Lions News

[jaadam4]

And he’s not under contract for 3 more years. He’s under contract for 2 more years with an option. That option is far from guaranteed.

I want him to succeed and become the best WR in the league but we’ve seen this before with Ebron. We can make all the excuses we want but he hasn’t passed the eye test. If Peoples-Jones comes in and works his way into the WR3 behind St. Brown and Reynolds it’ll be very telling

[ghandi]

It would be interesting to see if any teams inquired about JaMo at the trade deadline...and what would the Lions ask for in return and what would other teams offer?...He has to be one of the hardest players to evaluate

[jaadam4]

It would be interesting to see if any teams inquired about JaMo at the trade deadline...and what would the Lions ask for in return and what would other teams offer?...He has to be one of the hardest players to evaluate

Doubtful any inquired about him as the Lions wouldn’t give up on him yet. Hell Holmes went to the Pistons game with him. I hope the kid blows up but the alligator arms and drops are concerning.

I will give him one thing, that catch against TB was insane. Not many players can make that play with the CB all over him. I hope theres more of that coming

[Blue Lagoon58]

And he’s not under contract for 3 more years. He’s under contract for 2 more years with an option. That option is far from guaranteed.

I want him to succeed and become the best WR in the league but we’ve seen this before with Ebron. We can make all the excuses we want but he hasn’t passed the eye test. If Peoples-Jones comes in and works his way into the WR3 behind St. Brown and Reynolds it’ll be very telling

LOL, I said THEY have him under contract for 3 more years. They're not giving up on him any time soon. I'll enjoy the hand wringing, though.

[jaadam4]

LOL, I said THEY have him under contract for 3 more years. They're not giving up on him any time soon. I'll enjoy the hand wringing, though.

Did they already pick up on his 5th year option? I didn’t see that article.

[Blue Lagoon58]

Lol, this isn't that hard.

[NewOrleansLion]

This is an amazing stat. (From the Lions site)

Number: 9

What it means: Opponent points scored outside the red zone

NFL rank: 1st

Twentyman: Detroit's defense is doing a great job keeping scoring down outside the red zone and making opponents drive the field to score points. The Lions are the only team in the NFL that hasn't allowed a touchdown beyond the red zone this season and teams have only scored nine total points from outside the 20. The league average is 44 points scored outside the 20-yard line.

[chemiclord]

The Lions defense is the definition of "bend but don't break." It's expressed goal is to make opponents march the length of the field, betting that teams will routinely self-destruct before they can do that.

The problem with that defense is the teams that can dink-and-dunk all the way to the endzone, like for example the Seattle Seahawks (who undeniably have the Lions' number). Those sort of teams will gladly carve up soft zone defenses all day. At some point, once a team demonstrates that ability, you simply have to do something else, but it's not clear the Lions have the horses to do anything else on the defensive side of the ball.

[El Axe]

Not that it was amazing, but I did call it on McQuaid as the new LS. Given that he's a former all-pro, we should be in good shape.

Anyway, just to point out something: Montez Sweat was acquired with a 2nd-rounder from the Bears. Given the Bears current record, that will be around pick 35 in the draft. The Lions 2nd round pick will likely be around pick 60.

Using this draft value chart that seems to be the one currently being used by the NFL (I suspect this because all of the Lions draft day deals this past year came out nearly even on this chart):

In order for the Lions to have outbid the Bears for Sweat they would have had to give up either (a) their 1st round pick or (b) Their 2nd, 3rd & a 2024 3rd.

That's a ton of draft capital for a player who is about to command a significant portion of your salary cap. I wouldn't do it and would have been critical if we had.

[whatever_gong82]

The Detroit News' 2023 Detroit Lions midseason grades: Defense



Justin Rogers
The Detroit News


Allen Park — Having essentially reached the midseason mark, the Detroit Lions now have the week off to recharge, recover and recenter. At 6-2, and out to a two-game lead in the NFC North, they're in as good of a position as anyone could have hoped at the break.

With a little time to reflect on what has happened through the first eight games, we're here to offer up our annual midseason report card. We shared our assessment of the offense on Tuesday. Now let's take a closer look at the team's defense.



