Tag: alim mcneill

Lions vs. Bears: Rookie expectations for the Thanksgiving game

What to expect from Penei Sewell, Derrick Barnes and the rest of the Lions rookie class on Thanksgiving

After a great performance by several members of the Detroit Lions’ 2021 rookie class against Cleveland, expectations for them are higher than ever for this upcoming Thanksgiving game.

Against Cleveland, some of these rookies got the start, while others were thrown into the action due to injuries. Now set to face Chicago on Thursday, many from this class could have larger roles against the Bears.

On the offensive line, first-round pick Penei Sewell held his own against Jadeveon Clowney and didn’t allow a sack for a fifth-straight game. He will start against Chicago and hope to repeat his success against their defensive line. Luckily for Sewell, Chicago’s star defensive lineman Akiem Hicks will sit out of this matchup.

Undrafted rookies Tommy Kraemer and Ryan McCollum both were thrust into their first offensive snaps due to injuries to starters Evan Brown and Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Both of them performed fairly well, especially given the circumstances. This Thanksgiving, McCollum will be the sole backup center for Brown while Kraemer is expected to start at right guard while Vaitai recovers from a concussion.

Running back Jermar Jefferson, who missed last week’s game, is questionable to appear in this week’s Thanksgiving showdown. The rookie had shown serious potential on limited snaps this season. If Jefferson is able to play on Thursday, he will serve as a backup behind D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams.

Against Cleveland, only one Lions receiver showed up in the box score — Amon-Ra St. Brown. Due to poor play from second-string quarterback Tim Boyle, St. Brown and the rest of the receiving corps weren’t given much opportunity. This week, Jared Goff should return to the helm of the offense. If he does, expect St. Brown to get his fair share of catches.

Undrafted rookie tight end Brock Wright got involved early against the Browns, catching a 12-yard pass from Boyle on the first play of the game. Though he didn’t record a stat for the rest of the game, he did help the Lions’ run game go for 168 yards and a touchdown as a blocker. He’s still the only tight end on the roster other than T.J. Hockenson, so he will see plenty of reps on Thursday.

On the defensive line, Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill both earned a good amount of snaps against Cleveland. The two have the chance to do some real damage against the Bears. Chicago has allowed the most sacks in the NFL this season and are going to be without mobile quarterback Justin Fields. Against a much less mobile Andy Dalton, they should be able to put on a significant amount of pressure up front and collapse the pocket, opening up the door for Detroit’s defense to get to the quarterback.

Linebacker Derrick Barnes is still serving as a rotational inside linebacker for Detroit. He showed some real struggles in coverage against the Browns and also had a hard time against running back Nick Chubb. Now he will have to face Chicago’s duo of Khalil Herbert and David Montgomery. With a short week to prepare, don’t expect much from this rookie.

In the secondary, there is potential for two undrafted rookies to start. Rookie AJ Parker is sitting out due to an injury, meaning fellow first-year cornerback Jerry Jacobs could be shifted in to the slot. If this happens, Mark Gilbert could be the guy on the outside for Detroit. If Will Harris is moved into the slot instead, Jacobs will start on the outside and Gilbert will be the next man up.

Rookie kicker Riley Patterson could see the field for the first time on Thursday. He was inactive last week as Detroit opted to elevate Aldrick Rosas and use him as their placekicker instead. Rosas likely has the upper hand, but don’t count out Patterson.

Lions vs. Steelers: Best and worst PFF grades from Week 10

Here are this week’s PFF best and worst performances for the Detroit Lions week 10 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers

It wasn’t exactly the performance the Detroit Lions were hoping for coming out their bye. Still, after one of the most unappealing, uncompetitive games you will ever watch, the Lions mustered out a 16-16 tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

If there was ever a game where neither team deserved to claim victory, it was most certainly this one where each team was doing everything in their power to lose this week. The Lions offense became predictable real quick, and once the Steelers were able to solve that issue, it was all over for them. On the flip side of the defense, they did put in a solid effort, but when you are facing Mason Rudolph on the other side, it can be difficult to judge how well the players are performing.

The performances speak for themselves, and with the latest PFF grades from this matchup, it almost lines up with how you would anticipate from this week.

Lions vs. Rams: Best and worst PFF grades from Week 7

The Detroit Lions best and worst performers in PFF grades from their Week 7 loss against the Los Angeles Rams

Amongst their luggage, the Detroit Lions brought their bag of tricks against the Los Angeles Rams. It wasn’t enough to overcome the high-powered Rams as the Lions lost their seventh straight this season to a 28-19 defeat.

