Lions vs Panthers: What Just Happened?
That's it Detroit Lions fans. The preseason is officially over. Well, almost. We still have cutdown day on Tuesday. But the games are done. The Lions had a much better showing in this game and it was actually a pretty fun watch for a preseason game. At least the first half was. When it was […]
That's it Detroit Lions fans. The preseason is officially over. Well, almost. We still have cutdown day on Tuesday. But the games are done.
The Lions had a much better showing in this game and it was actually a pretty fun watch for a preseason game. At least the first half was. When it was all said and done, the Lions will head back home with a 26-17 win.
As always, I have thoughts on this game. These are those thoughts.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson doing C. J. Gardner-Johnson things.
He didn't even play in this game. Like the rest of the starters, he sat this one out. Still, he talked trash like he was playing. Gardner-Johnson is really going to be fun this year.
Khalil Dorsey helps his chances
On Monday we included cornerback Khalil Dorsey in our group of players that could have a chance to make the Lions roster if they had a big week. On Friday night the Lions tried him at kick returner and he went out there and did this.
That's going to help for sure. The other thing that will help is that Dorsey would force a fumble at the end of the first half. That fumble allowed the Lions to take a 10 point lead.
It's Craig's job
The running back three battle is over. Craig Reynolds had a very impressive night and got most of the caries in this game. he finished with 41 yards and a touchdown. That's going to do it for pretty much the rest of the of the running backs on the roster unless the Lions go with a fourth running back.
Steven Gilmore keeps making plays
Gilmore had an interception last week and this week he continues to do things that should give him a real shot to make the Lions roster. He had a beautiful run stop in the second quarter. You love to see that. But you love to see the hit he laid on Shi Smith more. You love to see him snatching a pick six and sealing the game for the Lions the most.
Teddy looks ready
There were some concerned Lions fans out there, mostly on Facebook, after Teddy Bridgewater's debut with the Lions last week. The Lions offensive line did him no favors and he was coming in after two practices with the Lions. On Friday he looked the part as the Lions number two at quarterback. His passes were crisp and he looked cool, calm and collected out there. Bridgewater finished the day with 178 yards and a touchdown. The number to be upset about with Bridgewater is 50. He no longer wears it and I find it to be disappointing.
Cota out, Drummond and Antione Green in
I've been going back and forth on these guys all summer long. One of them should be able to make the Lions 53 man roster and the other one should be headed towards the practice squad. Drummond had a pretty solid night that had him catching nearly everything thrown at him. He caught five balls on six targets. He also had this highlight reel catch that he laid out for.
Cota, on the other hand, had a rough night that saw him getting beat by the Panthers secondary on multiple plays. He had a chance to maybe have all that go away with a nearly wide open catch in the end zone, but it bounced off his hands and almost got intercepted. You have to make the catch there. It might sound dumb, but it could be the difference between making the roster and not making the roster.
Then there's Antione Green. The Lions seventh round pick showed what he could do with a big 70 yard catch for a touchdown. He had a couple other nice catches as well. He also had a nice kick return. It's really the first time that Green has showed big things since the Lions took him.
Chase Lucas with the Big Mac's
speaking of making the roster, Chase Lucas is a guy that Dan Campbell had some good things to say about earlier this week. He has a real shot to make the Lions roster with what he can do on special teams. On Friday night he showed that he can do some crazy things at corner too.
This pick means buy one get one Big Macs from McDonalds. Enjoy!
That's probably going to do it for Nate Sudfeld
The Lions obviously plan to go with Teddy Bridgewater as their backup, but there was some thought that maybe the Lions would carry three quarterbacks into the season. That's almost assuredly not going to happen anymore after Sudfeld was carted off the field with an injury. This opened the door for Adrian Martinez to maybe vie for a practice squad spot.
Stop running Adrian
I love a running quarterback, but they have to run forwards. Martinez was running backwards and side to side all night and he never really took the time to step up in the pocket and go trough his progressions. That's really going to hurt his chances to make the Lions practice squad. Completing just 45% of your passes just isn't going to get it done. If he had just stayed put and read the field, he might have had a better chance.
The Lions might have a kicker issue
Riley Patterson didn't just miss a 53 yard field goal, he missed an extra point too. The Lions just can't afford to be one of those teams that's really good, but can't score on field goals. While Dan Campbell likes to go for it on fourth, you just can't do it every time. We'll see where this goes from here. It's not exactly easy to find a kicker.
Featured image by Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
