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With The Combine Upon Us Could The Lions Do The Unthinkable Or Should They?

Lions Combine: photo: Pete Sheffield

The combine is here and when all the players perform their required tasks to confirm what teams has seen on film, or to prove themselves to be actually better than what was seen…the Lions may be presented with doing the unthinkable! Should they?

Here is a potential situation. The Lions have around $50 Million in cap space heading into the NFL Free agency period.

They’ve just cut/released Snacks Harrison and now have holes at DT, Edge, Guard, CB, Tackle, LB, Punter, etc.

If the Lions are to strengthen just one of these positions to the point it no longer is a position of need, say 2-5 years; they may have use up most of that cap space on just one position!

Or their could be another price that the team might be willingly pay more easily if the terms are right…

Here’s option one

The post With The Combine Upon Us Could The Lions Do The Unthinkable Or Should They? appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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The Lions Had The Right Concept Now They Just Have To Do It Again?

The Lions Had The Right Concept Now They Just Have To Do It Again?

What if there’s a way to for the Lions to serve the WIN NOW edict for Martha Ford but it’ll take dealing with some familiarity, and the eating of humble pie? Well that’s what may have to happen for this 2020 season to accomplish all things needed without the team doing what’s NEEDED to be done for them to be setup to win in the future!

If you “REALLY” want to be setup for the future it starts by trading Stafford, drafting Tua and signing a hold over Free Agent QB until the team’s feel that Tua’s completely ready to take the reigns!

If you want to try to “WIN NOW & BEYOND” then you do what we said concerning all this Darius Slay trade rumors:

Option B-2 (Keep Slay and Stafford)

With this option your building the next man up culture but in a better way because it accomplishes the 3-4 things all “winning NFL organizations” seem to have:reward-pride-stake!

Reward:

With the 3rd overall pick the Lions select:

Read more

But if it is a serious focus on pouring it all into this season then why use the concept that the Lions did with Mike Daniels and apply it to bringing in N’Damukong Suh on a 1-2 year deal to play hopefully along side of Snacks Harrison?

Perhaps a signing like this could persuade him to opt for retirement!

It certain wouldn’t hurt the historically bad defense that the Lions trotted out there week after week last season!

We that there’s mutual need on both sides!

He’s not in a position to demand “over the top” type money, and the team needs his skill set at his position!

All it may take, in our minds, is to guarantee a significant amount or all money; depending on the length of the contract!

Both will have to eat large slices of the humble pie one by one until it’s all gone!

Ndamukong Suh Ahead of Return to Detroit: “I think everyone wants a Super Bowl.”

Read

» https://t.co/HyrQvDIhdz pic.twitter.com/aS5qaqozmL

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 29, 2018

Which would you rather do?

Re-sign Mike Daniels or N’Damukong Suh?

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2 Reasons Why Trading Darius Slay Is Stupid And 1 Smart One

Trading Darius Slay

We’re looking at why trading Darius Slay is stupid and the only way that it could be somewhat smart. Let’s dive into it!

The post 2 Reasons Why Trading Darius Slay Is Stupid And 1 Smart One appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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Is Richard Sherman Forcing The Lions To Put Up or Shut Up?

Richard Sherman Darius Slay

Richard Sherman, a proven cornerback in his own right, has just said that Darius Slay doesn’t get enough credit becuase he plays for the Lions! And we’re wondering if the Lions to put up or shut up?

Darius Slay was and is the Lions defense!

He covers all opponents top receiving threats and essentially close off one side of the field for the team.

Opponents have done wonders against the other cornerbacks, safeties, D Line, and LBs!

Last year, on a historically terrible defensive performance overall; he was the only shining light of unquestioned hope!

So, we’re really wondering if this trend of players from other teams start bashing the Lions’ appeal, culture, style of play continues will make the Lions ownership actually start taking notice and making changes to improve their reputation as a winning organization?

Richard Sherman Darius Slay

Considering Free Agency will be strting very soon, will other players see quotes like this and say I’m not going to answer the Lions call unless I’m down to my final offer and only then will I accept an offer…but they’ll have to pay up considerably!

There’s no reason to negotiate with them on price, especially there’s any chance another might be interested; no matter if they’re a contender or not!

Could this be the reality for us Lions fans that have been wanting winner for decades and decades upon decades?

What’s to stop MORE players from voicing their disgust of playing for the Lions?

It’s our opinon that the Lions as a team/organization has to put up or shut up!

It’s too easy to Richard Sherman a hater, or that he shoud mind his own team’s business!

Winning shuts the mouth of people who feel that way; even when it’s Lions fans!

We are those Lions fans!

What your thoughts…how does this add fuel to your Lions Passion?

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The post Is Richard Sherman Forcing The Lions To Put Up or Shut Up? appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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Does This Deal Make Sense For The Lions?

Lions Trade Darius Slay?

If, for any reason, the Lions trade darius slay, here’s one proposed option out there! It will send Slay to the Eagles, and the Lions would receive Sydney Jones and a 3rd pick back in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The question here is bonafied production versus youth! We wouldn’t touch the trade with a 10 foot pole and think it would be stupid for the Lions to do so also. Here’s an Eagles fan feelings about it!

Lions Trade Darius Slay

  This Philly fan, along with many in the comments are opposed to the trade, but from the angle that Darius Slay is declining in his abilities!

What?!!!

