Tag: Mike Ford

Lions roster cutdowns: Breaking down the decisions to cut Breshad Perriman and Mike Ford

Breaking down the Detroit Lions decisions to cut Breshad Perriman and Mike Ford

Roster cutdowns are coming around the NFL at a fast and furious pace, faster than they can even make another flick in that film franchise. The Detroit Lions pumped the brakes on two notable veterans, Breshad Perriman and Mike Ford, in cuts that raised some eyebrows in Detroit and around the NFL.

Monday morning kicked off with the news that Perriman was released. It wasn’t a surprise to see the underwhelming veteran wideout sent packing, despite what far too many fantasy football pundits tried to sell you; Perriman didn’t play well enough to earn a spot, not even on the Lions’ relatively weak and thin receiving corps. Two ugly drops by Perriman in the preseason finale made it easier to sell to fans who held out hope that No. 19 could be a viable weapon in Detroit.

Perriman is not a kneecap-biter, in the parlance of head coach Dan Campbell, It was a risk the Lions knew when they signed him after he quickly washed out with Baltimore. And Washington. And Cleveland. And Tampa Bay. And the Jets.

Breshad Perriman gets the NFL version of ‘Last Chance U’ with the Lions

It would have been nice if it worked, and the theory behind trying Perriman was solid. Reuniting Perriman with WR coach Antwan Randle-El, who coaxed Perriman to his NFL pinnacle in 2019 with the Buccaneers, on the team where his father Brett was a beloved wideout, it made all the sense in the world to try. It cost the Lions $2 million to learn that sometimes there just isn’t any juice left in the lemon. It’s better than sucking on the rind for too long.

The decision to move on from cornerback Mike Ford is a tougher one. Ford is a kneecap-biter, a max-effort guy who has proven himself as an asset on special teams and shown some ability in coverage at times in his three years in Detroit, too.

Ford didn’t have a great summer. After getting the bulk of first-team reps in the slot early on in training camp, Ford got bounced back to the outside. His uneven play in the preseason likely proved that Ford will never be more than he is now, and youngsters like A.J. Parker (who seized the slot CB role) and Bobby Price offer more in the long term.

Stripping away the emotion of losing a likable, hard-working veteran like Ford, it’s a smart business decision by the Lions. Price is younger, more positionally versatile and has the same sort of dynamic special teams impact potential as Ford. The team liked what it saw from Price in converting him from safety to outside CB midway through camp, and that arrow is pointing up. Ford’s arrow is pointing sideways, towards being a special teams-only asset for another team.

Price might very well wind up being exactly that as well, but right now he’s shown the potential to be more than that in Detroit. If it’s not Price, the Lions will import someone who fits that bill that they see with even higher potential. It’s the kind of prudent but tough decision a good organization makes, even if it stings. Fans should appreciate the new-look Lions trying to become a good organization.

 

Bobby Price getting a crash course at cornerback

Price is working after practice with Mike Ford and Tyrell Williams to get better with his technique

Bobby Price is still getting used to the concept of playing cornerback. Now in his second season with the Lions, Price was moved from safety in the middle of last week to outside cornerback.

Price had never played a single snap in his entire football life at cornerback. He’s been a safety with the Lions and in college at Norfolk State, plus a high school career at quarterback.

When asked if the transition was easy or quick, Price offered a blunt rejection.

“Hell no,” Price said following Tuesday night’s practice. “It’s a lot different than playing safety. (At) Safety you’ve got to make a lot more calls, so it’s a lot more on the mental. But corner is covering guys wherever they go. So it’s a different transition, but I feel like I’m athletic enough and I have the capabilities to play this position.”

With some post-practice help from veteran CB Mike Ford and wideout Tyrell Williams, Price is taking a crash course in using his hands and looking for the ball in the air on the outside at CB.

“I’m trying to get better, work on my hands at the line, just try and get comfortable at corner,” Price said. “I’ve always played safety so just trying to figure out when I transition my eyes, when I’m supposed to look back. Just working press/jam. Just different techniques at corner.”

