Tag: Establishing the 53

Establishing the 53: Rounding out the Lions’ DL

Examining the Detroit Lions defensive linemen and debating who and how many players they will keep on the 53-man roster.

It’s never too early to examine and speculate about the Detroit Lions roster. Currently, the Lions have 90-players on their roster, and come September, there will likely be some difficult decisions to make when determining their final 53-players.

Previously, in this series of articles at Lions Wire, we rounded out the running backs group, declared a winner in the fullback versus H-back competition, added an offensive weapon, narrowed down the offensive line, and in this piece, we will shift to the other side of the ball and focus on the Lions defensive line — projecting who and how many will make the 53-man roster.

Setting the table

The Lions defensive line primarily operates out of a three-man front, deploying a down defensive end (the DDE lines up on the offensive tackles outside shoulder, but will also shift inside to the 3-technique), a nose tackle (the NT splits time evenly between the 1- and 3-technique) and a defensive tackle (the DT lines up from the 3- to the 5-technique). In this set, the Lions will also line up a pass-rushing JACK linebacker opposite the DDE — for this exercise, the JACK will be discussed further in a linebacker article.

Because this is a hybrid front, the Lions will also operate with four defensive linemen, substituting a back-7 player (linebacker or defensive back) in favor of a big defensive end (BDE). The BDE will line up at the 7- or 9-technique (outside the tight end) in four-man fronts but will also rotate through at DT in three-man fronts.

For a frame of reference, last year the starters at these spots were:

  • DDE = Trey Flowers
  • NT = Damon Harrison
  • DT = A’Shawn Robinson
  • BDE = Da’Shawn Hand

Identifying starters

Despite losing two starters on the defensive line, the Lions front-four starters for 2020 are clear. Flowers will resume his role at DDE, Hand returns to his role at BDE/DT, while Harrison and Robinson were replaced in free agency by Danny Shelton at NT and Nick Williams at DT.

In three-man sets, expect Hand and Williams to rotate through the DT spot equally, regardless of who technically starts.

Erik’s take: You can write these four names in pen on your depth chart.

DDE reserve battle

After seeing over 53-percent of snaps last season, Romeo Okwara appears destined to resume the reserve DDE once again in 2020.

Jonathan Wynn runs third on the depth chart here but unless an injury happens the odds are against him. Add in the fact that JACK linebacker Austin Bryant can also flex to the DDE position and Wynn’s most optimistic outlook could be the practice squad.

Erik’s take: Okwara in, Wynn to the practice squad.

DT/BDE reserve battle

Last season the Lions kept four players at DT/BDE — Robinson (who has been replaced by Williams), Hand, Mike Daniels (who is still a free agent), and Kevin Strong. One of the reasons the Lions rolled with four players was due to Hand’s injury, but if he is healthy heading into this season, they may elect to keep only three players at this spot.

Strong returns to the roster, and as things sit right now, he appears to be the front runner for the third DT role. His primary competition will be seventh-rounder Jashon Cornell, a converted DE who shined last season at Ohio State after pushing inside to the 3-technique. Frank Herron, who was added to the Lions roster for the final month of the season, rounds out the group but he is staring at an uphill battle.

Erik’s take: Strong gets the nod in this projection, but he’ll be looking over his shoulder at Cornell who is headed to the practice squad. Herron is out.

NT reserve battle

Like at DT, this is another three-person battle between a returner, a draft pick, and a late addition to the roster.

After going undrafted in 2018, John Atkins has seen action each of the last two years, playing in 14 games and starting six down the stretch last season. His primary competition will be sixth-round pick John Penisini who has received a tremendous amount of praise for his upside in this type of NT role. Olive Sagapolu received a futures deal with the Lions last January, but like Herron, he lost his leverage once the Lions drafted a player at his position.

Erik’s take: Penisini is a perfect fit for this role and my gut feeling is he passes Atkins in the final weeks of the preseason, earning a spot on the 53. Atkins could push Strong for a deep reserve role but he’s more than likely headed to the practice squad. Sagapolu is out.

