages a pedestrian 4.1 yards per carry, doesn't offer a ton in the passing game, and doesn't have anywhere near the playmaking ability of those players who set the standard at his position. There's nothing wrong with being a reliable plow horse, as long as you don't pay him like a thoroughbred.

Williams is a younger version of Latavius Murray, and probably deserves a contract similar to the two-year pact the Ravens gave Gus Edwards last year. The GM has to stay relatively firm on the price point and be prepared to restock the cupboard with a cheaper option in the draft if the ask is much higher.


▶ Safety C.J. Moore — One year, $1.23 million, including a $152,500 signing bonus

An offseason injury forced the Lions to briefly part with Moore to begin this past season, but he quickly re-established his value upon re-signing. A four-core special teams performer and capable, in-game injury replacement on defense, Moore would be a good piece to bring back via a veteran salary benefit contract, which mitigates a portion of the cap ramifications.

Running back and return man Justin Jackson and kicker Michael Badgley also merit consideration for veteran salary benefit deals.


▶ Linebacker Josh Woods — One year, $2.43 million (4-year Qualifying Player Benefit)

Woods has consistently been Detroit's top special-teams performer, which often goes unappreciated. He might not offer much on defense, but the qualifying player benefit allows the team to give him an extra $1.35 million in pay without it costing against the cap.


▶ Other considerations

Obviously, there would be value in bringing back offensive lineman Evan Brown, but after two years as an injury fill-in, he's likely earned a starting opportunity and the pay raise that would come with that. If the Lions' projected lineup hole was at center and not right guard, it would make more sense to award Brown the raise he's earned, but it's tougher to justify a pay bump if he's slotted for a reserve spot.

Also, it'll be similarly difficult to retain back safety DeShon Elliott, who settled into a groove and had a really nice season for the Lions in 2022. With Tracy Walker (Achilles) expected back for the start of next season, and rookie Kerby Joseph emerging as a playmaker in the back end, the challenge is figuring out where the snaps would come from for Elliott to continue to make sense.

And finally, if the price is right, a case could be made to keep Will Harris, Mike Hughes or both veteran cornerbacks as versatile depth in the secondary.

continued...

[whatever_gong82]

Exploring the market


As has been the case his first two offseasons seasons, retaining his own players and focusing on building through the draft won't leave Holmes with a wealth of resources to spend on other team's free agents.

Positions of weakness for the Lions to explore could be guard, tight end, cornerback, defensive tackle and potentially receiver, running back and linebacker, depending on who the team is able to retain.


In terms of a swing-for-the-fences option, it could be worth checking in on Washington defensive tackle Daron Payne. He's averaged 48 quarterback pressures the past two seasons, and could bring a much-needed interior skill to Detroit's roster. More cost-effective options at the position include Jarran Reed, Sheldon Rankins and David Onyemata.

At tight end, the Lions really could use a dual threat who is a more steady blocker than what's being offered by their young collective. Arizona's Maxx Williams, if you're comfortable with his medicals, has a solid track record. Or if you want a post-hype pass catcher, former top-50 draft picks O.J. Howard and Irv Smith Jr. are both set to hit the market.

It's probably more cost-efficient to address guard in the draft, but there are some fine veterans set to be available. That group is headlined by Chris Lindstrom, one of the best interior run blockers in the business. Again, that would be a relatively big swing for Holmes, particularly given the resources already dedicated to that position group, but it would reinforce a commitment to making the offensive line one the league's best.

A final spot where it could be helpful to find veteran help is at the nickel corner. If Holmes wants to revisit his Rams roots, Troy Hill should be available, as well as Pittsburgh's Cameron Sutton and Atlanta's Isaiah Oliver.


Building though the draft


Through some aggressive trades, the Lions have four picks in the first two rounds: Six, 18, 48 and 54. That's potential to add a lot of impact, which Holmes has proven adept at finding through his first two turns through the draft.

