jobberone
Kane Ala
- Messages
- 54,219
- Reaction score
- 19,659
http://i471.***BLOCKED***/albums/rr75/jobberone/ScreenShot2015-01-03at104030PM_zps78854518.png
Pondering the Cowboys' 46: Josh Brent's return
January, 3, 2015 By Todd Archer | ESPN.com
IRVING, Texas -- As the Dallas Cowboys approach their first playoff game in five years with Sunday's wild-card meeting against the Detroit Lions, the health of the defensive line is of note.
Tyrone Crawford did not practice Friday because of an illness and is questionable. Nick Haydentook part in only a limited part of one practice. Josh Brent missed the final four games with a calf strain after missing the previous two seasons because of off-field issues. Henry Melton was placed on injured reserve this week because of a knee injury.
As we ponder the Cowboys' 46-man roster, the final spots will come down to the defensive line and linebacker. Despite the illness and injury, Crawford and Hayden should start. The final spot comes down to Brent and defensive end Kenneth Boatright. The edge goes to Brent because of the health of the other interior linemen.
At linebacker, Anthony Hitchens is questionable with an high right ankle sprain and did not practice during the week. Zack Martin missed a week of practice and played two weeks ago, but Hitchens' injury is different. Newcomer James Anderson or Dekoda Watson, who missed the final five games with a hamstring injury, could figure into the final linebacker role if Hitchens can't play.
Doug Free is listed as doubtful for the third straight week with an ankle injury, but he is likely to miss the game.
So the guess at the inactives is: quarterback Dustin Vaughan, Free, tackle Donald Hawkins, Boatright, Watson, linebacker Keith Smith and safety Jakar Hamilton.
http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/
Lions Mailbag: How big are playoffs for Matthew Stafford?
January, 3, 2015 By Michael Rothstein | ESPN.com
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions are in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, and for quarterback Matthew Stafford, there are a lot of people watching what he's going to do.
There are the Lions fans who are hoping he leads the team to their first playoff win since 1991. There are those in his hometown of Dallas who are curious to see exactly what the former Highland Park High School star will be able to do. Then there are those in this week's Lions Mailba who have their own Stafford questions.
To ask a question, use the hashtag #LionsMailbag on Twitter, email me atmichael.rothstein@espn.com or pop on over to my Facebook page here. Now, on to your questions.
http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/
@mikerothstein: Stafford has not looked sharp the past three weeks, but he's been an interesting case all season. He's done what the coaches asked him to -- higher completion percentage, lower interception totals, fewer big mistakes -- but at the cost of yards and touchdowns. Personally, I'd let Stafford loose a little bit on offense. Let him improvise a little bit more and take some more deep shots. Of course, his offensive line has to be able to give him the time to do that, but that's where I would start. Take a couple of shots to Calvin Johnson deep or run some deeper slants to Johnson or Golden Tate. That's where I would start. I'm unlike a lot of other people, though, in that I believe Stafford had a pretty good season, considering what he was asked to do.
@mikerothstein: Don't know if it makes a big difference, because Stafford is running such a different offense now. It could help in terms of watching his eyes and some of his movements and arm positionings, but otherwise I don't know how much it helps. I think it's more of an advantage for the Lions knowing Linehan's schemes and play tendencies than it is for Linehan knowing player tendencies.
@mikerothstein: The Lions couldn't do that because they used that option on linebacker Kyle Van Noy at the start of the season. Otherwise, Detroit might have considered it for Nick Fairleyor Joseph Fauria earlier in the year. As for why the Lions didn't put him on injured reserve outright: Fairley is practicing this week and potentially is available in the playoffs. That's why the Lions didn't make that move then. It might pay off now.
@mikerothstein: Wrote about this during the week and my theory is this. If Jim Caldwell and the Lions were not at least considering it, Caldwell would have shut it down immediately, as he did when he was asked about Travis Swanson starting at center when Dominic Raiola came back. If the Lions are in need of a big play, it wouldn't shock me to see Tate as a returner this weekend. It also wouldn't surprise me to see Theo Riddick blocking on kick returns and some more starters on some special-teams units if necessary late.
@mikerothstein: It wouldn't surprise me to see this happen more often against Dallas. The Lions have been successful when they've gone with a faster tempo this season, and in the playoffs, it might be worth trying it early to offer a shock to the Cowboys' system. Caldwell said earlier in the week that if you're trying something new, it had better be something you've practiced, and I immediately thought of a faster game plan.
Alec from Facebook asks: Why have the Lions kept Kellen Moore on the roster? I get that so much faith (and $) has been given to Matthew Stafford, and I'm not one who's saying, 'Start Moore.' But if Caldwell is so sure Dan Orlovsky is the better (because of ?) backup, why hasn't Moore been cut or traded? With all the lesser talent starting for other teams, it's conceivable Moore would end up on a roster with better opportunities. Being the third backup making nearly half a mil holding a clipboard isn't in a bad place to be, but is Detroit worried about the possibility of facing a team in the future with Moore as QB?
Rothstein: There's a lot to unpack here, but I'll do it quickly. Moore hasn't been traded because you need trade value and a partner for that to happen. He hasn't been cut because the Lions haven't needed to do so. I don't think there is the concern of facing Moore in the future because if it happens, it does. Moore's value comes in Stafford's preparation each week. Moore is probably a future coach at some point and he thinks like one -- and has since high school. Moore and Orlovsky help with film breakdown and are often Stafford's extra eyes and ears. That's where their value comes in and part of why Moore has a roster spot.
http://i471.***BLOCKED***/albums/rr75/jobberone/ScreenShot2015-01-03at110108PM_zpsc4262b40.png
http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/futures/
Pondering the Cowboys' 46: Josh Brent's return
January, 3, 2015 By Todd Archer | ESPN.com
IRVING, Texas -- As the Dallas Cowboys approach their first playoff game in five years with Sunday's wild-card meeting against the Detroit Lions, the health of the defensive line is of note.
