NAPA, Calif. — The NFL preseason can feel like it drags on for an eternity, but the opener still carries a little extra juice. Even more so for a team like the Lions, who will be making their debut as a Matt Patricia operation Friday night in Oakland.
“I think you guys will have a full understanding of everything we’re going to do for the entire season when we get done with that game on Friday,” Patricia said with a smile, the sarcasm thick. “I think that’s pretty much what my plan is, to just give you guys everything.”
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Even if the Lions keep their game-plan secrets hidden until Week 1, the visit to Oakland will start to reveal Detroit’s plans for its depth chart. The roster also features 18 rookies who will be making their initial NFL appearances, including first-round draft pick Frank Ragnow and highly touted second-round running back Kerryon Johnson.
“I can’t really put words to it,” said Ragnow on his pending debut, following the final day of Lions-Raiders joint workouts. “This was unreal, coming out to friggin’ Napa Valley, practicing against the Oakland Raiders.”
As of last season, NFL teams can carry a 90-man roster through the entire preseason — there used to be a 75-man cut-down date right before the last preseason game, which never made much sense given how few starters play in those finales. Now Detroit has until Sept. 1, two days after the Browns visit to close the exhibition schedule, to finalize its roster.
The picture is already starting to clear at several positions, though. Before kickoff late (laaaaate, if you’re on Eastern time) Friday night, here’s an updated stab at the final 53-man squad:
Quarterbacks (2): Matthew Stafford, Matt Cassel
The Lions coaching staff might feel differently, but from my vantage point it’s hard to say that one of the Cassel-Jake Rudock combo has separated himself thus far. Cassel probably was a bit sharper last week in Allen Park. Tie goes to the experienced veteran.
Take this for whatever it’s worth, though: I think Rudock is better than at least a handful of probable backups around the league, a list that might include Oakland — Connor Cook was good Wednesday, but that Cook-EJ Manuel battle is hardly a barnburner. The best-case scenario for the Lions in the preseason is that both Cassel and Rudock excel, so they can comfortably lock in the former behind Matthew Stafford and try to float the latter for a late-round draft pick.
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Both the backups will see extended run Friday. Patricia wouldn’t reveal any plans for Stafford, or the first-teamers, but it’s safe to assume the Lions franchise quarterback will call it a night by the second quarter, if not earlier. The first clue in the Cassel-Rudock race will be who gets the next snaps.
Running backs (5): LeGarrette Blount, Theo Riddick, Kerryon Johnson, Ameer Abdullah, Nick Bellore (FB)
Dwayne Washington has had a good camp, which … well, that also happened last year and didn’t amount to much. He or Zach Zenner still could jump into this conversation, as both contribute on special teams. Neither, however, is anywhere in the ballpark of the top four running backs from an offensive standpoint, and Bellore is important on special teams plus is developing as a fullback. Is there any wiggle room left?
Except to see Johnson on the field quite a bit during the preseason. Blount, a well-traveled vet, shouldn’t need a lot of reps.
Wide receivers (5): Marvin Jones, Golden Tate, Kenny Golladay, TJ Jones, Teo Redding
Cards on the table, I don’t know what to do with that fifth roster spot. Redding has been the best of the bubble/UDFA guys, at times by a large margin, but the Lions have crafted a talented group. There’s an argument to be made for Redding, Chris Lacy, Jace Billingsley, Brandon Powell and maybe even Bradley Marquez.
While Lacy hasn’t drawn the headlines as Redding has, he has seen increased work with the second-team offense of late. He’s a big, outside receiver (6-foot-2) and he has a good 20 pounds on Redding (listed at 205 and 181, respectively).
The Lions also may find it difficult to turn away another inside option, such as Billingsley or Powell. Golden Tate’s presence — and the likelihood that Riddick/Abdullah get more work from the slot — could send both Billingsley and Powell to the practice squad.
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Tight ends (3): Luke Willson, Michael Roberts, Levine Toilolo
For as shaky as Roberts’ camp has been, between a minor injury and recent drop issues, he’s not in any real danger of losing his roster spot. A strong showing Friday would go a long way toward getting him back on track, though.
Toilolo remains most vulnerable to a push from Hakeem Valles (or Sean McGrath), but Patricia also just last week issued a glowing review of his preparation and professionalism. There is a slim possibility the Lions keep four tight ends so they can hold onto Valles.
Offensive lineman (9): Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, T.J. Lang, Rick Wagner, Tyrell Crosby, Wesley Johnson, Joe Dahl, Kenny Wiggins
Crosby is as much of a lock as the starting five — he’s already taking spot first-team reps on both the left and right sides. Keeping Dahl, Wiggins and Johnson on top of the rookie tackle would cover the Lions wherever problems might arise.
