Post by D6 on Aug 21, 2023 0:28:06 GMT -5
Thoughts in ****
Observations: Teddy Bridgewater ice cold in Lions’ preseason loss against Jags
Observations: Teddy Bridgewater ice cold in Lions’ preseason loss against Jags
* Updated: Aug. 19, 2023, 5:00 p.m.| * Published: Aug. 19, 2023, 4:02 p.m.
By * Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
DETROIT -- Teddy Bridgewater was signed to bring some professionalism to the Detroit Lions’ second-team offense. Heck, let’s go crazy, maybe even some competency.
Bridgewater’s track record would suggest those days are coming.
But today -- with just three practices under his belt -- was not that day.
Bridgewater earned the start under center, but was shut out on six drives in a 25-7 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday at Ford Field. He led the offense to just 30 yards on 20 plays, a woeful average of 1.5 yards per snap, and no points of any kind at all. He completed just two passes to wide receivers -- an 8-yarder to Chase Cota and a 6-yarder to Dylan Drummond -- and finished 5 of 11 passing overall for 34 yards and a passer rating (52.4) that barely surpassed his jersey number (50).
The former first-round pick has become one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league over the years, including leading New Orleans to a 5-0 record when Drew Brees was lost to injury in 2019. The Saints went 13-3 that year and won the NFC South.
With aspirations of winning the NFC North this year, and a troublesome QB2 situation behind Jared Goff, the Lions put together a monthslong push to bring Bridgewater to Detroit. The quarterback finally agreed this month, and joined training camp on Monday. He split the second-team work with Sudfeld while learning the playbook, and looked sharp during that process.
But that didn’t translate to his preseason debut. Detroit went three-and-out on Bridgewater’s first three drives, and accounted for just 2 yards of offense overall. Bridgewater had some nice passes during that stretch -- one in particular that was dropped by Trinity Benson downfield -- but also threw a third-down pass at the feet of tight end Brock Wright.
**** Though Trinity Benson needed to come down with the ball in tight coverage, it was a well defensed play by the Jaguars CB. The Lions WRs as a group that played in this game didn't make the type of catches that Marvin Jones has a long history of making: in tight coverage and in bounds (Chase Cota play that was overturned to incomplete, after Jaguars HC Doug Pederson challenged the 3rd Down play).
Timing/ communication might have been an issue on the 3rd Down pass intended for Brock Wright.****
Bridgewater finally moved the chains on his fourth drive, completing a 10-yard pass to running back Craig Reynolds. But just two plays later, he fumbled the ball when he thought he was supposed to be handing off to Reynolds, while Reynolds seemed to be expecting a play-action pass.
After two more possessions went nowhere, Bridgewater exited the game for a 2-minute drive just before halftime. At which point Nate Sudfeld immediately showed why the Lions tried so hard to replace him.
Sudfeld airmailed rookie receiver Chase Cota downfield -- despite Cota standing 6-foot-4, the biggest receiver on the roster -- and the ball was picked off with 47 seconds left in the second quarter. That gave Jacksonville an extra possession just before intermission, which it turned into its first touchdown and a 12-0 lead via a 15-yard catch by Parker Washington. Undrafted rookie Starling Thomas was in coverage.
The Lions got the ball back with just 16 seconds left before halftime, but the coaching staff wanted to see another play from Sudfeld, and, well, Sudfeld again showed why he’s on the outs. He hung onto the ball too long as the pocket collapsed, then fired a pass as he was hit and the ball went into an offensive lineman. The play was initially ruled a fumble -- which could have led to further Jacksonville points with 1 second left -- before getting reversed to an incomplete pass.
At which point, the Lions had seen enough and ordered Sudfeld to just take a knee.
Amen to that.
Sudfeld did connect with a wide-open Cota for a 1-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, but otherwise failed to put up points too. He finished 9 of 18 passing for 80 yards, one touchdown, one pick and a passer rating of 57.6.
****Nate Sudfeld showed why the Lions needed to replace him as the Lions # 2 QB. If Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater are relatively healthy, Sudfeld doesn't belong on the Lions 53 man roster. ****
Detroit’s offense continues to look like a mess without Jared Goff and that powerful offensive line, where no starters have played a snap in the preseason, and almost certainly won’t in the finale against Carolina either. Sept. 7 can’t get here soon enough, because outside of that comeback drive from Adrian Martinez in the opener, the offense has been tough to watch this summer.
