Lions News

[Blue Lagoon58]

You heard correctly but I cant remember which guy it is either lol

Jamarco Jones

[Iron Lion]

I haven’t watched the preseason, but my buddy who’s a coach texts me to complain about how Martin doesn’t look like he belongs in the NFL. I don’t know if I’ve heard anything about him since the spring when he got some “he knows how to be a pro now” off season glow up articles.

I think basically the only series Martin played last year was the one scoring drive the Raiders had on us. They just ran it right up the middle every play. Apparently Martin plays way too high and gives up leverage.

[Cody_Russell]

Heard various reports about Martin progressing when compared to his redshirt rookie season. Not comparable to the reported meteoric rise of Onwuzurike this offseason… of which I’m happy for him if translates to the season. We shall see SOON.

Sounds like the Lions DLine could be really good. However, I would like to see it live. We were fooled about the Lions DLine during either the 2019 or 2020 season. Most notably Snacks Harrison completely falling off. I think the late great Futureshock would have attested to that based on prior conversations.

Lions are going to have to make the Reader decision in a few days. It’s hard to tell what’s going to happen, but again… I wouldn’t mind taking it REALLY slow with Reader. Make sure Reader is 110% before even playing him. Keeping him on PUP also means you can keep an extra guy on the 53.

[ghandi]

I think basically the only series Martin played last year was the one scoring drive the Raiders had on us. They just ran it right up the middle every play. Apparently Martin plays way too high and gives up leverage.

Thats what I have always heard too...I remember him a little in the Raider game...he had one really good play where he knocked the centeror guard back into the backfield and disrupted a running play.....but then after that there were a few plays where he just got blown off the line, like a few yards back....We'll see how it plays out, but right now it sounds like even Peko is ahead of him on the depth chart.

[whatever_gong82]

Pride of Detroit Direct
by Jeremy Reisman


The preseason mercifully comes to an end in just over 24 hours, and that means Detroit Lions (real) football is just around the corner. After the amount of injury scares this training camp, I think we’re all ready to be done with it and get to the games that matter.

But before we do that, I thought this was a good opportunity to recap a month of training camp practices. Over on the website, I detailed my nine biggest takeaways from camp, but here I wanted to focus more on the individuals who thrived or struggled.

Elsewhere on the newsletter, I’m going to highlight my best guesses for the remaining positional battles and who has the edge going into Saturday’s game against the Steelers. Then, of course, we close things out with our First Byte podcast, where Ryan and I discuss the storylines at each position heading into the preseason finale.


7 biggest standouts from Lions 2024 training camp

Levi Onwuzurike

We have to talk about Levi Onwuzurike, because he was the biggest story in camp, in my opinion. An afterthought last year and a candidate to get cut in the final year of his rookie deal, Onwuzurike has completely come out of nowhere to now assume a starting role in this defense. The question is no longer whether he can last an entire season without his back flaring up, but rather is his outstanding play this training camp indicative of his ultimate ceiling. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen him this preseason, and I doubt we will, but the way things look so far, it’s almost like the Lions have an additional second-round pick this year.


Amon-Ra St. Brown

Sometimes it’s worth reminding y’all that the Lions have a top-10 wide receiver on their roster. Perhaps is production has been skewed a little this training camp with Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta missing so much time, but St. Brown’s goal last year of 150 catches suddenly seems within his reach. Note: no receiver has ever reached 150 catches in a season. Michael Thomas set the record in 2019 at 149.


Aidan Hutchinson

Outside of St. Brown, no one appeared more in my notebook than Hutchinson. Nearly every practice he’d have at least two out of the following three: a sack, tackle for loss, or pass batted down at the line. As a reminder, he’s typically going up against the best right tackle in football. Let that sink in.


Brandon Joseph

Joseph has steadily risen up my depth chart throughout camp, and it has quickly defused some of my concerns about the safety depth. You probably remembered a month ago when just about every Lions fan was hoping Detroit would get involved in the delayed free agent signings at the position. However, with Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and now Brandon Joseph filling out the top four, suddenly it doesn’t feel that bad.

Joseph has the range to be a single high, sideline-to-sideline coverage safety, and Aaron Glenn praised his intelligence, comparing him to having an extra coach on the field. But where he’s improved the most is dropping down and being physical at the line.