Defensive tackle Alim McNeill

In this third season, things are staring to click for McNeill. After transforming his body and sharpening his mental focus this past offseason, he's seeing clear dividends as both a run defender and pass rusher. His four sacks more than doubled his total from the previous two seasons combined and he's on pace to obliterate the 29 QB pressures he recorded a year ago, all while continuing to be reliable against the run. Grade: A-



Defensive tackle Benito Jones

As with most nose tackles, it can often feel like the 335-pound Jones is on the field to eat up space. And if Detroit's No. 2 run defense offers any indication, the big man's dirty work is paying off even if he's not reaping individual statistics. And while pass-rushing is never going to be Jones' forte, he's flashed on occasion, generating 11 pressures and a sack. Grade: C



Defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs

Whether or not we can accurately call his situation being in the dog house, Buggs has struggled to be an active part of the rotation a year after starting 13 games for the Lions. A healthy scratch to start the year and the most recent game ahead of the bye, he's been slightly better than average in his five appearances, recording a sack against Green Bay and three pressures in a win over Carolina. Grade: C+





Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike

It's been a welcome sight just to see the former second-round draft pick playing again after a back injury cost him the entire 2022 season. But there are no participation trophies in the NFL and Onwuzurike has continued to struggle finding ways to make a meaningful impact. A healthy scratch more often than not in recent weeks, he's tallied just two tackles and five quarterback pressures in 66 defensive snaps. At this point, it'll probably take multiple injuries to lead to a bigger role, especially with third-round pick Brodric Martin starting to earn playing time. Grade: F



Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson

Hutchinson has taken a step forward from his stellar rookie year, ranking second in the NFL in quarterback pressures through the first eight games. Where he's still lagging behind the league's other elite edge defenders is finding a way to translate that level of pressure into sacks more consistently. The former Michigan standout could still finish with double-digit sacks, but his current total of 4½ is half what Danielle Hunter, T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett are producing for their clubs. Additionally, Hutchinson is still just an average run defender. Grade: A-



Defensive end John Cominsky

Similar to Hutchinson, Cominsky is generating a decent amount of pressure on the pocket, but he's rarely getting the quarterback to the ground. Through eight games, The Commish has just one sack. We can acknowledge a lot of what he does, setting up his teammates, doesn't show up in the box score, while simultaneously believing he should have more than 14 tackles (four solo) after playing 285 defensive snaps. Grade: C-



Defensive end Charles Harris

Harris was supposed to be the jelly to Hutchinson's peanut butter, bringing a speed rush on the opposite side of Detroit's front, but Harris has failed to recapture the production that allowed him to lead the Lions in sacks two years ago. He's been so ineffective (10 tackles, 1½ sacks) that the team didn't hesitate to make the defensive captain a heathy scratch a couple weeks back. Grade: D-



Defensive end Romeo Okwara

Okwara's current usage doesn't translate to production. In fact, it's jarring to see he has just four tackles in seven games, while averaging one quarterback pressure per contest. But if you watch his film more closely, this is a player who does a solid job executing his assignment as a pocket crusher, utilizing a still-effective bull rush. That prevents escape lanes for the passer, hinders the throwing motion, and often creates clean-up opportunities for Detroit's other defenders. He's playing better than his numbers. Grade: C



Linebacker Alex Anzalone

The veteran linebacker is aging like fine wine. Plagued by injuries early in his career and missed tackles his first season in Detroit, the on-field general has become a reliable force as the talent level around him has increased. Playing more on the weakside this season, Anzalone is on pace to top 100 tackles for the second straight season and has already topped his previous season high with three sacks. His missed tackles are slightly up and his coverage numbers are slightly down, but overall, he's delivered in the first year of the new contract he signed this offseason. Grade: A-



Linebacker Derrick Barnes

Where'd this guy come from? Talent was never an issue for Barnes. His inconsistency issues had more to do with the mental side of the game after playing much of his college career along the line of scrimmage. But things clicked this offseason and he's carried that into the regular season. Splitting time with rookie Jack Campbell in the middle of Detroit's defense, Barnes has been a steady contributor, particularly against the run, where he's diagnosing at a far higher level. Grade: B


