(05-08-2020, 03:06 PM)D6 Wrote:

(05-08-2020, 12:28 PM)Bullseye Wrote: 1.  What did you think of the Lions' draft?  While I didn't see Swift as a particularly BIG need, I really liked the pick.  He's a heckuva player.  Okudah was also an excellent pick at #3.

2.  What was this I was hearing about friction between the head coach and the players?  I know Darius Slay seemed to have problems with him.  Was that limited to him, or were there other players that have problems?

3.  What are your general thoughts of the Lions prospects this year?

Nost Jaguars fans are looking at Detroit as one of the winnable games on the schedule.

I share that view, but I do not chalk it up as an easy win by any stretch.  Stafford, Golliday, Swift/Johnson and Hockenson  have the potential to make us have a long day defensively.

1.  I'm viewing the Lions overall draft favorably.  Probably, closer to a B+ post draft grade than a B.  

My greatest Lions draft disappointment was the market to trade down with Miami ( # 5 ) or the LA Chargers ( # 6 ) didn't materialize.  The COVID-19 situation probably played a huge role in this happening, as uncertainty about Tua's health likely prevented one or more teams trying to trade up to pick # 3 in order to draft Tua.  

The only decision the Lions made during the draft that I have a major disagreement with is the Lions trading up with the Colts from pick # 85 to pick # 75 in Round 3 to draft Ohio St. G Jonah Jackson.  The cost was a very high pick in Round 5 and going down 15 spots in Round 6.  If the Lions kept pick # 85 and Jackson was still available, I would have been noticeably more comfortable with the decision.

I agree with your assessments of the D'Andre Swift and Jeff Okudah selections.

When combining the injury issues with Kerryon Johnson ( 14 missed games combined in his first 2 NFL seasons, not to mention injuries with Auburn ) and the value of Swift at pick # 35,  the decision makes a great deal of sense.  

Jeff Okudah is an excellent system ( Press Man Coverage emphasis ) and overall fit.  Great intangibles on top of everything else.

2.  Darius Slay was probably the final player of note remaining on the Lions roster that wasn't on the same page as Matt Patricia.  The difference between how former Lions HC Jim Caldwell ( who I wanted the Lions to retain ) and Matt Patricia was a culture shock for most Lions returning players in 2018.  Patricia's overall lack of flexibility that season and the players reactions were reflected in the opening MNF debacle against the Jets. Patricia has improved in this regard since after the 2018 season.  Yet, no one at present will confuse him with Caldwell, in terms of structure and their overall approaches.  

3.  So much depends on injuries.  When Matthew Stafford suffered the back injury that ended the Lions season, the Lions were around .500.  The Lions didn't win another game the rest of the season.  Leads in the 4th QTR were blown in most games.  The Lions Defense was the # 1 reason for the losses.  But the drop-off between Stafford and the 2 QBs that followed was enormous.  The Lions overall injury situation became horrible.  

Related to question 2,  this off--season, the Lions brought in many more players with connections to Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn from their New England days.  The Lions signed DT Danny Shelton and LB Jamie Collins.  The Lions also traded for S Duron Harmon.  Hence, a starter with Patricia ties on all 3 levels of Defense was added.  Because of the limitations of preparation because of the COVID-19 pandemic,  adding players familiar with the Lions Defensive system and the 'Patriots Way' should benefit the Lions.  Quinn and Patricia are on the Hot Seat.  Anything less than playoff contention probably will lead a regime change.

Because the Lions entered the post-draft period with the 3rd most amount of 2020 salary cap space,  there are still viable opportunities to upgrade the roster.  Part of the cap funds likely will be used to extend the contract of WR Kenny Golladay.   The Lions can still use another interior D-Lineman.  Another edge rusher ( Everson Griffin is intriguing ) makes sense,  even with a high upside Edge Player ( Julian Okwara taken with pick # 67 ), and the addition of Collins.  A blocking TE is a need, with Logan Thomas signing with the Redskins as an UFA.  Veteran Offensive Tackle insurance is something the Lions can use as well.  

