Lions 2021 off-season FA. Something for nothing or nothing at all ?

Mebert · Jun 8, 2021

Big_Blue_72 said:
Notes: Lions offensive line unit lands in top 10

A PFF analyst believes Detroit’s built the foundation they need to succeed.

www.prideofdetroit.com

Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey ranked the best offensive lines heading into the 2021 season, placing the Lions near the top of the list at No. 10. (That’s a high ranking for anything related to Detroit.)

Here’s exactly how Lindsey put it: “It’s fair to be optimistic about Detroit building one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.”

Boy that’s nice to read, huh? Lindsey points to left tackle Taylor Decker’s career-high 82.0 overall grade and 85.8 pass-blocking grade in 2020, as well as center Frank Ragnow’s third-best mark among the league’s centers at 80.3. The guy is constantly making top lists at his position.

Throw in rookie Penei Sewell at right tackle — the top offensive tackle on the PFF draft board — and Detroit is in good shape in 2021. The only position still in need of some work is guard, but the hope is moving Halapoulivaati Vaitai from right tackle to right guard will fix some of those pass-blocking issues, and Jonah Jackson lives up to his potential after a less-than-stellar 57.0 overall grade last season.

I hated a lot about Quinn, but his work on the oline was very good. He dedicate a lot of early round picks and did well with them. Vitai was a miss, but over all very solid. If he had held onto Glasgow the Lions only question would be if Jackson can take the next step.

Kudos to the new group for keeping it a priority with Sewell.

Old Lion · Jun 8, 2021

Big_Blue_72 said:
Determining Aaron Rodgers, Julio Jones future headline biggest remaining offseason priority for each NFL team

There are still questions to be answered for every team in the NFL

www.cbssports.com

Detroit Lions: Add another skill position player
It's a new era in Detroit as the coaching staff saw an overhaul. Jared Goff is the new quarterback after Matthew Stafford was traded to Goff's former team in the Los Angeles Rams.

While the Lions are likely still building toward what they hope are more fruitful seasons down the line, they'll still look to compete in 2021, and giving Goff another weapon to work with would be a welcome sight. The team does have Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams as the top two receiver options, but neither is striking a ton of fear into opposing secondaries.

They also have T.J. Hockenson at tight end and a stable of backs that includes D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, but adding one more dynamic piece may do this unit a world of good. While I would lean more toward a receiver, the team has shown interest in free-agent running back Todd Gurley.

Was hoping it was going to be Jaylin Waddle.

Gulf of Brazil · Jun 9, 2021

Mebert said:
I hated a lot about Quinn, but his work on the oline was very good. He dedicate a lot of early round picks and did well with them. Vitai was a miss, but over all very solid. If he had held onto Glasgow the Lions only question would be if Jackson can take the next step.

Kudos to the new group for keeping it a priority with Sewell.

agree that BQ did well with draft picks for the O-Line and reserve O-Line FA but Rick Wagner (had his best year per PFF in 2020 with Packers - go figure) was a huge swing and miss and now more than likely Vaitai too.

I'd rather keep Crosby this year and hope he can cross train into playing RG and still be the emergency swing tackle should Decker or Sewell go down.

Matt Nelson has 1 start and a handful of games getting limited snaps due to injuries of others. He hasn't proven anything other than emergency replacement player to date. Maybe he gets better but having played defense at Iowa for 4 years and trying to make the switch to OT without a lot of reps is a huge task/risk.

Gulf of Brazil · Jun 9, 2021

Old Lion said:
Was hoping it was going to be Jaylin Waddle.

nothing wrong with a dream.

you might as well extend it by adding Tua with Waddle in some fantasy trade

Gulf of Brazil · Jun 9, 2021

It appears that Cephus, Swift and J. Williams are having some positive results so far. It's only mini-camp and pads so it's difficult to glean too much from these practices.

I've read a couple of articles that state Swift and J. Williams are pretty much able to beat any defensive player.

Observations from Detroit Lions minicamp, Day 1

A little bit of everything in today’s observations.

www.prideofdetroit.com

5 standouts from Detroit Lions minicamp, Day 1

A look at five players who stood out from Tuesday’s practice.

www.prideofdetroit.com

Gulf of Brazil · Jun 9, 2021

promising to read

5 standouts from Detroit Lions minicamp, Day 1

A look at five players who stood out from Tuesday’s practice.

www.prideofdetroit.com

Julian Okwara

During those one-on-ones between linebackers and tight ends, Julian Okwara was a surprise standout. He looked like a natural backpedaling and cleanly broke up a pass. He was one of the few defenders during the five-minute session to get his hands on a ball.

Okwara won’t be asked to drop into coverage all that much in this defense, but it’s nice to see he has the athletic traits to potentially do it if called upon.

Gulf of Brazil · Jun 9, 2021

5 standouts from Detroit Lions minicamp, Day 1

A look at five players who stood out from Tuesday’s practice.

www.prideofdetroit.com

D’Andre Swift/Jamaal Williams

If these two don’t combine for at least 60 catches this year, they’re not being used correctly. Again, the Lions’ top running back duo dominated in the receiving game. During one-on-ones, Williams did rookie linebacker Tavante Beckett so dirty that the entire crowd of players and coaches erupted.

Swift, too, looked unguardable. During one of the first seven-on-seven reps, he cleanly beat Dean Marlowe for an easy score.

Gulf of Brazil · Jun 9, 2021

^^^^^

Damn well better be more likely around 90+ catches between the two - Swift and Jamaal Williams

Swift should get 60 catches all to himself from the RB department, imo

Gulf of Brazil · Jun 9, 2021

6 standouts from Day 5 of Lions OTAs: Jared Goff impresses again

The Lions quarterback already looks like he has command of the offense.

www.prideofdetroit.com

D’Andre Swift

Lynn told reporters before practice that because it’s hard to work on a run game with no pads on, he likes to test running backs out of the tackle box, because “sometimes they’re like a fish out of water when they get out there.”

Safe to say, Swift did not at all look out of place when lined up on the outside. Swift’s precision and short-area quickness stood out among the running backs during route-running drills. In seven-on-sevens, Swift was unstoppable. Trey Flowers was his first victim, as Swift quickly gained three steps on the edge defender who will be asked to drop into coverage more this season. Then Swift beat Alex Anzalone over the middle during the next session.

Swift is a matchup problem for defenses, and I’m not sure there’s a single player on the Lions defense that can cover him right now.

Gulf of Brazil · Jun 9, 2021

6 standouts from Day 5 of Lions OTAs: Jared Goff impresses again

The Lions quarterback already looks like he has command of the offense.

www.prideofdetroit.com

Jamaal Williams

Not to be outdone, Williams sure looks like the kind of player that won’t be uncomfortable lined up on the outside, either. He had arguable the play of the day, when he juked safety Godwin Igwebuike so hard out of his shoes that when Williams caught the ball, he turned back to Igwebuike while trotting backwards to give him a little trash talk.

“I be trying to tell the defense now, don’t look at this number. Don’t look at 30 and think, ‘Oh, running routes is going to be easy,’” Williams said after practice. “I want that. I want all of that. And if you think you’re frisky, come one-on-one and we can really—I want all of that.”

Gulf of Brazil · Jun 9, 2021