Tag: Brock Wright

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.

Lions promote 2 from practice squad to active roster for Week 7

The Lions promote Jalen Elliott and Brock Wright from the practice squad for the Week 7 matchup with the Rams

There will be a third tight end on the roster for the Detroit Lions’ matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. Brock Wright will be joining T.J. Hockenson and Darren Fells at tight end after he was one of two Lions players elevated from the practice squad to the active roster.

Wright and safety Jalen Elliott were promoted with a standard elevation for the Week 7 visit to Los Angeles. If they are active for the game, it will be the NFL debut for each. Wright is an undrafted rookie tight end, while Elliott is in his second season as an undrafted free agent. Both played collegiately at Notre Dame.

Wright could be useful for the Lions with fullback Jason Cabinda questionable with a hip injury. Cabinda does occasionally align as a tight end. Wright did get some training camp reps as an H-back tight end.

5 Lions players with the most to gain in the preseason game vs. the Colts

Here are the 5 Lions players who stand to gain the most from a strong performance against the Colts in Detroit’s final preseason game. 

Jobs are on the line when the Detroit Lions host the Indianapolis Colts on Friday night in Ford Field (7 p.m. ET). With nearly all the starters from both teams sitting out the exhibition season finale, it’s a chance for some players on the Lions’ roster bubble to step up and prove they belong.

Here are the five players who stand to gain the most from a strong performance against the Colts in Detroit’s final preseason game.

8 thoughts about the Lions roster entering the preseason finale

Several former Notre Dame players gather after Steelers-Lions game

So many players who once wore the gold and blue in one place.

The NFL preseason can be a funny thing. Sidelines are more crowded than usual with players trying to fulfill their professional dreams. That also increases the chances of more players who came from the same school being around each other. Such was the case during Saturday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions:

While the Steelers were the 26-20 victors in this fake football game, one of the real highlights occurred after the clock ran out. The above photos, posted in a tweet by former Notre Dame receiver Javon McKinley’s mother, are with several players who once wore the gold and blue. McKinley is on the same roster as Brock Wright, Tommy Kraemer, Jalen Elliott and Romeo and Julian Okwara. Two of the players on the opposing sideline were Chase Claypool and Jamir Jones.

During the game, McKinley scored his first touchdown in an NFL uniform, albeit one that won’t go down in the record books. That surely had to be his highlight of this game, but being with all of these brothers of his at the same time had to be a close second. That’s a bond that never can be broken.

Analyzing the Detroit Lions 13-player UDFA class

The Detroit Lions stayed busy after the conclusion of the 2021 NFL Draft by signing 13 UDFAs and we analyze their roster potential

Even though the Lions finished the 2021 NFL Draft with the third to last pick, they stayed busy on the phones signing 13 UDFA to round out their roster.

Here are the 13 players and what they can bring to the table in Detroit

Jonathan Adams, WR, Arkansas State

Adams finished his career at Arkansas State with 2,306 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns, earning the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year award in his senior season. He makes his money by making the tough contested catches, notching 23 contested catches, best in college football, and tied for the lead with 15 deep catches, only behind first-round selection Devonta Smith. He can abuse corners with his massive catch radius and superb body control, making one highlight after another. He does have average speed and lack of consistency leading to 11 dropped passes his senior season–the most in college football–and ran a limited route tree. Even with the negatives against him, he can be a deep threat that wins those 50/50 balls.

The Lions need to stock the wide receiver room, only taking one in the draft in Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round, but he will mainly be used in the slot. The Lions gave Adams $90,000 in guaranteed money to come to Detroit, so they must feel he has a shot at contributing to the team.

D’Angelo Amos, S, Virginia

Amos was a graduate transfer from James Madison to Virginia, where in his lone season he recorded 47 tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions. In an interview, Amos noted that the Lions were interested in him after they initially met him at an All-Star event in Texas in January and had constant contact with the Lions until the draft. Amos has also contacted James Madison alum Dean Marlowe, who the Lions signed this past offseason.

The Lions didn’t address safety in the draft even though it was one of the holes that needed answering; Amos can potentially be a depth piece with a good camp. Also, Amos is a very good return man, returning 1,259 punt yards along with five punt touchdowns, which may be his ticket to making the team.

Tavante Beckett, LB, Marshall

Beckett had a rocky start to begin his collegiate career. After his freshman season, he was dismissed from Virginia Tech, where he was charged with conspiracy to sell and possession of marijuana, but those charges were later dropped. He would transfer to Marshall, where he would earn C-USA Defensive Player of the Year his senior season, finishing the year with 90 tackles and no touchdowns allowed.

He has a strong nose for the football and can sniff through the traffic to find the ball carrier, but unfortunately, he is erratic and misses tackles. With his small stature for a typical linebacker, some see a move to safety will be his best bet to make in the NFL. He is not the most athletic, but there is no denying his playmaking ability, and with coaching, he could carve out a role.

