Tag: James Mitchell

Rookie TE James Mitchell had the most targets of any player who caught every pass thrown to him

Mitchell caught all 11 passes thrown his way in 2022

The Detroit Lions brought rookie tight end James Mitchell along slowly in 2022. The fifth-round pick from Virginia Tech missed the end of his final college season with a knee injury, and the recovery process sidelined Mitchell for nearly the entire offseason.

Mitchell did eventually work his way into the lineup, playing 20 percent of the offensive snaps over the final 14 games. While he wasn’t targeted often, Mitchell made the most of his opportunities in the passing game.

In fact, Mitchell wound up having the most targets of any NFL player in 2022 who caught every pass thrown his way. The big rookie caught all 11 passes that QB Jared Goff intended for him.

Mitchell had the most by a landslide. Next in line was Jaguars TE Luke Farrell with four.

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Goff proved quite effective at hitting his tight ends. Brock Wright caught 18 of his 24 targets, a 75 percent rate that was second-best on the Lions. Shane Zylstra caught 11 of 15 targets. The TE dealt away midseason, T.J. Hockenson, snagged 60 percent from Goff, catching 26 of his 43 targeted passes in seven games.

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Film room: Breaking down the Lions tight ends in the Week 9 win over the Packers

Lions Week 9 film room spotlight on TEs Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell in the 1st game after the T.J. Hockenson trade

This week’s Detroit Lions game film spotlight changes things up a bit. Instead of focusing on one individual player, the Week 9 edition looks at the entire tight end room and how it fared in the 15-9 win over the Green Bay Packers.

This was the first game after the Lions traded away T.J. Hockenson. Detroit replaced Hockenson with a combination of Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell. The trio maximized their contributions on the stat sheet, combining for three receptions on four targets, eight yards but two touchdowns.

Jeff Okudah: Breaking down the Lions CB’s Week 1 performance vs. the Eagles

Malcolm Rodriguez: Breaking down the Lions rookie LB in Week 2

Film review: Breaking down Aidan Hutchinson’s performance vs. the Seahawks in Week 4

Film review: Breaking down Penei Sewell’s Week 5 game vs. the Patriots

Josh Paschal: Breaking down the Lions rookie DE in his Week 7 debut

Kerby Joseph: Breaking down the Lions rookie safety in Week 8

The methodology for the film evaluation here is pretty simple. Plays where the player wins his individual matchup or performs the role on the play correctly earn a plus; plays where he loses his matchup or does the wrong thing get a minus. Not every play earns a mark.

With three different players in this one, we’ll divide them up.

James Mitchell

The fifth-round rookie played the fewest snaps of the group, accounting for just 13 reps. He made the most of them, however.

Mitchell earned three plusses in the receiving game with no blemishes. His touchdown reception showed a great release and excellent spatial awareness, as well as confident hands. Other than needing to decelerate less into his comeback routes, Mitchell looked very impressive in pass patterns. He filled in very nicely in the bunch formation role where Hockenson was typically at his best. As a blocker, I had Mitchell for one clean win and one loss, splitting the plus/minus ratio.

Overall, that’s four plusses and one minus in an eventful 13 snaps for the big rookie. Based on his play, I’d expect to see more of Mitchell in the passing game over the rest of the season.

Brock Wright

Wright saw the lion’s share of the action. He was on the field for 50 of Detroit’s 62 offensive snaps.

He had two passing targets in the game and earned a plus on the first one even though he didn’t make the catch. Wright had a clear win against the coverage early, but he wasn’t Jared Goff’s primary read on the play. By the time Goff progressed to him, he was out of real estate in the corner of the end zone and Goff threw the ball away. If Goff gets to Wright earlier, he was open for a potential TD. His other target came on a screen pass that Green Bay’s defense read beautifully and broke up the pass.

Most of Wright’s work came as a run blocker, and he had a mixed bag of a day in that capacity. I found three plusses and four minuses in the run block game. One of the minuses came on a holding penalty that he absolutely earned. He spent a lot of reps as the backside blocker in the run game, which doesn’t leave much room for a consequential win or a loss.

As a receiver, Wright earned two plusses for winning on his routes and one minus for not running a clean break and being covered up on a play where Goff might’ve thrown his way. That puts Wright at five plusses and five minuses.

Shane Zylstra

The practice squad call-up played 16 snaps. His first one came in a fullback role on the opening drive and earned Zylstra one of his two blocking plusses of the game.

Zylstra played almost exclusively in-line at TE and did not once stay in as a blocker on passing plays, which was pretty commonplace with Hockenson’s usage this season in Detroit. As a run blocker, No. 84 had the win on his one FB snap and split a pair in run blocking.

As a receiver, this is a great plus to earn:

Three plusses, one minus on the game for Zylstra.

Overall it was a solid game for the Lions TEs. The final group tally was 12 plusses and seven minuses. This better matched the value of the TE role in Ben Johnson’s offense, especially given the context of Mitchell being a Day 3 rookie who missed all offseason with a knee injury and Wright and Zylstra as undrafted free agents in their second seasons.