“We need you to be more physical down in the box, you’ve got to play bigger when it comes time,” coach Dan Campbell recalled challenging him. “And he did that, and he came away with the takeaway. He showed up, and I thought he tried to do that on special teams.”

Intelligence, athleticism, physical play, and special teams. Sounds like a near roster lock to me.


Amik Robertson

When the Lions lost Emmanuel Moseley to a long-term injury, I felt that pit at the bottom of my stomach. Not only does it just suck on a personal level for Moseley, but suddenly the Lions’ nickel depth was looking like a problem. Like Joseph, Robertson has alleviated some of those concerns. He’s had a strong preseason, notching nearly a pass breakup every practice, and he leads the team with an 84.9 PFF pass coverage grade this preseason. He’s allowed just two catches and 15 yards on six targets, while recording a pass breakup and two “stops” in the pass game.

Moving Brian Branch from the nickel position was certainly a risk, but Robertson is stepping up in his place.


Khalil Dorsey

Last year, the Lions kept Dorsey and Steven Gilmore as their depth cornerback, and it seemed like eventually Gilmore was the young, developmental player of the future. However, it’s been Dorsey who has taken the biggest strides since then. Not only is Dorsey one of the most important special teamers on the roster, but when the injury bug hit the Lions’ outside cornerback room, Dorsey was the one who stepped up and looked like he belonged. Not only has he been doing it against the Lions in practice, but he was one of the best players on the field this preseason. He’s allowed just three catches for 12 yards, while also displaying strong run defense skills.


Jack Campbell

I can’t sit here and tell you Campbell made a play every single day in camp, because that’s not true. But just watching him navigate on each and every play shows a striking difference from where he was last year. In his rookie season, you could see the gears turning, and it caused him to react slowly and guess wrong, occasionally. Now, Campbell is flying to the ball without hesitation and acting like an air-traffic controller regarding his teammates. He’s even settled in from his stiff personality with the media and let his guard down a bit. In short, he just looks more comfortable, and that should allow him to play freer and quicker in 2024.


Position battles that remain wide open going into the preseason finale

This week, Dan Campbell noted that there are about six open spots on the roster still up for grabs. So heading into the preseason finale, I opted to look at the position battles I think are still very much up for grabs, and where the competitors stand. It’s worth noting that this method could be a bit flawed. Those final roster spots may not be battles within the same position. There could be battles between keeping a WR5 vs. a QB3 vs. a DB11 vs. a LB6. But to keep things a little simpler, let’s just highlight some of these positional battles.


iOL reserves

The competitors: Michael Niese, Kayode Awosika, Kingsley Eguakun

The Lions seem likely to keep three reserve tackles: Dan Skipper, Colby Sorsdal, and Giovanni Manu. Sorsdal’s versatility at guard could leave Detroit keeping just one additional interior offensive lineman, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was two.

Awosika is the trusted incumbent, but the Lions have really shown a liking to Niese and Eguakun. Both young players have seen time with the first-team offense with Kevin Zeitler missing the last couple weeks. Both, too, have seen reps at center, offering the kind of versatility that Awosika doesn’t have.


The current leader: Awosika

Why do I have Awosika here when he hasn’t been with the first team at all this training camp? Because I think the Lions know what they have in Awosika and just wanted to see how the young cats would hold up. Niese and Eguakun have been pleasant surprises, but the last day of training camp showed exactly why they can’t quite be trusted to be primary backups right now. Eguakun was completely overwhelmed by Alim McNeill and Kyle Peko, while several botched snaps showed that Niese may not have that center versatility they were hoping for.


WR-X

The competitors: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Daurice Fountain, Maurice Alexander

At this point, it may be reasonable to believe the Lions don’t have their 2024 WR-X on the roster. The Lions seem prepared to go with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond in their three-wide sets, but they’ve also made clear they’d rather have a big-bodied receiver to help rotate in for Raymond. There has just not been any consistency among this group, though, and I’m not even sure one strong performance in the preseason finale will be enough to earn the trust of this coaching staff.


The current leader: Peoples-Jones

Ever since Antoine Green’s injury, it’s been Peoples-Jones first up in the rotation. He continues to get first-team looks in the red zone, and is among the starters in the preseason. But it’s entirely possible the Lions just completely abandon their current WR-X options and stick with the best reserve receiver of training camp, be it Antoine Williams or Kaden Davis.


