The Detroit Lions concluded their analysis of their 91-man roster on Saturday afternoon with their last preseason sport towards the Houston Texans.
Let’s check out the snap counts from the sport to see if we will collect any hints about how the Lions could finalize their roster cuts to create a 53-man squad.
The truth that Hooker acquired three quarters of play and solely managed 24 snaps exhibits how ineffective the Lions offense was all day. Detroit gave Hooker as a lot time as attainable to show he may lead a productive offense, but Kyle Allen nonetheless managed to maneuver the ball extra in simply two offensive sequence.
With Vaki out, it compelled Reynolds to begin the sport, however for almost all of the competition, it was Saylors at working again. He continues to make a powerful impression that would land him on the Lions’ follow squad.
“He’s fairly artful, fairly nifty,” coach Dan Campbell stated after Saturday’s sport. “He’s acquired element to what he does—the runs, the landmarks, the verify downs. There’s one thing there and we like him, and it was good to see him return in there and play a little bit bit.”
The very first thing that jumps out is how little Jackson Meeks performed. He was largely relegated to the second half, showing after Lovett, Bell, Kennedy, and TeSlaa had already taken the sphere. Clearly, with the ineffectiveness of the second-half offense, Meeks didn’t get as many alternatives because the Lions possible hoped, nevertheless it positive is fascinating to see Meeks taking part in so late within the sport. Have been the Lions hiding him? Is he actually that far down the depth chart?
After all, the opposite—maybe extra vital—factor to notice about Meeks is his 11 particular groups snaps, main the complete group. No participant on offense had extra particular groups snaps than him, and that’s the place he might justify a spot.
Detroit acquired , lengthy take a look at Lovett after the rookie receiver missed a while with an damage earlier this preseason. He didn’t make a lot of an affect on offense, however he, too, acquired loads of particular groups appears to be like.
Bell is the wildcard of the group. He repped sooner than anticipated, and he continues to be steadily productive. Whereas the stat sheet solely says two catches for 25 yards for Bell vs. the Texans, he additionally had a 30-yard catch negated by penalty.
Zylstra was out of the sport comparatively shortly, however maintained a powerful particular groups position. Each of these are fairly good indications he’ll be protected. In the meantime, Horton performed practically the complete sport whereas being restricted on particular groups. Add in a few powerful penalties on Horton, and it’s straightforward to see the place issues stand within the tight finish room.
It’s unclear why Jamarco Jones wasn’t dressed, however some reporters consider he suffered an damage through the last set of joint practices. That meant Giovanni Manu needed to play the complete sport, and he held up significantly properly because the full-time left deal with. Dan Skipper and Gunner Britton cut up the sport at proper deal with.
Jones is de facto the one participant whose roster spot is up within the air (Skipper and Manu appear protected), and together with his absence nonetheless a thriller, it’s arduous to know the way to learn that state of affairs.
Right here’s how the sport began:
LG: Netane MutiC: Kingsley EguakunRG: Kayode Awosika
LG: Zach JohnsonC: Michael NieseRG: Mason Miller
However there was a telling second proper earlier than switching from the primary group to the second: for one drive with the starters, the Lions sat Awosika and changed him with Niese. Did Awosika undergo an damage? Had he proven them sufficient to warrant his roster spot? Did they need to give Niese a possibility to indicate his versatility between heart and guard? I gained’t soar to conclusions, nevertheless it was an fascinating growth within the second.
Ukwu acquired practically double the snaps of everybody else on the group, which is a tad shocking. It’s much more shocking that Muhammad—who is probably going locked into the EDGE3 position—acquired extra time on the sphere than Lynn and Agude. However retaining him off particular groups might be a sign that they didn’t need him to threat damage on non-defensive snaps.
Ukwu rewarded the chance with three quarterback hits on an in any other case quiet day for Detroit’s cross rush. It’s a pleasant push to make the ultimate roster on what’s a reasonably wide-open competitors for the EDGE4 spot. However, typically, the Lions’ defensive position didn’t impress towards the Texans, leaving critical questions in regards to the depth right here—significantly with Hassanein and Josh Paschal anticipated to each miss some vital time.
Adams and Cooper proceed to get a number of worthwhile expertise, and I’m interested in Adams getting a lot particular groups work whereas Cooper acquired none. Adams may very well be a kind of sneaky 53-man roster provides, as somebody who has gotten reward from Campbell at a number of factors this offseason. Nonetheless, it was a tough evening for the complete defensive position, which produced only a single sack and allowed 150 rush yards on the afternoon.
Turner’s day noticed an early finish after he suffered what seems to be a critical Achilles damage.
It’s fascinating to see Nowaske play practically the complete sport, however with the Lions a bit shorthanded at linebacker, he was compelled to play each SAM and MIKE. And he positive made a powerful impression together with his play.
“Now(aske) performed at a excessive stage as we speak. You may see the bodily, however I assumed, man, he was in it mentally – like he was fairly locked in,” Campbell stated. “I assumed he—which look, a few of that’s uncooked for him taking part in the stack-backer, and he was working the MIKE, center linebacker—making the calls. And I simply thought he performed a reasonably cerebral sport too, which is nice to see, which suggests he’s rising and creating.”
In my view, he’s a roster lock.
Past that, Cunningham performed early and was off, a sign he’s the very best on the depth chart amongst these reserves. Stuard continues to rep because the first-team kick returner. And whereas Pittman has struggled defensively, his 14 particular groups snaps—most on the group—present how he might sneak onto the roster as LB7.
Once more, the Lions rotated their cornerbacks closely, though Luq Barcoo was an sudden absence.
After a powerful begin to camp, Whiteside has cooled off a bit and struggled in his huge position towards the Texans. Then once more, virtually everybody within the Lions’ secondary struggled.
Apparently, Hallett was largely relegated to security on this sport. Per PFF, his 35 snaps had been cut up at free security (23), field security (10), outdoors cornerback (1), and on the defensive position stage (1). That possible speaks extra to Detroit’s depth, as that they had loads of choices at cornerback, however solely three different safeties had been energetic.
Hallett and Ya-Sin acquired the beginning at security, with Kennelly and Strickland taking on about midway by way of. Strickland had the extra impactful sport (9 tackles, one TFL) and earned some reward from his head coach after the sport.
“He’s a ball-hawk. He finds the ball, and he did that once more, man,” Campbell stated. “Two huge performs there within the pink zone had been good to see.”
Each he and Kennelly could also be combating for a roster spot, so it’s no shock to see that each acquired an extended look on particular groups, as properly.
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