The majority of the populous did not give the Lions a shot at even competing with a potential Super Bowl contender, figuring they would get embarrassed out of Los Angeles. However, with two fake punts and a successful onside kick, the Lions were able to steal processions away and gave them a shot at potentially stealing this game away from the Rams. Unfortunately, the Lions were not able to capitalize on those efforts due to untimely mistakes but let me tell you, that is probably the most entertaining Lions game in quite some time.

Considering how often the Lions have been set as major underdogs this season, they have held tight against tough teams, giving some hope that the Lions are heading in the right direction. You can see the improvements the players are making and the coaching staff taking each loss as a lesson learned and applying for future matchups.

With this week’s top PFF performers, who can see the massive steps forward taken amongst the player, the bottom players are trying to find their footing.

What we learned from the Lions 34-11 loss to the Bengals

Lessons on Goff, penalties, promising youngsters on defense and using the Bengals rebuilding blueprint

It was not a happy Sunday in Ford Field for the Detroit Lions or their faithful fans in the stands. The Lions meekly fell to the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, 34-11, in a game that was the worst display of the young Dan Campbell coaching era.

There were no moral victories in this one, no “if we just did this one thing” hypotheticals. This was a game about hard lessons of the reality of being the last winless team in the NFL, and playing like they will stay there longer than anyone hopes.

Here are a few of the lessons we learned from the beatdown by the Bengals in Week 6.

Lions PFF grades: Best and worst players against the Bears from Week 4

The Detroit Lions PFF grades reflect the continued struggles in the secondary and average showing from the offense against the Chicago Bears

The Detroit Lions seemed to be on the up and up competing against the top-tier teams this season. Heading into Week 4, you had to believe they were feeling good against the Chicago Bears team that gave up nine sacks the previous week. The only kicker was they competing against the Bears and themselves, turning to be their downfall.

With poor execution, sub-par defensive play, and the constant shot footing, the Lions could not get anything figured out until it was too late. Also, to add injury to insult, the Lions lost their best defensive player, Romeo Okwara, for the season, making a poor defense much weaker in the long run.

There weren’t too many stellar players this week, and it reflected in this week’s PFF grades for the Lions.

Lions PFF grades: Best and worst players against the Ravens

The Detroit Lions PFF grades are in and here are the best and worst performers against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3.

The Detroit Lions were in the midst of nailing their first victory of the season until Justin Tucker did some nailing of his own, hitting a record-setting 66-yard field goal to give the Baltimore Ravens a 19-17 victory over the Lions. Even with the controversy surrounding the game, the Lions were able to contain a dangerous Ravens offense for the most part and seemed up to the battle against a potential Super Bowl contender.

Heading into Week 4 against division rival, the Chicago Bears, the Lions will look to build upon the foundations and mend the potential cracks before they get out of control.

Here are the Lions best and worst players from their Week 3 matchup against the Ravens.

Lions’ Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill rank high among rookie defensive linemen

The Detroit Lions doubled down on defensive tackles, Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill, in the draft and looks to be paying early dividends

When General Manager Brad Holmes decided to double down on defensive tackles with back-to-back picks in the 2021 NFL draft with the selections of Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill, it was a head-scratching moment for everyone. The Detroit Lions clearly had other weak areas that needed addressing (i.e., wide receiver and safety). This seemed more like a luxury selection instead of allocating assets to more than one position.

So far, it looks like Holmes has the last laugh. Through the preseason, Onwuzurike and McNeill rank in the top 5 in PFF’s overall defensive grading amongst defensive line rookies with a 90.5 grade and 74.6 grade, respectively. To add context, Onwuzurike has only played 17 snaps through one game, and McNeill has 23 snaps through two games, which rank as second and third lowest, respectively, among that same class. Either way, you can see the talent surrounding these two players and how much they will look to make an impact now and in the future for the Lions.

If you could pick one player who exceeded all expectations through training camp and preseason, you don’t have to look any further than “Mr. Twinkle Toes” himself. McNeill was expected to compete with John Penisini as the team’s starting nose tackle throughout camp. Still, with Penisini’s injuries keeping him out, McNeill took over the reins with star-studded fashion. His superior athleticism and discipline give him the versatility to be equally effective anywhere on the interior defensive line as a pass rusher and run defender.

Even his defensive line coach, Todd Wash, was taken back by how he adapted so quickly.

“He’s better than I thought when we drafted him, to be honest. I think we would all say that. We knew he was a heck of a run defender. He’s stout at the point, but he’s a lot better athlete than he showed on tape, which for us was unbelievable. He’s not just an A-gap to A-gap player, so if he can continue to get better—we got to keep a thumb on him—I think he can be an exceptional nose guard in this league in time.”