Lions, if you’re reading, as you should…

Keep Slay!

Pay Slay!

Build around Slay!

And have a good Day!

What are your thoughts, is Sydney Jones (seemingly damaged goods) on a team friendly contract and an extra 3rd round pick payment enough to fuel your Lions passion?

Let us know!

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Oh…almost forgot…If you’re wondering who the hell is Sydney Jones, this may help…

The post Does This Deal Make Sense For The Lions? appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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Kenny Golladay and The Lions’ “Poison Pill”!

Kenny Golladay contract extension

The Lions have some big decisions to make both on and off the field, aka both in and outside the locker room. With both GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia in a make or break season, results are needed and they’re needed fast!

The results on the field depends heavily on the Detroit Lions coach and his staff’s ability to put players in position to succeed. Inorder to have, keep, or get the players needed to succeed; that’s on Quinn and his staff to make sure the necessary pieces are on the team and ready!

Well the Lions have free agents of their own that are ready for new contracts, plus players entering into their last year of current contracts; and there’s only so much money to go around!

Add to all of that the fact that there maybe other available Free Agents that fits the team’s need more than the one who just became a free agent, so what do you if you’re Bob Quinn?

Here’s the dilemma

If you don’t re-sign Darius Slay you are basically creating, establishing, or reinforcing in the minds of on-lookers (players on the team, potential draft picks, and Lions fans) that the team really doesn’t want to be loyal!

That way of doing business may very well hinder the next move which would seem to be to sign Kenny Golladay to a long term deal before his contract ends.

If you won’t do right by Slay, by trying to low ball him, a guy who’s played his arse off for you, why would Golladay expect you to come to him with fair deal! He just might make the team pony up more money to retain his services!

And this goes on down the line of hierarchy of players!

The seeds may have already been sown, as Golladay said something in an interview that could be an indicator that he’s not sure if he’ll want to be a Lion forever!

Look for all of this to go away, the team probably should get ready to pay their own guys, and make that apart of “the culture”!

This will pay longterm dividends, otherwise it’ll become a poison pill and unfortunately Quinn and Patricia will be fired and gone, but we the Lions fans will have to deal with the symptoms of this for the next decade! likely!

What are your thoughts…

Will the Lions get this off-season right or is it doom and gloom on the horizion?

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The post Kenny Golladay and The Lions’ “Poison Pill”! appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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Lions Fans Are Split About Re-Signing Darius Slay

re-signing darius slay

In a LionsPassion.com small survey of Lions fans concerning the team re-signing Darius Slay for 5 years, 3 years, or Other (either Letting him walk, trade, or some variation to the 5 year or 3 year deal); where $17 Million is the base salary. The fans were split with 37% willing to do everything to keep and 37% willing to add stipulations to the contract or even play hard ball with the probowl cornerback.

If the Lions go the cheap/low ball offer Slay will have already have hs bags packed and be on the “proverbial plane” headed elsewhere…

I will for sure leave lol https://t.co/XurFCyoLeA

— Darius Slay (@_bigplayslay23) February 10, 2020

So making a serious offer to Big Play Slay is in the Lions best interest for a long list of reason. Here are a couple that we see:

It says that they are interested in being loyal

It says that they value home grown talent

It says that they have learned from the flaws in the way of how they handled Barry, Suh, Calvin, and even Quandre Diggs, and  are now ready to make players; especially home grown players a life long Lion; etc.

So what will life look like if the Lions try to play hard ball and let Darius Slay walk?

Well they’ll have considerable capspace that seemingly none of the best of the best Free Agents at his position would want because presumably the idea would be look at how they do their own people (drafted players); so the Lions would be an immediate scratch off all of their lists for years to come!

You won’t games like this where he makes life so much easier for coach Matt Patricia and us Lions fans!

And then the clock will be reset with the team:

Trying to draft a top level DB,

Or develop a Defensive Back on their roster into a bonafied starter

But with either path…the player(s) will likely know or be reminded of the team’s track record with contract negotiations and already have “their bags packed” too!

Not a got recipe for success!

Solution: Pay Big Play Slay…

and work like hell to develop all current or incoming DBs to make sure there’s not a gigantic dropoff when Slay goes to the sideline for a play or two!

Which route would you take with Darius Slay?

5 years @ $17M (at least)

3 years @ $20-25M

Other (either Letting him walk or some ADDING stipulations to the 5 year or 3 year deal)

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Lions Fans Are Split About Keeping Darius Slay

https://lionspassion.com/re-signing-darius-slay/

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Lions Fans Are Split About Re-Signing Darius Slay

re-signing darius slay

In a LionsPassion.com small survey of Lions fans concerning the team re-signing Darius Slay for 5 years, 3 years, or Other (either Letting him walk, trade, or some variation to the 5 year or 3 year deal); where $17 Million is the base salary. The fans were split with 37% willing to do everything to keep and 37% willing to add stipulations to the contract or even play hard ball with the probowl cornerback.

If the Lions go the cheap/low ball offer Slay will have already have hs bags packed and be on the “proverbial plane” headed elsewhere…

I will for sure leave lol https://t.co/XurFCyoLeA

— Darius Slay (@_bigplayslay23) February 10, 2020

So making a serious offer to Big Play Slay is in the Lions best interest for a long list of reason. Here are a couple that we see:

It says that they are interested in being loyal

It says that they value home grown talent

It says that they have learned from the flaws in the way of how they handled Barry, Suh, Calvin, and even Quandre Diggs, and  are now ready to make players; especially home grown players a life long Lion; etc.

