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2018 Detroit Lions roster: Preseason Week 4 53-man roster prediction The Detroit Lions players have one more chance to impress their coaches and make their best case for a spot on the 53-man roster. Thursday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns could be the difference between employment and retirement for some players.But before we jump into post-game analysis Cheap Austin Bryant Jersey , let’s take a look at where things stand prior to the game. Here’s my 53-man roster prediction based on performances throughout training camp and the first three preseason games. Quarterbacks (2)QB Matthew Stafford QB Matt Cassel QB Jake RudockChanges: NoneIt was nice to see Rudock go out there last week against the Buccaneers and lead a game-winning drive, but I already know who Rudock is, and he doesn’t belong on an NFL roster. Even though Matt Patricia talked up his outstanding studying behavior this week, the Lions need someone who can play. Cassel isn’t necessarily the answer, but if there are only two options, he’s the one. Running backs (5)RB Kerryon JohnsonRB Ameer AbdullahRB LeGarrette BlountRB Theo RiddickFB Nick BelloreRB Zach ZennerRB Dwayne WashingtonChanges: NoneNothing has changed my mind about any of these guys. This is the most clear-cut position on the team. Expect to see a lot of Zach Zenner and Dwayne Washington Thursday night, as the other five backs will not only make the team, but could all be active on gamedays. Wide receivers (4)WR Marvin Jones Jr.WR Golden TateWR Kenny GolladayWR TJ JonesWR Teo ReddingWR Jace BillingsleyWR Brian BrownWR Chris LacyWR Brandon PowellWR Dontez FordWR Bradley MarquezChanges: NoneBrandon Powell has made a hell of a case to be the team’s fifth receiver, but I’m just not buying it. He’s too limited as a slot receiver only, making him far less valuable than TJ Jones, who could essentially fill in if any of the top three receivers go down. Powell’s return ability is a nice bonus Austin Bryant Jersey Womens , but the Lions are all set there, too. Ultimately, there’s just no space for Powell on this roster, despite his obvious talent. Cross your fingers and hope that he makes it to the practice squad. If not, the Lions don’t really lose out on anything in 2018.Tight ends (4)TE Michael RobertsTE Luke WillsonTE Levine ToiloloTE Hakeem VallesTE Marcus LucasTE Sean McGrathChanges: Valles in.I almost did it last time, but there’s no denying Hakeem Valles. Normally, I would downplay preseason performances from third or fourth-string players, but Valles was getting time with the first-team offense last week, and he remained productive. That’s all I needed to see to know this guy is not only making the team, but could be getting some targets once the regular season starts.I’m tempted to give Michael Roberts the boot here, but the Lions just don’t have enough talent at the tight end position to be kicking last year’s fourth-round pick to the curb. Offensive line (9)OT Taylor DeckerOT Rick WagnerOT Corey RobinsonOT Tyrell CrosbyOG T.J. LangG/C Graham GlasgowOG Frank RagnowG/C Leo KoloamatangiG Kenny WigginsOG Joe DahlOT Brian MihalikOT Jamar McGlosterOT Dan SkipperOL John MontelusC Wesley JohnsonChanges: Dahl out.Last prediction I kept 10 offensive linemen Austin Bryant Detroit Lions Jersey , but if this preseason has proven anything, it’s that the Lions’ offensive line depth just doesn’t have enough talent to justify that many roster spots. Joe Dahl is the odd man out after a very up-and-down preseason, while Kenny Wiggins hasn’t exactly been good, but he has significant starting experience.The question here is who will be the Lions’ backup center. Frank Ragnow obviously has positional versatility there, but so does Wesley Johnson and Leo Koloamatangi. Johnson seems to have been the first guy in throughout camp, but he’s play has been uninspiring, at best. Koloamatangi, too, has been inconsistent, but give me the guy with a higher upside. Defensive line (8)DE Ezekiel AnsahDE Anthony ZettelDE Kerry HyderDE/DT Da’Shawn HandDT A’Shawn RobinsonDT Ricky Jean FrancoisDT Sylvester WilliamsDT Jeremiah LedbetterDE Alex BarrettDE Jeremiah ValoagaDE Cam JohnsonDT Josh FatuDT Christian RingoChanges: Valoaga out, Barrett outIt’s pretty clear the Lions aren’t exactly happy with this set of players Austin Bryant Jersey 2019 , as evidenced by Robert Ayers’ brief cameo with the team this week. I’m not exactly thrilled with this bunch either, so much like the offensive line, I’m just straight removing some of the depth here. In this case, two players. While that may seem drastic, I may be cutting Alex Barrett, but I’m essentially replacing him with