Category: Lions News

NFL teams can open as early as May 19 with several restrictions

NFL teams can open as early as May 19 with several restrictions, though the Detroit Lions will likely not due to Michigan’s current rules

In a memo to NFL teams, Commissioner Roger Goodell reversed course and indicated that teams will be permitted to open their facilities for the first time in over two months as early as this Tuesday, May 19th. However, local restrictions will almost certainly prevent the Detroit Lions from joining most of their peers.

Facilities for all 32 NFL teams have been mandated to be closed since mid-March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Teams have been working remotely ever since, and initially the NFL was not going to allow any facilities to open until all teams would have equal access based on local responses to the pandemic. That has now changed.

From the memo distributed to clubs and made public via the AP,

“Clubs may reopen their facilities beginning on May 19 if they are permitted to do so under governing state and local regulations, are in compliance with any additional public health requirements in their jurisdiction, and have implemented the protocols that were developed by (the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer) and distributed to all clubs on May 6.”

However, there are several restrictions on who can be in the facilities. Among those limits:

  • Only players who are undergoing medical treatment or injury rehab are allowed, along with strength and conditioning staff to work with them. Players coming off an injury like Matthew Stafford and Kerryon Johnson would qualify.
  • No more than 50 percent of the staff may be in the facility, with a cap of 75 total people at any time.
  • Coaches cannot return until all 32 teams are on equal footing and allowed to attend via local regulations and restrictions. Matt Patricia and his on-field coaching staff cannot report for duty.
  • Front office personnel, administration staff, equipment people, medical and nutritionist staff are allowed.

Because the state of Michigan remains under strict lockdown orders until at least May 29, the Lions are unlikely to qualify as an essential business to be allowed to open its doors. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has not yet addressed the situation.

Matthew Stafford ready to play with no fans but would miss the fan energy

Lions QB Matthew Stafford would miss the fan energy but not the noise if the NFL plays games without fans in the stands in 2020

Fans know the drill. When the opposing team has the ball, get as loud as possible. It hinders the offense by making communication between quarterback, linemen and receivers that much tougher.

So playing in front of no fans, which is a very real possibility during the 2020 NFL season thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, would be a radical change for everyone. That includes the players themselves.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford doesn’t have a problem with having it quiet while he’s orchestrating the offense.

“I’m the quarterback, quiet’s great. I love that,” Stafford said during his conference call this week. “I can talk, I can hear what they’re saying on defense. I can probably try to use that to my advantage. It’s like playing a home game everywhere you go, I’m fine with that.”

Stafford admitted the energy from the crowd would definitely be missed, however.

“…feeding off that energy. There’s definitely a feel. It would definitely feel different, I would think,” Stafford declared.

Detroit opens with four road dates in the first six games, plus a bye week. If the early-season games are without fans, the Lions stand to benefit from the scheduling quirk.

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The Lions quietly improved their pass rushing this offseason, per PFF

Through the draft and free agency, the Detroit Lions have one of more improved pass-rushing units in the league according to PFF

It seems like year after year, fans are begging the Detroit Lions to improve their pass rush. When you are letting quarterbacks like Mitchell Trubisky look like a Pro Bowler, you know there is some serious room for improvement. After this offseason, it looks the Lions might’ve quietly improved their pass rush.

Pro football focus’ Ben Linsey listed the five teams who most improved their pass rush this offseason and the Lions checked in at number three — just below the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins.

The Lions struggled to rush the passer in 2019, ranking at the bottom of the league with a dismal 29.2-percent pressure rate. The standout player was Trey Flowers, who “played well, generating a pass-rushing grade of 78.8 with 62 total pressures in a full season of action”.

Flowers can’t do this all himself, but fortunately, based on the moves made this offseason, he will have some help in 2020.

Devon Kennard registered seven sacks last season — tied for the team lead with Trey Flowers — but his ability to cause consistent pressure left something to be desired. The Lions released him this offseason and drafted his replacement in Julian Okwara.

In theory, Okwara should provide a boost to the Lions’ pass rush, after registering elite pass-rushing grades during his 2018 and 2019 college years. Expectations should be tempered for the rookie, but he has the length and athleticism to be a disruptor on the edge opposite of Flowers.

One of the biggest offseason moves the Lions made was signing former Patriot Jamie Collins to bolster a questionable linebacking corps. Collins has established a reputation in the league as one of the better pass-rushing linebackers, and last year was no exception as “his pass-rushing grade of 76.8 was a top-five mark at the position”. Even though it is expected that Collins will play multiple roles on the defense, he provides a pass-rushing repertoire the Lions have been sorely missing.