So what will life look like if the Lions try to play hard ball and let Darius Slay walk?

Well they’ll have considerable capspace that seemingly none of the best of the best Free Agents at his position would want because presumably the idea would be look at how they do their own people (drafted players); so the Lions would be an immediate scratch off all of their lists for years to come!

You won’t games like this where he makes life so much easier for coach Matt Patricia and us Lions fans!

And then the clock will be reset with the team:

Trying to draft a top level DB,

Or develop a Defensive Back on their roster into a bonafied starter

But with either path…the player(s) will likely know or be reminded of the team’s track record with contract negotiations and already have “their bags packed” too!

Not a got recipe for success!

Solution: Pay Big Play Slay…

and work like hell to develop all current or incoming DBs to make sure there’s not a gigantic dropoff when Slay goes to the sideline for a play or two!

Which route would you take with Darius Slay?

5 years @ $17M (at least)

3 years @ $20-25M

Other (either Letting him walk or some ADDING stipulations to the 5 year or 3 year deal)

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Lions Fans Are Split About Keeping Darius Slay

The post Lions Fans Are Split About Re-Signing Darius Slay appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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Matthew Stafford Trade Rumors In NFL Circles…Would You Do It?

Matthew Stafford Trade Rumors In NFL

As the 2020 NFL Draft approaches, you’ll like hear more and more Matthew Stafford Trade Rumors In NFL circles, the question will are any of them true and which one would you pull the trigger on if you were in Bob Quinn’s shoes. Here’s one of those trade scenarios that may get to full blown rumor sttus as time goes by…would you do it?

Matthew Stafford Trade Rumors In NFL

OK, this should catch everyone’s attention. Yes, the Lions are in an interesting spot with the No. 3 overall pick. They could certainly add to their defense, as is being frequently projected. If that happens, this scenario is dead on the spot. But they could go full-blown rebuild and look to draft Stafford’s replacement. Whether they like Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert enough to select them with the third overall pick, no one can know right now. But it’s a possibility, plus there’s a chance they trade down to take one of them—or maybe Jordan Love.

For the sake of letting this scenario play out, let’s keep going. The Lions select Stafford’s replacement—let’s call him Mr. Quarterback just for fun. Mr. Quarterback heads to Detroit, thus giving the Lions a decision to make. Either Mr. Quarterback waits behind Stafford for a year (or half of it) and then the Lions move on from the veteran in 2021, or maybe they want Mr. Quarterback to start at some point in 2020, perhaps waiting behind David Blough for a bit before then taking over.

Read more

So Matthew Stafford Trade Rumors In NFL circles could lead to a complete “tear down and start over” rebuild or a “same system with better parts” type re-emergence, but would you be willing to make that move if you were Bob Quinn? If your answer is yes, then would you make the move mentioned above?

If so, why

  The post Matthew Stafford Trade Rumors In NFL Circles…Would You Do It? appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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How The Lions Could Be Forced To Take Tau Tagovailoa At #3

How The Lions Could Be Forced To Take Tau Tagovailoa At #3

How The Lions Could Be Forced To Take Tau Tagovailoa At #3This will be a short and sweet case for the Lions to do what many Lions fans are calling for and that is draft Tua Tagoviloa with the 3rd overall pick!

In order for Bob Quinn to be forced to make this decision everything has to go bad for the Lions!

That means they have totally struck out with Free Agency in an epically bad way!

No top Free Agent will take their money and they can’t justify overpaying a lower teired Free Agent top dollar!

Plus to make matters worse; they can’t re-sign their own top Free Agents (A’Shawn Robinson, Graham Glasgow, Mike Daniels , Romeo Okwara, Sam Martin), at the same time letting some experience with Matt Patricia’s system walk the door with most of the rest of the team’s free agents (Darius Kilgo, Rashaan Melvin, Mike Jackson, Jeff Driskel, Kenny Wiggins, J.D. McKissic, Logan Thomas, Miles Killebrew, Don Muhlbach) potentially signing elsewhere also!

This is the Dooms Day scenario for a GM and coach under a presumably “win this season” edict!

So it could actually force Bob Quinn to pull off “Perfect Trifecta Miracle”, which is:

Save his job as Lions GM

Beat the Stafford conundrum!

Set the team up to be a contender for the next decade!

1) It could save his job as the Lions GM because “conventional NFL wisdom/logic” that you have to give the GM a chance to win with the guys the team allows him to select! So, if Tua has to “red shirt” his first season or two here in Detroit, the owner may feel incline to extend his contract for 2 years!

2) How this beat the Stafford conundrum is that the Lions will have a potential “Brett Farve-Aaron Rodgers” scenario playout but with a little more respect and tact. This is assuming that teams aren’t offering anything of value for a trade of Stafford that doesn’t come off as you gave him away for nothing to the owners, media, and/or fans!

So if you can’t move him in a beneficial way then “an option” is to let Stafford play out his remaining years of his contract, and have Tua as his understudy for those seasons!

Why do this?

Because you’re giving Tua more than enough time to learn, to heal and fully return from his hip injury!

