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2023 Off-Season Thread

Is not really that amazing.... any random fan saw the same holes. It's just that previous gms didn't fill them.

They tried some, ignored some or overpaid for some

Holmes fills them and smartly with even more draft options for future
 
With all the high praise going on I now think Holmes gone in 3 seasons.
 
Amazing how Holmes sees the holes so well and still get good deals

Always a good policy to fill the holes that you see. Words to live your life by.

It's obvious that Holmes and the rest of management think we have a window this season. Lions are Super Bowl contenders... I can't even believe I typed that. All these 1 year contracts are win now contracts, but they also aren't the types of deals that hamstrong the franchise if things don't work out this season. And now you've still got 5 of the top 81 picks in the draft next month, so you're still in a great spot to stack young talent on cheap deals.

The difference between now and the couple other teams the Lions have had in my lifetime that generated excitement is those other teams were usually exciting because of 1 or 2 stars, Barry Sanders or Megatron. This is exciting because we have talent across the roster and appear to have a GM with a clue.

It would be the most Lions thing ever to come out and go 3-14 this Fall, but for once I think the entirety of football would be stunned if something like that happened.
 
Always a good policy to fill the holes that you see. Words to live your life by.

It's obvious that Holmes and the rest of management think we have a window this season. Lions are Super Bowl contenders... I can't even believe I typed that. All these 1 year contracts are win now contracts, but they also aren't the types of deals that hamstrong the franchise if things don't work out this season. And now you've still got 5 of the top 81 picks in the draft next month, so you're still in a great spot to stack young talent on cheap deals.

The difference between now and the couple other teams the Lions have had in my lifetime that generated excitement is those other teams were usually exciting because of 1 or 2 stars, Barry Sanders or Megatron. This is exciting because we have talent across the roster and appear to have a GM with a clue.

It would be the most Lions thing ever to come out and go 3-14 this Fall, but for once I think the entirety of football would be stunned if something like that happened.

Agree. A bunch of good/solid in scheme players instead of 1 to 3 super stars. I think Sewell and Hutch can be all pros though. Ragnow is too but is a center. St Brown is really good but wouldn't say all pro for him. Decker and Jonah Jackson are good. Swift is talented but health concern. Goff is good but has his limitations. Montgomery the work horse that causes missed tackles. Jameson supposed to be a game breaker. Reynolds solid. Marvin Jones solid.

On defense, I worry about run defense as that was bad at times but good at times too. Really inconsistent and overall still bad in the final 10. Carolina game nightmares and we still need a DT to add and Anzalone/Rodriguez/Walker/Joseph/CGJ will have to be better for us. McNeil is good but needs to up his game in run defense. Buggs is good for a rotation. Pass rush is good and deep (Hutch, Houston, Cominsky, Harris, Okwaras, Paschal, even McNeil at 3 tech) is plenty of talent. Plus Glenn is already scheming and dialing up better blitz looks now that he can trust the CBs.

Talent, good character, good coaching, good scouting but they have to execute. They have the big dogs to do it now with some depth at EDGE, CB, RB, LB if you like Barnes but probably need one more in draft, S (with CGJ ability there but probably need one more), and WR now with Marvin Jones added (but could add one in draft too)

NFC South (4 mediocre I would say, nobody awful), AFC West (two good, two bad), NFC North twice (close games due to division but Vikings/Packers took a step back, Bears are better), Seattle (definitely got better adding Dremont Jones and Bobby Wagner with Geno back), at Baltimore (Lamar plays?), at Dallas (still good)

But could see Goff injury Week 2, Sudfeld the backup with them skipping QB until day 3 and trying to add a bunch more non QB talent/depth/future starters. That would be our luck
 
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On defense, I worry about run defense as that was bad at times but good at times too. Really inconsistent and overall still bad in the final 10. Carolina game nightmares and we still need a DT to add and Anzalone/Rodriguez/Walker/Joseph/CGJ will have to be better for us.

Saw this with my own eyes on Christmas Eve last. It was like the Lions had 6 defensive players on the field. Okudah was benched, Hutchinson was a non-factor, and the opponent had traded McCaffery. "Horrific" approaches my reaction.
 
Saw this with my own eyes on Christmas Eve last. It was like the Lions had 6 defensive players on the field. Okudah was benched, Hutchinson was a non-factor, and the opponent had traded McCaffery. "Horrific" approaches my reaction.