Price was victimized by a long pass play on the Buffalo Bills’ final game-winning drive in the preseason opener, a play where his complete lack of experience at both hand usage and ball recognition were on full display. But he’s got length and speed that cannot be taught. Those traits offer Price a real path to sticking in Detroit for a second season, likely on the practice squad, but also for a longer stint if the lessons are learned and applied at cornerback.

Lions training camp notebook from July 30: Defensive back improvement

Detroit Lions training camp notebook from July 30th with an emphasis on the Lions defensive backs

Detroit Lions training camp is a great way to kick off a beautiful, sunny morning in Detroit. Head coach Dan Campbell enthusiastically entered the media tent right at the scheduled 8 a.m. presser, starting my first day at camp on the right foot.

The pads were still off and no fans present in the bleachers at the training facility in Allen Park. Because the pads are off, the focus is more on the defensive backs than any other group. Here’s some of what stood out to me during Friday’s camp session.

Several Lions players opt for unconventional new jersey numbers

Jamie Collins is now No. 8

When rookie offensive tackle Penei Sewell showed up at Lions OTAs wearing No. 58 on Tuesday, we knew some changes were afoot for the jerseys in Detroit. That 58 was veteran LB Jamie Collins’ number in 2020.

Collins instead has switched to a jersey number previously not allowed for linebackers. He will wear No. 8, the same jersey he donned at Southern Mississippi in college. Collins is one of several Lions who are taking advantage of the NFL’s more liberal roster number rules for 2021.

The league opened up expanded options for several positions, including linebackers and wide receivers. LBs previously couldn’t wear numbers below 50, but now the Lions have two veteran backers who are below it: Collins at 8 and Alex Anzalone choosing No. 34.

A pair of defensive backs, Mike Ford and Quinton Dunbar, jumped at the chance to wear single-digit jerseys, another new option. Ford switched from 38 to 2, while Dunbar chose No. 1 for his first year in Detroit.

Yankees woes continue with disastrously painful first inning against Cleveland

What a miserable start for New York.

In case you haven’t heard, the New York Yankees are a disaster of a baseball team right now. Coming into Thursday, the Yankees were 6-11 on the year with six losses in their last seven games. Just one week ago, fans were so upset with the team that a game was halted after baseballs were thrown onto the field in disgust.

If the Yankees thought about possibly turning a corner on Thursday, they got off to a miserable start against the Cleveland Indians. In the first inning alone, New York made numerous thoughtless mistakes that gave Cleveland a 3-0 inning off the hop.

Those highlights — or lowlights, if you’d prefer — include:

  • Brett Gardner missing a routine catch in left field.
  • A ball sneaking through Mike Ford at first for an infield hit.
  • Pitcher Domingo German fumbling a softly hit ball to allow a Cleveland run to score.

The German mishap was especially egregious, as everyone remained safe — and Cleveland doubled their score! — on a play that very well should have ended the inning.

The damage at the end of the first for the Yankees was a 3-0 deficit and a cacophony of errors that were excruciatingly painful to watch. Not only that, New York has not been able to overcome a three-run deficit to win a ball game this season.

Things just keep on going from bad to worse in New York, it seems.

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Lions re-sign Mike Ford to a new contract

Ford was set to be a restricted free agent

The Detroit Lions are bringing back cornerback and core special teams player Mike Ford. The team announced on Monday it has re-signed Ford to a new contract, the terms of which have yet to be disclosed.

With Ford back in Detroit, the Lions no longer have any restricted free agents pending. The Lions faced a deadline of extending a tender offer to Ford, but signing him to a new contract ends any drama there.

Ford has played three seasons in Detroit, appearing in 31 games and starting seven. He consistently shows speed and energy at both CB and on special teams, though his coverage skills can be clunky. He did grade out with the highest PFF coverage score on the team in 2020 with an 87.6, albeit in just 26 coverage snaps.

He joined the team as an undrafted rookie from SE Missouri State following the 2018 NFL draft and has worked his way up from the practice squad. Ford has shown enough to the new coaching staff to bring back for at least one more season.