Plus, because the owners are so in love with Stafford, make him a Lion for life if he’s ready to retire; make a position with the company/team that’s always waiting for him even of he plays for another franchise! That is if the owners just want to be loyal beyond loyal beyond loyal!

3) Because you have your QB for the next decade/ERA of Lions Football and Stafford under contract through 2022 potentially, you have the opportunity to draft and build the team’s roster for Tua’s scrambling abilities…

What do you think?

Will this dooms day scenario force a Tua Tagovailoa Lions teamup?

What if it’s true that he doesn’t want to play for the Lions because concerns the coach and GM wil be gone by his second year…does that make you hesitant to draft Tua at #3?

Does the hip injury scares you at all as Lions fans?

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The post How The Lions Could Be Forced To Take Tau Tagovailoa At #3 appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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They “Predicted” The SuperBowl And Took A Shot At Matthew Stafford

They “Predicted” The SuperBowl And Took A Shot At Matthew Stafford

The SuperBowl has come and gone but as Lions fans we try to stay up on all the news regarding the Lions, and this little gem kinda got ignored primarily due being super busy for the SuperBowl; see what we just did there (lol)! Well take a look at it and tell us if it’s enough for you start demanding the Lions move on from Matthew Stafford at all costs…

They “Predicted” The SuperBowl And Took A Shot At Matthew Stafford

He’s only been leading the Kansas City Chiefs for two seasons, but Patrick Mahomes is already considered by some to be one of the best quarterbacks ever, which means that years down the line — when the internet is consumed with angry fans petitioning for a remake of the Game of Thrones prequel and complaining about how Kylo Ren’s son (don’t ask me how that’d work) shouldn’t have perished in Star Wars episode 12 — Mahomes is going to be measured against Tom Brady, the quarterback most consider to be the best to have ever played the game.

Barring a career-derailing injury to Mahomes or a new Patriots scandal that renders Brady’s accomplishments illegitimate, the comparison is inevitable. The number of championships they’ve won will undoubtedly be used as a measuring stick. So will their fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives, since it’s one tool we often use to judge great quarterbacks — like Brady, whose legacy began with a game-winning drive in Super Bowl XXXVI and peaked with the most improbable of comebacks in the history of sports against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI.

What’s interesting about Mahomes, who will make his Super Bowl debut against the same coach who was coordinating the offense of the team that fell victim to that historic Brady comeback, is that his resume doesn’t include many game-winning drives or fourth-quarter comebacks. In 31 career starts in the regular season, he’s pieced together only four game-winning drives and three fourth-quarter comebacks. In four playoff starts, he technically has zero of either. For the sake of comparison, Deshaun Watson already has 10 game-winning drives and eight fourth-quarter comebacks in 38 regular-season games. Jimmy Garoppolo, who will meet the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, has four of each this season alone.

Peyton Manning holds the all-time record in fourth-quarter comebacks with 43. Brady isn’t far behind with 36. Manning also ranks first in game-winning drives with 54. Brady ranks fourth with 45. But if you factor in the postseason too, Brady actually has 45 fourth-quarter comebacks and 58 game-winning drives. Manning has 45 and 56, respectively. That’s why Brady has earned the reputation as the most-clutch quarterback of all time.

Using game-winning drives and fourth-quarter comebacks to measure a quarterback’s greatness has always been somewhat paradoxical. Mounting a game-winning drive or fourth-quarter comeback means the quarterback in question didn’t play well enough to be carrying a lead late in the game. Ideally, a quarterback would play well enough in quarters one through three to be in a situation where his team is winning comfortably throughout the final quarter. That’s why it felt weird wrong when Matthew Stafford was briefly garnering MVP support in 2016 as he broke Peyton Manning’s single-season record for the most fourth-quarter comebacks. It ignored the fact that Stafford was actively playing a role in creating the deficits he was later overcoming much later in the game.

Mahomes’ lack of game-winning drives and fourth-quarter comebacks shouldn’t be held against him. In his 31 career regular-season starts, the Chiefs are 24-7 and they’ve outscored their opposition by an average of 9.5 points per game. In his four career playoff starts, the Chiefs are 3-1 and they’ve outscored their opposition by an average of 10.8 points per game. Going through his game log and box scores, it’s remarkable how many big leads the Chiefs have held with Mahomes at quarterback. That’s far more important than game-winning drives or come-from-behind wins, because it eliminates the possibility of a loss…

How do the 49ers prevent Mahomes from engineering another remarkable comeback? They probably can’t.

Click here to find out more

They game played out just like that, a remarkable comeback for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Patrick Mahomes…a similiar quarterback to our very own!

We may not like what was said about Matthew Stafford but there’s not much ground to stand on when all we have is the “almost” flag to plant as Lions fans!

We almost beat the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs barring the referees’ envolvement

  We almost made the playoffs with homefield advantage barring dropping the ball in the Green Bay game for the division title!

We almost had a defensive identity that could have still been ongoing with pairing N’Damukong Suh and Aaron Donald and not drafting Eric Ebron.

We almost had an offensive identity that could have still been ongoing with pairing O’Dell Beckham Jr and Calvin Johnson and not drafting Eric Ebron.

With the 3rd pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the Lions have the opportunity to set themselves up for the next decade and become a true contender for the title! Could they shake off the overwhelming weight of not winning a Superbowl ever by doing the unthinkable (at least here in Detroit) by taking Tua at #3 if as expected, Chase Young isn’t there?