Carolina Oline just dominated in the cold. Lions were missing Walker and Elliot but still no excuse. Okudah, Ife shouldn't be on the field this time and Lions will have more firepower with CGJ, Sutton, Walker and more experienced Joseph on the back end. But they better add a DT who can pass rush and run defend and Anzalone/Rodriguez better have a much better game. I really wish they got Campbell but draft it is.

Carolina added Miles Sanders too for this year. Game is in Detroit at least. Need a heck of alot of redemption in this one. Facing rookie QB top pick (Young or Stroud) or Andy Dalton this time

Detroit did have good run defense games too but Carolina game or a lesser version of that happening, is the biggest worry for the defense. Pass rush and coverage is a strength I think.

Falcons (Allegier and Patterson), Carolina (added Miles Sanders), Bears (Fields and Herbert and Foreman (who ran over us with Carolina), Dallas (just Pollard now), Baltimore (Lamar?, always productive RBs too), Seattle (Walker) all can run the ball really well and they are all on the schedule. Aaron Jones and Dalvin Cook too of course can have a game. Chargers still have Ekeler, Raiders have Jacobs who led the league, Broncos will be improved under Payton (Javonte Williams and Perine RBs right now) and Chiefs run game open because you worry about Maholmes/Kelce so much, Saints have Kamara and Jamaal now. Tampa not worried about their run game in the rebuild.

Buckle up because we will need to defend the run against these teams. It is alot of their strengths.
 
Front 7 is the same...I don't expect the run defense to be much different.

We really need a starting IDL. IMO that position and LB are the two biggest needs we have right now. Another WR wouldn't hurt either. Jones Jr. is fine, but we need more there.
 
Front 7 is the same...I don't expect the run defense to be much different.

They will add a DT in the draft. But there can be improvement, as there was some good games too. Not every game was like Carolina. And early in the year they were missing alot (Walker, Romeo/Paschal/Cominsky) and Lions were using Bugg/McNeil differently. There was some improvement in second half of year with EDGE health.

And who knows on scheme. Again if we can trust the corners, maybe now we can stack the box a bit more so that will help in run D too and can actually leave corners on an island. CBs that are good in run defense too also does help more than you think. I know Sutton and CGJ are.

So yep same front 7 but improved play in progression, scheme and secondary help. And technically CGJ would be in the box really if he is playing slot as they play nickel alot.

Plus they add a DT for sure in draft too. Is the rookie up to it early in his career. Jalen Carter if selected better be. He is a stud.
 
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GB final game was 3.7 YPC and only 103 yards
Chicago got 200 yards due to Fields big rush but we crushed them 41-10
Carolina game. Beyond worst case scenario
Jets had 50 yards and 2.3 YPC (missing Breece Hall), Great game there
Vikings 1.3 YPC and only 22 yards. Great game there and 180 from Week 3 when Vikings had their way on the ground
Jaguars we crushed. 95 yards. But 5 YPC. We took their run game out with big lead early
Buffalo was bad 5.7 YPC and 165 yards
First Green Bay game 4.2 YPC and 106 yards. Still held them in check to 9 points with good coverage
Bears ran like crazy in game 1 at 273 yards and 7.4 YPC. Lions won the shootout (thanks to a Bears missed XP and Okudah pick 6 and good offense)
Shut down Barkeley and Giants. 3.4 YPC and 89 yards

So some really good (Jets, Packers final, Vikings, Giants) and some really bad (Bears twice (still won twice) and Panthers and Bills) and middle of pack (Packers game 1 and Jags) in final 10

First 7

Dallas, Patriots, Vikings, Eagles had big days. Seattle huge day rushing in shootout loss.
Miami average rushing but passed at will
Washington 4.2 average but only 88 yards

Basically all bad first 7 then got fixed with health and scheme change (except Bears top rushing team, Bills and Panthers so 4 of 10 games)
 
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We may have ?filled holes? in FA but those holes were filled by mediocre/average players for the most part.

CJG - ball hawk who I think is our best signing.

Sutton - good signing but would probably only be the #1 CB for half the teams in the league. Again, it was a good signing and upgrade to the worst defense in the league.

Mosley - has only played 12+ games once in his 5yrs and is currently recovering from a torn ACL.

Montgomery- I?d take the under on his production compared to what Jamaal gave us last year.