Lions PFF Grades: Young core graded high in victory over Packers

The Detroit Lions relied on their young core to bring them home against the Green Bay Packers and PFF grades reflect the strong performances

Individuals are always looking for immediate success and instant gratification, so patience surrounding the Detroit Lions rebuild has come with some frustration and turmoil, considering how the last few weeks have gone. However, even though it was only one win, this one seemed different when the Lions defeated their division rival, the Green Bay Packers, to a tune of 15-9 with the help of one of their defensive performances in some time.

The most fulfilling part of the whole endeavor was seeing the young guns blooming right in front of our eyes. With how the team is built, the Lions have to rely on a slew of young players, and, at times, they make questionable mistakes, but with the right guidance and coaching, they perform admirably, and that was what was shown against the Packers. If they continue their trajectory, the sky is the limit for the Lions young core.

As such, this week’s PFF grades have many of their young players sitting right on top, assuring that what we saw was not just a mirage.

 

Studs and Duds: Lions youngsters at the forefront of Week 9 victory over Packers

The Detroit Lions brought home a victory over the Green Bay Packers, 15-9, on the backs of many of their young playmakers.

It might not have been the prettiest of games against these two bitter rivals, but the Detroit Lions managed to pull out a 15-9 victory against the Green Bay Packers for their second win of the season.

The past few weeks have been low for many people involved with the Lions, so to nail this victory is a major uplift in the aura surrounding the teams. The offense did just enough to keep the game in the Lions favor, whereas the defense is probably the main reason they walked away with a home win. They were able to pick off Aaron Rodgers three times, two of which were in the red zone, to stifle the drives while locking down the receivers and providing solid run defense throughout the contest.

With this game, a few players deserve recognition for their contributions, whereas some could’ve contributed a little more. So here are this week’s Studs and Duds.

Lions snap count notes from Week 8 show a few schematic changes

Lions snap count notes from Week 8 show a few schematic changes on both sides of the ball

Looking at the snap counts from a game can reveal some things about a team that aren’t always obvious during the live game action. That was true of the Detroit Lions in their Week 8 home loss to the Miami Dolphins.

A couple of examples right off the top stand out. It begins with running back, where D’Andre Swift returned from missing three weeks with shoulder and ankle injuries. Despite getting just five carries to Jamaal Williams’ 10, Swift was on the field for 33 reps to Williams playing 22. The popular notion that the Lions would keep Swift on a snap limit proved inaccurate.

The reps also tell a story at tight end. Specifically, the use of multiple tight ends. Brock Wright played 23 of the Lions’ 60 offensive snaps, with starter T.J. Hockenson on the field for 52. Rookie James Mitchell even saw the field for five reps, including his first NFL reception on the opening drive. Detroit used two TEs in the formation (12 personnel) a season-high 19 times, almost 30 percent of snaps. The Lions typically use 12 personnel just 16 percent of the time and that’s almost always in red zone and short-yardage situations.

On defense, the Lions covered for injuries in the secondary by rotating Will Harris and AJ Parker as the fifth DB. CB Amani Oruwariye and S Kerby Joseph were the only defenders to play all 68 snaps, with CB Jeff Okudah and S Juju Hughes on the field for all but one apiece. Harris played 39, Parker 23 and C.J. Moore filled in for just two. Detroit played three LBs in this game more than they had all season, 10 of the 68 snaps (14 percent).

CB Jerry Jacobs did not play on defense as the Lions continues to ease the second-year DB back from his knee injury. LB Chris Board played four snaps, all as the third LB in the formation.

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The NFL’s PUP list change could be a big benefit for the Lions in 2022

The NFL’s PUP list change could be a big benefit for the Lions in 2022 with several key performers coming off major injuries

For many years, the NFL has held the same rule for the players on the Physically Unable to Perform, or PUP, list. A minimum of six games needed to be played before a player on the PUP list could begin practicing and kick off the process of returning to action.

Players placed on the PUP list prior to the season would miss at least six games, and many would linger on the list for another 2-3 weeks before activation. In short, it was common for PUP players to miss half the season.

However, the NFL quietly modified the rules for the PUP list this offseason. Now players are eligible to begin to practice after just four games. With no set minimum number of practices to get back into the lineup, PUP players could be back without even missing a quarter of the 17-game season.

That’s big news for the Detroit Lions, who have several players returning from serious injuries that could land them on the PUP list when training camp starts next month.

It’s a lengthy list with some prominent names on it, including first-round pick Jameson Williams. When head coach Dan Campbell declared that Williams isn’t expected to be ready for training camp, that’s a sign the PUP list is under strong consideration for the Alabama wideout, who tore his ACL in January.

It’s less anxiety in the delayed gratification department with Williams, who instantly takes over as the team’s top playmaker when he gets on the field.

