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Burning Question: How Will Lions Benefit from EDGE Depth?

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Burning Question: How Will Lions Benefit from EDGE Depth?


With the Detroit Lions at present having an inflow of expertise on the defensive finish place, there are some questions as to how the lineup will shake out on the sphere in 2022. Add in the truth that the Lions are transitioning to a extra attacking four-man entrance, and it offers the crew’s EDGE defenders much more ambiguity. 

Now, buying expertise is a good downside to have. However, on the identical time, somebody is certain to be the odd man out. 

Let’s have a look now at the moment projected pecking order.

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First issues first, this 12 months’s second total decide, Aidan Hutchinson, will clearly see his justifiable share of the snaps early on. As Professional Soccer Focus’ top-graded FBS defender in 2021, the native product is about as well-rounded as they arrive. Not solely can he get to the passer, as demonstrated by the truth that he recorded probably the most pressures amongst Energy-5 gamers final 12 months, however he additionally excels towards the run. 

Moreover, it’s no secret that the Lions struggled mightily in stopping the run in head coach Dan Campbell’s inaugural season in Motown.

“Clearly, he can play on the sting, all proper. He’s sufficiently big to go inside on third down and play as a three-technique,” Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn mentioned, after Hutchinson was drafted. “And, once we’re taking a look at this man, the very first thing I attempt to do with every participant is, ‘Man, the place can I play this participant and the way can we get this greatest out of this participant, and the way can we make this participant profitable?’ And, these are a number of the issues that we considered, man. He’s a troublesome, aggressive, violent kind of man that we’d like. Clearly, we are able to do quite a lot of issues with this participant. So once more, we’re excited to have him.”

Talking of run protection, it’s a specialty of second-round decide Josh Paschal, as effectively. The 270-pound lineman lived within the backfield whereas at Kentucky. His 48 defensive stops on runs since 2020 is probably the most amongst Energy-5 EDGE defenders. 

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Whereas Paschal’s talent set gives versatility, dashing the passer will not be precisely an elite trait he possesses. His 16.3 p.c pass-rush win fee in 2021 was good, however not nice, both. 

Enjoying to a participant’s strengths, it’s simple to think about Paschal suiting up at EDGE on dashing downs and rotating alongside the road in passing conditions.

One of many greatest wildcards of the upcoming season is the hopeful return of Romeo Okwara. After an Achilles’ tear, you by no means know simply how a participant will come again. 

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Additionally essential to notice, Okwara has had a really cold and hot profession. His 61 pressures in 2020 — fifth-most within the NFL that 12 months — earned him a pleasant contract extension. Can he replicate that success coming off an damage, although? That’s not a straightforward query to reply. 

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Evidently, if wholesome, the return of Okwara and his 2020 type could be an enormous enhance for the Lions’ protection. It might be tough to maintain Okwara off the sphere on passing downs, regardless of the injection of younger expertise.

One other participant who earned a brand new contract after a profession 12 months, Charles Harris, confirmed he could be a spot starter when wanted. 

Together with his further enjoying time in 2021, he collected a 17.5 pass-run win fee, adequate for fifteenth greatest within the NFL for EDGEs with at the least 200 snaps dashing the passer.

Possible to return to extra of a depth position, Harris can proceed to be a stable contributor, however not essentially wanted to be the primary man, like he was most of final season. Harris nonetheless may be making an attempt to shed his “bust” label. However, as a reserve, he’s a stable possibility at a place with loads of rotation.

That leaves a few hybrid-type defensive ends preventing for snaps and even a roster spot. Youthful gamers like Julian Okwara, Austin Bryant, and possibly even James Houston, who appears extra in line to play as an off-ball linebacker, may have an uphill battle.

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The athletic and youthful Okwara has undoubtedly proven probably the most upside dashing the passer, and will have a leg-up on the competitors. Nonetheless, he leaves lots to be desired towards the run. Nonetheless, a pass-rush specialist continues to be priceless within the NFL. 

Relying on particular groups contributions and flexibility, it’s very attainable that the Lions should make a tough determination in terms of 53-man cutdowns. Displaying out in coaching camp and the preseason might be extremely essential for remaining roster spots.

On the finish of the day, the Lions function a novel mix of expertise on the sting. Every particular person has his personal strengths and weaknesses. There’ll possible be a heavy rotation relying on the scenario.

