Saturday, August 18, 2018

Lions Blog: Mid-Camp Roster Prediction

Being unable to watch much of the Lion's second preseason game against the New York Football Giants (Work will do that to me), I have elected to do a update to my 53 man roster prediction highlighting the changes as well as the reasons for them. Here is a link to the Pride of Detroit snap count article for preseason game 2 that I used for some information regarding player participation in Friday's game against the Giants.

Offense

Quarterbacks (2)
I made changes to this group. Rudock has played close enough to Matt Cassel at worst and much better at times in the preseason games (especially the 2nd one). Since he will be much cheaper than the veteran I say he is the one that stays to be the backup QB.
  • Matthew Stafford
  • Jake Rudock 
Running Backs (5)
Based on some observations from the preseason games, it seems like my prediction of the end of Abdullah and Riddick's time here in Detroit was premature. Both of these running backs have showed enough flashes of their best capabilities to justify giving them another year. Dwayne Washington has yet to play in a preseason game and seem likely to be cut. Nick Bellore has been removed from the RB list as the full back and moved back to the Linebacker group. He has been rarely used as a FB in the two preseason games and due to an Injury in the LB group (that I will cover later) I decided to move him back to his original position to make room for the roster to have the 5 running backs listed (He can still function as a Fullback when needed).
  • Kerryon Johnson 
  • LaGarrette Blount 
  • Zach Zenner
  • Ameer Abdullah 
  • Theo Riddick 
Wide Receivers (4)
No Changes, despite the typically good preseason performance of Jace Billingsley.
  • Marvin Jones
  • Golden Tate
  • Kenny Golladay 
  • T'J' Jones
Tight Ends (3) 
No changes with the tight ends, but if Roberts does not show some progress, one Hakeem Valles could eat his lunch (and take his roster spot).
  • Luke Wilson 
  • Micheal Roberts 
  • Levine Toilolo 
Offensive Line (10)
No changes in the Offensive line group but the backups need to be better than what they have shown.
  • Taylor Decker 
  • Graham Glasgow
  • Frank Ragnow
  • T.J. Lang
  • Rick Wagner 
  • Corey Robinson
  • Joe Dahl
  • Leo Kolamatangi 
  • Kenny Wiggins 
  • Tyrell Crosby 

Defense 

Defensive Line (9)
After my first roster prediction was posted, the Lions finally inked a deal with former Patriots Defensive Lineman Ricky Jean Francois, who I have put in place of Cornelius Washington who has seen his playtime drop in the preseason games. I have also switched Jeremiah Valoaga for Alex Barrett as he has seen much more playing time.
  • A'Shawn Robinson 
  • Da'Shawn Hand
  • Sylvester Williams 
  • Jeremiah Ledbetter
  • Ricky Jean Francois 
  • Ezekiel Ansah 
  • Anthony Zetttel
  • Kerry Hyder 
  • Alex Barrett
Line Backers (7)
The Torn ACL injury in the preseason has claimed another Lion. This time it is Steve Longa who's season has come to and end and I have placed Nick Bellore back in the LB group. Mile Killebrew seems to be making a permanent move to Linebacker as he has been practicing there exclusively lately, hence I have made the corresponding prediction.
  • Jarrad Davis 
  • Devon Kennard
  • Christian Jones 
  • Jalen Reeves-Maybin 
  • Nick Bellore 
  • Johnathan Freeny 
  • Miles Killebrew 
Corner Backs (6)
No changes for the Corner Back group, nor do I expect there will be.
  • Darius Slay
  • Qaundre Diggs
  • Teez Tabor
  • DeShawn Shead
  • Nevin Lawson
  • Jamal Agnew
Safeties  (4)
The Safety group loses Killebrew (who could still play the position if needed) but otherwise this group is unchanged (which is a good thing). 
  • Glover Quinn 
  • Tavon Wilson
  • Tracy Walker 
  • Charles Washington  

Special Teams (3)
Barring Injury, this should be the most unchanged group of all.
  • Sam Martin (P)
  • Matt Prater (K)
  • Don Muhlbach (LS)
Conclusion
I feel better about this roster prediction with at least a couple of preseason games in the books. I will make one more just before the cut date (when the team has to get down to 53 players by) and there have been 2 more preseason games to go on. 

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