Conclusion

No real big surprises here, and while things can definitely shakeup during camp amongst the reserves, here’s where the depth chart stands in this projection:

  • DDE: Flowers, Okwara
  • NT: Shelton, Penisini
  • DT/BDE: Hand, Williams, Strong

Establishing the 53: Rounding out the Lions’ OL

Examining the Detroit Lions offensive linemen and debating who and how many players they will keep on the 53-man roster.

We are a long way from NFL training camps and even further from the regular season, but it’s never too early to examine and speculate about the Detroit Lions roster. Currently, the Lions have 90-players on their roster, and come September, there will likely be some difficult decisions to make when determining their final 53-players.

Previously, in this series of articles at Lions Wire, we rounded out the running backs group, declared a winner in the fullback versus H-back competition, added an offensive weapon, and in this piece, we will explore the Lions offensive line — projecting who and how many will make the 53-man roster.

Setting the table

Heading into training camp the Lions typically carry 15 offensive linemen so they can roll three offensive line combinations through practices. When it comes time to reduce the roster to 53 players, the Lions have historically kept nine or 10 on the active roster, and then had seven active on game days.

The thought process for who fills those spots roughly breaks down like this: five starters, a swing tackle, a player capable of playing guard and center, a reserve with a high floor, another with a high ceiling, and a potential luxury developmental option.

Returning OL starters

The Lions return three starters on the offensive line — left tackle Taylor Decker, left guard Joe Dahl, and center Frank Ragnow.

Decker and Ragnow are foundation builders and locked in starters. Dahl exceeded expectations in his first year as a starter but will still have to fight to keep his starting job with new blood in town. His positional versatility — he can both guard spots and center — should keep him around even if he is demoted.

Here’s a look at the Lions OL so far:

Left Tackle Left Guard Center Right Guard Right Tackle
Taylor Decker Joe Dahl Frank Ragnow

Erik’s take: I could see Dahl staying put or switching to right guard depending on who else wins a starting job.

Challenging for a starting role

Halapoulivaati Vaitai was one of the Lions top targets in free agency because of his upside and ability to play both tackle spots and inside at guard. Based on how the roster is constructed I am expecting him to step into the open starting spot at right tackle — his best position — barring a surprise push from Tyrell Crosby.

Because of his Vaitai-like positional versatility, Crosby has settled into the Lions’ third offensive tackle spot, and while many will dismiss him as a reserve only, he has started seven games (one at left tackle and six at right tackle) over the last two seasons. Crosby’s ability to step into a starting role at any time and keep the offense on track is a critical role.

The Lions drafted back-to-back guards in the third — Jonah Jackson, IOL — and fourth — Logan Stenberg, LG — rounds. Both will assuredly be given a shot to start, cross-trained at all three interior spots, and it would be surprising if both weren’t locks for the roster. It’s too early to know if either Jackson or Stenberg has a leg up on the starting right guard role, but based on draft selection, let’s give the nod to Jackson for now.

Let’s update the OL depth chart:

Left Tackle Left Guard Center Right Guard Right Tackle
Starters Taylor Decker Joe Dahl Frank Ragnow Jonah Jackson Hal Vaitai
2nd string Tyrell Crosby Logan Stenberg

Erik’s take: I’ll be hard-pressed to take any of these seven out of any of my roster predictions moving forward.

Returning linemen

So far, we have filled the following spots on the checklist: five starters, a swing tackle (Crosby), and a player with a high ceiling (Stenberg). We are still looking for a player capable of playing guard and center, a reserve with a high floor, and a potential luxury developmental option.

Of the remaining eight linemen, Kenny Wiggins has the biggest resume with the Lions. Over the last two seasons, he has been active for 30 games, started 10 games in 2018, and was part of the guard rotation all of last season, starting three games. On paper, Wiggins looks like a front runner for the roster, but his 2020 contract puts that thought on hold. The two years he was heavily involved, Wiggins averaged $2.5 million per year, while this season he only got a one-year $1.05 million vet minimum deal.