Perhaps they could go Jerry Jeudy and pair him with Kenny Golladay for a dynamic duo for the next 5 years!

Or do the “easy and much needed”…pay Darius Slay and draft a Robin to his Batman by picking Ohio State’s Jeffery Okudah!

Honorable mention “move” convince Snacks Harrison to NOT retire and draft DT Derrick Brown to add to the expected strength of this much maligned defense!

Either way you slice it if the next 10 years are to be better than the last it’s either be by doing the conventional way of team building which will take almost a decade to completely do or be highly successful at spotting generational and talents that are last long in your system at nearly every draft pick you select!

Am we wrong for thinking to get the quick success of a playoff win or more the Lions and Bob Quinn may have to make the tough decision to move on from Stafford like this season or next?

Let me know below…

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  The post They “Predicted” The SuperBowl And Took A Shot At Matthew Stafford appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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Could Matt Patricia Have Just Got His Guy?

Could Matt Patricia Have Just Got His Guy?

Could Matt Patricia Have Just Got His Guy?

If you haven’t heard as Lions fans, Matt Patricia is a defensive minded coach and he wants the Lions to win promarily because of the defensive side of the ball. The Lions finished close to the bottom in alot of defensive metrics and a jump from the bottom of the pack to the middle could and should mean 2 or more wins. Well controlling the field from the LB corp could the area that coach Patricia may have been a point of significance because he just poached or immediately scooped up the Inside LB coach for the AFC conference contender Tennesee Titans. Here’s more on it…

Could Matt Patricia Have Just Got His Guy?

UPDATE [8:15 PM]: It has now been reported that McKenzie was fired per Paul Kuharsky.

So that clears up the speculation about the nature of McKenzie’s departure. We will probably never get the details for the reasons behind his firing though. The inside linebackers as a position group generally performed well during his two years in Tennessee, though McKenzie was given a lot of talent to work with in first round pick Rashaan Evans, veteran Wesley Woodyard, and Jayon Brown.

Best wishes to Tyrone on his new opportunity in Detroit.

UPDATE [4:55 PM]: McKenzie will be joining the Detroit Lions coaching staff according to 104.5 The Zone’s Brent Dougherty. The Lions hired former Eagles defensive backs coach Cory Undlin to be their defensive coordinator last week so McKenzie will likely be making a lateral move here.

As @glennonsports reported, Tyrone McKenzie is leaving the Titans. McKenzie will join the Detroit Lions coaching staff.

— Brent Dougherty (@brentdougherty) January 29, 2020

Lions head coach Matt Patricia was McKenzie’s first position coach when he got drafted in the NFL by the Patriots back in 2009 so there is the obvious connection…

McKenzie had been mysteriously removed from the team’s online listing of current coaches earlier in the week so this confirms that the removal was not an accident. Whose idea it was for the team and McKenzie to part ways remains to be seen.

From an outsider’s point of view, it seemed like he had done an excellent job with the team’s inside linebackers since leaving the Rams to join Vrabel’s staff in 2018. Jayon Brown’s level of play continued it’s upward trajectory and young linebackers Rashaan Evans and David Long were both able to make early impacts. I liked McKenzie when he was hired based on early interviews and thought he would one day make a good defensive coordinator candidate. That might still be true, but we know it won’t be here in 2020 now.

There are plenty of avenues for speculation about the reasoning behind his sudden departure. Did he get passed over for the defensive coordinator position and ask for his release out of frustration? Was Vrabel not entirely happy with his performance? Maybe McKenzie just wanted a fresh start somewhere else?

Go here to know more

Why do we say that this is Matt Patricia guy more so than the new defensive coordinator Corey Undlin, because, we think, that Patricia feels that we have a LB group that can be the core that leads the Lions into the future and make vast improvement from game to game as well as year to year. So, it appears that McKenzie is the guy to get the best out of our guys because he’s clearly done it before; but can he do it under the “win now” edict?

What do you think? Is it unrealistic to expect such a vast improvements from Jarrad Davis, Jahlani Tavai and others?

  The post Could Matt Patricia Have Just Got His Guy? appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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Could This Happen To The A’Shawn Robinson And This Player? Oh The Irony!

Ashawn Robinson Contract

The Lions track record with drafting players and not getting the best results while they’re with the team is incredible and heart wrenching all at the same! Could the same thing be about to happen with A’Shawn Robinson and this other Lions player? This all stemmed for an article  titled: Laken Tomlinson got so much better after Detroit traded him to 49ers, once you have checked it out see why we feel it may if the Lions don’t do this one criticl thing…

Could This Happen To The A’Shawn Robinson And This Player? Oh The Irony!

Tomlinson lost the left guard job to Glasgow in 2016 and was traded before the start of the following season. Then he was good enough for the 49ers to earn a three-year, $18 million extension before the 2018 season. He went on to win the Bobb McKittrick Award that year, which goes to the 49ers offensive lineman who best exemplifies courage, intensity and sacrifice.

This year, he hasn’t missed a snap while paving roads for one of the most deadly rushing attacks in the league. The 49ers racked up 2,305 yards on the ground this season, more than everyone except the Ravens. Then they pounded Minnesota for 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the divisional round of the playoffs, before pounding out another 285 yards and four touchdowns in the NFC championship game against Green Bay.

