The Detroit Lions underwent a regime change in the offseason
Color Rush T.J. Hockenson Jersey , and the early returns already have long-suffering fans of this team fearing the worst.A 1-3 record in the NFL
preseason saw the Lions finish with a minus-34 point differential. But if this
is cause for concern, new coach Matt Patricia isn't showing it."I think for me,
I'm really just trying to look forward as far as what we've got to do this
week," Patricia said. The Lions open the regular season playing host to the New
York Jets on Monday, and that's where Patricia is placing his emphasis.His
players are also opting to take the same approach as their coach."We're kind of
using the preseason as a stepping stone," linebacker Jarrad Davis said. "Now
we're playing and practicing for a new team, somebody that we want to go beat,
and it's actually going to count."Defensive back Quandre Diggs, who agreed a
three-year
Cheap T.J. Hockenson Jersey , $20.4 million contract extension with the team on Monday, figures the Lions are simply in the midst of the natural growing
pains that come from a transitional phase."I've dealt with change in the past in
college (at Texas)," Diggs said. "It really isn't different. It's the nature of
the business."Still, surrendering a league-high 27.75 points in preseason play
has to be a worry for a team that put its future in the hands of Patricia,
formerly the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots."I think we got
some things accomplished as far as player evaluation," Patricia said. "That was
our biggest point of emphasis. We got some fundamentals laid down."He'll
continue to evaluate and reassess. On Monday, Patricia reached back into his
past as the Lions claimed linebacker Marquis Flowers on waivers from the
Patriots."We'll still be working the roster as best we can," Patricia said.
"We'll be bringing guys in. There's a lot of guys that have been released here
over the last couple of days, and more to come
T.J. Hockenson Jersey Womens , so we'll continually try to look at those players to see if they help upgrade us."After the Lions concluded the preseason with a
35-17 home loss to the Cleveland Browns, Patricia allowed that the process of
implementing what he wants to do is going to take a long time. Exactly how long
was a commitment he wasn't prepared to make."I don't think we ever really put a
finite time on that," Patricia said. "We certainly have a lot of work to do,
which is definitely part of this as we go. I thought by the end of training
camp, things were working a lot more smoother, a lot better."It's just a process
that we go through and where that journey takes us, we'll find out."NOTES:
Rookie receiver Brandon Powell switched from No. 1 to No. 10, but it was not of
his own volition. "I don't know," Powell said. "I just came in here this morning
and it was hanging in my locker. I was just happy to have a number." ... Flowers
was issued No. 59. ... LB Trevor Bates was waived to make room for Flowers. ...
Two players picked up on waivers Sunday
Tracy Walker Jersey , CB Dee Virgin (Houston) and OL Andrew Donnal (Baltimore), joined practice Monday. Donnal was issued No. 78 and Virgin is wearing No.
30.Wednesday open thread: Are the Detroit Lions the worst team in the NFC North?
As the division currently stands, the Detroit Lions sit at the bottom at 0-2.
They aren’t all that far behind anyone else in the division, seeing as every
other team has just one win thanks to an uncommon tie between the Vikings and
Packers last week. And with the Bears notching their first win of the season on
Monday night, that leaves Detroit facing a very real and unfortunate
possibility: they may be the worst team in the NFC North.Today’s Question of the
Day is:Are the Lions the worst team in the NFC North?My answer: I’d love to sit
here and say with authority that they’re still a better team than the Bears, but
I can’t do that. While Chicago’s offense still very much looks like a work in
progress, their defense is for real. In fact, the Bears defense was pretty darn
good last year, too. But being healthy and adding Khalil Mack to the gang has
turned this into one of the best defenses in the league. That’s not
hyperbole
Kerryon Johnson Jersey , they’re literally the best defense in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus;The Lions, meanwhile, are struggling at all three phases of
the game. They took a step in the right direction last week, but they’re still
well behind everyone in the division. The good news is that just because they’re
the worst team in the division right now doesn’t mean they will be by the
season’s end. Teams change throughout the year. Some get better, some get worse.
The Lions’ 2018 season isn’t over, but it does feel like it’s already on life
support, and if they don’t show marked improvement quick, you’ll be able to
cement their spot at the bottom of the division.Your turn.