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Lions must decide if they will tender CB Mike Ford as a restricted free agent

Don’t expect the Lions to tender Ford as a RFA

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The Lions have a decision to make on restricted free agent cornerback Mike Ford. Among the many other decisions new GM Brad Holmes must make is whether or not to issue a tender offer to Ford. But it doesn’t appear to be a difficult decision.

Restricted free agents are players who have at least three years of accrued service in the NFL. That’s where Ford, who just completed his third season, fits in.

Ford was an undrafted free agent as a rookie, so the Lions would tender him with a right of first refusal tag that would be worth just under $2.37 million. The Lions would have to pay Ford that amount on a one-year deal if no other team makes any offers to the speedy CB. Ford earned $750,000 on a one-year deal in 2020.

Another team could sign Ford with a tender, but they would owe the Lions a draft pick as a result. That seems extremely unlikely to happen for Ford, who has primarily played on special teams. Ford has played in 31 total games, starting seven, and played just 58 reps on defense in 2020.

The Lions could let Ford become an unrestricted free agent and sign him for a lesser figure than the restricted free agent tender, if he chooses to not sign anywhere else. Given the Lions’ current salary cap situation, that seems the only way Ford will be back in Detroit.

Ranking the Detroit Lions unrestricted free agents heading into the 2021 offseason

Ranking the Detroit Lions unrestricted, restricted, and exclusive rights free agents heading into 2021 offseason.

The Detroit Lions will enter the 2021 offseason with 18 of the 53-players on the active roster unrestricted free agents. They also have one restricted free agent and three exclusive rights free agents.

In this piece, we have separated the players into six ranked tiers based on the level of importance to the team and the role they would fill if they return next season.

Detroit Lions Week 16 injury designations: Kenny Golladay and Tyrell Crosby ruled OUT

The Detroit Lions (5-9) have declared their injury designation for their Week 16 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5).

The Detroit Lions (5-9) have declared their injury designations for their Week 16 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5).

Despite the close contact exposures to the COVID-19 virus keeping several coaches away from Allen Park, the players remain available to practice and they were back out on the field again today.

Lions players took the field with a new coaching staff structure, led by wide receivers coach Robert Prince, who will be temporarily taking over interim coaching duties from Darrell Bevell, who has not yet been cleared.

Here’s a look at the Lions’ Thursday injury report, with the updated changes from yesterday’s injury status listed in bold.

Ruled OUT

Player Injury Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Kenny Golladay Hip No Practice No Practice No Practice
Tyrell Crosby Ankle No Practice No Practice No Practice

No real surprises here as Golladay and Crosby continue to miss games. Golladay has been out since Week 9, while Crosby has missed the last two and a half games due to injuries.

With only one game left in the season after this week, it’s possible one or both of them get placed on injured reserve so that the Lions could add depth to the 53-man roster.

Questionable

Player Injury Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Matthew Stafford Rib/Right Thumb Limited Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice
Frank Ragnow Throat No Practice No Practice Limited Practice
Taylor Decker Groin Limited Practice No Practice Limited Practice
Hal Vaitai Concussion No Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
Jamie Collins Neck No Practice No Practice No Practice
Darryl Roberts Hip Limited Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
Jayron Kearse Hip Not Listed Not Listed Limited Practice
Matt Prater Back Not Listed No Practice Limited Practice

Stafford is ahead of where he was last week at this time and he looks good to play this week. His availability will make new offensive play-caller Sean Ryan’s (QB coach) job a bit easier this week.

Ragnow was scheduled to see a specialist today, and while we have not received any word on the results of that exam, the fact that he was listed as limited could be a good sign.

With Crosby out, the Lions will be hoping Decker and Vaitai will be available to man the offensive tackle positions for this game. Decker getting back to a limited practice is encouraging, while Vaitai still needs to be medically cleared by an independent doctor — he has cleared the on-field concussion protocols.

Collins not practicing all week is concerning, but the questionable tag leaves the door open. This could very well be extra rest for a banged-up veteran on a short week.

Roberts getting in a nice week of practice is a good sign he could return to the starting lineup opposite Amani Oruwariye and Justin Coleman.