By falling outside the top-three, thanks to a couple late-season wins by the Rams, the Lions are likely to miss out on the top two defensive prospects in this class, Alabama's Will Anderson and Georgia's Jalen Carter. And while the debate figures to simmer until draft day, we continue to not expect the Lions to select a quarterback with their first choice.


That leaves the following options at No. 6: A second-tier defensive line talent such as Clemson's Myles Murphy or Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson, the best cornerback on the team's board, solidifying the offensive line with Northwestern's Peter Skoronski, or a surprising offensive skill addition such as TCU receiver Quentin Johnston or Texas running back Bijan Robinson.

Based on Holmes' after-season comments about needing to address the defense this offseason, and understanding positional value, the likely bet is a defensive lineman at that spot — a group that also includes Murphy's teammate Bryan Bresee.

Trading up or down is also on the table. If not cost prohibitive, moving up to land Anderson or Carter shouldn't be dismissed. Alternatively, the Lions could leverage potential interest in quarterbacks Will Levis or C.J. Stroud into a short slide down the board, where they could still land a top defender while picking up another valuable draft asset (or two).

With pick No. 18, that's looking like a sweet spot to snag one of the cornerbacks, whether that's Penn State's Joey Porter Jr., Illinois' Devon Witherspoon, Oregon's Christian Gonzalez or Utah's playmaking Clark Phillips III.

In the second round, there's more room for flexibility to follow the board. That includes upgrading some of the spots mentioned in the free agency section, particularly guard. It's also a good spot to consider a long-term solution at running back, regardless of whether Williams is re-signed, given the continued durability concerns with D'Andre Swift. There's a skill-set overlap with someone like Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs, assuming he lingers into the middle of the round.

Round 2 also could be a good area to look at linebackers, including Penei Sewell's brother, Noah, a big-bodied option at a position where players seem to be slimming down by the year. Alabama's Henry To'oTo'o and Arkansas' Drew Sanders are also frequently mentioned in that range.

And while we continue to dismiss the possibility of a QB at No. 6, any time after isn't a bad spot to consider a high-ceiling, developmental backup. That includes Florida's Anthony Richardson in the back half of the first round, or someone like Tennessee's Hendon Hooker, who is coming off an ACL injury, in Day 2.


Extension consideration


The Lions have a fifth-year option decision on Jeff Okudah's rookie contract, but given the way the cornerback finished the year, it feels increasingly likely the team won't exercise that one-year, guaranteed salary that's projected between $11-12 million.

A longer-term extension might make more sense if Holmes and Campbell believe Okudah is only going to get better the further he's removed from his torn Achilles. Even an annual value of $10-12 million could end up being a bargain if he steadily improves his coverage ability to match last season's effectiveness when defending the run.

Another player on the brink of an extension is guard Jonah Jackson. A former Pro Bowler, he's not quite in the conversation as one of the elite players at his position, but he should still be able to command a second-tier salary of $11-14 million per season based on his age, experience and production. That might take him out of Detroit's range, seeing the team already has committed big money to Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow, with a future extension for Sewell coming due not too far into the future.

Finally, there's Goff. With two years left on his contract, there's no real rush to explore an extension unless Holmes is ready to make a commitment to the veteran quarterback. The value there is salaries typically go up every year. Still, the Lions probably would benefit more from seeing whether the quarterback can build on his 2022 success.


Recap


Offense: After finishing top-five in yards and points last season, the Lions don't have a ton of work to do with the offense. Obviously, the team should look to shore up the right guard spot, either in the draft or free agency. Additionally, the Lions must decide whether to re-up with their veteran lead back and starting X receiver or pursue cheaper alternatives in the draft.

Defense: The Lions paid the price for a lack of experience and chemistry to start the 2022 season. By seeking to bring back some of their own free agents such as Anzalone, Cominsky and Buggs, they can maintain some continuity and veteran leadership on a unit that performed far better in the second half.