The Lions’ defensive line will almost be unrecognizable in 2020, having said goodbye to A’Shawn Robinson, Damon Harrison, and Mike Daniels this offseason. In turn, the Lions signed one of the better pass-rushing nose tackles in another former Patriot Danny Shelton.

Even though Shelton has made a career as a run stuffer, this past year, he was able to elevate his pass rush. His “73.3. pass-rushing grade in 2019 was the highest of his career” and ranked among the Top-15 pass-rushing defensive tackles. With a similar scheme in Detroit, the transition should be seamless for a potential repeat performance.

Pass rushing has been the Achilles heel for the Lions but this offseason the Lions were able to bring in players who should be able to contribute immediately. In theory, the Lions have upgraded their pass rush and if all the pieces click how they are supposed to, they should have a defense that will make them tough to play against.

Jarrad Davis: ‘I haven’t really been the best I can truly be’ for the Lions

Linebacker Jarrad Davis admits ‘I haven’t really been the best I can truly be’ for the Lions

In his video teleconference with the media on Thursday, Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis was forthright and self-aware about how his first three seasons in Detroit have gone. The 2017 first-round pick admitted he’s not been as good as he wants to be or believes he can be.

A personable Davis acknowledged his defensive shortcomings when asked about his career thus far. After stating he wasn’t concerned about the Lions declining his fifth-year option, Davis talked about where he can get better.

“Definitely I need to continue to get better in the run game. Can always improve in that area,” Davis said. “And just, I have the talent to be a good coverage linebacker but I just haven’t been able to show (it). I haven’t been able to show exactly what I can do in that area yet, whether it be just overthinking or just trying to do too much. I haven’t really been the best I can truly be in that position.”

The pressure is now on Davis to prove he can stop overthinking and translate all his off-field work into more on-field productivity.

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Matthew Stafford’s $6.5 million home up for sale

Matthew Stafford’s $6.5 million home is up for sale, but with a growing family, fans need to be careful not to overreact.

Just hours after meeting with the local media Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford’s $6.5 million home in Bloomfield Township went up for sale.

The Stafford’s home has been rumored to be on the market all offseason — well before any trade rumors surfaced — but all attempts to confirm these rumors surrounding the sale had been declined.

There is bound to be plenty of speculation surrounding what this means for the future of the Lions quarterback, it’s important to remember most of the time these decisions come from non-football related situations.

For example, the Stafford’s have three daughters, two of whom are approaching school age, with a fourth child on the way. This is the time in their life when families are considering school districts and more kid-friendly homes — the Stafford’s bought the home in 2013 before any of their children were born.

There is always the possibility this a football-related move, but that concept appears to be founded in speculation only.

All offseason, the Lions have vigorously denied every trade rumor, made no roster moves to suggest they have considered moving on from him, and just yesterday, Stafford himself shrugging off those trade rumors.

“I really don’t pay too much attention to (the trade rumors),” Stafford said. “I pay less attention to them than my wife (Kelly) does. But it’s something that doesn’t bother me. Listen, I’m here, I want to be here. I love being a Detroit Lion, I love leading this team. all that kind of stuff is just out there to be out there. It’s a slow news month at that point and I’m just happy to be where I am and ready to deal with this offseason the way that it is and try to make the best of the season that I hope happens.”

There is bound to be plenty of speculation as to why the Stafford’s have put their house up for sale, but all indications point to this just being a typical off-the-field situation for a growing family.

Watch: Matthew Stafford’s reveals practical joke on Lions’ media/fans

It’s been few years in the making but Matthew Stafford finally revealed the practical joke he and T.J. Lang have been playing on the Detroit Lions’ media and fan base.

I’ll admit it, I was fooled.

Roughly three weeks ago, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and former Lion T.J. Lang joined the teams’ multi-media journalist Tori Petry as part of the teams’ pre-2020 draft virtual festivities. As the video conference was wrapping up, Lang said he has one more question for Stafford:

“Dating back maybe three years ago,” Lang said, “when we were doing the ‘Talkin’ with T.J.’, you kinda showed off your math skills… I’m just going to make a number up — 9,758 times 618.”

Stafford answered with ease:

That video clip went viral, reportedly getting over 100,000 views, and Stafford received a lot of accolades throughout the media — even being dubbed a Math Wizard by ESPN.

Today, during a video conference with the Detroit media, Stafford pulled back the curtain and revealed the truth behind hid genius:

“I can’t believe you guys fell for the math trick,” Stafford said. “T.J. and I have been doing that for years. He texts me the answer beforehand and I just read it off and sell it hard. I guess I deserve a Daytime Emmy, but for sure, not a math award.”