Rakeem Boyd, RB, Arkansas

Boyd is a feel-good story coming of JUCO to find success at Arkansas, where he led the team in rushing in 2018 and 2019 but chose to opt out in 2020 after six games. He is a very patient runner allowing the block to develop and attack the crease making a weapon in the open field. He has to rely on his instincts more due to a lack of finesse and explosiveness. He does have some receiving capabilities, but he has multiple drops in the process and needs to work on his pass protection.

With his straight-line speed capability, he will be best utilized as a role player to get you those few extra yards, but nothing more. The Lions running back room seems set at the moment with Swift, Williams, and Johnson. He will have to compete with seventh-round pick Jermar Jefferson, but even then, that might not be enough to separate himself from the pack.

Jake Hausmann, TE, Ohio State

Hausmann had a lackluster career while with the Buckeyes catching only three passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. He was mostly regulated to special teams and utilized for his blocking. Unfortunately, with the lack of vitals to go off of and his poor testing numbers, it seems like Hausmann is destined as a camp body.

Drake Jackson, C, Kentucky

Jackson was a surprise non-draftee due to his center starting experience with his time at Kentucky earning a starting spot his freshman year while playing 45 straight games. He has strong intelligence, sound hands and can clear lanes going into the second level.

The problem being with Jackson is his size with only 31” arms and 8 ¼ in hands, which hinders his position versatility to guard, putting him as a center-only type player. Now the Lions only have Evan Brown behind Frank Ragnow for center depth, but Jackson is smart and a technician to find a role along the Lions offensive line.

Jerry Jacobs, CB, Arkansas

It was bad timing for Jacobs to solidify his status as a prospect when he tore his ACL in 2019 and then opted out after he transferred to Arkansas putting significant jeopardy to his draft stock. If he continued the trajectory he was on in 2018 when he notched twelve pass breakups and four interceptions while at Arkansas State, it could’ve been a different story. He is a very aggressive player but lacks the fundamentals to utilize his full potential. He will need to get coached to iron out the wrinkles, but the potential is there to turn the corner.

Tommy Kraemer, G, Norte Dame

Kraemer is a versatile offensive lineman seeing time at tackle and guard during his time at Norte Dame, where he started 39 games for the Fighting Irish. He looks like your prototypical guard with strong hands that can control the line of scrimmage from just looking at him. His downfall is his footwork and technique that doesn’t allow him to give off blocks and handle athletic players. He has the grit to make it on the Lions squad that needs guard depth.

Javon McKinley, WR, Norte Dame

McKinley seemed to be on the top of the list of UDFAs the Lions wanted to go after, considering they gave McKinley a cool $100,000 to come to Detroit. It was a rough go for him to start his collegiate career with his long injury list, 2016- Missed 6 games (broken fibula), 2017- Out for the season, 2018-Limited to four games. 2019-Missed the final four games (foot sprain). In his final season, he was able to play the whole season while leading Norte Dame in receiving with 717 yards with three touchdowns.

He wins off of contested catches and strong body control and ball skills. If it weren’t for the injuries, McKinley might have seen better pastures, but he is coming to a Lions receiver squad in desperate need of bodies.

Dedrick Mills, RB, Nebraska

Mills was Nebraska’s leading rusher in 2019, where he rushed for 745 yards, but then he saw his 2020 campaign shorted with injuries but finished the season with 396 yards and three touchdowns. He is very similar to Mills on the profile type with straight-line speed, navigate the gaps, and his ability to make cuts with a strong vision.

On the flip side, he lacks the agility to change direction and top-end speed to get to the next gear once he clears the lanes and also not a strong receiver even though he received targets with the Huskers. If the Lions decided to keep a fourth running back, Mills and Boyd would have to battle it out.

AJ Parker, CB, Kansas State

Parker found a spot as the nickel corner with Kansas State starting every game starting in his sophomore season. Even though he might not be an explosive athlete, he manages to make plays on the ball defending 24 passes along with six interceptions in his career. He can read the offense and get in the passing lanes and off coverage with his strong instincts.

With his size, though, he sometimes has issues getting through blocks to make plays on the ball carrier, which tends to be his downfall. The Lions starting nickel corner is Corn Elder, and if Parker can overcome his shortfalls, he could find his way as a depth player.

Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest

During his time at Wake Forest, Surratt lined up inside and outside and before he was sidelined with a shoulder injury includes leading the Power 5 schools with 1,001 yards and eleven touchdowns. He is a massive player at 6’2’ and 209 pounds, and he uses every bit of strength alength to abuse defenders for contested catches.

He won’t be the fastest player on, the field and his route tree is very limited, which might keep him as a big slot and red zone option for the Lions, where he can compete with Quintez Cephus for potential reps.

Brock Wright, TE, Norte Dame

Like Hausmann, Wright saw very limited action during his stint at Norte Dame, catching only seven passes during his four seasons. He mostly got his playing time as a blocking tight end, but he shows he does have the athleticism (9.21 RAS) to ne utilized in the passing game if called upon. It seems Dan Campbell is trying to recreate a version of himself with these two blocking tight ends. If Wright can outshine players down the tight end depth chart, Wright could find his way on the roster.