TE4

The competitors: Shane Zylstra, James Mitchell


Perhaps I’m making a mistake here, but given his ability as a fullback, I’m going to assume Parker Hesse makes the team comfortably. That leaves, likely, one spot remaining at the position between Zylstra and Mitchell. You could consider this the TE3 spot, as Hesse may be just a fullback and special teams guy on game days.


The current leader: Zylstra

While I think these two are somewhat even when it comes to receiving abilities (I may even give the edge to Mitchell there), Zylstra looks like the more well-rounded player to me. The Lions are undoubtedly looking for someone to fill either of the starters’ positions should an injury hit, and I think Zylstra is that guy. Admittedly, the Lions have been patient allowing their draft picks to develop, but with the roster now in its best place in decades, they may no longer have the luxury of being able to wait on Mitchell’s growth.


EDGE4

The competitors: James Houston, Isaac Ukwu, Mitchell Agude, Mathieu Betts


The Lions could very well keep five here, but with the versatility of Levi Onwuzurike, I think they may hold at four. With Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, and Josh Paschal firmly in, that may only leave one spot for this quartet of players.

Things aren’t trending in the right direction for Houston, as the Lions finally ended their experiment with him at the SAM linebacker position and he’s been battling a bone bruise for over a week. In the meantime, Ukwu and Agude have turned heads with impressive preseasons. Ukwu has a pair of sacks, while Agude has not only produced the most “stops” (failures for the offense) with six (the next closest is three), but he’s also started to take on some SAM responsibilities.


The current leader: Houston

I still think Houston is the current leader, but he should not feel comfortable in his roster spot. His pass rushing skills are unmatched by anyone else among the reserves, but he’s basically shown now through three training camps that there’s not much else to his game. In order to make the team, you either have to be incredible at one thing or show you can do multiple things. Houston could certainly fit into that first category, but that productive rookie season is pretty far in the rearview mirror at this point.


DB10

The competitors: Ben Niemann, Ty Summers, Abraham Beauplan

I’m not sure if the Lions end up keeping a sixth linebacker, but they’ve gotten some pretty strong play from all of their reserves that could warrant a spot. Niemann has been the starting MIKE linebacker all preseason and has held his own defensively. Summer, a late addition to camp, has a boatload of special teams experience (1,311 snaps) and made solid plays against the Chiefs. Beauplan has only been around for a couple weeks, but a strong preseason performance last week at least puts him in the conversation.


The current leader: Niemann

While I think Summers is a legitimate dark horse candidate to make the roster, Niemann has the bigger body of work this training camp. Niemann can do a little bit of everything on defense, and his own special teams experience (1,370 snaps) should earn him a gameday role, if Detroit opts to keep a third.



The competitors: Kindle Vildor, Steven Gilmore, C.J. Moore, Loren Strickland

Here are the nine players who I think are relatively safe among the defensive backs: Carlton Davis, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw, Amik Robertson, Khalil Dorsey, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Brandon Joseph. That’s five cornerbacks and four safeties.


With the amount of injuries at cornerback, Vildor makes some sense to keep. He’s an experienced vet, and has had a strong preseason. At the same time, when you get this deep down on the roster, special teams is key, and no one has proven it more there than Moore.

Gilmore has not taken the developmental step this offseason, but Strickland is a player to keep an eye out on. Campbell has praised his consistency this offseason, and his physical style fits well on special teams.


The current leader: Vildor or Moore (or both)

Personally, I’m in favor of keeping 11 defensive backs with both Vildor and Moore making the team. The secondary always seems to be rife with soft tissue injuries, and protecting yourself from that should be a high priority. That said, keeping 11 players in the secondary will undoubtedly cost Detroit depth in other areas like EDGE, LB, or OL.


Long snapper

The competitors: Scott Daly, Hogan Hatten

The current leader: ????

When positional battles are this tight, I tend to give the edge to the incumbent. The Lions value trust, and Scott Daly has two years of experience in Detroit. That said, the Lions have consistently brought in competition for him every year, and Hatten’s insane athleticism gives him an added edge to his game that Daly can’t claim.


First Byte: Breaking down the battles at every position on the line in Lions vs. Steelers

 

[whatever_gong82]

Bubble watch: 8 Lions who could be battling for their roster lives in preseason finale

Justin Rogers
Aug 23

2024 Detroit Lions players on the bubble.jpg

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions are heading into Saturday’s preseason finale with a handful of roster spots up for grabs.