Well, at least I wasn’t alone in being fooled. Well done Matthew, well done.

Calvin Johnson checks in at 16 on PFF’s All-Decade team

Pro Football Focus put together an All-Decade team and former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson landed 16th on their list.

Pro Football Focus put together an All-Decade team and former Detroit Lions all-world wide receiver Calvin Johnson landed 16th on their list.

Ranked at 16 may feel a bit too low but there are a few factors that need to be considered. PFF noted that “this list isn’t an evaluation of talent, but rather of production, efficiency and performance over a specific time period — in this case, the entire decade.”

While that alone wouldn’t negatively impact Johnson, it’s also worth noting that he only played in six of the 10 seasons and “playing time was factored into the decisions, too; somebody who played twice as much within the decade was given some level of preference over players who played only a few seasons in the 2010s.”

Here’s PFF’s reasoning for Johnson’s ranking:

Calvin Johnson walked away from the game at the height of his powers, and only that held him back from the very top of this list. He left on the back of five straight seasons with a PFF grade of 88.0 or higher, and over the six seasons he played within the decade, he never had a grade lower than 83.0. He scored a touchdown on almost 7% of targets, the third-highest rate of any receiver with 800 or more targets over the decade. Calvin Johnson was one of the most physically imposing receivers ever to play the game and was virtually unstoppable at his best. Even though he played just 60% of the decade, he was one of the best 20 players to feature in it.

On behalf of Lions Wire, congratulations to Johnson on the recognition.

Gov. Whitmer declares ‘we’re not going to be filling stadiums’ for the Lions

Michigan Gov. Whitmer declares ‘we’re not going to be filling stadiums’ anytime soon, impacting the Detroit Lions and other sports

NFL teams are scrambling to plot a course of action for the 2020 season. For the Detroit Lions, that plan appears to need to account for playing in an empty Ford Field. Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer has made it clear that there won’t be rows filled with fans anytime soon.

In a radio interview with WQKI-FM that did not range into sports beyond the immediate topic of Ford Field, Whitmer delivered a bitter pill of reality. She was asked specifically about the Lions and Ford Field.

“There is reason to feel some confidence here,” Whitmer said. “But we also have to measure (peoples’) expectations and say life’s going to be different. We’re not going to be filling stadiums in the fall.”

In a later follow-up email statement, Michigan deputy press secretary Bobby Leddy shed more light on the issue,

“Medical experts have made it clear that COVID-19 spreads when people are in close contact with one another, and without a vaccine, our best strategy in combating the virus is to practice social distancing. In regards to stadiums, our administration will continue to make informed decisions on re-engagement based upon data and medical expertise.”

The governor’s statement is not yet policy.

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Lions reveal initial jersey numbers for rookies, but some will have to change

Lions reveal initial jersey numbers for rookies, but Jeff Okudah and D’Andre Swift will need to change their first numbers

The Lions are one of the last teams to reveal the jersey numbers for the rookie class of 2020. On Wednesday the team offered the initial list of what numbers the rookies will don when they finally take the field. It comes with an asterisk for the first two picks, however.

The first look at the Lions drafted rookies and their jersey numbers, from Tim Twentyman of the Lions:

Don’t go ordering jerseys for Okudah or Swift just yet, however. Neither player will be able to wear those initial numbers once the season starts based on NFL rules. Single-digit numbers are reserved for quarterbacks, punters and kickers only.

Okudah and Swift will pick their lasting numbers later, once more roster moves have been made. That’s not uncommon for prominent rookies across the league.

D’Andre Swift named as the Lions breakout player by Bleacher Report

D’Andre Swift named as the Lions breakout player by Bleacher Report

Who will be the Detroit Lions’ breakout player in 2020? It’s a hot topic for debate. One of the early answers comes from Bleacher Report, which picked the breakout player for all 32 NFL teams.

Their answer for the Lions is rookie RB D’Andre Swift. Detroit’s second-round pick gets first billing as the top breakout candidate.

The Lions have a talented back on the roster in Kerryon Johnson, but he’s had all kinds of trouble staying healthy—he’s missed at least half a dozen games in both of his professional seasons.

If Swift gets the opportunity to be Detroit’s featured back—and recent history indicates that he will—he won’t let it go.

Swift figures to have a lot of competition in Detroit. Safety Tracy Walker, tight end T.J. Hockenson, cornerback Amani Oruwariye and even center Frank Ragnow are all viable Lions poised to break out on a more national level.

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