Linebacker Jack Campbell

The learning curve has been steep for the first-round pick, who is being asked to play a far more varied role than he did at Iowa. He's struggled to settle into a groove with some of his edge-rushing duties, and he has a propensity for overaggression when playing off the ball, especially with play-action. That said, he's been solid against the run and pristine as a tackler, having yet to fail when in position to wrap up a ball carrier, including four stops on special teams. Grade: D+


Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez

Rodriguez has gone from starter to a man without a defensive role in his second season. It's possible he's a player who struggles without the rhythm of playing every down, but he's looked uncharacteristically lost a handful of times when he has entered the lineup. Where he's continued to thrive is on special teams. There he's become one of the team's most utilized players, while even starting to dabble playing fullback. Grade: C-


Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin

Reeves-Maybin is buried on the defensive depth chart, but he's arguably Detroit's most important special teams performer. He's pacing them in snaps and tackles, executed a fake punt by taking a direct snap and came an eyelash away from blocking a punt. He's doing everything he was brought to Detroit to do. Grade: A-


Safety Kerby Joseph

It has been a weird season for the playmaking safety, who has seen minimal opportunities to actually make plays on the ball. He was finally able break through with an interception against the Raiders, allowing him to head into the bye on a high note. He's compensated for his lack of chances defending deep with impressive contributions in run support and consistent tackling. That's not sexy, but it's important to being effective at his position. An area for improvement is eliminating busted coverages. Seemingly once per game, Joseph finds himself far out of position, exposing Detroit to big plays. Grade: B


Safety Tracy Walker

Walker lost his starting job in training camp, but injuries handed it back early in the season. Returning from an Achilles tear, he impressively doesn't look like he's lost a step. Walker has been good against the run, offered a little juice as a situational blitzer, and is always looking to deliver a tone-setting hit across the middle. His coverage has also been steady, but it's difficult to imagine how frustrated he must be with his inability to secure interceptable passes that have hit him in the hands. Grade: B


Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson

The Lions only got two games out of Gardner-Johnson before a torn pec put him on the shelf, but it was immediately clear what he was able to bring to the defense with his diagnostic abilities against both the run and in coverage. Additionally, he brought a tough-to-quantify emotional element that rubbed off on his teammates. In two games, including one he pretty much played with one arm, he racked up 13 tackles and two pass defenses. Grade: A-



Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu

When Joseph was banged up with a hip injury for a couple weeks, Melifonwu stepped in and performed admirably. In some ways, despite being in his third season, he was an unknown commodity because of multiple injuries and a position change. But in this brief run, he's shown a comfort level in coverage and predictably sure tackling, which has also helped him carve out a bigger role on special teams. Grade: B



Cornerback Jerry Jacobs

Jacobs had as rough of a day as a corner could in Detroit's early-season loss to the Seahawks. Some of that was sloppy performance and some of it was difficulty adjusting to some new things the Lions were asking him to do to begin the year. That said, in the weeks since, he's calmed his performance and been his typically reliable self on the outside. His physicality continues to get him in trouble sometimes, as shown through his team-high seven penalties, but it also plays a role in his team-leading five pass breakups and three interceptions. Grade: B+


Cornerback Cam Sutton

Sutton wasn't immune to having a terrible off-day, either. The Ravens ate him for lunch in Week 7, but he's otherwise been the stabilizing force in the secondary the Lions sought when they targeted him in free agency. Opponents are completing just 60.5% of passes when targeting him in coverage and he's given up a single touchdown. The flip side is he's not getting his hand on the ball with one pass breakup and zero interceptions. Grade: B

Brian Brach of The Detroit Lions.jpg

Defensive back Brian Branch

The only thing that has slowed down Branch has been an ankle injury. He opened the season by intercepting two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes and returning it 50 yards for a touchdown, then followed that up with an 11-tackle, two-breakup outing against Atlanta a couple weeks later. His instincts are through the roof, but that will occasionally cause him to try to do too much on a play, leading to a breakdown. With experience, those instances should become fewer and fewer. Grade: A-