Tyrone Crawford did not practice Friday because of an illness and is questionable. Nick Haydentook part in only a limited part of one practice. Josh Brent missed the final four games with a calf strain after missing the previous two seasons because of off-field issues. Henry Melton was placed on injured reserve this week because of a knee injury.
As we ponder the Cowboys' 46-man roster, the final spots will come down to the defensive line and linebacker. Despite the illness and injury, Crawford and Hayden should start. The final spot comes down to Brent and defensive end Kenneth Boatright. The edge goes to Brent because of the health of the other interior linemen.
At linebacker, Anthony Hitchens is questionable with an high right ankle sprain and did not practice during the week. Zack Martin missed a week of practice and played two weeks ago, but Hitchens' injury is different. Newcomer James Anderson or Dekoda Watson, who missed the final five games with a hamstring injury, could figure into the final linebacker role if Hitchens can't play.
Doug Free is listed as doubtful for the third straight week with an ankle injury, but he is likely to miss the game.
So the guess at the inactives is: quarterback Dustin Vaughan, Free, tackle Donald Hawkins, Boatright, Watson, linebacker Keith Smith and safety Jakar Hamilton.
http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/
Lions Mailbag: How big are playoffs for Matthew Stafford?
January, 3, 2015 By Michael Rothstein | ESPN.com
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions are in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, and for quarterback Matthew Stafford, there are a lot of people watching what he's going to do.
There are the Lions fans who are hoping he leads the team to their first playoff win since 1991. There are those in his hometown of Dallas who are curious to see exactly what the former Highland Park High School star will be able to do. Then there are those in this week's Lions Mailba who have their own Stafford questions.
To ask a question, use the hashtag #LionsMailbag on Twitter, email me atmichael.rothstein@espn.com or pop on over to my Facebook page here. Now, on to your questions.
http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/
@mikerothstein: Stafford has not looked sharp the past three weeks, but he's been an interesting case all season. He's done what the coaches asked him to -- higher completion percentage, lower interception totals, fewer big mistakes -- but at the cost of yards and touchdowns. Personally, I'd let Stafford loose a little bit on offense. Let him improvise a little bit more and take some more deep shots. Of course, his offensive line has to be able to give him the time to do that, but that's where I would start. Take a couple of shots to Calvin Johnson deep or run some deeper slants to Johnson or Golden Tate. That's where I would start. I'm unlike a lot of other people, though, in that I believe Stafford had a pretty good season, considering what he was asked to do.
@mikerothstein: Don't know if it makes a big difference, because Stafford is running such a different offense now. It could help in terms of watching his eyes and some of his movements and arm positionings, but otherwise I don't know how much it helps. I think it's more of an advantage for the Lions knowing Linehan's schemes and play tendencies than it is for Linehan knowing player tendencies.
@mikerothstein: The Lions couldn't do that because they used that option on linebacker Kyle Van Noy at the start of the season. Otherwise, Detroit might have considered it for Nick Fairleyor Joseph Fauria earlier in the year. As for why the Lions didn't put him on injured reserve outright: Fairley is practicing this week and potentially is available in the playoffs. That's why the Lions didn't make that move then. It might pay off now.
@mikerothstein: Wrote about this during the week and my theory is this. If Jim Caldwell and the Lions were not at least considering it, Caldwell would have shut it down immediately, as he did when he was asked about Travis Swanson starting at center when Dominic Raiola came back. If the Lions are in need of a big play, it wouldn't shock me to see Tate as a returner this weekend. It also wouldn't surprise me to see Theo Riddick blocking on kick returns and some more starters on some special-teams units if necessary late.
@mikerothstein: It wouldn't surprise me to see this happen more often against Dallas. The Lions have been successful when they've gone with a faster tempo this season, and in the playoffs, it might be worth trying it early to offer a shock to the Cowboys' system. Caldwell said earlier in the week that if you're trying something new, it had better be something you've practiced, and I immediately thought of a faster game plan.
Alec from Facebook asks: Why have the Lions kept Kellen Moore on the roster? I get that so much faith (and $) has been given to Matthew Stafford, and I'm not one who's saying, 'Start Moore.' But if Caldwell is so sure Dan Orlovsky is the better (because of ?) backup, why hasn't Moore been cut or traded? With all the lesser talent starting for other teams, it's conceivable Moore would end up on a roster with better opportunities. Being the third backup making nearly half a mil holding a clipboard isn't in a bad place to be, but is Detroit worried about the possibility of facing a team in the future with Moore as QB?
Rothstein: There's a lot to unpack here, but I'll do it quickly. Moore hasn't been traded because you need trade value and a partner for that to happen. He hasn't been cut because the Lions haven't needed to do so. I don't think there is the concern of facing Moore in the future because if it happens, it does. Moore's value comes in Stafford's preparation each week. Moore is probably a future coach at some point and he thinks like one -- and has since high school. Moore and Orlovsky help with film breakdown and are often Stafford's extra eyes and ears. That's where their value comes in and part of why Moore has a roster spot.
http://i471.***BLOCKED***/albums/rr75/jobberone/ScreenShot2015-01-03at110108PM_zpsc4262b40.png
http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/futures/