“Laken’s unbelievable,” veteran left tackle Joe Staley said. “I don’t think he gets near enough credit nationally, locally, everything. The guy is an unbelievable guard, he is incredibly powerful, athletic, everything you want. He’s taken his game to a completely new level. He’s been 100% one of the main reasons we’ve been able to do what we’ve done in the playoffs. He’s playing at an incredibly high level, and I just can’t say enough about the guy.”

In other words, he’s become the guy Detroit thought he would be. Which brings us back to our question at hand: Why did Tomlinson have to leave Detroit to do it?

“Obviously being here, working with (Kyle) Shanahan, (John) Lynch, it’s been an amazing experience,” Tomlinson said on Monday night during Super Bowl festivities at Marlins Park. “Working with an offensive (line) coach like John Benton, you get a chance to develop into the player that I believe I can be. I still think I’m growing, I still think I’m a young offensive lineman. There’s still so much for me to learn. I’m very happy I have a chance to express myself and my skill-set on this team.”

Tomlinson never directly criticized Detroit, but it’s not hard to parse his words either. He has found success because the coaching fits him better.

See more here

Well the Lions is about to be in a similiar position with A’Shawn Robinson and Graham Glasgow.

If you remember, A’Shawn was drafted to anchor the Lions D-Line after the N’Damukong Suh “era” in Detroit.

The Lions could put themselves in an incredible position to have a formidable and feared defensive line for probably a decade if they had drafted Aaron Donald, of which now Martin Mayhew is wishing he did

“The way people talk about Aaron Donald, maybe we were one pick away,” Mayhew said. “If we’d have had him, we’d probably beat Dallas in the playoff game. So we came pretty close, but we weren’t able to get over that hump.”

Mayhew added, “It would have been awesome to get a playoff win. Didn’t make that happen, but I feel like we actually came close to turning that thing around. Really close. If we had Suh under contract one more year maybe we do turn it around.”

Read more

Well could history have repeated itself with the Lions taking TJ Hockenson over many fans’ desired pick in Ed Oliver in the 2019 draft?

Will the Lions go for the 3pt shot of possible mistakes and let A’Shawn walk, Snacks Retire and try to feel their void with potential #3 Derrick Brown and couple of low cost DT’s off the free agenncy scrap heap?

Only for Robinson to find greater success elsewhere?

And that’s only on the defensive side of the ball!

Will the set of circumstances happen to Graham Glasgow, where the Lions fail to establish any longterm consistency at the Guard position?

According to reports all Glasgow want to feel is that he’s wanted here…and the best way for the Lions to do that is to pay the man who’s been there for them whether theey’ve needed him to play center, right guard, or even left guard!

What kind of message will be sent to the rest of the team other than the Lions are going to use them until they use them until their contract is over and then try to re-sign them at well under their market value!

The Lions have around $49 million in cap space, and too many cases of players leaving and having success elsewhere; Superbowl wins (Cliff Avril (Seahawks)-Kyle Van Noy (Patriots)), Superbowl appearances (N’Damukong Suh (Rams), Laken Tomlinson (SF 49ers) (as of the date of this post)), or long playoff runs (Reilly Reif (Vikings), Ziggy Ansah (Seahawks)…

So, they need to spend the majority of that capspace and re-sign and extend their own (Darius Slay)!

It will go along way to turning this ship into the right direction; not only for next season but for years to come!

What do you think, should the Lions let A’Shawn and Glasgow walk out of the door and look elsewhere for stability?

What are the chance of them signing with teams that’ll be in the playoffs next season if the Lions aren’t in?

Let us know your thoughts and don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter below

  The post Could This Happen To The A’Shawn Robinson And This Player? Oh The Irony! appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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Why Kenny Golladay Could Be The Key To The Lions 2021 Season

Why Kenny Golladay Could Be The Key To The Lions 2021 Season…image Kevind810/ CC 4.0

As the Lions begin to build for next season, we look at why Kenny Golladay could be the key to the Lions 2021 season. It may surprise you exactly his importance to this regime and our sanity as die hard Lions fans. Let’s begin here…

Why Kenny Golladay Could Be The Key To The Lions 2021 Season

The Detroit Lions took a step back from last year’s 6-10 season, and the stiff competition they face in the NFC North isn’t letting up. The Chicago Bears fell off while the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers improved. Detroit’s expectations were low to start because of this, and the team still underperformed. Matthew Stafford faced long odds to win NFL MVP in 2019, but his season was derailed by health issues. The signal caller suffered a back injury in Week 9, and his lengthy recovery led to him being ruled out for the year in December. Since entering the NFL in 2009, Stafford has often been among the league leaders in passing yards, and broke Matt Ryan’s record to become the fastest quarterback to reach 40,000 career passing yards in October. He threw for 2,499 yards and 19 touchdowns in eight games and found plenty of success through the air with his go-to wideout, Kenny Golladay.

Read more about it here

A Vote Of Confidence For Bob Quinn Drafting Capabilities…

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay was named to the NFL Pro Bowl roster on Tuesday, becoming the first NIU alumus to reach the Pro Bowl since 2011.

Golladay, added to the roster to replace an injured Chris Godwin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led the NFL with a career high of 11 touchdown catches to go with 1,190 yards.

The 2017 NIU graduate Golladay had touchdown catches in nine different games with five touchdown catches coming in the fourth quarter.

