Detroit Lions Mailbag: Can Hendon Hooker be an adequate replacement if Jared Goff goes down?
We're three weeks into Detroit Lions training camp and the team will play it's first preseason game on Thursday. Now seems like a good time to do a Lions mailbag. We got a bunch of good questions this week, lets jump right into them. From what I've seen during camp, he looks great. Still putting […]
We're three weeks into Detroit Lions training camp and the team will play it's first preseason game on Thursday. Now seems like a good time to do a Lions mailbag. We got a bunch of good questions this week, lets jump right into them.
From what I've seen during camp, he looks great. Still putting a lot of pressure on the quarterback and getting some sacks too. It's hard to fully judge since guys have to slow up when they get to the quarterback and they can't hit, but he's looking like he's ready for a big year. The help he's getting along the line is showing.
That's a big jump for just about anyone to make. I have to go with sell right now. I think Onwuzurkie will have the best year of his career and show to be a valuable piece on the defense going forward, but I think guys like Marcus Davenport and Alim McNeill could eat a little more. We'll see though. If he were to do that, it would be a major game changer.
That's more than likely Amik Robertson's spot Week 1. The Lions just said they plan to give Melifonwu some reps there, but that's likely more about the Lions' plan to be fluid with their secondary than it is moving Melifonwu to the nickel job. He'll get some looks there during the season, but I wouldn't expect him to nail down the starting role or anything like that. I would expect to see multiple guys flex in there, Brian Branch included.
Interesting question. Let's really flesh this one out. It's going to depend on what's happening with the Bloodline storyline. Is the WWE going to bring back the old Bloodline to feud with the new Bloodline or is it going to be something like Rhodes teaming with Reigns, Orton and Owens to fight the new Bloodline.
If it's the latter than you have to imagine that's the War Games match at Survivor Series in November. So Rhodes keeps the title until then. If that's the case, he probably winds up holding it until Mania in April while they build up a challenger the rest of the way and maybe have that guy win the Rumble.
It also seems like there's a chance that Cody puts the title on the line against The Rock at WrestleMania. That is unless they want to do the Roman vs Rock match at Mania. Then maybe you get Cody vs The Rock at the Rumble. Either way he keeps the the title till Mania. So yeah, Lions win the Super Bowl before Rhodes drops the title.
I think both players are pretty good and could be as high as RB2 on a different team. That's going to make the value go up a little bit, but not a lot. The Lions could probably get a sixth-round pick for either guy depending on which team you're sending him to. If they're needy it's a sixth, if they aren't it's a seventh. Either way that's a win.
Right not it seems like Reynolds is the guy that sticks around.
The biggest good surprise is Levi Onwuzurkie. If you would have asked me about him ahead of spring, I might have said something to the effect of "it's going to suck, but the Lions may cut him." Now he looks like a completely different player and someone that could make some serious noise going forward.
The bad surprise is Donovan Peoples-Jones. It made sense to think that he could replace Josh Reynolds because their games are similar in theory. It's gone from him being the prospective WR3 to probably not making the team. You hate to see it.
Right now it's got to be a no. There is a lot that he needs to work out. He's having trouble with timing and it's burning him either way it goes. He either holds onto the ball too long and gets sacked or his gets rid of it too fast and throws a pick.
That's not to say he can never get there. Thursday is going to show a lot because this is the first in game reps we've ever got to see. But right now if Goff were to go down, it's Nate Sudfeld's job.
I would fully expect the Lions to add a kicker or two once they get back from New York next week. Bates is not at all cemented in for the job and he can be replaced by a guy that comes in and shows more accuracy. Even if that guy doesn't have the crazy leg that Bates does.
What the Lions really need at kicker is a vet that's shown he can play the game and play it well enough. The problem is that most of those guys are on rosters and teams aren't willing to move them. Still, there might be some guys that fall through the cracks at cutdown time and the Lions would be wise to give them a look.
There is definitely an element to the idea that teams are coming after the Lions now. This is part of the game. You called it, the Lions are the hunted now and teams are going to want to go out there and show that they can be as competitive as Detroit is. It doesn't matter if its in a game or not. They just want to compete. That's a good thing. It's just too bad it wound up with tempers flaring.
It would be a huge shock if the Lions don’t trade for a receiver during camp, here’s why
Yes, I know I talk about this a lot, but it's a fluid situation and I think Lions fans and the Detroit Lions themselves are starting to really see the problem. The Lions really need help with their receiving corps and they could be about to make a move. Here's why: For starters, Lions GM […]
