Post by D6 on Aug 25, 2019 5:05:11 GMT -5
Thoughts in ****
www.mlive.com/lions/2019/08/observations-injuries-overshadow-nice-debut-from-matthew-stafford-in-lions-loss.html
Observations: Injuries overshadow nice debut from Matthew Stafford in Lions loss Updated Aug 24, 1:23 AM; Posted Aug 23, 2019
By Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
DETROIT -- After all that hand-wringing about whether Matthew Stafford should play against Buffalo, he looked just fine. It’s two other first-round picks the Lions have to worry about now.
Linebacker Jarrad Davis and center Frank Ragnow headed to the locker room Friday night after suffering leg injuries in a 24-20 loss to the Bills at Ford Field. It was Detroit’s third straight exhibition loss, with just the finale in Cleveland remaining before the start of the regular season.The Lions did not provide an immediate update on either player, but Davis’ injury is already believed to be serious. If he can’t go when the season opens two weeks from Sunday -- and let’s be very clear about this, he almost certainly will miss that game -- then unknown commodities like Jahlani Tavai and Jalen Reeves-Maybin will be expected to help anchor the heart of Detroit’s defense.
Detroit really likes Tavai, make no mistake about that. But his jump from the University of Hawaii to the NFL is a steep one, and the club hoped to bring him along slowly. Now they might not have that luxury.
On the offensive line, Graham Glasgow replaced Ragnow at center. That’s about as natural of an injury replacement as you’ll ever find on the offensive line, after Glasgow played 1,074 of a possible 1,075 snaps at center last year. The problem is it depletes what little depth Detroit has been able to build up front.
Joe Dahl played left guard against Buffalo, while Kenny Wiggins came into the game at right guard. Wiggins is also the top backup tackle right now because of the brain injury to Tyrell Crosby, and played that position too once the rest of the starters left the game.
The preseason is always a delicate balancing act between getting in the work required to get ready for the start of the season, while also trying to remain healthy. Tonight, the Lions seem to have lost big on that front.
**** There's no question that tbe injuries to Jarrad Davis and Frank Ragnow overshadow everything else associated with the pre-season game. Davis' injury came very early in the game, on the Bills first possession. I'm not going to question the decision by Matt Patricia to play Davis. Especially, because Davis missed the first two pre-season games because of an injury. The Lions wouldn't have used Davis in this game if the injury that kept him out was an issue. I doubt Davis would have avoided this injury even if he didn't miss any time with an injury this summer. It was a friendly fire injury.
On the other hand, Frank Ragnow played in the first two pre-season games. With the Lions scoring a TD early in the 2nd QTR, it was time to yet the starters out. I question the decision of starters being in the game when Ragnow was injured. ****
Here are some more observations:
-- The injuries clouded what was a pretty solid preseason debut from Matthew Stafford. He threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to rookie running back Ty Johnson on a wheel route on fourth-and-3, plus had passes dropped deep in the red zone by Danny Amendola and T.J. Hockenson. Either of those plays could have gone for scores too. Despite the drops, Stafford still finished 12 of 19 passing for 137 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, a 102.3 QB rating -- and most importantly, no sacks or injuries. He didn’t take many risks downfield, but then again, it’s the preseason. He was consistent on the short stuff and avoided danger, while moving the ball for an offense that had been stagnant without him. It was a solid debut, and now the Lions can put him on ice until the opener.
-- Assuming Stafford doesn’t play in the preseason finale against Cleveland, which is a pretty good assumption, this will be the fifth time his passer rating has cracked triple digits in the preseason. He also did it in 2011-12, ’15 and ’17 -- and for those wondering, three of those seasons wound up being the best-rated seasons of his career.
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**** Matthew Stafford performed well overall. His accuracy and timing was a little off at times. But he made good decisions, escaped pressure, and made some throws that erase my concerns that he's limited by an injury.
The pass Danny Amendola didn't catch looked like a timing issue ****
- David Fales, not Josh Johnson, replaced Stafford at quarterback. It was a nice reward after he played so well last week against Houston, but Fales struggled to recapture that form against Buffalo. He completed just 3 of his 8 passes, none of which netted more than 18 yards. He passed for just 22 yards overall, and the offense managed just three points on his five drives -- and those came courtesy of a 49-yard kick return by Jamal Agnew followed by a 61-yard field goal by Matt Prater to end the first half. Not like Fales did a whole lot of heavy lifting there.
**** The sack David Foles took in the 2nd QTR on 2nd Down when he should have thrown the ball away after getting outside the pocket reaffirms my concern that Fales playing instincts are not good enough. The Lions would have great difficulty winning with Fales if called upon in the regular season. ****
- Just to put a bow on the quarterback play, Johnson completed 5 of 10 passes for 71 yards. He actually drove the Lions into the red zone with a chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter, but receiver Travis Fulgham fumbled the ball at the 16-yard line, ending the threat. Detroit never touched the football again.