The next most notable returning lineman was Oday Aboushi, who was active in seven games last season, starting two. Like Wiggins, Aboushi signed a vet minimum deal with slightly more guaranteed.

The third lineman who spent the entire season on the Lions active roster in 2019 was UDFA rookie guard/center Beau Benzschawel, but he failed to see a single snap on offense. The fact that the Lions kept Benzschawel on the active roster all season with no intention of playing him speaks to how highly they value his upside.

Right tackle Dan Skipper was on the Lions active roster for a week in November and two weeks in December, technically making him a returner but three games hardly assures him anything at this stage.

Matt Nelson, another 2019 UDFA, spent the season on the Lions practice squad adjusting to the offensive side of the ball after playing on the defensive line at Iowa. It would be surprising to see him make a jump to the 53 at this stage in his development, but stranger things have happened.

Let’s update the OL depth chart again:

Left Tackle Left Guard Center Right Guard Right Tackle
Starters Taylor Decker Joe Dahl Frank Ragnow Jonah Jackson Hal Vaitai
2nd string Tyrell Crosby Logan Stenberg Beau Benzschawel Kenny Wiggins Dan Skipper
3rd string Matt Nelson Oday Aboushi

Erik’s take: Benzschawel’s ability to play both guard and center will be a big advantage but he will have to beat out guard/tackle veterans in Wiggins and Aboushi — something he couldn’t do last season.

New additions, plenty of experience

Caleb Benenoch is a right guard/tackle option who was claimed by the Lions with two weeks remaining in the 2019 season but never saw the field in Detroit. However, he did start 22 games over the previous four seasons (mostly at right guard) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Joshua Garnett was a first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 and started 11 games for them at right guard as a rookie. He didn’t see the field in 2017, was only active seven games in 2018, and out of the league in 2019, before signing a futures deal with the Lions in January.

Rusell Bodine started 74 games at center over five years (four seasons with Cincinnati and one in Buffalo) but was out of the league in 2019. Like Garnett, he appears to be a player the Lions are willing to test the waters on and see if they have anything left.

Left Tackle Left Guard Center Right Guard Right Tackle
Starters Taylor Decker Joe Dahl Frank Ragnow Jonah Jackson Hal Vaitai
2nd string Tyrell Crosby Logan Stenberg Beau Benzschawel Kenny Wiggins Dan Skipper
3rd string Matt Nelson Oday Aboushi Russell Bodine Joshua Garnett Caleb Benenoch

Erik’s take: At this stage of their careers are any of these three more than name players only?

Narrowing the field

After the initial seven players, the final two/three spots will come down to a few specific battles. We can narrow the field of players based on what we have seen from them in previous years.

Nelson may have upside but nothing at this point indicates he’s ready to step up beyond the practice squad at this time.

Bodine and Garnett weren’t in the league last season, so can they beat out the other five who were on the roster at different points last year? Probably not.

Benenoch and Skipper were only added last season after the Lions suffered injuries and with a healthy group of guard/tackles ahead of them would they be preferred options? Again, probably not.

Conclusion

If we revsit our checklist, we were looking for a player capable of playing guard and center, a reserve with a high floor, and a potential luxury developmental option.

After narrowing the field, we are left with only Benzschawel, Wiggins, and Aboushi to choose from.

The next question becomes, will the Lions keep two or three more offensive linemen? For my money, the Lions need as many spots as possible for offensive skill players and that means they will only keep two more linemen — nine total.

I can’t get away from how the Lions handled Benzschawel last season and my gut says they love his upside, but has he developed enough to beat out high floor veterans Wiggins and Aboushi?