Golladay is the first former Huskies player to reach the Pro Bowl since running back Michael Turner earned the honor in 2011. Golladay will also be the first Lions wide receiver to make the Pro Bowl since Calvin Johnson in 2015.

Check out the rest

With the emergence of Kenny Golladay as a legitimate threat for opposing defenses, it would seem he, along with Marvin Jones forces Bob quinn, Matt Patricia, and the Lions owners to draft and use Free Agency to primarily solidify the Lions defense.

He indescreetly could be the saviour to the idea that “the Patrioit way” does work outside of the state of Massachuettes because there’s no need to use high draft capital on a talented wide receiver such as Jerry Jeudy or we as Lions fans will be here in the same position in 3 to 5 years!

It’s all kind of riding on Kenny Golladay’s prescence being strong enough of a deterrent to the organization from doing something utterly self hindering…yet again!

Please tell us if we’re over-valuing Gollady importance…

P.S. Always remember to Like and SHARE this on Facebook.

  The post Why Kenny Golladay Could Be The Key To The Lions 2021 Season appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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A Potential Lions Draft Trade Partner And HUGE Mistake?

A Potential Lions Draft Trade Partner And HUGE Mistake?

A Potential Lions Draft Trade Partner And HUGE Mistake?

The likely hood of the Lions having a draft day trade partner is not exactly crazy thinking. Just consider how many teams wanting a quarterback that are drafting after the Lions at #3.

Well one such team “potentially” is the Miami Dolphins.

While doing a mock draft simulation with trade capability, writer Logan Lamorandier had a scenario where while drafting for the Lions, he was given pick #5 and a high 3rd round pick in the same draft. So the Lions would ultimately get another pick to build the team.

With that extra pick in hand for the 3rd round he decided to draft a WR

Check out the reasoning:

Lions Draft Trade Partner

THIRD ROUND:

Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

Pick No. 67 And yet again, another player I couldn’t believe was on the board at this position.

Due to an incredibly deep receiver class, Aiyuk could go a lot lower than he would in most other years.

In fact, it would appear that most NFL talent evaluators like Aiyuk even more than his former Arizona State receiver teammate, who was a first-round pick just a year ago.

Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, said, “I haven’t met a team that doesn’t have Brandon Aiyuk graded above N’Keal Harry from last year.”

Aiyuk is one of the most explosive receivers in this year’s class. He shines at exploding out of breaks and with yards after the catch — something the Lions desperately need.

Unlike Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay, Aiyuk struggles with contested catches but wins in different ways. It would be nice to have a little bit of variety in the receiving department and Aiyuk would be just that.

With the Dolphins pick (#70) he selected a Defensive Tackle

See who was the pick at #70

We like the pick at 70, but think that it would be a huge mistake and waste of an opportunity to do something really significant for the Lions, which Lamorandier kind of pointed to in his explanation of his choice for receiver Aiyuk.

And that is not only having depth but having “Talented Depth” and if you have a chance to create that on the defensive side of the ball the future of the team would be all the better for it!

Doing this would fall under the “Stafford need more weapons” mantra, when the mantra needs to be the Lions’ “defense need more potential starters” at the 2nd and 3rd levels.

There’s really no reason to think that you can’t get a player like Aiyuk in next year’s draft, all while having a full year of a defense that not only is the starting player is the best of the best because of the competition in training camp, but also if said player goes down with an injury the next man up mantra becomes a serious reality for the Lions!

We would add a either another DE or the best LB available with the Lions 3rd round pick!

We would pick a slot reciever in the 4th or 5th round to be the eventual replacement for the Slot receiver for Danny Amendola…in our 2020 lions mock draft simulations often a player like KJ Hill was available and if all things are equal as a the trade option with the Dolphins…Hill would be an incredible value pick!

Do you agree with us or would you take Aiyuk in the 3rd round if he’s available?

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The post A Potential Lions Draft Trade Partner And HUGE Mistake? appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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This May Have Deep Impact On The Lions Draft Strategy!

Lions draft strategy

I just saw an interesting post that provide some insight into the Lions draft strategy. After checking it out, see if you agree with us that tells you (barring any trades) the order that the Lions will select players from a position standpoint….

This May Have Deep Impact On The Lions Draft Strategy!

Fraley will bring his own style to the post, but intends to stick with a Davidson-like approach after seeing some signs of progress in 2019. The run blocking improved considerably down the stretch, while the pass blocking was tracking for a better season too until Matthew Stafford went down with a back injury. Stafford was on pace for his fewest sacks since 2013.

Frank Ragnow was one of the best success stories in a tough season for Detroit, making the move from guard to center so seamlessly that he ranked as the league’s best center for much of the year according to ProFootballFocus. He finished sixth, making him Detroit’s top-graded player relative to his position, and was second as a run blocker.

Left tackle Taylor Decker also bounced back in 2019, putting a tough opener behind him to finish 19th among all tackles according to PFF. He allowed two sacks in the opener, but just five the rest of the way.

But there are questions elsewhere along the line, most notably at right guard, where Graham Glasgow — a four-year starter — is eligible to become a free agent. Rick Wagner has struggled to live up to the big contract he signed to play right tackle, while Joe Dahl was fine in his first season at left guard. Read more

So, the Lions appear content with the offensive line from 2019, and the core coaching strategy as well! So, it appears that the Lions draft strategy will not include taking a offensive lineman anywhere in the first 4 rounds, because you don’t draft a role player high ever!