Jones Jr - 33 years old. Not a difference maker. Who cares.

Glashow - depth guy

All the other re-signings and signings are all average AT BEST. I don?t understand the excitement and hype on this board for what we?ve done in free agency. It doesn?t take much to upgrade positions to last years League worst defense.

Keep in mind, we were extremely healthy last season w Goff, St Brown, Sewell, Decker, Ragnow, and Hutchinson. None of our key players missed significant time due to injury. Odds are that won?t happen 2 years in a row.
 
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Run D best learn how to keep mobile QBs from torching us. That would be a good place to start.
 
GB final game was 3.7 YPC and only 103 yards
Chicago got 200 yards due to Fields big rush but we crushed them 41-10
Carolina game. Beyond worst case scenario
Jets had 50 yards and 2.3 YPC (missing Breece Hall), Great game there
Vikings 1.3 YPC and only 22 yards. Great game there and 180 from Week 3 when Vikings had their way on the ground
Jaguars we crushed. 95 yards. But 5 YPC. We took their run game out with big lead early
Buffalo was bad 5.7 YPC and 165 yards
First Green Bay game 4.2 YPC and 106 yards. Still held them in check to 9 points with good coverage
Bears ran like crazy in game 1 at 273 yards and 7.4 YPC. Lions won the shootout (thanks to a Bears missed XP and Okudah pick 6 and good offense)
Shut down Barkeley and Giants. 3.4 YPC and 89 yards

So some really good (Jets, Packers final, Vikings, Giants) and some really bad (Bears twice (still won twice) and Panthers and Bills) and middle of pack (Packers game 1 and Jags) in final 10

First 7

Dallas, Patriots, Vikings, Eagles had big days. Seattle huge day rushing in shootout loss.
Miami average rushing but passed at will
Washington 4.2 average but only 88 yards

Basically all bad first 7 then got fixed with health and scheme change (except Bears top rushing team, Bills and Panthers so 4 of 10 games)

Carolina Carolina Carolina. We couldn?t find a way to beat a non-playoff team in a ?must win? game. Nothing else matters.
 
Carolina Carolina Carolina. We couldn?t find a way to beat a non-playoff team in a ?must win? game. Nothing else matters.

Lions have added enough to beat Carolina and rest of NFC South and entire NFC North 6-0 this time and Raiders and Broncos. That is 12 right there. at KC (or in Germany), at Chargers (no real HFA), at Baltimore (do they have Lamar?), at Dallas (revenge and Lions have their weapons/Dline this time) and Seattle (revenge but have to stop Walker) will be the interesting ones.

Lions have a very good team and people have taken notice. But now have to execute
 
Lions have added enough to beat Carolina and rest of NFC South and entire NFC North 6-0 this time and Raiders and Broncos. That is 12 right there. at KC (or in Germany), at Chargers (no real HFA), at Baltimore (do they have Lamar?), at Dallas (revenge and Lions have their weapons/Dline this time) and Seattle (revenge but have to stop Walker) will be the interesting ones.

Lions have a very good team and people have taken notice. But now have to execute

It?s easy to meet or exceed expectations when you don?t have any. That?s what we did last year. After the 1-7 start, we had nothing to play for and we got hot when everyone thought the season was over. We won a few games in a row, got in the playoff hunt and went to Carolina w expectations and got blown the fuck out. We had ONE game last year w real expectations and we got blown the fuck out.

Unlike last year, we?re entering the season w expectations. It?s much more difficult to live up to expectations when they are actually put on you. Something this organization has never done. I need to see it, before I believe it.
 
I have expectations. It's time to kill the ghosts (plus, Monster wants to see a ghost) of decades past and win a playoff game. They need to have an excellent year to prove the arrow continues to rise. A failure this year and same old Lions talk begins.
 
I have expectations. It's time to kill the ghosts (plus, Monster wants to see a ghost) of decades past and win a playoff game. They need to have an excellent year to prove the arrow continues to rise. A failure this year and same old Lions talk begins.
Consecutive . 500 + seasons, 1. They haven't done anything yet. Should we give them the key to the city?
 
Consecutive . 500 + seasons, 1. They haven't done anything yet. Should we give them the key to the city?

Holmes, Campbell and Co. win a playoff game, yes, give them the keys. From the dregs of the league to a playoff W in three years, it puts all previous regimes to shame.
 
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