But sticking to the status quo with the unit's personnel isn't good enough. The team's remaining free-agency funds and the majority of its draft equity should be invested in building up the defense with an eye on matching the offense's improvements from this past season.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

[Futureshock]

A lot to unpack. I think, I think, they should retain Buggs, Cominsky, and Anzalone. Yet draft their replacement(s) very high. He's turning into my 2023 Forsh (sry buddy), But Breese would serve to be Buggs and Cominsky. With his playing style closely resembling Cominsky's. Clemson had used him in that same hybrid role, at times playing him at big end or he would loop around end in some snaps.

At LB, anyone of the following to be added to develop behind AA:

29	Drew Sanders	LB	Arkansas	6'5"	232
36	Trenton Simpson	LB	Clemson	6'3"	230
44	Noah Sewell	LB	Oregon	6'2"	253
73	Henry To'oTo'o	LB	Alabama	6'2"	228

I think To'oTo'o should be available at #48, but a move up (surrendering the 2024 3rd rd pick acquired in the Hockenson trade may work) to snag Noah Sewell would be fitting. As long as he runs a decent 40 he will NOT be Tavai.

[jaadam4]

I think, I think
.

If you say it enough times it might happen

[Futureshock]

If you say it enough times it might happen

I think, I think, they should retain Buggs, Cominsky, and Anzalone.

Yeah, it works this time

[whatever_gong82]

How James Houston could have Micah Parsons-like impact on Detroit Lions defense in 2023

Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

James Houston was one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the NFL this season despite playing only a smattering of snaps after starting the year on the Detroit Lions practice squad.

As Houston heads into his first offseason as a pro, his personal pass rush coach said he should be even more dangerous in 2023, when his versatility could make him a Micah Parsons-like weapon on the Lions defense.

"He can play off the ball, he can play inside, he can play outside, and I think the next step, I believe, for where Detroit is, find ways to get him off the ball, use him as a weapon, as a Swiss Army knife," said Chuck Smith, a private coach who trains some of the NFL's best defensive ends. "Line him up as the mike (linebacker), send him. All kind of different fire zone blitzes. Put him at the will. Put him at defensive end on third downs."

Houston played 140 defensive snaps in seven games this season, about 12% of the Lions' total defensive plays, and finished with eight sacks — second among all rookies, behind teammate Aidan Hutchinson's 9½ — and 13 quarterback pressures.



He played primarily as a designated pass rusher after debuting off the practice squad on Thanksgiving, but took over late in the season as the Lions' starting strong-side linebacker. He played there on base downs before shifting to defensive end in the Lions' nickel package.

While Houston's shortcomings as a run and pass defender could hinder his ability to play as a traditional linebacker — the role Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys' do-everything defender who is one of three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year, sometimes fills on defense — he did play as an off-ball linebacker early in his college career at Florida.




Smith, who played nine NFL seasons as a defensive end with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, said Houston has unique pass rush ability similar to Parsons'; he had 13½ sacks this season while rushing from all over the Cowboys' front seven.

"I just think that’s where his value will continue to grow because he can pressure off the ball," Smith said. "Most guys can’t, so he can be off the ball. And I think with a guy who can play off the ball and he has moves and he’s developing techniques, I think that’s going to really carry him a long ways as he finds his way to one day being a starter."

Houston, a 2022 sixth-round pick out of Jackson State, spent seven weeks training with Smith last winter as he prepared for the combine, his pro day and to play in college all-star games.


He said he plans to split the early part of his offseason between his home in Florida and Smith's gym in Atlanta, where his focus will be refining his pass rush moves and adding more ways to win at the line of scrimmage.

"I’m not going to put a limit on what he can do, cause how I believe, when one move’s not working, OK, let’s bring out the next one," Smith said. "It’s just like anything, like being a pitcher. He’s got maybe three or four different pitches and when one’s not working and if he needs another one for a different tackle that works, you bring that out. So for James, the dead man might not work this game, but guess what, now we got a side scissors, now we got long arm. Those aren’t hard moves to learn, it’s just a matter of teaching, then at that point it’s up to him to make decisions on which ones he uses when he needs them versus different tackles."