Erik’s prediction: Wiggins was the Lions top interior reserve last offseason and I expect him to return to form and claim the OG3 or 4 job. And for the final spot, I have nothing to base it on other than gut, but give me Benzschawel and his upside to round out the offensive line.

Final 53 projected depth chart:

Left Tackle Left Guard Center Right Guard Right Tackle
Starters Taylor Decker Joe Dahl Frank Ragnow Jonah Jackson Hal Vaitai
2nd string Tyrell Crosby Logan Stenberg Beau Benzschawel Kenny Wiggins Crosby/Wiggins

 

Establishing the 53: Keeping a 6th WR vs a 4th TE

Examining the Detroit Lions pass-catching options and debating the value of keeping a sixth wide receiver versus a fourth tight end.

We are a long way from NFL training camps and even further from the regular season, but it’s never too early to examine and speculate about the Detroit Lions roster. Currently, the Lions have 90-players on their roster, and come September, there will likely be some difficult decisions to make when determining their final 53-players.

Previously, in this series of articles at Lions Wire, we rounded out the running backs group, declared a winner in the fullback versus H-back competition, and in this piece, we will explore the value of keeping a sixth wide receiver versus a fourth tight end.

Returning WR and TE starters

The Lions return all three wide receiver starters — Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, and Danny Amendola — and all three are expected to keep there starting spots.

At tight end, Jesse James technically started last season but T.J. Hockenson saw more snaps in 2019, despite missing the final five games of the season. Both return as the Lions top two tight ends, regardless of who starts.

Erik’s prediction: Based on contracts, roles, and talent, all five easily make the 53-man roster.

Key role players

He only played 127 snaps over nine games, but Marvin Hall was the vertical speed option the Lions offense had been searching for all last offseason. The Lions didn’t add another player with a skill set similar to Hall this offseason, indicating he is likely to return to his WR4/5 role.

Like Hall, the Lions don’t have another player like fifth-round pick Quintez Cephus on their roster. An inside-out option who will likely find success in the NFL as a big slot, there was a reason he was targeted in last month’s draft.

In a previous Establishing the 53 article, I laid out my reasoning for keeping Isaac Nauta as a third tight end/H-back option over Nick Bawden, citing positional versatility and health as difference makers.

Erik’s prediction: Hall, Cephus, and Nauta push the Lions pass-catching count to five wide receivers and three tight ends on the 53. Likely leaving, at most, one more skill player that could be added.

In the mix at WR6

With five receivers already locked in, the Lions final six rostered receivers — Geronimo Allison, Chris Lacy, Travis Fulgham, Tom Kennedy, Victor Bolden, and Geremy Davis — will be competing for the sixth wide receiver role. At this point in the offseason, you can probably cut these options in half, leaving the top-3 as realistic competitors.

Lacy and Fulgham battled all camp for a final spot on the roster with Lacy winning out, but only lasting two games on the active roster. He would join Fulgham on the practice squad for the majority of the year, but eventually, both were promoted to the active roster late in the season.

Allison was the Lions’ most notable free-agent wide receiver added this offseason, and like Cephus, he has inside-out potential, but they win in very different ways. His four years of NFL experience gives him a massive edge over Lacy and Fulgham.

Erik’s prediction: Allison is in the lead for the WR6 role but I am not ready to place him on the 53 just yet.

The wild card

A tight end in name only, Hunter Bryant (6-2, 240 pounds) is basically an oversized wide receiver who is a YAC (yards-after-catch) monster in the slot. Defenses will struggle to match up with him and Bryant has the potential to be a true wildcard in this offense.

Bryant gets knocked for his blocking — and rightfully so — but there is a foundation there, and with proper coaching, he should be able to improve his technique.

Erik’s prediction: If Bryant can prove his worth on special teams, he could lock up this final skill player spot early in training camp.

Conclusion

If the Lions are able to keep a WR6 or TE4, in my mind it will likely come down to Allison versus Bryant. Allison’s experience, ability to line up at multiple spots on the field, and contribute on special teams will be very appealing to the Lions, but Bryant’s upside may be too good to pass up.

