On Saturday, the Detroit Lions bought their first win of the 2024 preseason in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, 24-23.
As we’ll do each week all through the season for this Lions workforce, we’ve got some information we are able to comb by courtesy of Professional Soccer Focus that higher helps us perceive the soccer the Lions have performed to date—and what to sit up for within the coming weeks. Let’s take a better have a look at the Lions by the numbers after their win over the Chiefs in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL preseason.
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3.16 yards per route run, 11.0 yards after catch per reception
It was a shock to search out out the Lions drafted Sione Vaki as a operating again within the fourth spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft. With so little expertise on the place, and Detroit set with among the finest operating again tandems within the NFL, Vaki appeared like a little bit of a luxurious choose—even with the particular groups means he delivered to the roster. Quick ahead by the primary two weeks of the preseason and it’s straightforward to see how his distinctive skillset and potential have been simply too attractive to cross up.
Vaki had simply 14 targets in his time at Utah, catching 11 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns throughout six video games, however you wouldn’t have thought he was new to this section of the sport on Saturday: Vaki recorded 3.16 yard per route run, a measure of his ridiculous effectivity within the passing sport. Amongst operating backs with not less than three targets by two weeks of the preseason, Vaki ranks ninth out of 49 qualifying operating backs with a 2.40 Y/RR. Albeit a small pattern dimension, his work thus far is de facto spectacular.
To take issues a step additional, have a look at Vaki’s means after the catch: on the lookout for area and operating sturdy by would-be tacklers. He posted a ridiculous 11.0 yards after catch per reception, the second-best quantity amongst all cross catchers with not less than 4 targets (76 qualifying gamers) in Week 2.
92.9% adjusted completion share
A fast phrase of appreciation to Mom Nature for protecting issues dry in Kansas Metropolis as a result of it lastly allowed for us to get an sincere analysis of the Lions quarterbacks.
Hendon Hooker’s inaccuracy had been well-documented by the Lions beat through the spring and summer season main as much as the preseason. An damage to a finger on his throwing hand helped clarify a few of that away, however we nonetheless wanted to see Hooker exit in a sport and reveal a capability to ship the ball with accuracy and placement. The second-year quarterback did simply that in opposition to the Chiefs, posting a 92.9% adjusted completion share in his second little bit of preseason motion—the fifth-best mark amongst 61 qualifying quarterbacks.
Hooker put his first cross of the day only a tad excessive to a wide-open Daurice Fountain, and would fail to finish his second cross in a while that very same drive to Maurice Alexander on a third-and-5 display play. After that, Hooker completed the sport finishing 12 of his subsequent 13 makes an attempt, working by his progressions and delivering passes with poise and good ball placement. One other efficiency like this subsequent week in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers would go a great distance towards instilling some actual confidence in Hooker being the backup in Detroit.
100.0 pass-blocking effectivity
One other shocking choose for Detroit within the 2024 NFL Draft was the choice of Giovanni Manu, an extremely uncooked offensive lineman from north of the border. Manu’s improvement is one thing that the majority anticipate to take years, plural, however his play in Week 2 was actually encouraging, particularly in cross safety.
Manu notched an ideal 100.0 pass-blocking effectivity rating, a PFF Signature stat measuring strain allowed on a per-snap foundation with weighting towards sacks allowed. Not solely did the developmental prospect not enable a sack, he didn’t even enable a strain throughout 19 pass-blocking snaps in opposition to the Chiefs. Progress!
54 yards after catch vs. zone protection
We’d be remiss if we didn’t give some reward to Isaiah Williams as he continues to make it more durable and more durable to maintain him off of 53-man roster projections.
It isn’t all excellent with Williams—he’s bought to maintain that ball tighter as a runner and a returner—however he’s proving to be a savvy route runner with a knack for understanding protection and discovering the open area as soon as he’s secured the ball. Williams racked up 54 yards after the catch in opposition to zone protection in opposition to the Chiefs, the highest quantity amongst 54 qualifying vast receivers in Week 2.
1.5 yards per reception, 2 defensive stops
Khalil Dorsey is as near locking up a roster spot as anybody on the bubble, and his play as a beginning outdoors cornerback in Kansas Metropolis has lots to do with these sentiments.
Take a look at these instincts from Dorsey within the clip above: acknowledges Kadarius Toney within the slot, reads Wentz’ eyes proper on the snap and makes a beeline to make a textbook deal with for loss. Along with his stellar particular groups play, Dorsey’s play on protection has continued to enhance over his time in Detroit. He allowed simply 1.5 yards per reception on two catches—three targets—and that was the bottom complete of any cornerback who allowed not less than two catches in Week 2 of the preseason.
Together with Amik Robertson, Dorsey recorded 2 defensive stops in pass-play tackling—a stat that retains monitor of tackles that represent a “failure” for the offense. Each Robertson and Dorsey completed t-sixth amongst 50 qualifying cornerbacks in Week 2.