Defensive back Will Harris

There's a chasm between how the Lions and the team's fans feel about Harris, but his defensive versatility and ability to contribute on multiple special teams units continues to bring value to the roster. He's started games at both nickel and outside corner this season, and he could play safety, too, if needed. Maybe his defensive role is limited to serving as a Band-Aid, but you always need those guys. Unfortunately, he's rarely more than replacement level when on the field, and still often falls short of that standard, despite being supremely athletic. Grade: D+


Cornerback Chase Lucas

Lucas doesn't have a defensive role, but we wanted to highlight his contributions on special teams following his early-season promotion off the practice squad. He's filled an important role as one of the gunners on punt coverage, while also seeing work on punt return, kickoff coverage and return, and field goal block. Often the first man on the scene when covering kicks, his consistent effort and energy have made him a popular player with coaches and teammates. Grade: B


Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn

The Lions were the worst defense in the NFL last season. This year, they've been been a top-10 unit. There have been a couple dud performances, with the Baltimore game being a lingering red flag for how the team matches up against elite competition. Glenn's offseason tweaks to his scheme have paid off, particularly against the run, and he's got multiple players playing at or near their peaks. It's still a young group overall, but one that's clearly being developed and improving, which is a credit to the third-year coordinator. Grade: B+


jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter/X: @Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

Detroit Lions brass has résumé that deserves benefit of the doubt after trade deadline



Shawn Windsor
Detroit Free Press


Brad Holmes didn’t get a defensive player before the NFL’s trade deadline Tuesday afternoon. Clearly, the Detroit Lions general manger should be run out of town, preferably strapped to a moon rocket, because he obviously doesn’t care about winning the Super Bowl this season.


After all, Montez Sweat was shipped to Chicago for a second-round draft pick, and Chase Young was sent to San Francisco for a third-round draft pick, and why in the world wouldn’t the Lions be willing to get into the mix for either edge rusher at that price point?

So what if Young only played 50% of his games in Washington? Who cares if Holmes and/or head coach Dan Campbell didn’t think Sweat would be the right fit for the Lions?



What do they know?

I mean, they’re only the brain trust that turned this team into a playoff contender in a little more than two years, which means they have no idea what they’re doing, and could have no possible reason for not pushing harder for defensive ends who will be unrestricted free agents next spring.



When asked what he thought of a few NFC contenders making big moves, Campbell said:

“Good for them.”


Brad Holmes in Baltimore.jpg

To which I’d ask: Do you really want to dismiss the confidence you can hear in that statement? Also: what has he — or Holmes — done to suggest they don’t have a plan …

… that is working?

At least so far.

Besides, Sweat or Young would’ve been rentals, and if Holmes and Campbell didn’t want to spend on the re-up after the season, then bringing them in meant "Super Bowl or bust."



That wasn’t part of their plan — not that they’re ready to share their plan. They are, however, happy to tell you’ve they have a plan, and that the results speak for themselves.

Going after Sweat or Young was a risk they didn’t want to take — nor should they have, because as talented as both players are, neither’s addition to the Lions would’ve guaranteed a Super Bowl run.



The Lions aren’t quite a Super Bowl team. Not yet. And if they are by the end of the season, it will be because of their young guys getting better, and other guys returning from injury. That’s Holmes and Campbell’s belief.



It makes perfect sense.

Ask yourself this: Do the Lions beat Baltimore if Sweat or Young are lined up opposite Aidan Hutchinson? Of course not. Defense wasn’t the only issue. If I recall, the Lions scored six points. Even against the Raiders, it was the offense that got bogged down at times, settling for field goals several times in the red zone.



Now, maybe the Lions get the right matchups in the playoffs and get to the Super Bowl ahead of schedule, and they’ll wish they’d gone after reinforcements Tuesday before the deadline. This doesn’t seem likely, though.


And, again, there is a plan.

“Ultimately, (Brad Holmes) and I said from Day 1, we have a plan in place that we don’t want to alter, we don’t want to mess with that,” Campbell said. “And we’re in Year 3 of this right now, or beginning of Year 3, and everything had to be right. I just go back, it had to be the right player, it had to be the right fit and it had to be the right price. All three of those, and that’s not an easy thing to do. That’s how we look at it, and so you know what? We found one.”