At this point on the roster, the Lions are looking at a player who would likely see five to eight snaps a game, and would ideally someone who can give them an advantage every time they see the field.

Erik’s prediction: I’ll take the matchup nightmare, give me Bryant on the 53.

Establishing the 53: Weighing the options of keeping a FB vs an H-B

Examining the Detroit Lions roster, specifically the fullbacks and H-backs, and determining which has the best chance to make the 53-man roster.

We are a long way from NFL training camps and even further from the regular season, but it’s never too early to examine and speculate about the Detroit Lions roster. Currently, the Lions have 90-players on their roster, and come September, there will likely be some difficult decisions to make when determining their final 53-players.

Previously, in this new series of articles at Lions Wire, we rounded out the running backs group, and in this piece, we will take a deeper look at the players who complement them — the fullbacks and H-backs.

What happened in 2019?

After missing his rookie season will a torn ACL, Nick Bawden appeared to be a man with a purpose during training camp. Goal-line carries, swing passes, button hooks, and of course lead blocking, Bawden was deployed in several situations, especially near the goal line. Surprisingly, all of that disappeared — save lead blocking — once the regular season rolled around.

Bawden saw 125 snaps on offense, had zero rushing attempts, four receptions for 17 yards, and graded out (per Pro Football Focus) as a well above average pass blocker and underperforming run blocker.

In Week 11, Bawden went down with another knee injury, was placed on injured reserve, and was replaced in the lineup with rookie tight end/H-back Isaac Nauta.

Nauta would go on to see 41 offensive snaps over the final six games — 34 came as an H-back –, he recorded two receptions for 13 yards, graded out (per PFF) as an above-average pass blocker and was average as a run blocker.

At-a-glance comparison:

Games played Off. snaps per gm Rec per gm Yards per rec Pass Protection Run blocking
Bawden 10 12.5 0.4 4.25 Well above average Below average
Nauta 6 6.83 0.33 6.5 Above average Average

Bawden was the Lions’ first choice last season and when he saw that field he slightly outproduced Nauta in each category, save the most important — run blocking. Nauta didn’t light the world on fire as a run blocker either though and he was below Bawden in most of the above categories, but he deserves some leeway as he was a rookie and playing out of his natural tight end position.

Special teams

The numbers on special teams also slightly favor Bawden. He played in all four phases — kick coverage, kick blocking, punt coverage, and punt blocking — and averaged 17.8 special teams snaps per game.

Nauta averaged 13.7 special teams snap over his six games, and while he started out participating in all four phases, his numbers are lower than Bawden’s mostly because he was removed from the kick-off coverage unit over the final four games.

From a performance perspective, both were close in their PFF grades with Bawden getting the slight edge.

Conclusion

This will likely be one of the closer battles in training camp and could easily come down to overall team philosophies on offense and special teams. Do they want a bruising lead blocker or a positional flexible option?

Based on what we saw in 2019, Bawden appears to be the preferred option and it wouldn’t be at all surprising if he opens up camp with an impactful role. The main factor keeping him from being locked into the roster is he is a fullback only on offense, and he has had two significant knee injuries in as many years.

Meanwhile, Nauta has been fully available, showed he has the potential to fill two roles on offense — as a third (blocking) tight end and H-B –, as well as a contributor on special teams, and it’s reasonable to expect his game to grow as he develops in his sophomore season.

At the end of the day, this is a specialty position (7-12 offensive snaps a game) and in order to fill it, you need to be one of two things: flexible enough to fill more than just one role, and/or elite at what you do.

Bawden may be better at what he does than Nauta is right now, but because he is limited in his roles, he needs to be exceptional at them — which, save pass pro, he is not at this time.

Erik’s prediction: Unless Bawden enters camp and blows it up, Nauta’s position flexibility and availability likely carries an advantage at that’s why he gets my nod for the 53, sending Bawden to the practice squad.