clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Notes: Golladay and Jones among top 25 PFF graded receivers

A rising Stafford lifts all boats.

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at Detroit Lions Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

What a difference a good record makes for national recognition. In yesterday’s Notes, we highlighted a new NFL NextGen stat that praised the dime-throwing ability of Matthew Stafford. A big part of that resurgence is the return of longer-developing plays that attack down the field in offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell’s offense:

Something to remember is that if the player throwing the ball deserves credit (and he does), so do the players catching the ball. Just as Stafford is generating positive buzz, so are the Lions’ wide receivers. Also in yesterday’s Notes, we had an article from The Lions Wire about how well Detroit’s pass catchers were avoiding drops. It turns out that the wider football world is taking notice of the guys running the routes:

An article over at Pro Football Focus published on Wednesday showed both Marvin Jones Jr. and Kenny Golladay in the list, noting Marvin’s production from the slot and Golladay’s sure hands. An interesting point to where the two players ranked on the list is that Jones was above Golladay despite Golladay’s target percentage suggesting he is Stafford’s primary weapon in the passing game.

Golladay has some amazing air yards numbers and can level opposing linemen, and Marvin generates a ton of yards whenever he touches the ball, but don’t forget the Lions are on track to get back Danny Amendola and T.J. Hockenson from injury for Monday night. Considering this array of great options to throw to, Bevell’s unit should have a good chance at being the first offense to find success through the air against the Packers defense.

Now let’s move on to the rest of today’s Notes:

  • Depth in the trenches on defense are a concern heading into “Monday Night Football.” Dave Birkett at the Detroit Free Press wrote about defensive line rotations the Lions are working with at practice to deal with injuries. Some folks like Tim Twentyman from the official Lions site had notes similar to the one below from Birkett about why a few of the linemen were kept off the field yesterday:

  • From throwback Thursday, Keegan Michael-Key talking about the head-turning run by Barry Sanders in the last playoff win by the Lions in 1991:

Speaking of Barry Sanders, the legendary Lions star had a thing or two to say about current Lions star Matthew Stafford:

  • The official Lions twitter account double dipped on throwback Thursday and also posted highlights from the last time the team played on “Monday Night Football: at Green Bay:

  • This is very cool:

NEW: Join Pride of Detroit Direct

Jeremy Reisman will drop into your inbox twice a week to provide exclusive, in-depth reporting and insights from Ford Field. Subscribe to go deeper into Lions fandom, and join us on our path to win the Super Bowl.