**** With the Lions not having joint practices this week, it remains to be seen if Jared Goff and the Lions starting Offensive Line play at Carolina in the pre-season finale.
The Lions interior Offensive Line that started vs. Jacksonville, especially C Brad Cecil and LG Corby Sorsdal, struggled. Jaguars DT Jeremiah Ledbetter, who the Lions drafted in the 6th Round in the 2017 Draft out of Arkansas, had a field day against Cecil. He caused the fumble on the play disrupted (understatement) the timing between Bridgewater and Craig Reynolds.
****
Let’s get to some more observations:
-- With the starters resting again, the Lions rolled out a first-team offense that looked like this: QB Teddy Bridgewater, RB Craig Reynolds, WR Antoine Green, WR Dylan Drummond, WR Chase Cota, TE James Mitchell, LT Germain Ifedi, LG Colby Sorsdal, C Brad Cecil, RG Bobby Hart and RT Matt Nelson.
**** Germain Idefi had a false start on the Lions first drive and he gave up pressure/ QB hit on the play late in the 2nd QTR that was changed from a fumble to an incompletion. It did indeed look like Nate Sudfeld held on to the ball too long. Factoring that in, I thought Idefi played a little above average overall. Matt Nelson was at least average at RT, which was a vast improvement from his performance the previous week at LT vs. the Giants.****
And the defense, this: DE Romeo Okwara, DT Isaiah Buggs, DT Levi Onwuzurike, DE Josh Paschal, LB Derrick Barnes, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, CB Starling Thomas V, CB Stephen Gilmore, CB Will Harris, S Tracy Walker and S Ifeatu Melifonwu.
**** The Lions Defense did a pretty good job in the 1st Half and got the Jaguars off the field on their first set of downs to begin the 2nd half. Most of the Lions struggles on Defense came when most of those that started this game or were in very early, were out of the game. ****
-- While the offense floundered against Jacksonville, the defense stood tall until the third team flooded the field after halftime. Best among them just might have been John Cominsky, the versatile defensive lineman who made so much hay last season. He was one of the unsung heroes on that side of the ball, and earned a big contract extension because of it. He was excellent in the preseason opener before lighting up Jacksonville on Saturday, including batting down a pass on one fourth down and then delivering a sack just moments later. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see much of Cominsky in the preseason finale in Carolina. He’s ready for Kansas City.
**** John Cominsky clearly looks ready for Kansas City. ****
-- Rookie linebacker Jack Campbell didn’t start this game, but just like last week, he was one of the best defenders on the field when he did play. He led Detroit with six tackles in the first half, then trotted out for the second half and immediately added another to wrap up his day. The first-round pick continues to show chops in the passing game too, effectively covering the slot on several plays, including wiping out his man near the goal line. Derrick Barnes has done enough to win the starting job alongside Alex Anzalone to open the season, but Campbell will work into that rotation, and the arrow is pointing decidedly up on the 18th overall pick.
**** The Lions off the ball LB situation is light years better than it was in 2021 and currently better than it's been in a very long time.****
-- Craig Reynolds started the game at running back and didn’t leave the field until the second quarter. He always seemed like the leader for the RB3 job behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, and the Lions seemed determined to get him some good work after missing the last couple weeks with an injury. Reynolds was effective as a pass-catcher, snagging a team-high four balls for 29 yards, but was able to turn eight carries into just 13 yards while working behind a patchwork offensive line that didn’t carve out much running room.
**** Craig Reynolds helped his cause as with his receiving and as a blocker on the Kickoff Return unit. Reynolds looked ordinary as a rusher but the run blocking was by far the primary issue. ****
-- In case you needed any more evidence that undrafted rookie Starling Thomas V is tracking toward making this team -- and you shouldn’t need that -- the young cornerback not only started on defense, but across most special teams too. He got the nod at kick returner to open the game, then immediately won back-to-back reps as a gunner on punt coverage. The Lions seem to be tinkering with his role, seeing what sort of contributions he could make on the 53-man roster. He won’t start ahead of Cam Sutton or Jerry Jacobs on defense, and did have some hiccups against Jacksonville, including allowing the first touchdown of the game. But the Lions love his fearlessness and tenacity, and seem to be searching for ways to validate keeping him.