Houston recorded sacks this season with a dead man hesitation, a spin move that remains in its infancy, a traditional bull rush, by dipping low and slipping underneath blockers, in pursuit from behind and with closing speed from off the ball.

He fell just short of his goal of 10 sacks, which he set after his two-sack debut (in five defensive snaps) against the Buffalo Bills, and said his objective this offseason is to improve his run defense and understanding of the Lions' scheme so he can open next season as an every-down defender.


"There’s coaches and there’s players. Sometimes there is a gap difference in that, so my goal is to close that gap as much as I can and just go play free," Houston said. "Obviously, improve my body, improve everything, work as hard as I can in the offseason so I can come back and I’m going to have some guys to compete against as well."

If he earns a bigger role next fall, Smith said, there's no limit on where Houston's production can go in Year 2.

"Numbers don’t lie, and especially with the percentage of plays he did play," Smith said. "I mean, they got a good tandem now with him and Aidan, and a good coaching staff, so I just think his ceiling is really high."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

[whatever_gong82]

From player to coach: Lions' Hamilton excited about new path, Senior Bowl opportunity

Justin Rogers

The Detroit News


Allen Park — Much like playing linebacker, first at the University of Alabama, and later with the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions, Shaun Dion Hamilton wasted little time reacting after diagnosing the situation.

Less than two weeks after he was cut by the Lions last summer, at just 27 years old, Hamilton exchanged his cleats and shoulder pads for a clipboard and whistle, making an abrupt transition from player to coach, where he joined a staff jam-packed with guys who had years of NFL playing experience.

And next week, Hamilton's transition continues, when he heads to Mobile, Ala. to coach the defensive backs for the American team at this year's Senior Bowl game.

"As a player, you can read in between the lines and see the writing on the wall," Hamilton told The Detroit News. "Being my fifth year in the NFL, I knew where the trajectory of my career was going. And I had always told myself, when I first started playing, I never want to be the guy — not saying I'm too big to be on a practice squad or anything like that, but just stability-wise (I didn't want to linger)."


Injuries had also taken a toll on Hamilton. Knee injuries (ACL and patellar tendon) ended two seasons at Alabama, and he missed the 2021 season in Detroit after tearing a triceps muscle during training camp.

When Hamilton played, coaches had often told him that he could be a good coach someday, and during his exit interview with Detroit's leadership, Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes, both expressed interest in him remaining with the team in a coaching capacity if he didn't get an offer to continue his career with another team.



"They were saying, 'Look, man, I know things didn't work out here for you as a player, but we value having you around and we think you'd be a great asset on this coaching staff. So, if you don't get any serious interest from another team, give us a call.' I gave myself a week and a half to see if any teams showed serious, serious interest, and that's how I got to where I'm at."

Hamilton had long rejected the idea of going into coaching, but started to warm to the idea last summer. That spark grew into a fire when Campbell sprung a player-run practice on the roster in August, and Hamilton took command of the defense that day.

"I'd probably say by the time training camp started to go the way I didn't want it to go as a player, I began to look at the game a bit differently," Hamilton said. "I became an even bigger cheerleader and I felt like I started to become a coach. When you're not on the field, you're thinking, 'How can I impact this player?' or 'What pointer can I give this guy so he doesn't make a mistake here?'


"Definitely, I thought that was a great idea by Dan, just spicing things up during training camp," Hamilton said. "You know, guys get tired of beating up on each other, so kudos to him. But it definitely did. Running the show, calling the defense, it motivated me and gave me even more of an itch to do what I ended up doing."