The bubble is a cruel place to be this time of year; where one or two plays can determine whether you earn one of those remaining jobs or end up cut, unsure whether your next opportunity will come somewhere else, on a practice squad or not at all.

Earlier this week, we highlighted the ongoing roster battles for the five or six vacancies coach Dan Campbell said are still waiting to be filled.

Here are some of the players we feel have the most to gain with a strong close to the preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers.


Wide receiver Isaiah Williams

The Big Ten’s most productive receiver the past two seasons, Williams went undrafted due to his size and lackluster athletic testing. But after a sluggish start to his first NFL offseason, he’s acclimated and is coming on strong, saving his best performances for the team’s earlier preseason games.

Williams is pacing the Lions with 10 receptions on 12 targets for 106 yards. He’s proving to be an adept route runner with impressive change-of-direction acceleration, paired with an aggressive mentality in the open field. Plus, he brings some return ability to the table.

What’s holding him back is his size, and how the Lions feel it largely limits him to the slot. Campbell said they’re going to have a difficult time finding reps for him on the outside while trying to evaluate the other contenders for a receiver job. That means Williams is going to have to continue to wow the decision-makers within his limited schematic utilization. With another strong showing, his roster case will move closer to being undeniable.


Safety Brandon Joseph

Joseph has had a strong offseason, but is coming off a preseason start where he made a pretty big blunder, allowing speedy Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy to run past him into a deep zone for a long completion that converted a third-and-10.

Does that negate Joseph’s overall resume? Hardly. The fact he held his own taking first-team reps earlier this offseason, plus had a recent binge of interceptions that included a pick in the preseason opener against the Giants establishes his case.

The biggest issue is the numbers game in Detroit’s secondary. If CJ Moore makes the roster based on his special teams contributions, and it's determined there’s more value in a sixth cornerback compared to a fifth safety, where does Joseph fit? Fundamentally sound defense and a play or two on special teams would make the Lions think twice about putting him on waivers.


Running back Zonovan Knight

Detroit’s backfield chart is in good shape with starters David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs backed up by reliable veteran Craig Reynolds and exciting-but-raw rookie Sione Vaki. Is there room for a fifth, particularly if Reynolds’ recent practice injury ends up shelving him for the start of the season?

For a while, it looked like former seventh-round pick Jermar Jefferson might force the Lions to consider keeping another back, but Knight has emerged as the ascending option in that room. Not only was he pretty good as a rookie for the Jets in 2022, but he’s churned out 58 yards from scrimmage this preseason, while looking like Detroit’s best north-south runner outside Montgomery.

The pass-catching ability is limited, although Knight did have a touchdown grab during the team’s full-contact scrimmage on Wednesday. As with Joseph, showing a little more ability on special teams to complement Knight’s between-the-tackles ability could give the Lions pause when shaping their initial 53-man roster.


Edge rusher James Houston

There’s no guarantee Houston suits up for this contest. He’s been battling a knee injury, and even though he recently returned to practice, he hasn’t been full-go.

But after tinkering with the idea of leaving him off the roster last week because of his lack of versatility, it would be good for him to remind the Lions of the damage he’s capable of doing when focused strictly on rushing the passer off the edge.

As with some of the others we've mentioned, it would be beneficial for Houston to show a little more special teams prowess, making it easier to not only justify a job, but a place on the game-day roster.


Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones

The only way to describe Peoples-Jones’ offseason is underwhelming. It was easy to believe the big-bodied, versatile receiver with an 800-yard campaign on his resume was going to be a natural fit to fill the void created by Josh Reynolds’ departure, but it hasn’t worked out that way.

In practice, Peoples-Jones has had moments, but mostly working against defensive backs who won’t make the roster. And his two catches on six targets through a pair of preseason contests counters the notion he might be a guy who flips a switch on game day.

I can’t help but feel like the Lions are still hoping their investment, which started by sending a late-round draft pick to Cleveland at the trade deadline last year, will pay off. But GM Brad Holmes has shown he won’t force it if it’s not working with veteran acquisitions, particularly at the receiver position.


