Mailbag: Is it possible that we are too pessimistic about Lions?

It’s time for another edition of the AskPOD Mailbag, where Jeremy Reisman and I answer a handful of your questions about the Detroit Lions.

Let’s get started!

Jeremiah: I have a lot of thoughts here. Let me start with the last statement first. The Lions are a game or two away from 2-2 or 3-1. I want to start there, because it’s something Dan Campbell has said a few times already this year, and it’s also something we’ve heard Matt Patricia say a lot. This is how the NFL works. Change a game here, change a game there, you win the game. The problem is, if the other team changed a game here and there, the Lions could have lost every game by 20 points.

The truth is, the Lions have taken three points in every game. Good teams don’t do that. The Lions are not a good team and they are worthy of their current 0-4 record.

BUT they are not bad 0-17.

Erik: Wholeheartedly agree.

Jeremiah: They are hang out in the games, and there are some positive things this team is doing. They are currently second in defense on third down, which can be very helpful if they ever resolve their early-test issues (especially run defense).

They also do great things on offense. Their training success rate – as defined by Football Outsiders as “the percentage of time a team will get a first down or first touchdown in a given set of four downs” – in offense ranks them 10th in the league. NFL, but they don’t end. discs.

So, yeah, if they can clean things up, I still think 4-6 wins are very possible. But these problems are also real problems that are not guaranteed to be solved. Naturally, there is going to be an overreaction after losing to a bad team like the Bears. But the only reason I would deviate from my 5-12 prediction now is bad injury luck so far.

Erik: Yes, I am with you on all of this. Injuries can’t be helped, especially things like Achilles injuries, and they happen to everyone, but the first thing they need to work on is getting it over with. As you said, as bad as they got at times, they still ended up in close games, but their inability to finish prevented them from adding one in the win column.

The good thing is that Campbell is incredibly self-aware and he recognized that as a problem as well.

“We have to learn how to win and how to close some of these practices and we will,” Campbell said on Monday.

But they really have to. I’m not sure I can go through another “dagger time”.

Jeremiah: As soon as the Lions are comfortable with him in special teams. A window is certainly open for him to be active soon, as Godwin Igwebuike has seen his kick returns taken by Corey Ballentine, but Igwebuike still contributes in every phase of the special teams. Duce Staley basically admitted last week that this is how he will enter the field, and he will get there.

“You get a guy out of college who isn’t used to playing with special teams, and he has to come here first and get used to the speed of the game, then you kick him in and he has to s ‘get used to special teams. It’s a little transition there, so it takes a bit of time. He learns. He comes. We are happy where it is, but it must continue to develop.

Erik: The only other route to the list is probably if an injury occurs to D’Andre Swift (groin) or Jamaal Williams (hip), who ironically are both injured this week. If either falls, Jefferson would be the next man to secure a spot in the two-back rotation.

Did the Bears and Ravens neutralize TJ Hockenson? Did Goff just not see it when it was open because it wasn’t the first read? A combination of the two? What if the teams found a way to neutralize it, how much of a problem is that for our offense, especially in the red zone? – lionsfan2081

Erik: A bit of both I think.

From a statistical point of view, he noted a regression. After catching at least eight passes for 66 yards and one touchdown in each of the first two games, he’s had just six receptions for 62 yards and no touchdowns in the last two games combined. Now he was always able to make an impact as a blocker and shot doubles teams which opened up opportunities for others but Goff wasn’t always able to get through his progressions to get to Hockenson no more :

As for which teams win Hockenson impacting the rest of the offense, that will depend on the adjustment of offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn. The good teams will try to take out Hockenson, he is their best offensive player, but Lynn has to be faster to get the others involved. Two weeks ago Swift stepped up, last week it was the receivers, but each time it was too little too late.

Jeremiah: Yeah, I think it was kind of a story of two different games with Hockenson. Against the Ravens, they definitely focused on him to get him off the game plan. The Lions responded well, then focusing on Swift.