In a league that’s predicated upon the energy of 1’s passing recreation, EDGE defenders who can get to the quarterback are paramount. Possibly for the primary time in a very long time, the Lions have a reputable unit on the sting.



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Detroit, MI

Detroit Tigers, Tarik Skubal shutdown Philadelphia lefties in 4-1 victory

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Detroit Tigers, Tarik Skubal shutdown Philadelphia lefties in 4-1 victory


Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez entered Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers with a 1.75 ERA in 15 starts, leading all MLB pitchers.

By the end of Suárez’s 16th start, his ERA jumped to 2.01 (though that was still good enough for first place) because the Tigers scored four runs on five singles in the fifth inning.

The Tigers earned a 4-1 win over the Suárez-led Phillies on Tuesday in the second of three games in the series at Comerica Park. With the victory, the Tigers (37-42) can take the series from the Phillies in Wednesday’s finale.

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JACK BE NIMBLE: Tigers’ Flaherty finds elite version of fastball, slider by scrapping cutter

For the Tigers, left-hander Tarik Skubal — the frontrunner to win the American League Cy Young Award — delivered seven scoreless innings on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts against the National League’s best team to beat the NL’s best pitcher.

He threw 91 pitches.

Skubal, who retired 13 of his final 14 batters, has a 2.32 ERA in 16 starts, which ranks third in MLB. He trails only Suárez (2.01) and Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck (2.18).

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The Tigers scored all four runs in the fifth inning against Suárez, sparked by three singles in a row from Justyn-Henry Malloy, Jake Rogers and Ryan Kreidler at the bottom of the lineup.

Kreidler failed to execute bunts on back-to-back pitches, immediately putting himself in a two-strike hole, but instead of striking out, he put a down-and-away changeup in play. The play was ruled an infield single, but shortstop Trea Turner booted the ground ball from Kreidler to load the bases.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead when Matt Vierling grounded out.

Andy Ibáñez, a right-handed hitter who rakes against left-handed pitchers — with a .375 batting average vs. southpaws — provided some insurance when he attacked Suárez’s down-and-away changeup for a single up the middle, scoring two runs for a 3-0 lead.

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A two-out triple from Riley Greene — his fourth triple this season — extended the Tigers’ lead to 4-0. Greene shot Suárez’s middle-down cutter past first baseman Bryce Harper and into the right-field corner.

Suárez allowed four runs on nine hits with zero walks and four strikeouts across six innings. He thrived on groundball outs in the early innings, but the Tigers found holes in the defense in the fifth to help Skubal win the pitching duel.

Meanwhile, Skubal generated 19 whiffs on 42 swings — a 45.2% whiff rate — with 11 changeups, five fastballs, two sliders and one curveball. His fastball averaged 97.5 mph.

Skubal bounced back from back-to-back below-average road performances in his last two starts, in which he allowed four runs in 6⅓ innings to the Houston Astros and five runs (four earned runs) in four innings to the Atlanta Braves.

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This time, Skubal shut down the Phillies to show himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Finishing what Skubal started

Right-handed reliever Shelby Miller and right-handed reliever Jason Foley completed the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to finish what Skubal started.

Miller retired all three batters in the eighth.

Foley couldn’t keep the shutout intact, as Harper — the first batter in the ninth — blasted an elevated fastball for a solo home run to left field, cutting the Phillies’ deficit to 4-1.

It was Harper’s 20th homer this season.

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But Foley retired the next three batters — Alec Bohm (flyout), Nick Castellanos (groundout) and pinch-hitter Bryson Stott (flyout) — to finish the game in a tidy 2 hours and 4 minutes.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.





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Detroit, MI

City selects first Detroit neighborhoods to house solar fields – WDET 101.9 FM

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City selects first Detroit neighborhoods to house solar fields – WDET 101.9 FM


Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan this week announced the first three communities selected to build solar arrays on vacant land as part of the city’s Solar Neighborhoods project.

The program, part of the city’s plan to reduce neighborhood blight and fight climate change, aims to create 200 acres of solar arrays to generate enough clean energy to power all 127 of the city’s municipal buildings.

Gratiot/Findlay, Van Dyke/Lynch, and State Fair neighborhoods were selected for Phase 1 of the project, which will turn 104 acres of land in the combined areas into solar fields.