The opportunities going up against one of the best centers in the NFL in Frank Ragnow consistently has allowed McNeill to grow as a player and quickly develop the tools that will allow him to be a disruptive force on the defensive line. At this point, expectations are high for McNeill from the coaches and himself in hopes that he continues this dominance through the regular season and wreck opposing offenses.

As for Onwuzurike, the coaches were cautious with the second-round selection with a lingering back injury, so we didn’t get to see him make the immediate impact as McNeill did. This led some people to think he wouldn’t be ready to start the regular season playing catch-up and getting acclimated to NFL speed. However, he was able to put that rest real quick and in a hurry with an impressive showing in camp where it seemed he spend all day in the backfield disrupting play after play releasing all the energy like a wound toy up waiting to be released.

He continued that dominance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, wreaking havoc whenever he got the chance to, recording two pressures on ten pass-rushing snaps, and added a run stop in for good measure. He might’ve not flashed on the stat sheet, but he was a force in the interior, making the Steeler offensive line miserable to contain him. Being this was his first taste of football in over a year with his 2020 opt-out, most would say he performed very well, but being his own critic, he knows he still has some kinks to overcome.

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“I think I did solid, not where I wanted to be 100%. I didn’t play to my standard. Obviously, getting back to the things from feeling tired on the field. But I think a solid day, nothing crucial. I feel like I am ready for it. I think today was something real good to get in, feel good, you know, fill your body out, take double teams, feel all that, so it usually only takes one game. Obviously, this next upcoming preseason game will be huge for that, but I think we’re good.”

We know coach Campbell will not be playing most of his starters in the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts; it’ll be interesting to see what kind of action Onwuzurike and McNeill get. He wants to get the reps in for the young players, but you don’t want to run the risk with players you know will be leaning on throughout the season.

Nevertheless, the development for these two players has risen above most expectations heading in training camp and preseason. It is a breath of fresh light to see the players grow and make an almost immediate impact right from the jump, especially the debacles from last season. With the regular season right around the corner, surely these two are ready to be the disruptive forces they are meant to be and help elevate the Lions defense.

Winners and losers from Detroit Lions training camp through the 1st two weeks

With the first two weeks of training camp in the books for the Detroit Lions, here are some of the winners and losers thus far

Heading into the second week of training camp for the Detroit Lions, we get a feel for how players perform and how they will fit on the roster. We have a new coaching staff in place, it has been a completely different vibe than what was there previously. The team seems more lively and upbeat and not just doing drills for the sake of doing them.

Some of the players have risen to the challenge and risen above others to claim their stake on one of those coveted roster spots. On the other side of the coin, either injuries or competition has gotten the better of the players leaving to question their status.

Here some of the winners and losers so far through training camp.

Lions training camp notebook: The pads come on for Day 6

On a strong debut in pads from Alim McNeill, a fracas between rookies heading in different directions, the safety rotation and much more

The sixth practice of Lions training camp marked the first time the team appeared in full pads. Head coach Dan Campbell and his staff were excited to ramp up the action.

The focus was on the lines. It’s difficult to evaluate the offensive and defensive lines without full pads. After a prolonged period of individual positional drills, the offense vs. defense fired up and did not disappoint.

Here’s some of what we saw on a sunny Tuesday morning in Allen Park…

Alim McNeill: What scouting reports said before the draft about the Lions DT

What the scouts said about Detroit Lions third-round DT Alim McNeill of North Carolina State before the 2021 NFL draft

The Detroit Lions landed one of the more coveted players of the third round of the 2021 NFL draft in Alim McNeill. The defensive tackle from North Carolina State was in demand, and for good reason based upon the pre-draft scouting reports on McNeill.

In reviewing some of the more prominent scouting reports and profiles on McNeill from before the draft, a pretty clear picture emerges. The 6-foot-2, 317-pound nose tackle is consistent;y praised for his athleticism and upside. Here’s a sampling of what was said and written about McNeill before the draft.

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NFL.com

The league’s official site features draft profiles from Lance Zierlein, a longtime talent evaluator who grew up around the league. The player comparison is for Khalen Saunders, a third-round pick by the Chiefs in 2019 who was a key part of Kansas City’s defensive line rotation in the Super Bowl-winning season.

Zierlein writes of McNeill,

Sawed-off frame that lacks optimal length but carries plenty of base strength and upper-body explosiveness. McNeill lined up over the nose, which did him a bit of a disservice in relation to his athletic traits and overall strengths. He might not have the overall length and mass to withstand the rigors of two-gapping in the NFL, but he does have plus flexibility and fluidity for a big man and should create problems for centers as a shaded nose with the ability to attack or counter either A-gap. While he’s a good athlete and should test well, he’s not necessarily cat-quick and still relies more on power than first-step penetration quickness. He’s a likely rotational nose early in his career and has a chance to develop into a starter.

