Tag: protection

There is a statistical basis behind starting Jake Haener in Week 15

There may be a statistical precedent showing why the Saints chose Jake Haener to start Week 15 over Spencer Rattler:

The New Orleans Saints decided to go with Jake Haener to start in their Week 15 game over Spencer Rattler, who started three games the last time Derek Carr went down. This choice was one that many had not anticipated, as Rattler had the experience with this offense this season, and would have been presumed as the incumbent.

However, Haener had been listed as the No.2 quarterback for the whole season, while Rattler was listed as the emergency No. 3, so logistically this was the option on paper that was going to happen. Beyond that, there may be a statistical precedent for starting Haener in this game over Rattler.

As WWL Radio’s Jeff Nowak noted, in the three weeks Spencer Rattler started, the opposing teams accrued a whopping 16 sacks, over five a game on average. However, in the weeks Derek Carr has started, they have allowed only 8 sacks, half the total in over three times the games. This was one of the biggest issues for the Saints under Rattler, is he had immense trouble sensing pressure and getting away from it on time, and with the injuries to the Saints offensive line previously, that made things even more difficult.

Jake Haener may give you the alternative in that he will get the ball out quicker and get away from pressure, but obviously we do not know that as his playing time is limited to only 61 total snaps, and in those he has taken 3 sacks. Regardless, the Saints having another option at quarterback allows them to try this out and just see if it works, and test out Haener to see what he has in the tank.

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Detroit Lions make 3 practice squad moves, protect 4 in Week 16

Detroit Lions made a series of practice moves on Tuesday, adding C Jon Toth, releasing C Marcus Martin, placing LB Anthony Pittman on the COVID-19 list, and protecting four players in Week 16.

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Detroit Lions made a series of practice moves on Tuesday, adding center Jon Toth, releasing center Marcus Martin, placing linebacker Anthony Pittman on the COVID-19 list, and protecting four players in Week 16.

The Lions protected players include, center Evan Brown, defensive tackle Albert Huggins, corner Tramaine Brock, and safety Bobby Price.

With Frank Ragnow still dealing with a throat injury, the Lions turned to Joe Dahl to start at center last week, and elevated natural center Martin to act as a reserve. Unfortunately, Martin has exhausted his elevation eligibility in 2020, and the Lions released him to make room for Toth.

Toth (6-5, 310-pounds) played center at Kentucky, was undrafted in 2017, and joined the Eagles. After just over a year on Philadelphia’s practice squad, he joined the Jets practice squad in 2018. He also spent time in the XFL with the D.C. Defenders, before joining the Browns earlier this year.

Toth will compete with Brown (who is protected this week) for a potential elevation spot in week 16. Neither has been elevated this year.

Brock has also not used an elevation this year, but with corners Darryl Roberts and Mike Ford banged up (both were estimated to be limited on Tuesday) they may need him as an elevation option this week. Brock will be competing with fellow practice squader Alex Meyers — who was posterized by Derrick Henry last week.

Huggins was elevated once by the Lions in Week 12, while Price was a standard elevation in Week 13, and a COVID-19 replacement elevation in Week 14, meaning each has one standard elevation remaining as COVID-19 elevations don’t count against the standard numbers.

Pittman was placed on the COVID-19 list and per an NFL/NFLPA agreement, teams do not differentiate between if a player tested positive for COVID-19 or if he had a close contact exposure, so it’s unclear how long he will be out at this time.

However, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, “One Lions player and one non-player tested positive for COVID-19, per league source. The team facility is closed and players and coaches are meeting virtually, with contact tracing ongoing.”

So, if Pittman did indeed test positive, his season could potentially be over. But, if the report is wrong, and it is a close contact exposure — like Matthew Stafford, Jarrad Davis, and Jalen Elliott earlier this year — it’s possible he could return before the season’s conclusion.

Detroit Lions protect three practice squad players in Week 9, including two hybrid EDGE rushers

Detroit Lions protected three practice squad players in Week 9, including hybrid EDGE rushers Kareem Martin and linebacker Anthony Pittman. Cornerback/gunner Dee Virgin was also protected per usual.

Detroit Lions protected three practice squad players in Week 9, including hybrid EDGE rushers Kareem Martin and linebacker Anthony Pittman. Cornerback/gunner Dee Virgin was also protected per usual — he has been protected every week available this season.

The Lions have been very consistent with how they have utilized the protection designations for their practice squad players, only protecting five players over the whole season leading up to this week. In previous week’s the Lions have actually protected fewer players than the maximum allowance, as they have only focused on these specific players.

In addition to Virgin, the Lions protected quarterback David Blough and tight end Isaac Nauta every week available, until each was eventually elevated to the active roster. Running back Kerrith Whyte was protected each week available up until he landed on practice squad injured reserve in Week 5. While running back Jonathan Williams was protected in Week 1 — and will join the active roster later today.