Linebacker Mitchell Agude

The team has sent mixed signals about Agude this offseason. He worked his way into some first-team reps during the early portion of the program, but has mostly operated with the third-team defense after Marcus Davenport returned to action.

Still, when given opportunities, Agude has flashed an intriguing skill set, using his length to give tight ends and offensive tackles problems off the edge. Currently, the Lions are giving him more off-ball responsibilities as they look for a capable backup SAM linebacker behind Derrick Barnes.

Agude is coming off a strong showing against the Chiefs. After spending his first year in Detroit on the team’s practice squad, another quality performance against the Steelers might be enough to earn him one of the final roster spots.


Offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun

The undrafted rookie out of Florida caught the coaching staff’s eye with his football IQ and assignment-sound play at center, but he’s hit a bit of a rough patch, starting with some struggles against the Chiefs last week.

This week, he’s been playing guard to test his versatility, and Detroit’s defensive interior has been having their way with the rookie. Eguakun still feels like a lock for the practice squad, at the very least, but he’ll need to show more consistency if he wants a main roster job.


Edge Isaac Ukwu

Sticking with some uncertainty in Detroit’s front seven, Ukwu has impressed with his thick frame and physical play on the edge. He holds up surprisingly well against the run, and he has a lot of power and just enough burst to offer upside as a pocket disrupter when rushing the passer.

Because of his ability to hold up against the run, he’s not as one-dimensional as Houston. On the other hand, Ukwu doesn't have Houston's dynamic upside as a pass rusher, nor is the rookie as well-rounded as Agude.

Ukwu also hasn’t had the opportunity to show much on special teams. He would benefit from increased reps on those groups in the preseason finale.


Email: jrogers@detroitfootball.net

X: Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/08/23/detroit-lions-release-veteran-linebacker-malik-jefferson/74925196007/

[Iron Lion]

We're finally the type of team that can afford to shelf guys in September, let them heal up, and be ready to go for the playoff push.

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/08/23/lions-face-tough-roster-decisions-in-coming-days-a-sign-of-how-far-theyve-come/74918856007/

[whatever_gong82]

Examining the '5 or 6' Lions roster spots still available in preseason finale vs. Steelers

Paywall article from the News.

Richard Silva
The Detroit News


Detroit — It's officially crunch time for those on the bubble.

The Detroit Lions, along with every other team in the NFL, will have to shave their roster down to 53 players shortly after the preseason ends this weekend. Teams must have their respective 53-man units set by 4 p.m. Tuesday, and practice squads can officially start getting built at noon on Aug. 30.

For Detroit, there isn't much debate at the top of the roster. The majority of the starters are locked in, and a good portion of the depth is set as well. With one preseason game remaining — a home finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday — Lions head coach Dan Campbell estimates there to be about a handful — "five or six, give or take" — spots still up for grabs.

Here are the positions we see as still having available slots, as well as the players who are angling to claim them.


▶ EDGE: Mitchell Agude, Mathieu Betts, Isaac Ukwu

Outside of Aidan Hutchinson, who's developed into one of the league's best pass rushers, the Lions didn't have much success in getting after quarterbacks last season. Hutchinson racked up 121 total pressures in his second year, per Pro Football Focus. That ranked No. 2 in the NFL behind only San Francisco's Nick Bosa and was more than triple Detroit's next-best option off the edge, in John Cominsky, who tallied 33. A bottom-of-the-depth-chart player likely won't be a force like Hutchinson, but perhaps one of Mitchell Agude, Mathieu Betts or Isaac Ukwu could be a rotational piece. The Lions have had an undrafted rookie make the initial roster for 14 consecutive seasons, and Ukwu may have the best shot to make it 15 in a row.


▶ Interior offensive line: Kayode Awosika, Kingsley Eguakun, Michael Niese

Detroit has one of the league's best starting offensive lines, but quality reserves are valuable. Injuries happen — starting guard Kevin Zeitler (shoulder) was limited during Wednesday's practice and star tackle Penei Sewell (foot) left early — and the Lions will need depth to turn to in the event someone goes down midseason. Looking at the interior specifically, it appears as if there are three players battling for opportunity — Kayode Awosika, Kingsley Eguakun and Michael Niese. The latter two bring some versatility at both center and guard, but don't have the experience of someone like Awosika, who is entering Year 4 and has played 568 snaps in the NFL (567 at guard); Eguakun is a rookie and Niese is about to begin his third season.