Detroit has other players who are coming back from injuries and were not participants in the recent mandatory minicamp, making them potential candidates for the PUP list. While some (notably CB Jeff Okudah) appear ready to roll on time, all these players could wind up physically unable to perform in time for the start of the season:

  • TE Derrick Deese Jr. (UDFA rookie)
  • S DeShon Elliott
  • CB Jerry Jacobs
  • TE James Mitchell (fifth-round rookie)
  • CB Jeff Okudah
  • DE Romeo Okwara
  • WR Jameson Williams (first-round rookie)

The deadline to decide if a player needs to stay on the PUP list into the regular season is August 23rd, just after the team’s second preseason game.

Missing just four games is quite a bit different than six. Keep in mind the Lions have their bye week in Week 5. Using Williams as a hypothetical example, that timing would allow the rookie wideout to return to practice after Week 4 and then have one game week to evaluate his status. The bye week buys an extra week for Williams to get fully ready and back in the lineup for Week 6–the week before he would have been allowed to begin practicing in the past.

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Athletic player comparisons for the Detroit Lions 2022 draft class

The Detroit Lions 2022 draft class athleticism compares favorably to strong NFL players and gives an idea what might be on the horizon

The dust has settled on the second Detroit Lions draft class under Brad Holmes, and a theme is starting to become quite clear. Under the Holmes/Campbell regime, they value high character players, especially those who were team captains. On top of that, they covet prospects with primer athleticism.

Detroit walked away with one of the top athletic classes in the 2022 draft and will look to continue building its foundation with potential cornerstone players and strong depth rounding out the roster. We will get our first glimpse of these prospects with minicamp right around the corner, but what kind of comparisons can we make on these players?

Using Player Profiler’s best player comparison feature and the Relative Athletic Score (RAS) tool, we can create a picture of what we could expect from these prospects from an athletic perspective.

Here are the best comparisons for the Lions 2022 draft class.

James Mitchell was shocked the Lions drafted him in the 5th round

Mitchell had limited pre-draft interactions with the Lions

A lot of Detroit Lions fans were surprised when the team selected Virginia Tech tight end James Mitchell in Saturday’s fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. It turns out Mitchell was surprised too.

The No. 177 overall pick didn’t expect the Lions to select him so high. Based on his limited interactions with the team, Mitchell thought it was more likely he was going to sign with the Lions after the draft if he didn’t get picked.

“Actually, I talked with them a little bit at the Combine,” Mitchell said when asked about what interactions he had with the Lions before the draft. “Besides that, it was more they had talked with my agent about maybe getting something done after the draft if I wasn’t selected. When they called me right there toward the end of Round 5 and said they were going to take me, I was pretty shocked.

Mitchell added, “Very grateful and excited to go there and just get started.”

So was the message to Mitchell’s agent a smokescreen pulled off by the Lions front office? The rookie thinks it might have been.

“It might’ve been. If it was, it worked,” Mitchell said. “But it doesn’t matter to me. I’m just blessed. I’m happy. I’m happy to be a part of the Lions.”

5 things to know about new Lions TE James Mitchell

Get to know the newest Detroit Lions tight end from Virginia Tech, James Mitchell, who has a nickname that demands respect.

The Detroit Lions had to sit tight at the start of the third day of the 2022 NFL Draft with not having a pick in the fourth round and waiting for their fifth-round pick at the end of the round. They decided to flip the script to offense after selecting only one offensive player so far. With their fifth-round selection, the Lions selected Virginia Tech tight-end James Mitchell to bring a complimentary piece to T.J. Hockenson.

Mitchell brings a versatile skill set that allows him to line up inline or in the slot with his acceleration and route movements like a typical wide receiver. Along with his speed, he has natural hands that make him a strong red-zone target. Unfortunately, due to the inconsistent productivity from the Virginia Tech offense, his production lacked and didn’t put up gaudy numbers. He does show a willingness to block but, at times, may get overpowered.

Get to know the Lions new tight end, James Mitchell.

Watch: James Mitchell’s call and reaction to being drafted by the Lions

The Detroit Lions selected tight end James Mitchell and you can watch the call he received as well and the ensued celebration

James Mitchell comes to Detroit to help round the Lions tight end group behind T.J. Hockenson after the Lions used their 117th overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft on the Virginia Tech product. If not for a tragic ACL injury, Mitchell probably would’ve heard his name sooner, but either way, his dream of making it to the NFL has come true.

The draft is a fun experience to witness young players’ dreams come true after the grit and hard work they put in since they were young. Getting the call from the team saying they are going to select you because they believe what you can bring to the table is nothing short of special.

Mitchell was in the comfort of his own home surrounded by friends and family, all wearing “Draft Day” shirts with the number 82, his jersey number from Virginia Tech, all of whom could not be happy for the young man.

Here are two videos to witness Mitchell’s path to Detroit. The first is the call he received from the Lions brass, and the second is when his name came across the broadcast.

Afterwards, he shots out a video looking forward to learning from Dan Campbell, a former tight end, and T.J. Hockenson.