However, this grouping a) leaves out Corey Robinson, who’s a decent swing tackle in his own right, and b) keeps nine linemen when eight might do it. On point B, the Lions possibly breaking camp with eight up front likely hinges on whether or not they trust Dahl, Wiggins or Ragnow to play center if something happens to Glasgow. If they don’t, they have to keep Johnson or Leo Koloamatangi.
Based on what we’ve seen so far, the second O-line unit Friday likely will line up like this (left to right): Crosby, Wiggins, Johnson, Dahl and Robinson.
Defensive lineman (10): Ziggy Ansah, Anthony Zettel, A’Shawn Robinson, Da’Shawn Hand, Ricky Jean Francois, Sylvester Williams, Kerry Hyder, Cornelius Washington, Alex Barrett, Jeremiah Ledbetter
This number feels high, especially if the Lions are going to use 2- and 3-man fronts with Devon Kennard or Barrett or Zettel or whomever as edge rushers. However, this is also arguably the group with the fewest clear answers, especially when it comes to getting to the quarterback — Ansah, if he’s on his game, and Zettel are decent bets, but then what? Enter Washington, whose $3-plus million cap hit puts him in the danger zone, and Barrett.
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As for Ledbetter … The first run through this left with me 52 players, and there were several options for the final slot — Valles, Washington, Rolan Milligan, Freddie Bishop, Billingsley. In the end, I rolled with the position group with the most uncertainty and the highest likelihood to use a heavy rotation.
No one among the first seven — Ansah through Hyder — appears all that vulnerable as the preseason opener arrives. Williams and Jean Francois have been pairing together quite a bit as the first-team tackles.
Linebackers (6): Jarrad Davis, Devon Kennard, Christian Jones, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Steve Longa, Miles Killebrew
I’d love to find a spot for Freddie Bishop, because he’s been that good since joining the roster late last month — and, again, whither the pass rushers on this roster? The numbers just don’t work at the moment.
This projection also leaves out veteran Jonathan Freeny, who spent time in Patricia’s scheme last season. He hasn’t been bad, by any means, but Longa looks like he’s ascended into the No. 2 MLB spot and Reeves-Maybin has the developing all-around game Patricia wants. Freeny could boot Killebrew; they’re very different players.
Killebrew is among the linebackers because as of this week that’s his position. We’ll see if he sticks there. We’ll also see if the Lions moved him there because they like his size and athleticism in the box or if they’re flailing in an effort to find him a role.
Cornerbacks (6): Darius Slay, Nevin Lawson, DeShawn Shead, Teez Tabor, Quandre Diggs, Jamal Agnew
If I had to pick a top UDFA corner in camp, I’d cast a vote for Central Michigan product Antwuan Davis. But I don’t know that any of the upstart DBs have done enough to unseat what’s there, especially with Diggs counted among the cornerbacks. Diggs is still going to work in as a safety, but his coverage skills and dynamic blitzing ability from the slot points toward his old position.
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Tabor talked earlier this week about how impressive the Raiders’ receiver corps is, even beyond the obvious weapons of Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson and Martavis Bryant. Friday will serve as a quality test, so the UDFA corners — Davis, Mike Ford, Chris Jones and Josh Okonye — can make a statement with a highlight or two.
Don’t be surprised to see the Lions pluck another veteran cornerback from elsewhere before September rolls around.
Safeties (4): Glover Quin, Tavon Wilson, Tracy Walker, Charles Washington
Removing both Killebrew and Diggs from the safety group leaves it a little thin. Quin, Wilson and Walker are shoo-ins, yet after that it’s probably going down to the wire. When all is said and done, the Lions might opt to go with four safeties plus the Killebrew/Diggs duo. Positional designations aren’t all that important to Patricia, and the skill sets of Detroit’s cornerbacks and linebackers might make a fifth true safety redundant.
If there is a fifth? Pencil in Rolan Milligan, who’d help back up Wilson, while Washington — more of a free safety — slots in as a deep defender.
Specialists (3): Matt Prater (K), Sam Martin (P), Don Muhlbach (LS)
This is the kicker-punter-long snapper combo that will go into Week 1 (provide they all stay healthy). That said, backup kicker/punter Ryan Santoso —he of the 6-5, 258-pound frame — can absolutely boom it. He’ll put a little pressure on Martin during the preseason, and he very well could land with another club once the Lions are done needing him.
(Photo by: Eric Risberg/AP)