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**** Josh Johnson probably is the better option between him and Fales. That doesn't offer much confidence. The opponents backup QBs in the pre-season clearly look better than what the Lions are putting on the field at the position when Stafford isn't in the game.****
- By the way, yes, you read that correctly. Matt Prater split the uprights from 61 yards out. As someone who has to dodge his kicks in the media pen throughout camp, I’m telling you, there is nothing wrong with that man’s range. He’s still very much got it. And all those crazy kicking stories coming out of Chicago really make you appreciate what this guy can do.
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**** I can't recall a kicker for the Lions making a 61 yard FG in any type of game, prior to this game. Considering the snap was a little high, what Prater did was impressive to say the least. If he remains relatively healthy, the Lions should be in great shape with FGs this season. ****
- The Lions generated two more takeaways, with Quandre Diggs recovering a ball that Justin Coleman punched out on defense, then Will Harris recovering a ball C.J. Moore punched out on special teams. Jalen Reeves-Maybin also intercepted a Josh Allen pass, although that was nullified by a bogus roughing penalty. Anyway, the point stands -- Detroit has been much better at generating turnovers, after finishing 31st last year. Matt Patricia has really stressed that throughout the offseason, including running numerous drills designed to improve ball-ripping techniques in camp. So far, we’re seeing results.-
**** There's no question that the 'Roughing the Passer' penalty on Christian Jones that wiped out Jalen Reeves-Maybin's interception was a ridiculous call. It looked to me that Charles Washington greatly contributed to the forced fumble on the kickoff. Good job by the Lions with the takeaways.
Regarding Washington, he also caused a holding penalty on a Bills Punt Return. Washington is an elite Special Teams Player. IMHO, he's a near lock to be on the opening day 53 man roster, barring a major injury. ****
- Matthew Stafford’s favorite target in his debut was T.J. Hockenson. This shouldn’t be a surprise. Hockenson has been among his favorite targets throughout the summer, especially when he’s in trouble or in the red zone. Against Buffalo, Stafford found the rookie tight end three times for 52 yards, including on back-to-back throws of 15 and 32 yards. Just like that, the Lions moved from their own 32-yard line into the red zone, and Stafford finished off the series with a touchdown pass to rookie Ty Johnson.
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****Right now, T.J. Hockenson looks like a better receiver than a blocker. Hockenson was called tor a holding penalty on a running play. There was at least another running play the Lions needed a better block from him. The dropped pass is an exception, not a norm with Hockenson.****
- Speaking of Johnson, he scored that touchdown on a wheel route on fourth-and-3. That’s showing a lot of trust in a guy who caught just 29 passes in college, but Johnson has earned it with a strong summer. His hands are good and he runs crisp routes. He’s been electric as a runner too, including scoring the offense’s first touchdown of the preseason. Not only is Johnson going to make the team, he just might contribute immediately. Not bad for a guy who couldn’t even crack the top two in his own rotation at Maryland last year. Give Bob Quinn and his staff a lot of credit, because it looks like they’ve mined a diamond in the rough.
**** Ty Johnson probably will play on many Offensive snaps early in the regular season. By far he has the best chance of being on the Lions opening day roster of the Lions combined 4 draft selections in tbe last 2 rounds of the 2019 Draft. ****
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- Jamal Agnew botched yet another punt in the first half. He was able to jump on the football, but his ball security has to be a concern for this staff. It’s been an issue going back to his rookie year, and popped up a few times in camp. There’s no question he can make magic happen with the ball in his hands -- and sure enough, he returned a kick 47 yards later against Buffalo -- but Detroit will have to weigh that upside with the turnover risk when handing out those returner jobs. Brandon Powell, Tom Kennedy and Ty Johnson are among the other candidates.-
**** Jamal Agnew has too much explosiveness and versatility for the Lions discard. I expect Agnew to be the Lions primary return man when the season opens in Arizona. ****
- The defense lost its cool in the second quarter. Christian Jones was whistled for roughing the passer, which was just a dumb flag, and anyone who sees that replay will agree. But then safety Tracy Walker was flagged for a late hit out of bounds and A’Shawn Robinson was flagged for taunting. On the same play. Yes, taunting. In the preseason. That’s just bad, sloppy football, and it set up Buffalo’s first touchdown of the game. Detroit had six penalties for 62 yards in the first 16 minutes of the game alone.
**** The Penalties on both sides of the ball are concerning. Especially, since many of them were by players the Lions are counting on. Robinson's penalty was a boneheaded decision by him. ****
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This thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions vs. Bills preview: Pre-Season Game # 3 ( 2019 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/343/lions-bills-preview-season-game