**** On the downside, Starling Thomas V had an Illegal Contact penalty that negated a sack. Whether the sack would have happened if not for the penalty is speculation. Overall though, I think Thomas helped his cause to make the Lions opening day 53 man roster, with his Special Teams play the # 1 reason. Thomas has at least a 75 % of surviving the cutdown to 53. ****
-- I don’t think there’s room to carry two undrafted cornerbacks, but in addition to Thomas, there’s a lot to like about Stephen Gilmore’s development in camp, and even this game. The Marshall product was beaten for a 48-yard catch by Tim Jones to open the game. He actually had good position on the play, but didn’t get his head around in time and couldn’t locate the football. But he killed that drive by amending the mistake, getting his head around on a pass to the end zone and breaking up the play, forcing a field goal. Later, he bailed out Tracy Walker bobbling a would-be interception by catching the carom, giving Detroit’s struggling offense outstanding field position. Gilmore seems like a good candidate for the practice squad.
****Stephen Gilmore is heavily in the mix in being on the Lions roster, following the cutdown to 53, and overall. I'm impressed how Gilmore responded, after he gave up a 48 yard reception on what was in essence a perfectly thrown ball. So much will depend on the assessment of Gilmore on Special Teams. ****
-- Let’s not forget why Gilmore picked off that pass in the first place. Tracy Walker was in excellent position to intercept the ball, but juggled it up into the air. That’s always been the knock on him. He’s a quality player and reliable tackler, but has never had great ball skills. He remained in the starting lineup at safety to open camp, but once Brian Branch started to flash in the slot, Detroit opted to elevate Branch to the first team and move slot cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson to safety. That gives the Lions three really handsy players in the back end in Branch, Gardner-Johnson and Kerby Joseph, while Walker looks like he’s headed for a benching.
**** The Tracy Walker has made a remarkable recovery from the Torn Achilles Tendon Tear. It might be best for Walker to have a part time role on Defense this season, his first season following an injury that's derailed many careers. Overall, I thought Walker was a little above average vs. the Jags. ****
-- Dan Campbell said one or two jobs remain undetermined at receiver. Among the candidates, I continue to like Chase Cota best. He caught a touchdown pass against Jacksonville, just one week after leading the Lions with four catches for 60 yards in the opener against the Giants. He also earned the start at punt returner -- where he reversed field to pick up 28 yards on his only attempt -- and has even been getting some first-team offensive work in practice. At 6-foot-4, he’s a massive target that could prove useful in the red zone.
**** Chase Cota might have moved ahead of the others for the Lions # 5 WR spot. More so, because none or the other candidates took a leap forward as a receiver. I'm not sure if Cota will provide enough on Special Teams both survive the cutdown to 53 and to be on the Lions opening day 53 man roster. ****
-- Second-year linebacker James Houston had an impressive stat line, finishing with four tackles for loss and six tackles overall. That dude was all over the place in the second half. But if you’re playing in the second half of a preseason game at all, you’re usually closer to the roster bubble than you’d like, which isn’t what anyone expected after Houston racked up eight sacks in seven games as a rookie last season. Alas, Houston has repped mostly with the second- and especially third-team defense in camp, then didn’t even play until the second quarter against Jacksonville. It’s hard to imagine the Lions cutting a guy who just finished second among all rookies in sacks last season, but he also seems to have failed in his bid to round out his game. The Lions have given him a lot of snaps at the SAM linebacker position, but he still seems most effective as a situational pass rusher, and the Lions just have so many bodies in the pass rush right now. Houston might be closer to the roster bubble than he’d like heading into his second season, and might not dress for games if he does make the team.
**** James Houston wasn't effective holding the edge on the Jaguars final TD. But overall, I thought he made noticeable progress against the run. His greatest issue against the run probably is recognition. Houston has too much impact ability as a pass rusher to not keep on the Game Day roster each week when he's relatively healthy.
On the other hand, Julian Okwara was out of position on at least 2 running plays when he needed to holding the edge. His older brother Romeo was one of the Lions best players in the first half of this game and likely moved back ahead of Julian if a roster spot comes down to the 2 of them. ****
-- Lions defensive back Saivion Smith left the game in the third quarter after suffering a leg injury.
**** Hopefully, the injury won't keep Saivion Smith out of practice this week, or even worse turn out to be another long rehab for him. ****
.......
This thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions vs. Jaguars preview: Pre-Season Game # 2 ( 2023)
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1849/lions-jaguars-preview-season-game