Personal Note
So, let’s take care of some non-football news. You all may have seen my posts and emails saying I was going on Hiatus. I suffered a pulmonary embolism on Wednesday of last week which landed me in the hospital for five days and from which I am lucky to walk away from. I’ll keep this brief, listen to your doctors. If they say to go to the hospital, don’t wait four hours, don’t push through, just go. Your life is worth it, you are worth it. Thank you to all of you who continue to support me in my recovery.
Enough of that though, let’s get back to the Lions!
5 Players to Watch in Preseason Game 2
The Lions take on the Commanders on Saturday at 12pm. Our last preseason game was played largely by depth players, and with mixed results. However it was nice to see the Lions second team defense hold up against the Bengals first team offense, with Hassanein landing a sack in that situation on Joe Burrow. Versus the Commanders the Lions plan to play more starters so our sample size will be bigger. Let’s dig in on who to keep an eye on.
Tyler Conklin
Tyler Conklin has been someone who I have watched with hope, hope that he could overtake Brock Wright at TE2. I would expect the Lions to play Conklin in this game, and that he may even get the start (I don’t expect LaPorta to play as to keep the mileage on his back low). I will be looking for Conklin to simply be a step up from Wright. Make your blocks count, catch the ball when open, stay free of mental mistakes, assert more dominance than Wright has.
Derrick Moore
Word on the street is Derrick Moore has been lining up differently than a normal Defensive End, and it is working. Look for Derrick Moore to perhaps not be playing with his hand in the dirt, but roaming, looking for the open gap to harass the QB, while Hutch and Wonnum/Hassanein take the traditional sides. This could be fun if it works, and give the Lions a rushing attack they have been looking for for years.
Isaac TeSlaa
Isaac TeSlaa has struggled as the Lions have put more on his plate. However, I’m not smashing the panic button yet. He is a young, smart, strong, fast receiver. He is simply having some growing pains. Look for TeSlaa to start to come back to form, especially when he likely plays with Jared Goff. It will be important for Goff and TeSlaa to show the connection is still alive.
Jacob Saylers
Ok, I need to eat some crow here. I may have been wrong on Jacob Saylers. Behind a patchwork line in preseason game one, he ran hard and decisively. Finding the appropriate hole, or making one when it didn’t exist. This is exactly what the Lions need in a true RB3 (sorry Vaki). Now we just need to stack these performances. If Saylers can do so, he may be the next RB3, and answer a question I have had for some time.
Josh Dobbs
The passtronaunt has put down roots in Detroit. While a lot of analysts have noted that Luke Altmyer looked good in his time on the field. A lot of the reasons his drives didn’t go anywhere were drops (*cough* TeSlaa *cough*). Altmyer did have a lot of good, but he also showed standard rookie rust. I expect Dobbs will look much better in this game given how recently he had joined the team last week. Watch to see how he fits and commands the offense, as the QB2 battle rages on.
Football is back my friends, and I am very excited! I hope you are too!
PE is no joke. Glad you are ok!