PFF Grades for both teams

[HiFidelity]

@REMRebound

That’s assuming he’s not a major liability if he has to do anything other than rush the qb

I’m suggesting that’s all he’d do.

I understand that this would be a huge tell for the offense and that they would be able to target the spot he vacates.

So he would have to be really good at it.

[MittenSportsFan]

As long as Houston works hard and conforms to the culture Holmes will have a spot for him this year.
Holmes has shown he will give His draft picks at least 3 years. Those 3 years include the Practice Squad.
Houston is very frustrating for a coach.
He is a very good outside edge rusher (especially off the right side), but at 6’1, 245 lbs he isn’t big or long enough to set a firm edge in the modern NFL.
Houston is also very athletic which makes coaches believe that they can convert him to LB and at least Special Teams.
The problem is Houston is horrible in space. It’s like Marcus Davenport trapped in Rodrigo’s body.
The staff will continue to work with him another year.
If he can regain the pass rushing success he had in 2022 he won’t need to be good in space.
He can just be a pass rushing specialist in sub packages where he doesn’t have run edge or coverage responsibility.
In those 10-15 snaps he has to be Special.
I think he has been working so hard to be a SamLB that he hasn’t further developed as a pass rusher. Those moves from 2022 aren’t as effective. I saw him get smushed into the ground by a 3rd string RT on his trademark low edge speed rush.
I root for him.
I hope this “One Trick Pony” grows into a thoroughbred with a complete arsenal of skills and moves.

[Jman]

@MittenSportsFan

@FreebirdPartDeux

Snap counts—some interesting ones:

Snap counts, PFF grades: Lions rookie CB flashes inside-outside versatility - mlive.com

EDGE Isaac Ukwu – 40 (69%)

LB Mitchell Agude – 25 (43%)

EDGE Nate Lynn – 22 (38%)

EDGE James Houston – 22 (38%)

EDGE Mathieu Betts – 7 (12%)

Ukwu & Lynn have passed Agude and Betts in the battle for the last Edge spot.
This will be one of the more interesting battles the rest of camp.

We won’t have Lynn anymore.

I want to see Ukwu, Houston, and Betts get after it the next couple games

[CashRipley]

@JimLiohey

I have to disagree here.
He might make the team.
There are just guys that are more valuable.
Houston is a 1 trick pony and his trick has been figured out.
He is not a complete LB or a 3 down DE.
Guys like him happen all the time. Flash in the pan and they’re gone.

I have to disagree with your disagreement James. I don’t know how we could definitively conclude that James Houston III’s 1 trick has been figured out when he missed the entire season last year with a broken ankle. He makes the team. Pass rushers who can bring lightning off the edge are gold. They need him to develop as a Sam in order to have the flexibilty they want, but when push comes to shove and Matthew Stafford in driving in the final minutes against us, he will be in there to hunt that quarterback. Now if he plays meaningful snaps and goes 6-8 games with no sacks, well maybe you have a point. But for now, he’s played just 1 game since his revelatory rookie year.