▶ Receiver: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Isaiah Williams, mystery free agent

Saying the Lions need a third option at receiver isn't necessarily true; Detroit already has three viable pieces in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond and Jameson Williams. What is true, however, is the Lions don't have a true X receiver, a big body who can not only go up and make contested catches, but also use their length to be effective as a blocker. No one has really stepped up into that role through the preseason, but Donovan Peoples-Jones physically profiles as that type of player. The only reserve to really stand out is Isaiah Williams, who was the team's leading receiver against the New York Giants on Aug. 8 and the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 17. The issue with Williams is he's more of a slot guy, and that position is already covered with St. Brown and Raymond. The Lions could also look around the league after cuts happen early next week and sign an outside option.


▶ Tight end: Parker Hesse, James Mitchell

Spoiler alert: Sam LaPorta is going to make Detroit's 53-man roster, and Brock Wright is almost assuredly going to come with him. It's not a bad gamble to pencil in Shane Zylstra, too. If the Lions are to keep four tight ends on their initial roster — they've only done that twice since 2010 (in '22 and '18) — then the door is open for one of Parker Hesse or James Mitchell to make the team. Mitchell has the advantage of experience, as he's been with Detroit since he was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft — and being a draft pick of the sitting general manager tends to help.


▶ Safety: CJ Moore, Brandon Joseph: When asked Wednesday about Awosika, Eguakun and Niese battling for a spot, Campbell said he and Holmes are always talking about different scenarios: "How many linemen are we keeping? What does that come down to? Is potentially one of those linemen more important than one of these safeties, depth safety, or does it come down to a fullback, tight end?" If the Lions keep an extra lineman, a reserve safety such as CJ Moore or Brandon Joseph could be on the wrong side of the bubble. Moore is an important special teamer, and Joseph has flashed his potential for creating turnovers. Keeping both would be ideal, but it may come down to one or the other.


Honorable mentions

▶ Running back: Craig Reynolds: David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are in at running back, and rookie Sione Vaki has impressed early after getting picked in the fourth round — and he can sing, too. With question marks at receiver, it seems the Lions can afford to keep another player at a different skill position, opening the door for four RBs. But if they opt to only hang on to three, it won't be a great development for Craig Reynolds.

▶ Linebacker: Ben Niemann: The good news for Ben Niemann is he's been solid for the Lions this preseason. The bad news is his steady play is coming at a position in which it already looks like Detroit has its top five in Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Malcolm Rodriguez. For Niemann to stick around, it'd probably require the Lions cutting someone extra at another position.


Lions vs Steelers

▶ When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Ford Field, Detroit

▶ TV/radio: Fox/97.1

▶ Streaming: DetroitLions.com


rsilva@gannett.com

@rich_silva18

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/08/23/for-detroit-lions-draft-pick-giovanni-manu-pre-season-game-made-him-feel-sick/74743693007/

[mason reese]

I haven’t watched the preseason, but my buddy who’s a coach texts me to complain about how Martin doesn’t look like he belongs in the NFL. I don’t know if I’ve heard anything about him since the spring when he got some “he knows how to be a pro now” off season glow up articles.

I read that he graded out in the mid 70’s after the first game. Haven’t seen anything for the second

[froot loops]

Coincidentally the local 4 sports segment at 6 tonight talked about Broderick Martin showing some explosion plays and with some positive praise from Campbell. Campbell said it's about consistency, when he's good he is good, when he is bad it's glaring. It seems like he has said that before or about another player.

Again, NT is a weird position. Your basic job is to literally stand there and plug a hole and occupy at least one player if not two. Most schemes don't even want the player to penetrate the LOS, especially in a two gap setup that they generally run. I can speak for all defensive lineman that two gap systems kind of suck if you are on the line It's harder than a one gap responsibility and you are doing all the hard work for those gloryboy linebackers.

[Mainevent]

The good thing is, DT may be in good shape but not necessarily how we would have thought last spring. Levi seems ready to live up to his draft position and Peko has definitely earned snaps based on his performance. So if Martin is a non-factor and Reader misses time, they should be solid in there, even if they are missing that NT/plugger role.

[froot loops]

The upside is if you can find or develop a big guy NT that plugs up the middle of the defense it can be rocket fuel for your defense.