That would be Donovan Peoples-Jones, a receiver from Cleveland by way of Ann Arbor and Detroit, a Michigander who played high school football at Cass Tech, college football at Michigan, and holds a couple of traits — and skills, no doubt — that Campbell and Holmes believe suit what they are building.

The move cost them a sixth-round pick, which means that the Lions are basically kicking the tires on him; he had eight catches for 97 yards over six games this season for the Browns.



If nothing else, he’s insurance in the receivers' room, and if he makes a few plays and pushes Jameson Williams, well, why not?

It didn’t cost much. Besides, Peoples-Jones is a decent-sized target and might help unlock some of the red-zone issues. Not the splashiest acquisition, sure.


But then a year ago, Holmes traded a gifted tight end for a draft pick … and watched his team get better. Yeah, yeah, the correlation between T.J. Hockenson leaving for Minnesota and the Lions' 8-2 finish wouldn’t hold up in court.

Yet Holmes and Campbell had their reasons, because Hockenson didn’t fit into their plans. Just as Sweat and Young didn’t.



“We look at every position,” Holmes said. “A lot of these names that you might see pop up, they look good in the media, and they are names, but that’s often — it’s not reality. Those same names you see pop up, when you start getting into conversation, it just doesn’t work out for the best for us. So, every team has a different plight, every team is in a different place, different direction, different phase in their team building. But no, there’s nothing that we leave unturned or ignored or anything. We look at every position, we look at everything and this was the best one for us.”




They look good in the media?

Was that a gentle “sit down and be quiet?”


Yes, it was, and good for Holmes for standing his ground. He has a track record to stand on. A good one.

If it never goes beyond good? Then sure, look back at the trade deadline and say that’s where it all went wrong, that’s when he and the arrogant leadership cost the fanbase a Super Bowl.


Or, better yet, let the season play out and the offseason unfold and see where this plan is headed. Holmes and Campbell have earned that, no?

They’ve earned the right to say when a possible deal wasn’t right for them, and to get at least a little benefit of the doubt.


Contact Shawn Windsor: 313-222-6487 or swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him@shawnwindsor.

[DanO]

I can't believe anyone listens to that putz.

Anytime anyone has posted a clip here, I check it out and just shake my head. The fucking guy is a moron. He knows nothing but spews bullshit as if he knows what's up, but in reality he is as reactionary and as wrong as the rest of the armchair GMs

I missed who you are referring to hear CGVT?

[DanO]

Guess we added another Reynolds to the mix? lol



I'm good with what the Lions did at the trade deadline. I don't think anyone who was reasonably available to them pushes them into the Super Bowl this year.

I'm good with it too Deb. We don't need an aging Superstar who's going to be good for a one year rental. That doesn't conform to the "TEAM" concept the Lions have built.

[DanO]

They are not giving up on Jamo any time soon

NOPE!!! Just his speed opens the field for others. Now you don't keep a WR for that reason only but it brings a positive to the team.

"Linebacker Jack Campbell

The learning curve has been steep for the first-round pick, who is being asked to play a far more varied role than he did at Iowa. He's struggled to settle into a groove with some of his edge-rushing duties, and he has a propensity for overaggression when playing off the ball, especially with play-action. That said, he's been solid against the run and pristine as a tackler, having yet to fail when in position to wrap up a ball carrier, including four stops on special teams. Grade: D+"
--------------------------------------------------------What the hell. I'd give him a "B"

"They look good in the media?

Was that a gentle “sit down and be quiet?”


Yes, it was, and good for Holmes for standing his ground. He has a track record to stand on. A good one."
--------------------------------------------LOVE IT!!!

[edindetroit]

"Linebacker Jack Campbell

The learning curve has been steep for the first-round pick, who is being asked to play a far more varied role than he did at Iowa. He's struggled to settle into a groove with some of his edge-rushing duties, and he has a propensity for overaggression when playing off the ball, especially with play-action. That said, he's been solid against the run and pristine as a tackler, having yet to fail when in position to wrap up a ball carrier, including four stops on special teams. Grade: D+"
--------------------------------------------------------

What the hell. I'd give him a "B"

Yeah, I didn't get that one either.