Lions News

[chemiclord]

While the Patriots were run well, they had the fortune of playing in a division that didn’t have any decent QB play. I can’t think of a decent QB Brady had to outduel during his time in New England.

The Lions will have much tougher competition.

Yeah... it's not like Brady ever had to outduel a guy like... oh, I dunno, Peyton Manning in the playoffs repeatedly or anything.

Fun fact; the AFC East during the Patriots' run of dominance actually had an above .500 record against the rest of the league. Had a team like the Jets during that stretch been in ANY other division, they probably have a handful of division titles themselves. The AFC East had a lot of legitimately good teams; the Patriots were just that fucking good for about two decades.

[Mainevent]

I don’t mind trading up with later round picks as much, it’s the future 3rd and 4th that bugs me. I do like the guys they got late in Wingo and Mahogany. Those are guys that could be real contributors.

Overall, I still have major concerns about replacing Reynolds production. I’m really concerned that’s going to bite them in the ass. Also still don’t like the edge rush situation, but crossing my fingers that the improves secondary and return of Houston can make that work.

[Forsh]

Between Jamo giving more and Peoples-Jones ... they should have no problem replacing Reynolds assuming health. Raymond is still around. If people asked a few years ago would you rather have Reynolds or Peoples-Jones I'd have said the latter and he's younger

[froot loops]

I think if they are to replace the production of Reynolds, it's with another veteran.

It remains to be seen what the production from the opposite edge will be but I believe the corners will be much better. I thought coverage was a worse issue than the pass rush. Better coverage should allow pressure from other areas like we saw in the second half of last season. I think the soft zones are going to be less of an issue this year.

[Forsh]

What is this mythical production Reynolds had. Jamo increase and DPJ can make that seem like mulch. Reynolds had 600 yards big whup

[froot loops]

I think with Reynolds it's more about the timing and importance of his catches. He had a lot of clutch catches up until he didn't in the NFC championship game. DPJ and Jameson Williams are more outside receivers than Reynolds was.

[froot loops]

The off-season has really begun now. We have our first appearance of a Lion getting in his best shape of his life article.

[El Axe]

The off-season has really begun now. We have our first appearance of a Lion getting in his best shape of his life article.

But is he training at high altittude?

[Dan V]

"The Game has slowed down for him."

[Mainevent]

Froot's point is exactly right, it's not about cobbling together 40 catches and 600 yards, it's the quality and reliability of those catches. Reynolds had 32 first downs on those 40 catches and quite a few of those came in high leverage situations. He also good at routes Goff likes to throw - in breakers, digs, etc. I know people are just counting on Jamo to step in and take over, but he hasn't shown much nuance to running those types of routes. Maybe he gets there, but I have my concerns. DPJ has the physical ability to do the things Reynolds can do, including being a contested catch guy outside the numbers, so maybe with an offseason in town he can build a rapport with Goff and this offense, but he's been a outside go-ball/deep post type player going all the way back to his UM days.

A vet WR that shakes loose could be a possibility - Barnwell brought up Robert Woods as a guy that might fit and be available as cheap pickup or FA after the Diggs trade. But if we've learned anything over the last 3 years, Holmes may not have the same view of the roster needs as the general public (for both good and bad).

[Mainevent]

We are definitely getting a "he completely changed is diet" article soon - cut out sugars, stopped eating fast food, went vegetarian/vegan, etc..

[mason reese]

I don’t mind trading up with later round picks as much, it’s the future 3rd and 4th that bugs me. I do like the guys they got late in Wingo and Mahogany. Those are guys that could be real contributors.

It’s an interesting thing the trading up. Holmes seems to have a more draft-centric way of building his roster, free agents are stop gap measures only, so he can commit more time keeping projects like Martin and Manu, on the roster. It’s a high risk strategy that leans heavily on his draft evaluation and his coaches teaching, but it’s kind of interesting to see how long the high-wire act can last

[El Axe]

It’s an interesting thing the trading up. Holmes seems to have a more draft-centric way of building his roster, free agents are stop gap measures only, so he can commit more time keeping projects like Martin and Manu, on the roster. It’s a high risk strategy that leans heavily on his draft evaluation and his coaches teaching, but it’s kind of interesting to see how long the high-wire act can last

I'm not sure how much of a high-wire act it is. I mean, I doubt he can continue at his incredible hit rate, but teams like the Steelers & Packers have been consistently good for over a decade under multiple QBs using a similar formula. Draft well & develop your players.

Where Holmes may be changing the formula slightly is that the Packers are more about drafting quantity and letting it sort itself out in training camp, where Holmes seems more selective in his picks in the first place. Holmes may just have a better feel for what players will thrive in a Dan Campbell environment than most GMs do about their HCs.

[Tom]

Yeah... it's not like Brady ever had to outduel a guy like... oh, I dunno, Peyton Manning in the playoffs repeatedly or anything.

Fun fact; the AFC East during the Patriots' run of dominance actually had an above .500 record against the rest of the league. Had a team like the Jets during that stretch been in ANY other division, they probably have a handful of division titles themselves. The AFC East had a lot of legitimately good teams; the Patriots were just that fucking good for about two decades.

For the record, I wasn’t talking about the playoffs. I meant there wasn’t really any QB competition in the division. Other than when Manning was there briefly.

[Coop]

The biggest difference this year is that Holmes is drafting for development across the board. We are no longer needing any of the rookies to start, of course I am assuming that Davis/Robertson/Mosley are considered "starters"

I go back to what Holmes said at his year ending presser "Every move we make or do not make is for a reason"

His moves starting last year have all been very selective. Building for both now and for the sustainable future.