So here’s the likely strategy

Round 1: CB JEFFREY OKUDAH

Round 2: DE TERRELL LEWIS

Round 3: DL LEKI FOTU

Round 4: WR KJ HILL

Round 5 LB SHAQUILLE QUARTERMAN and G JON RUNYAN

Round 6: LB KHALEKE HUDSON

Do you agree?

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The post This May Have Deep Impact On The Lions Draft Strategy! appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.

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Everybody Is Scared Of Snacks Retiring…Here’s Why The Lions May Be Alright

Everybody Is Scared Of Snacks Retiring…Here’s Why The Lions May Be Alright

Everyone is scared of Snacks retiring and what it’ll mean for the Lions going forward. Not did he not have an impactful year by his own standards but we as fans expected and wanted so much more from him and the rest of the defensive line. After checking out the latest news on Snacks potentially retiring, see why we see how the Lions can actually turn this negative into a huge advantage for the team…

Source: Snacks Harrison hasn’t made decision on whether to return to Lions

He missed almost all of training camp after staying away for the entire offseason program. He struggled with his conditioning to open the season, with Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray noting he looked “tired” down the stretch during the Lions’ collapse in the opener against Arizona. He went on to battle injuries all year, and even missed a game, the first time that had happened since 2012 — snapping the top iron-man streak in the league at his position.

After finishing as the top-ranked interior defender against the run for five straight years, Harrison plummeted all the way to 65th last year according to ProFootballFocus. He ranked 75th at the position overall.

“My mind is still telling me I can do it,” Harrison said during an emotional chat in front of his locker after the season, “but my body’s just not there.”

#Lions Damon “Snacks”Harrison tearfully said he hasn’t made decision to retire yet final “I got too much pride…so if I can’t be the player that I’m used to being I think my teammates deserve better, my family deserves better…I never cheated the game a day in my life” pic.twitter.com/Mo4FGz8AdR

— FOX 2 Sports (@FOX2Sports) December 29, 2019

Nearly a month later, he still hasn’t reconciled the two emotions. There’s no hurry for him to make a decision either, with the start of free agency still two months away. But there is work to be done regardless of what happens, with defensive tackles A’Shawn Robinson and Mike Daniels eligible to hit free agency after down years. That leaves Da’Shawn Hand as the top guaranteed returner, and he played in three games last year because of injuries.

There is serious work to do on the interior of Detroit’s defensive line. And if Harrison ultimately decides to walk away from his stellar career, the void will continue to grow.

Click here to see more

So Snacks retiring potentially is still up in the air at this point, when the Lions are getting prepared for the 2020 NFL Draft by coaching the Senior Bowl. Also having the #3 overall pick, it becomes incredibly challenging for the current staff to know what position to focus on to help improve the team.

Keep in mind there were already significant needs to be filled even if Snacks returns to the Lions for next season. Just look an any game from the dismal 3-12-1 season and you’ll see them shouting and waving their hands; i.e. not hard to find.

Now, let’s Snacks retiring is the reality here’s how and why the team will be alright!

Don’t forget who’s still on the roster, and will get the chance to potentially fill in to Snacks spot…

Also don’t forget who’s waiting to get his opportunity to get on the field officially as a Defensive End to be a running partner with Tre Flowers

Now with nearly 49 Million in capspace and high draft pick positioning, the Lions can decide which way they want (primarily) sack opposing QBs…

QB Sacks Due Pressure

QB Sacks Due To Coverage

If Pressure Sacks Are The Goal…

Then you have to decide there are better options on the FA Market than your own guys who are about hit Free Agency like A’Shawn Robinson, and Mike Daniels; that you can get for a reasonable price.

It’s a great chance you’ll have pay the “Lions tax”, but if it’ll land you a top pass rusher or run stopper then take it.

If you get a defensive tackle in Free Agency, then you draft the best edge rusher you can get with the 3rd overall pick although you may be drafting him a little high. a player like…

Aj Epenesa

If it is a top defensive end like JaDaveon Clowney that you aquire then you draft the best DT in the draft; such as Derrick Brown from Auburn

But If Coverage Sacks Are The Goal…

Option 1

Re-sign A’Shawn Robinson to a nice () deal in efforts to keep continuity; no time needed to learn the system. He’s already playing the position and the Lions can draft a dominant corner to play opposite of Darius Slay therefor helping the D Line get to the QB for sacks due to coverage.

Pay Slay top $$$ to be a Lion until he retires!

Draft a edge rusher in the 2nd or 3rd round to help with the rotation of constant pressure of Hand, Bryant, Flowers, Okwara, and draft pick

Option 2

Let A’Shawn Robinson walk!

Re-sign Mike Daniels knowing he’ll likely play only 6 games!

Pay Slay top $$$ to be a Lion until he retires!

Get one of the better FA DBs to sign, yeah you’ll have to overpay but this is a win now type of upcoming season right!

Draft an edge rusher in the 1st round although you’ll likely be drafting a guy too high if Chase Young is not an option!

So after going through all of that…we’re saying that Snacks retiring isn’t the end of the world but we’d rather the Lions convince to play another year if his health is up to the challenge!

Do you agree with our plan if Snacks hangs up his cleats?

  The post Everybody Is Scared Of Snacks Retiring…Here’s Why The Lions May Be Alright appeared first on LionsPassion.com | Detroit Lions News.