If Matthew Stafford stays relatively healthy and the team's overall injury situation is in the middle of the NFL or more favorable,  I think the Lions will be in the mix for a playoff spot.  With a 10 win season not a pipe dream.  I totally understand why Jaguars fans view the Lions as a team the Jaguars have a good chance of beating.  The Lions lost the last 9 games. Regardless of injuries and the vast majority of the games being there for the taking ( some of the scores are misleading ),  the Lions record is what stands out.  The Lions came within 1 play of closing out the Chiefs in game # 4 last season.  The Packers didn't lead the Lions in either game the teams played against each other until Game winning FGs the final play of the games.  Yet,  the Lions were lit up by a Bears QB that Nick Foles likely will be replacing in the starting lineup.  When each game is played ( this goes for any NFL game ),  so much depends on the teams injury situations.  

From a Lions fan perspective,  I am well aware that the Jaguars could easily surprise a lot of people this season.  I don't view the Jags as a team that will be close to the # 1 pick, if they have a mid-level injury situation or better, and don't have a fire sale with trades.

Thanks for the insight.

It's funny how your disappointment in the team's failure to trade down from #3 iverall mirrirs the disappointment of many Jaguars fans in our team's failure to trade back from 9.  Reports are we had two opportunities to trade back, one to the Jets at #11 and one with Tampa at 14, but Caldwell was afraid of losing out on Henderson.  Many Jaguars fans would have been fine with the risk considering we could have had Jerry Jeudy or Javon Kinlaw plus extra 3rd and 4th round picks, to say nothing of the possibility of still landing Henderson.

How is Stafford progressing from his back injury?  Back injuries are nothing to take lightly.  Charles Haley's career was ended with back issues, as was a promising C the Jaguars drafted in round 2 1996 by the name of Michael Cheever.  When the Jaguars went on their first ever playoff run, it was because of their running game.  The running game took off in large part due to Michael Cheever, who was a far better run blocker than Dave Widell, the starter who was out due to injury.  RB Natrone Means had 175 yards rushing in the playoff win in Buffalo, and 140 yards in the win in Denver.  Widell returned to the starting lineup in the AFC Championship game against Pittsburgh, the running game bogged down (in part due to a botched short yardage conversion where Widell was blown up into the backfield.)

Is Patricia running a 4-3 or 3-4 primarily, or is he trying to employ the hybrid approach?

As for the Jaguars, while I  appreciate the respect you've always shown to our team, and would love to see my team shock the world and win it all, I don't see that happening this year .  My intiial thoughts after examining our schedule, our roster, and the current overall environment, I can't see much better than 4-12.  In fact, I said it looks like a 3-13 schedule to me.

I think the biggest reason for optimism lay with Minshew.  He looked very good last year, making it an even more pleasant surprise considering he was a rookie 6th round draft choice.  He now has  aseason's worth of experience under his belt, so if nothing else, experience should make him better.  But I think adding Shenault and Collin Johnson at WR will help him out.  But these things are potentially offset by very little coming in the way of offensive line help, and the introduction of Jay Gruden as our offensive coordinator, which, in itself would not be a bad thing at all, but implementing a new offensive system under the current environment with Covid 19 can hinder him.

Defensively, the turnover on this side of the ball is about as extreme as it can get over the course of a year.  For the first time in team history, the team will employ a 3-4 base scheme.  We'll have at least two new starters along the D-Line.  As you might expect in switching to a 3-4, smaller 4-3 DEs are often switched to stand up OLBs in a 3-4, so from that perspective, there is an "incumbent" in Allen, and there is a likely newcomer in Chaisson (whom I think needs some seasoning),  There is a minor chance Nhagkoue starts, but i don't see it.  Either an injury forces some team to get desperate and trades for him, or he sits until mid season like Melvin Gordon last year.  We'll likely have 2-3 rookies starting in the secondary.  All of these changes under a defensive coordinator who is known as a 4-3 guy.

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