Exhibition 2 - Lions @ Chiefs

[chemiclord]

The Lions coaching staff's love for Sudfeld reminds me in no small amounts of their love for Tim Boyle. Just for whatever reason, Campbell seems to adore that no-talent dude with a "head for the game" type of guy. Like, maybe Sudfeld can map out every route for every receiver on every play or some shit. It doesn't matter if he doesn't have the talent to reliably get the ball to those guys.

[Lionsfan123]

The Lions coaching staff's love for Sudfeld reminds me in no small amounts of their love for Tim Boyle. Just for whatever reason, Campbell seems to adore that no-talent dude with a "head for the game" type of guy. Like, maybe Sudfeld can map out every route for every receiver on every play or some shit. It doesn't matter if he doesn't have the talent to reliably get the ball to those guys.

Being a nice guy goes a long way

[CGVT]

The Lions coaching staff's love for Sudfeld reminds me in no small amounts of their love for Tim Boyle. Just for whatever reason, Campbell seems to adore that no-talent dude with a "head for the game" type of guy. Like, maybe Sudfeld can map out every route for every receiver on every play or some shit. It doesn't matter if he doesn't have the talent to reliably get the ball to those guys.

We may see Hooker as QB2 to start the season before it is all said and done.

[chemiclord]

I hope so.

[Cody_Russell]

Here’s the million dollar idea when it comes to Sudfeld:

1. Release him during initial 53 man roster cuts in a week or so.
2. Nobody in the NFL will add Sudfeld. If some team randomly does add him, who cares. Not a big loss.
3. Add Sudfeld to the practice squad when the dust settles.

This backup QB competition fluff is just typical coach talk. Of course Hooker needs to be competent enough to earn a spot and it appears he had a positive day when it comes to his stock. Hopefully Hooker can it going with a strong practice week and a positive week 3 of preseason. Then no question, cut Sudfeld. Keep someone else on this strong roster (best Lions roster in my lifetime).

[edindetroit]

We may see Hooker as QB2 to start the season before it is all said and done.

May?

[edindetroit]

Seriously the offense looks much better when Hooker is in. Sudfeld had a better game but still not better than Hooker.

[whatever_gong82]

5 rapid reactions from Lions' preseason victory in Kansas City

Justin Rogers
Aug 18


The Detroit Lions rallied from a 13-point, first-half deficit to beat the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the second preseason game for both teams. Here are five quick reactions to the game.


● Nate Sudfeld got the start at quarterback, facing the daunting task of leading Detroit's second-team offense against Kansas City's defensive starters.

Sudfeld operated reasonably well in the opening quarter, completing 6-of-8 passes for 38 yards, and got better as those starters went to the bench in the second frame. He did have a critical error, throwing an ill-advised interception, but also had a long touchdown toss to Kaden Davis and led a lengthy scoring drive to end the first half.

Despite those positives, it feels like Hendon Hooker closed ground in the competition for the backup job. Shaking off a rocky possession to begin the second half, Hooker put together two lengthy scoring drives, showing steadily improved decision-making and accuracy as the game progressed.



As a rusher, Hooker was judicious, wisely sliding on a scramble up the middle, and bailing from the pocket on third-and-goal from the 7-yard line, managing to get across the goal line for a touchdown.

He ate a couple sacks, one on third-and-1 and another on a late-game two-point try that could have tied the score. And it's difficult to say with certainty, but he appeared to have bad placement on a botched handoff that Bam Knight fumbled in the red zone, which was recovered by the Chiefs.

Yet given another opportunity by his defense, plus a quality punt return by rookie Isaiah Williams, Hooker was able to put the finishing touches on the comeback with one more completion, setting up a game-winning field goal from Jake Bates.

There was a lot more to like than dislike with Hooker's second preseason performance. He finished his day 12-of-15 for 150 yards.


● It's getting difficult to not get caught up in the hype being generated by Sione Vaki.

The wildly inexperienced rookie running back got a chance to showcase his receiving chops against the Chiefs, which proved particularly potent during that two-minute drill at the end of the first half. For the series, he hauled in four balls for 59 yards before the offense stalled deep in the red zone.

In addition to his pass-catching prowess – which Vaki described as his current strength during an interview earlier in the week – the rookie runner churned out 22 yards on six carries, mostly operating between the tackles. In that same interview, he identified those inside, "dirty" runs as the biggest area where he needed to improve.

Craig Reynolds' experience and reliability likely keep him ahead of Vaki on the depth chart for the time being. There's just so much more experience needed for the rookie who logged a mere 42 carries on fewer than 100 offensive snaps college, but, at this rate, Vaki is going to push his way into a role on offense earlier than most reasonably expected.