Last week I don’t think Hockenson performed particularly well, both as a blocker and a road runner. The Bears simply dared the Lions receiving corps to beat them one-on-one (with only one high security) and for three quarters no one did. This includes Hockenson.

Of course, Hockenson is now very limited with a knee injury, so it’s possible he just wasn’t 100% last week.

Jeremiah: Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn basically said they were going to reduce Bobby Price’s involvement in defense and Jerry Jacobs would have more chances.

“These two guys are going to play,” Glenn said. “Jerry is going to get a little more than he gets, but we have to see exactly what we have in these young players. Again, like I said before, the only way to figure that out is to just get them. There are going to be some mistakes and we expect that, but we are going to coach them and try to make it work as best we can as well. “

It can be frustrating to look our way, but Lions are committed to their youth and see what they have for the future.

So I don’t see them turning to Robey-Coleman, who mostly serves as a nickel-back, anyway. That would mean taking AJ Parker off the field, and I don’t think the Lions are planning that. They love Parker, and despite having a few issues to work out, he has rewarded their self-confidence.

Erik: And I don’t see them passing Parker on the outside because he’s formidable in the slot and provides a ton of value.

Regarding sufficient space to sign a free agent, Lions are against things right now with over $ 33 million in ceiling space sitting on the injured reserve (Lions have 12 players on IR) and nearly $ 55 million more in dead ceiling, leaving them less than $ 4 million to play for now. That’s why you see them signing players on practice squads instead of free agents with names most fans would recognize.

Erik: It’s still NFL draft season. If you’re looking for your draft fix be sure to check out my NFL Draft 2022 watch articles that drop every Saturday.

Jeremiah: The second the clock hits 0:00 after week 18. Football is only here four months a year. Cherish it. Plus, most of the draft talk is wasteful when the team’s needs aren’t sorted out until after free agency in March. Plus, there’s a ton of draft data that we only get mid-season (Senior Bowl, NFL Combine). But, hey, you all want to get in earlier than that, which is why Erik is here. Personally, I cannot stand the discussions about the project until February at the earliest.

Erik: Thanks, Debbie.

Jeremiah: Aaaaaaaaaa anyway.

No timeline for Tyrell Williams’ concussion. These things can be hard to predict, but he’s eligible to come out of the injured reserve after Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. However, if the Lions decided after nearly 10 days of the blow he suffered in Week 1 that Williams needed at least three more weeks, you have to imagine that this is a fairly serious brain injury. I’m not going to make any predictions here, but this is clearly a very serious injury.

With Romeo Okwara losing for this year and potentially at least part of next year, is drafting an edge rusher becoming our top priority in the draft? If not, what position should we be looking for for our top 10? – Kdog060

Erik: I think EDGE was always going to be in the conversation due to its positional value and Trey Flowers’ contract, but as Jeremy said in the answer above, it’s too early to try and focus on specific positions. so early because a lot can change in the offseason between now and the draft.

My strategy at this time of year is to try to get to know as many good players as possible. This reduces the workload down the road, and even if you’re looking for a top player in a position that is staffed with free agency, it’s good to know a player’s worth because of the trade-off possibilities, especially if the Lions are in the top 10.

That being said, if you want to work early on this year’s potential EDGE class, make time for Kayvon Thibodeaux (Junior, Oregon), Aidan Hutchinson (Senior, Michigan), Drake Jackson (Junior, USC), George Karlaftis (Junior. , Purdue), Zach Harrison (Junior, Ohio State) and Adam Anderson (Senior, GA) who are all potentials in the first or early second round.

Jeremiah: I don’t think there is a single rusher on the list, I can say with certainty that he will be part of the squad in 2023. So, yes, that’s a huge potential need. And if the quarterback class continues to disappoint, I’m all for taking one with the Lions’ top pick.

Erik: I knew I could get you to talk about the draft.