Kearse is a new addition to the injury report today which is cause for concern, as most late week injuries limit players on game day. If he is not ready to go, expect the Lions to turn back to Tracy Walker in the starting lineup.

Prater was back at practice today, and with no other placekicker on the roster, the tea leaves say he will most likely be ready to play.

No injury designation

Player Injury Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Julian Okwara Knee On Injured Reserve Full Practice Full Practice
Mike Ford Foot Limited Practice Full Practice Full Practice

Okwara was just added to the active roster this week and his two full practices, along with no designation, is a terrific sign for his availability this week.

Ford looks ready to return to his fourth cornerback role, while also offering insurance against Roberts being limited.

Injured reserve/COVID-19

Detroit Lions Week 13 injury designations: Kenny Golladay, Da’Shawn Hand, Jeff Okudah ruled OUT

Examining the Week 13 injury designations for the Detroit Lions as they prepare to take on the Chicago Bears.

The Detroit Lions (4-7) have declared their injury designations for their Week 13 matchup with the Chicago Bears (5-6), ruling out Kenny Golladay, Da’Shawn Hand, and Jeff Okudah for the third week in a row.

Here’s a look at the Lions’ full injury report, with the updated changes in injury status listed in bold.

Ruled OUT

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Kenny Golladay Hip No Practice No Practice No Practice OUT
Da’Shawn Hand Groin No Practice No Practice No Practice OUT
Jeff Okudah Shoulder No Practice No Practice No Practice OUT

“Improving every day,” Interim coach Darrell Bevell said of Golladay. “(I) like what he’s doing. We’ll see how it goes.” Unfortunately, Golladay will not be going on the field this weekend, so fans can cross their fingers he can return for the final month of the season. Expect Marvin Hall to continue to start in his place, but after a late surge in last week’s game, it’s fair to wonder if Mohamad Sanu has earned some more time.

After placing Shelton on injured reserve, the Lions could have used Hand in the lineup this week, but instead will turn to John Penisini, Nick Williams, and newly re-signed Kevin Strong on the interior defensive line.

The situation repeats itself at cornerback, as Trufant being placed on injured reserve along with Okudah being ruled OUT, significantly limits the depth chart.

Questionable

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Matthew Stafford Thumb Limited Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable
D’Andre Swift Illness Limited Practice No Practice No Practice Questionable
Austin Bryant Thigh Limited Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable
Tracy Walker Non-Injury Not listed Not listed No Practice Questionable

Stafford’s thumb has been a non-issue. Move along.

Swift’s illness has kept him out of another practice but the Lions plan on monitoring him through the weekend and his status is very much up in the air. If he does play, Bevell suggested it would be in a limited role.

Bryant strung together three limited practices, but after missing the last two weeks, he is still not out of the woods yet. A full practice would have helped with his projection.

Walker practiced all week but was absent today with a non-injury. The Lions don’t release what a player’s “non-injury” is, but Walker’s wife Bella is far enough along in her pregnancy that this could be related.

No Injury Designation

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Danny Amendola Hip Limited Practice Full Practice Full Practice No Injury Designation
Quintez Cephus Non-injury No Practice No Practice Full Practice No Injury Designation
Hunter Bryant Concussion Full Practice Full Practice Full Practice No Injury Designation
Christian Jones Knee No Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice No Injury Designation
Mike Ford Concussion Full Practice Full Practice Full Practice No Injury Designation

Amendola is finally back to full health and will return to the starting lineup, while Cephus was back in the fold on Friday and looks ready to play as well.

Bryant and Ford have now officially cleared their concussion protocols, as expected.

Jones continues to play through his knee injury and is on track to play, despite only seeing limited practices this week.

Injured reserve

With Okudah being ruled out of this game, the Lions are left with just three healthy corners — Juston Coleman, Amani Oruwariye, and Mike Ford — but at his press conference today, Bevell said,  “I feel more comfortable at it now, knowing that we’re going to at least go into the game with four corners.”

If the Lions expect to have four corners available on Sunday, it’s highly possible that means they are planning on activating Roberts from injured reserve on Saturday.