● Coming into the matchup, I had cornerback Khalil Dorsey and veteran linebacker Ben Niemann making the roster. I feel even more strongly about that opinion after this game against the Chiefs.

Niemann was the first man in on the tackle during the game's opening kickoff, and he was a regular presence around the ball on defense during the first half, finishing with five stops.

Dorsey, meanwhile, showed up on coverage. He was in the back pocket of receivers when the Chiefs took deep shots, and he's a fundamentally sound tackler in the open field, finishing with five tackles, as well. That included a slick read-and-react for a loss of yardage.


● The wide receiver competition took an unexpected turn with the top contenders, Daurice Fountain and Donovan Peoples-Jones, struggling to make an impact, while fringe candidates Davis and Williams gave the team's decision-makers more to consider.

Davis had some negative moments, slipping on one route and not looking for the ball on another, but that 61-yard touchdown will be a lasting memory from the matchup.

Williams, meanwhile, paced Detroit's pass-catchers for the second consecutive game, coming up with six receptions for 71 yards on eight targets.

Williams did fumble a punt, while trying to do too much, but ended up getting the last laugh with a 20-yard return that set up the game-winning field goal.


● It's tough to know what to make of Bates. He made all four of his field goal attempts, including the game-winner and a big blast from 55 yards that got the Lions on the board early in the second quarter, but the relatively inexperienced kicker also missed an extra point wide left.

This is representative of what we've seen in practice, albeit this was a more consistent showing. Bates has a monster leg, and when he gets all of it, he can easily convert from 60 yards and beyond.

That's not new information, because he put it on tape during his time in the UFL. But there's still enough inconsistency with his game that he's leaving the door open just enough for the team to keep a close eye on the waiver wire prior to the start of the regular season.

My guess, at this point, he sticks. It’s a pretty wild swing, but I went from 50/50 to 85/15 based on this performance. Missed PAT aside, it’s difficult to imagine this showing not helping his case.




Email: jrogers@detroitfootball.net

X: Justin_Rogers

[chemiclord]

What I will say is that XPs aren't exactly gimmies like they used to be. Even the best kickers have missed a couple since the change. Now if Bates keeps missing them to the tune of one every other week, we will have a problem, but at least for today, he was well above replacement level. I'll take it.

[whatever_gong82]

Lions stock report: Hooker, Vaki and Williams surging out of second preseason game

Justin Rogers
Aug 18


Here’s who is trending up, down and staying level after the Detroit Lions’ 24-23 preseason victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.


Stock up: Running back Sione Vaki

Vaki’s arrow continues to point up after an even more impressive showing than his preseason debut. Anyone who took a look at his college tape, or has seen the way he’s been utilized in practice, knew it was only a matter of time before the rookie running back’s receiving ability would show up.

Beyond the four catches for 60 yards you’ll see on the box score, you have to understand how crisp Vaki’s route-running looked and how elusive he was in the open field. You aren’t wrong to think he looked like the second-coming of Theo Riddick when he hauled in an angle route down to the 5-yard line in the closing seconds of the second quarter.

Add in a quality special teams stop covering a punt and there’s growing reason to believe the Lions have unearthed a Day 3 draft diamond, even if it takes another year or two before he truly starts realizing his full potential.

Stock down: Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones

Earlier in the week, coach Dan Campbell praised Peoples-Jones for a recent stretch of quality practices. I wish I told tell you I have seen the same corner being turned, because this is a guy I confidently touted as a viable replacement for Josh Reynolds.

This game was more of the same, with minimal separation on four targets, resulting in a single catch for 5 yards. It is fair to note he didn’t have a shot on one of those balls, a back-shoulder fade that sailed well beyond his reach, but Peoples-Jones did little to disguise and sell his intention on a post pattern the cornerback ran for him, resulting in a second-quarter interception.

He still has a shot to make the roster because of his size, athleticism and track record, but his lack of production in practice and preseason games is concerning.


Treading water: Quarterback Nate Sudfeld

After a stay at the Checkdown Hotel during the rainy preseason opener, Sudfeld did a better job attacking all levels of the field against the Chiefs. He had some success, highlighted by a 61-yard touchdown to Kaden Davis that traveled more than 20 yards past the line of scrimmage before it was caught.

But Sudfeld also battled some inaccuracies and timing issues, and an interception intended for Peoples-Jones was telegraphed. He finished 14-of-27 (51.8%), with the touchdown and the pick. It was better than last week, but still uninspiring, overall.