Five more neighborhoods are finalists for the expected Phase 2 of the program.

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Neighborhood benefits

Only 21 homes in the area slated for the construction were identified as owner-occupied. Each homeowner accepted at minimum $90,000 and moving assistance to leave the area. Renters in the area will receive the cost of relocating and 18 months of free rent in their new homes.

There are 159 owner-occupied homes in the area adjoining the location of the new fields. Those homeowners will receive $15,000 to $25,000 in energy efficient upgrades to their homes. Upgrade options include:

  • Windows
  • Roof repairs
  • Residential solar panels
  • Energy efficient appliances
  • Air sealing and home insulation
  • Energy efficient hot water heaters and furnaces
  • Smart thermostats
  • Energy efficient lighting
  • Battery backups

The homeowners living in the areas slated for construction who did not want to move were offered the same benefits and agreed to have the fields built around them.

Landlords and vacant landowners will receive fair market value pursuant to Michigan’s condemnation law.



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Detroit, MI

2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic: Here are the events this week at Detroit Golf Club

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2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic: Here are the events this week at Detroit Golf Club


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The Rocket Mortgage Classic is returning to the Detroit Golf Club for its sixth iteration. The tournament, featuring 156 golfers, begins Thursday, but there will be events on Tuesday and Wednesday as well.

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Tuesday: First Tee — Greater Detroit Youth Clinic

When: 3 p.m.

Where: Driving range behind the clubhouse.

TV/Streaming: None.

The buzz: “The First Tee – Greater Detroit Youth Golf Clinic presented by PGA TOUR Superstore will provide elementary and middle school-aged youth with an opportunity to learn fundamental golf skills and tips from PGA TOUR Teaching Professionals,” according to a release from Rocket Companies. “This [Watch & Learn] format will allow participants to observe as the pros hit balls and talk through their shots. No equipment is required.”

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Tuesday: Area 313 Celebrity Scramble

When: 5 p.m.

Where: Detroit Golf Club.

TV/Streaming: None.

The buzz: The Area 313 Celebration Scramble pits six four-player teams against each other in a three-hole exhibition match over Nos. 14-16 at Detroit Golf Club.  In addition to the usual golfing celebrities, such as Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo and Detroit Lions legend Calvin Johnson, the event will feature WWE wrestler “The Miz,” Sam Merrill of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson and former Michigan and NBA star Chris Webber.

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Wednesday: Detroit Community Days and Delta Dental Pro-Am

When: Gates open at 6:45 a.m.

Where: Detroit Golf Club.

TV/Streaming: None.

The buzz: “Returning for the third straight year, Detroit Community Days presented by Jeep® will offer all fans complimentary admission and parking for the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s special events on Tuesday, June 25 and Wednesday, June 26. The brand will showcase its Grand Wagoneer, Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee models on site,” according to a release from Rocket Companies. “On Wednesday, June 26, fans can get up close to the action and watch PGA TOUR professionals playing in a relaxed setting throughout the day during the Delta Dental Pro-Am at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.”

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THE BIG NAMES: 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic field is set; here’s who’ll be at Detroit Golf Club

Thursday – Sunday: Rocket Mortgage Classic

Rickie Fowler is the defending champion, and Willie Mack III earned a berth by winning the weekend’s John Shippen Invitational. The final four spots were decided in a qualifying tournament Monday, with Brandon Berry, Nick Bienz, Angelo Giantsopoulous and Danny Guise making the cut.

When: Gates open at 6:45 a.m.

Where: Detroit Golf Club.

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TV: Thursday & Friday — Golf Channel (3-6 p.m.); Saturday/Sunday — Golf Channel (1-3 p.m.), CBS (3-6 p.m.).

Streaming: ESPN+.

Thursday: First Round play starts on 1st and 10th tees; hospitality food and beverage begins 11 a.m.

Friday: Second Round play starts at 1st and 10th tees; hospitality food and beverage begins 11 a.m.

Saturday: Third Round gates open: 7:15 a.m., play starts on 1st tee; hospitality food and beverage begins 11 a.m.

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Sunday: Final Round gates open: 7:15 a.m., play starts on 1st tee; hospitality food and beverage begins 11 a.m.; trophy presentation on 18th green following the conclusion of play. 



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