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Rivals: Irish don’t have enough firepower to beat Clemson

It’s a bit premature to make that assumption, there are a lot of unknowns about Notre Dame’s new offense behind Tommy Rees’ direction.

There are plenty of prognosticators who want to go out on a limb and make predictions that might be a bit far out there. Rivals’ Mike Farrell and Adam Gorney both looked at if the Irish could beat out Clemson for the ACC Title.

Both, Farrell and Gorney, believe that Notre Dame won’t be able to knock off the perennial College Football Playoff contestant. Farrell says that “I don’t think there’s a threat” when referring to Notre Dame’s potential to topple the Tigers. Farrell cites Clemson’s hunger after losing last year’s CFB Championship to LSU and that he “can’t see either (North Carolina or Notre Dame’s) defense holding up to the explosive Clemson offense.”

Clemson’s explosive offense has probably the best pair of backfield mates in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne in the country. However, losing potential star wide receiver Justyn Ross to a spinal injury and Tee Higgins going to the NFL, gives the Tigers WR unit some questions going into the season also. Lots of talented players are behind them, but like the Irish, they’re going to have to find playmakers. Their situations, Notre Dame’s and Clemson’s, are very similar and claiming Clemson has an explosive offense at this point in time seems foolish.

Gorney see’s things playing out very similar to Farrell. He worries “the Irish don’t have enough offensive firepower to keep up with Clemson… because Notre Dame is still looking for playmakers in the passing game.” Gorney, like Farrell, fails to see the similarities between both teams playmakers situations.

It’s a bit premature to say Notre Dame’s offense won’t be able to contend with Clemson’s. Defensive coordinator Clark Lea is a rising star and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees had time to install his offense during the offseason. Rees will find playmakers from his talented group, it could be tight end Brock Wright, wide receiver Braden Lenzy or Lawrence Keys III, running back Chris Tryee that breaks out. The Irish will have players break out and perform at a high level this year.

Farrell and Gorney are a bit off when saying the Irish don’t have the offensive firepower, there’s plenty of talented players on the Notre Dame roster who will have their opportunities this season. Each team will have plenty of time to get their offenses humming by the time they meet on the field November 7th. It should be a great one that will impact not just the ACC race, but the CFP as well.

Notre Dame is Not named Tight End U?!?

A point system to establish Tight End U by 247Sports doesn’t have the Irish on top. Find out who was and where they placed Notre Dame.

Many of us have automatically assumed that every list that ranks collegiate tight ends always seems to have Notre Dame next to the number 1. Well, that wasn’t the case when 247Sports looked into the matter, in fact they named Iowa as Tight End U.

This is all based on what have you done for me lately, as Barton Simmons explains the timeframe is just for the last 5 years. A point system that awards a first round pick 7 points, a second rounder worth 6 and so on, saw the Irish finish with 11 points, good for a tie for 5th on their list.

With “just” 3 draftees in the last five years: Durham Smythe in the fourth round in 2018, Alize Mack in the seventh round last year, and Cole Kmet in the first round this past draft got the Irish to their somewhat disappointing ranking. The quantity is good however, as the Irish only trail Stanford with their four drafted players in the time span.

Simmons looks at this current unit and sees “some good tight ends left on the roster in Brock Wright and Tommy Tremble but true freshman Michael Mayer is the next guy that could sniff a first-round level career.” Although they weren’t named the best group in the last five years, the future looks bright when you also add in 2021 commit Cane Berrong to the lineage.

There is much debate when it comes to assembling these kinds of lists, arguments are surely to arise when trying to rank positional groups. The great news for the Irish is that these numbers should only improve within the next five years as the current and future group should continue the great tradition in South Bend.

Rivals Predicts Who Will Step Up for Notre Dame at TE

Rivals Mike Ferrell predicts who will be Notre Dame’s starting TE after Cole Kmet declared early to the NFL.

It seemed as if Cole Kmet was set to return to South Bend, but the allure of playing at the highest level, while being paid was too good of an opportunity for him to pass up. Kmet’s decision was a tough one, but the Irish churn out tight ends at a high rate and Rivals Mike Farrell predicts who will take over the vacant starting spot.

There are three names that will be bantered around who could replace Kmet, rising junior Tommy Tremble, soon to be senior Brock Wright and incoming freshman Michael Mayer. Farrell believes that it will be Tremble being able to “hold him (Mayer) off in 2020, but Mayer is too talented to keep off the field for very long.”

As the lone 5-star prospect in Brian Kelly’s 2020 recruiting class, Mayer has very high expectations when he arrives on campus this fall. It will be interesting to see how Kelly handles his star freshman, but Farrell “likes Mayer to impact as a true freshman and he could be special as a pass-catcher and downfield threat.”

We will find out soon who will be viewed as the starter out of the spring between Tremble and Wright, as the Irish hit the field tomorrow to begin spring practice. Mayer’s arrival in the summer will be a welcome addition and if Ferrell is correct, you’ll see him early and often this season.