The learning curve


Hamilton officially joined the coaching staff a few days before the regular-season opener through the team's Williams Clay Ford Minority Coaching Assistantship program. Starting on that bottom rung of the ladder, he naturally fit in and assisted position coach Kelvin Sheppard with the linebackers, but also got the opportunity to work with the team's defensive backs.

As a former middle linebacker who served as a captain and quarterback of the defense in Alabama, Hamilton already has a deep understanding of how the entirety of a defensive scheme works. Now, he's working on refining his understanding of how the fundamental skills and techniques are applied at the different positions, to round out his ability to teach.

"I know how I'm wired; I want to know about all 11 (players), their technique, how they're supposed to be doing it, how they do it," Hamilton said. "I think that's the biggest thing. Being a linebacker, we're the quarterback of the defense, so we have to be ready to run the show. I'm just taking that next step to know everything, from the corners, safeties, defensive line, nose tackle — that was the biggest learning curve."



Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who played cornerback in the NFL for 15 years, was another voice who encouraged Hamilton to consider coaching. Now, after trying to develop Hamilton as a player, he's helping develop him as a coach.

"As much as I wanted to be able to showcase my skill set and things like that, everything happened for a reason," Hamilton said. "I feel like my place, being here in Detroit, was for me to do what I'm doing now, being around a great staff, a great head coach like Dan, great mentors like AG, who can groom me to do something I can be doing for a long time."

The next step is the Senior Bowl, where Hamilton will get to further test himself, coaching a position he never played. And while he's not looking at it as any kind of audition, it could be viewed as such from the outside looking in, after defensive assistant Addison Lynch left the staff last week. He worked with the defensive backs in Detroit last year and Hamilton is working with the DBs in Mobile. It's easy to connect the dots.


Regardless of the greater implications, it's a special trip for Hamilton, who is an Alabama product through and through, having been born and raised in the state.

"It's definitely super special, man," he said. "It's so exciting because growing up in the state, I remember always hearing about the Senior Bowl. It's a huge deal for the state of Alabama. Coach (Nick) Saban always shows up. I got invited to the game (as a player in 2018), but I was injured and couldn't play. Now, to be able to come back after playing a couple years in the NFL, to be a coach in it, it checks a big box for me."



As for Saban, Hamilton hasn't touched base with his former coach after transitioning to the other side of the profession, but that's on the agenda for the offseason. Ultimately, even though this is a new venture, Hamilton has big goals as a coach. He wants to follow in the footsteps of guys like Sheppard and Glenn.

And even more so than with those colleagues, Hamilton is inspired by 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, because of the similarities of their paths.

"I feel like we're very similar in the way he was born and raised in Alabama, went to the University of Alabama, was a team captain," Hamilton said. "He made it to the NFL, served in lower coaching roles, became a linebacker coach. Now, he's a coordinator and he's up for head-coaching jobs. He's a great guy, not just as a football coach, but he's a tremendous human being."

In 2018, when Ryans was serving as the 49ers' inside-linebackers coach, he worked out Hamilton ahead of that year's draft. That experience left a strong impression with Detroit's young coach, and he's looking to pay it forward at the Senior Bowl.

"(At the Senior Bowl), I get to be around guys that are trying to get to the NFL," Hamilton said. "It's great for me that I can go there and tell the guys, 'Everything you want, I've been there. I've done it. I'm not just a coach, but I've played in the league.' It's great to be able to help young me to fulfill their dreams."

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

[-Deborah-]

Detroit Lions OG Jonah Jackson, up for contract extension, 'would love to be a Lion forever'

Is this the fastest culture shift for a team ever? I don't remember hearing these types of quotes, at least not in a long time.

BTW, thank you whatever_gong82 for posting some good articles recently!!

[chemiclord]

Cinci's shifted pretty damn quick. Winning tends to be the most reliable culture shock in the NFL.

Now, what I'll say is that I've never seen a team that started as low as the Lions get to the point where players are tripping over themselves to stay this quickly, and that is a testament to what Campbell, Holmes, and yes even Sheila have constructed around them.