McNeill was listed as a second or third-round draft pick with a grade of 6.19, which lands in the “good backup who could become a starter” range.

Pro Football Focus

In its draft guide, PFF was quite complimentary toward McNeill’s growth as a run-stuffer in 2020. The move to playing more exclusively in the A-gap suited him well, per their analysis,

Every defense known to mankind can use a run-stuffing nose tackle who can also consistently collapse pockets. With McNeil’s explosiveness at 320 pounds, he could very well be that guy sooner rather than later. Even with little more than a first step in his repertoire, McNeil earned a 92.1 run defense grade and a 77.5 pass-rushing grade this season. He showed marked improvement holding up to double teams compared to 2019. In a weak defensive tackle class, McNeil could pay big dividends.

PFF is big on using bullet points for prospects. The positives included:

  • As quick a 320-plus pounder as you’ll see. Get-off that creates problems.
  • Role not great for pass-rushing production. Almost exclusively 0-technique.

There were some negatives as well,

  • Not sure he has anything considered a pass-rush move in his arsenal. Just charges.
  • Rushes the passer way too high. Spin moves looked like a figure skater.
  • Big difference between him fresh and late in a series

Pro Football Focus still felt highly enough about McNeill to give him a second-round grade.

The Draft Network

The Draft Network team of evaluators ranked McNeill as their No. 82 overall player in the 2021 NFL draft class. Here’s what they said about the man the Lions snagged at No. 72 overall,

While there is some rawness that shows up to his game when it comes to technique and processing skills, McNeill is a powerful interior defender that is capable of controlling and resetting the line of scrimmage with his heavy hands and functional strength. While he wasn’t often asked to shoot gaps, he also has positive flashes of gap-penetration skills during his time at NC State. There is room for McNeill to grow as a pass rusher, but as it stands, his variety of rush moves and rush plan is underdeveloped. For a team in need of a short-yardage and early-down run stuffer that has a ceiling to develop into a more effective pass rusher, McNeill is a terrific mid-round option.

Ourlads

Perhaps the loftiest preview of McNeill came from Ourlads and longtime NFL scout Dan Shonka, who ranked the converted RB as the No. 2 defensive tackle in the class. Ourlads had McNeill well ahead of Lions’ second-round pick Levi Onwuzurike in its rankings.

Written in scout-speak, here is Shonks’a evaluation on McNeill,

Has played in multiple defensive schemes that had him play in multiple roles. The transition from 4-3 to 3-4 made the assumption his production would go down, but it went in the opposite direction. While he did prove he can two-gap inside, his upfield burst and explosion provided an extra punch to his game that can make him useable in many schemes. There is some skill development that needs to take place when it comes to hand usage and lateral balance, but this is a player who will play like a boulder against the run and a missile against the pass. Not an easy combination to find.

Has a frame that is nearly as wide as it is tall. Uses that square-type body
along with a low center of gravity to take up both space and blockers alike. A two-gapper with immense power and strength. Has sneaky speed and quickness that will chase action down from behind when the opportunity is there. Can get out of his stance in a hurry, putting a blocker on his heels and gaining the initial advantage. Plays a strong lockout game while deciphering what the offense is doing. Is a straight-line athlete. His surprising athleticism does not translate to all facets of the game. Tight hips won’t always maximize leverage and leg drive after the initial engagement. Needs to use his hands better after first contact.

The 8.40 grade lands McNeill squarely in the middle of the second round and portends a starting-caliber player early in hi scareer.

The Athletic/Dane Brugler

In his annual “Beast”, longtime NFL evaluator Dane Brugler ranked McNeill his No. 7 defensive tackle and gave him a third-round assessment. Here’s the skinny version of the report,

A two-year starter at NC State, McNeill was the nose tackle in defensive coordinator Tony Gibson’s 3-3-5 scheme, lining up primarily head up over the center. A 260-pound linebacker and running back in high school, he transitioned to defensive tackle for the Wolfpack without losing his explosiveness, earning a spot on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List. With his low center of gravity and heavy hands, McNeill can stack the point of attack, discard and pursue the football. He has the first-step quickness to shoot gaps, but his pass rush instincts and counter measures are currently undeveloped when he doesn’t win off the ball.

Overall, McNeill is not yet the sum of his parts and he needs to turn the flashes into better production, but his moldable raw traits are unique. He projects as a one-gap tackle with Javon Hargrave-like upside.

Brugler is the second source, along with PFF,  to bring up a comparison to Javon Hargrave, who was a third-round pick by the Steelers in 2016 and quickly established himself as one of the most disruptive nose tackles in the NFL.