Stock up: Wide receiver Isaiah Williams

Williams has unquestionably put his slow start to camp in the rearview mirror, delivering 10 catches in the first two preseason games, including six grabs for a team-high 71 yards in this contest.

Additionally, he had a key punt return that set up the game-winning field goal, offsetting a fumbled punt — which the Lions recovered — earlier in the contest.

The path to a roster spot is still cloudy, given his production has largely been limited to the slot. That said, he’s made enough noise the past two weeks that Campbell acknowledged in his postgame comments the team needs to test the rookie receiver’s ability to play outside.


Stock down: Running back Jermar Jefferson

Jefferson, who had a strong start to camp, suffered from being out of sight, out of mind while being sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Not only did Vaki shine, but so did Bam Knight and Jake Funk, two backups further down the depth chart.

Knight, in particular, looked good. Yes, he put an awkward exchange on the ground late in the game, but he churned out 36 yards on eight carries prior to that moment.

Funk was less efficient, with 13 yards on eight carries, but he contributed another 27 yards with a pair of receptions.


Treading water: Cornerback Amik Robertson

Robertson had to play a lot with Detroit’s cornerback injuries, but the extra reps in the slot — where he’s the front-runner to start — are valuable because of his average play in the role earlier in his career.

Robertson had a pair of pass breakups, including one in the end zone that was wiped from the boxscore because of an unrelated penalty in the secondary. But he also got beaten badly on a double-move by rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, resulting in a 22-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Robertson also got swallowed up by a double-team as a punt gunner, contributing to a long return in the second half.

There’s nothing from the performance that would suggest he’s still not the right guy for the nickel job, but it’s a reminder teams know he’s aggressive and will look to take advantage of that trait.


Stock up: Quarterback Hendon Hooker

After suffering a concussion in the preseason opener, one of the most encouraging things from the young quarterback’s performance is he slid instead of taking an unnecessary hit after scrambling up the middle.

That’s good situational and self-awareness, but Hooker did a far better job relying on his arm, overall, completing 12-of-15 throws for 150 yards without a turnover.

He did end up running five times, and eating a couple sacks after holding on to the ball too long, but his 7-yard scoring scramble assures you that the feet are a weapon and shouldn’t be coached out of his game.


Stock down: Wide receiver Jalon Calhoun

Calhoun was already on the outer edges of a roster battle, but fumbling a kickoff was a red mark on the evaluation when he couldn’t afford one. He did recover to catch his only target, a well-run slant pattern for 12 yards, but his best hope to make the team seems like a practice squad job.


Treading water: Tight end James Mitchell

I continue to expect more from Mitchell, who got off to a shaky start in the game, allowing a quarterback hit while in pass protection during the opening series.

He did catch the only pass his way, 13-yarder where he showed some wiggle in space. He’s been efficient with his receiving opportunities throughout his career, the ball just doesn’t come his way often.

He benefitted from the other tight ends combining to make one catch for 5 yards, but the blocking could come back to haunt Mitchell, particularly with Parker Hesse doing some nice work in that department.


Stock up: Second-string offensive line

Despite the Chiefs playing many of their defensive starters, Detroit’s second-string group up front did a nice job keeping Sudfeld upright and the QB’s pocket clean enough to make most of his throws.

Additionally, Detroit’s run game averaged 5.3 yards per carry through two quarters without the Chiefs registering a tackle for loss. The offensive line also didn’t commit a penalty in the first half.


Stock down: Cornerback Kindle Vildor

Vildor came into the game on a heater, making several plays on the ball, and playing tight coverage on Detroit’s starting receivers, while serving as an injury replacement with the first-team defense.

But that practice momentum didn’t carry into the game. He was beaten early by Worthy on a third-down snap for a 39-yard gain. Vildor later stumbled on a deep ball that was caught by the Justyn Ross, but got bailed out when the Chiefs receiver didn’t have the ability to get both feet down in bounds.


Treading water: Wide receiver Kaden Davis

Davis had one of the game’s biggest plays, catching a deep dig route, making a tackler miss, and racing down the left sideline for a 61-yard score. Given the moment happened three hours east of where he was born and raised in Kansas, in front of a large group of family and friends in attendance, it’s a moment he’ll likely remember forever.

But that was one of just two catches Davis had on seven targets. He lost his footing on an early one and there was a third-down crossing route where he never turned to look for the ball being delivered by Sudfeld.

Everyone loves splash plays, but the coaching staff is looking for consistency. Totaled up, it was an inefficient night for a guy fighting for the No. 3 receiver job.