So what changed in Week 9?

EDGE Trey Flowers was just placed on injured reserve. While Everson Griffen has completed his onboarding process and was added to the active roster Monday, the Lions likely felt they needed some extra insurance on the edge.

Martin is the player on the practice squad who is stylistically the closest to Flowers/Griffen, but Pittman has been with the team for the last 18 months and has seen time at JACK linebacker late last season.

By protecting both, the Lions will have the opportunity to see how Griffen acclimates this week in practice, while also allowing Martin and Pittman to compete for an emergency role. If coaches don’t feel Griffen is ready to fully contribute by Saturday, they can promote the winner of the emergency competition to the active roster for this week’s game.

Detroit Lions elect to protect TE Isaac Nauta and CB Dee Virgin in Week 7

The Detroit Lions have declared the practice squad players they wish to protect in Week 7 and they include tight end Isaac Nauta and cornerback/gunner Dee Virgin.

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The Detroit Lions have declared the practice squad players they wish to protect in Week 7 and they include tight end Isaac Nauta and cornerback/gunner Dee Virgin.

Nauta and Virgin have been protected players for the Lions every week in 2020 and each has been elevated to the active roster for one game — Virgin in Week 2 versus the Arizona Cardinals and Nauta in Week 6 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ironically, those are the two games the Lions have won this season.

Despite having the option to protect up to four practice squad players each week, this is the second week in a row the Lions have protected fewer than the maximum — in Week 6 they only protected three players.

Last week, in addition to Nauta and Virgin, the Lions protected quarterback David Blough, but since then, Blough has been signed to the active roster, and the Lions elected to leave his protection spot open.

The only other players the Lions have used a protection label on are running back Jonathan Williams — who has since been released — and running back Kerrith Whyte — who is currently on the practice squad injured reserve’s list.

Report: Lions to release RB Jonathan Williams from the practice squad

Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Detroit Lions are releasing running back Jonathan Williams from the practice squad.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Detroit Lions are releasing running back Jonathan Williams from the practice squad.

Williams was added during training camp for depth as the Lions were dealing with several injuries at running back. D’Andre Swift getting healthy took Willams’ opportunity to make the 53-man roster away, but after Bo Scarbrough was placed on injured reserve Williams found a spot on the Lions practice squad.

During Week 1, Williams was a protected practice squad member and received a game day elevation but was declared inactive when it came time to play. The following week, the Lions elected to protect running back Kerrith Whyte, who had presumedly passed Williams on the depth chart.

With four heathy running backs on the active roster, Whyte ahead on the practice squad depth chart, and Scarbrough eligible to return from injured reserve after this weekend’s game, Williams spot on the roster became vulnerable and likely led to them parting ways.

The Lions have yet to acknowledge this move, so we do not know the corresponding practice squad roster transaction at this time. But with Kenny Wiggins also being moved off the practice squad last Saturday — replacing Joe Dahl on the 53-man roster — the Lions have two open spots they can fill.

David Blough among Lions’ protected practice squad players for Week 1

The Detroit Lions have named their four practice squad players who have been protected for Week 1 of the 2020 regular season.

According to the NFL transaction wire, the Detroit Lions have named the four practice squad players who have been protected for Week 1 of the 2020 regular season.

If you are not familiar with this new practice squad rule change, here’s the short version:

The NFL and NFLPA have added a clause, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that allows teams to protect four players on their practice squad from signing a contract with another NFL team.  This protection label lasts one week (through the end of the day of the team’s game), then there is a short window where the player is not protected, and finally, the process starts over again on Tuesday afternoon.

For Week 1, the Lions assigned a protection label to quarterback David Blough, running back Jonathan Williams, tight end/H-back Isaac Nauta, and cornerback/gunner Dee Virgin.

Protecting Blough makes a ton of sense for the Lions, as having a third quarterback who knows the system in the building is imperative. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if Blough was protected every week he is on the Lions practice squad.

Williams was likely protected as health insurance at the running back position. With Bo Scarbrough on injured reserve, D’Andre Swift currently banged up, Kerryon Johnson coming off two seasons where he spent time on injured reserve, and Adrian Peterson only being in the building a few days, Williams gives the Lions some security.

Nauta gives the Lions insurance at two positions. Keeping him at the ready if rookie Hunter Bryant’s hamstring injury lingers, or if he struggles at the position. As well as at the fullback where Jason Cabinda is in his first year at the position.

Virgin has been terrific as a starting gunner for the Lions the last two seasons, but when that is all you do, it’s difficult to justify a spot on a 53-man roster. That being said, the starting gunner opposite Tony McRae is a bit of an unknown, and if that player struggles, having Virgin protected is a nice security blanket for special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs.

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