a linebacker who plays the same SAM/left defensive end position as him. Valoaga misses the cut simply because the guy didn’t even play a defensive snap last week. He’s clearly behind the eight ball right now.Linebackers (8)LB Devon KennardLB Jarrad DavisLB Jalen Reeves-MaybinLB Christian JonesLB Jonathan FreenyLB Eli Harold LB Miles KillebrewLB Trevor BatesLB Freddie BishopLB Chad MeredithLB Darnell SankeyLB Steve Longa (IR)Changes: Longa out (IR), Harold in, Killebrew in, Bates inAdding two more linebackers seems drastic, but eight overall linebackers is really not all that much for a team that is going to show a lot of 3-4 looks. And it makes logical sense when you think about who the additions are. Eli Harold is essentially taking Alex Barrett’s spot. Miles Killebrew is simply adding some coverage skills to the group, and Trevor Bates is replacing Longa’s special teams ability. I chose Bates simply because he is regularly getting more preseason playing time both on defense (58 snaps) and special teams (31 snaps) than guys like Freddie Bishop (49 Austin Bryant Jersey Mens , 26) and Chad Meredith (only one game played). It doesn’t hurt that he was formerly with the Patriots, too. Defensive backs (10)CB Darius SlayCB Nevin LawsonCB Teez TaborCB DeShawn SheadCB Quandre DiggsCB Jamal AgnewS Glover QuinS Tavon WilsonS Charles WashingtonS Tracy WalkerCB Mike FordCB Chris JonesCB Antwuan DavisS Rolan MilliganChanges: NoneThe only thing I considered changing was putting Rolan Milligan over Charles Washington, simply because Milligan is getting a lot more playing time in the preseason. However, Milligan’s play has been rough, so I can’t justify that decision. Special Teams (3)K Matt PraterP Sam MartinLS Don MuhlbachP/K Ryan SantosoChanges: NoneI’d write something witty about Don Muhlbach, but that’s Kent’s shtick. It’s the middle of June. Nothing exciting going on. It’s time to play make believe." NFL Open ThreadsSaturday open thread: Which NFL player would you steal and put on the Detroit Lions?New,65commentsIt’s the middle of June. Nothing exciting going on. It’s time to play make believe. EDTMost leagues love the copycat method. Once a team finds success with a certain style of play, other teams follow suit (ie: The Wildcat craze of the mid 2000s in the NFL or the Triangle Offense of the NBA). The same goes for players and coaches. After Sean McVay’s recent success it seemed like anybody associated with him got consideration for a head coach position. The NBA might see a shift in teams’ willingness to rent a player for a year after it led to the Toronto Raptors landing Kawhi Leonard and their first NBA Championship. Could the NFL follow suit? To be honest, most likely not. One player in the NBA can drastically change a team’s future. I’m no math expert (just a math genius) but an NBA roster is 15 guys and usually only about nine play, and the NFL is 53 guys. It’s simple, more players on a team means ONE player will have less of an impact.Buts it’s June 22 Womens Teez Tabor Jersey , there isn’t a ton going on and I want to have fun and play pretend. So let’s grant the Lions one rental player for this upcoming season. Don’t worry about what they gave up to get him (or her?) or if you would agree to these terms. This player literally just falls in Detroit’s laps for next season only to help the Lions get their Toronto Raptors on. Which player are you choosing to help the Lions next year? My answer reaps multiple benefits.He’s going to look ALOT better in Honolulu Blue and Silver. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY SportsKhalil Mack, welcome to the Lions. I’m going with the stud edge defender as the final piece of what I already think will be a really good defense. Not only does he make the Lions much better, but we’ve just weakened a division rival severely (Chicago Bears). Any regression for them on defense means more is expected of Mitchell Trubisky. That’s a scary thought for Bears fans and an absolute dream for any other fan in the NFC North. Unfortunately, I can hear the anti-Matthew Stafford crowd marching to my house as I type this. “l’ll take Pat Mahomes!” Although I don’t agree, it’s fantasy day. All opinions are approved. Although I could see improvements with having several other quarterbacks, I still believe in Stafford and see even more of an upgrade by taking this defense from good to elite. And while we are playing fantasy land, a lesser but still amazing upgrade for the Lions on defense COULD still happen (Hello, Mr. Clowney). But for now, I’m about to get some Mack Avenue shirts made.Your turn. Who are you adding to the squad? Tweets from https://twitter.com/PrideOfDetroit/lists/lions-coverage