Stock up: Cornerback Khalil Dorsey

Where Vildor was shaky, Dorsey looked comfortable and confident playing against the best quarterback on the planet.

Known primarily for being a special teams standout, Dorsey ported a strong week of practice into the preseason matchup with tight coverage downfield and five tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage. He’s nearly punched his ticket to a spot on the 53-man roster.


Stock down: Cornerback Steven Gilmore

Gilmore, who earned a roster spot as an undrafted rookie a year ago because of his preseason playmaking, got caught out of position taking a chance on Saturday and paid a significant price.

The second-year cornerback tried to undercut a ball intended for receiver Cornell Powell, only to see the throw get through to its target, resulting in a 64-yard touchdown.

With a retooled room featuring a ton of depth, it was a costly mistake Gilmore couldn’t afford while trying to make a case to maintain his spot on the 53.


Stock up: Kicker Jake Bates

Bates missed a PAT, which is disappointing, but he converted on all four of his field goal tries, starting with a 55-yarder in the second quarter that cleared the crossbar with plenty of distance to spare.

Most importantly, with the game on the line, Bates stepped up and calmly drained the 43-yarder as time expired. He’s still got plenty of work to do to erase concerns about his inconsistency on the practice field, but he’s making the most of his opportunities in the games, which will presumably be weighted a little stronger in the final evaluation.


Stock down: Special teams coverage

Campbell said the team is working on some stuff and he’s not overly concerned, but it’s never good to see your coverage groups surrender a 42-yard punt return and kickoff returns of 43 and 36 yards.

Those came with a lot of backups and third-stringers in the game, so maybe we shouldn’t make too much of it, but with everyone trying to figure out the new kickoff format, you would hope coordinator Dave Fipp can turn these failures into teachable moments heading into the regular season.


Stock up: Edge Mitchell Agude

The Lions got a lot of production from their defensive line. Brodric Martin continued to pop, Josh Paschal delivered a strip-sack, and undrafted rookie Isaac Ukwu survived an early injury scare, returning to record his second sack in as many games.

Heck, even Mathieu Betts broke his production silence with a slick inside move for a sack that ended a Kansas City drive.

But Agude stood out. He was the one who funneled the sack to Ukwu, all while registering four tackles, two for a loss, and a QB hit. His length gives offensive linemen problems, and Agude regularly stays in control with his head up during snaps, not sacrificing his positioning in a desperate attempt to make a play. He epitomizes the do-your-job mentality preached by the coaching staff.


Email: jrogers@detroitfootball.net

X: Justin_Rogers

[chemiclord]

On top of that, I'll also say that sometimes it feels like the power in Bates's leg is somehow understated. Dude made a 55-yarder look like 40. I'm starting to think that he's at his most accurate when he's just giving it full leg every time. Maybe next time he's kicking an XP he just needs to fucking bomb it. Make the ball land in the upper deck if he has to.

[froot loops]

Here’s the million dollar idea when it comes to Sudfeld:

1. Release him during initial 53 man roster cuts in a week or so.
2. Nobody in the NFL will add Sudfeld. If some team randomly does add him, who cares. Not a big loss.
3. Add Sudfeld to the practice squad when the dust settles.

This backup QB competition fluff is just typical coach talk. Of course Hooker needs to be competent enough to earn a spot and it appears he had a positive day when it comes to his stock. Hopefully Hooker can it going with a strong practice week and a positive week 3 of preseason. Then no question, cut Sudfeld. Keep someone else on this strong roster (best Lions roster in my lifetime).

I mean that's the most likely outcome unless they keep all three. There is no chance Hooker gets cut. They like the Sudder and he will be on the PS and they can elevate him as the emergency quarterback an unlimited amount of times. It won't be all the games because you can only elevate two players a game. Sudfeld is more valuable to the Lions than any random NFL team.

[CGVT]

It looks as if a lot of people are high on Williams and Vaki's play today. I think they both looked good but we have to remember what players they were playing against.

Having said that, they both certainly improved their stock today

[chemiclord]

Yeah, that's the tough part with Vaki. He's looked really good in this preseason, but where does he get snaps once Montgomery, Gibbs, and Reynolds are in the mix? Where does Williams get touches when St. Brown and Raymond are suited up?

I guess you could say it's a good problem to have, but still...

[froot loops]

Vaki has some nice wiggle and good cutbacks. His receiving is farther along than rookie running backs normally are, the slot receiver experience is helpful. It looks like he is going to be a good one. A Theo Riddick type except he can bring it running the ball. The great thing about having depth on the roster is he can get up to speed as a 4th running back without a lot of pressure.