Toonstruck 1 » Report: LB Marquis Flowers signing

with Detroit Lions Sometimes a roster move is so obvious that you know it’s going to happen before it even does. A good example would be when the New England Patriots released Marquis Flowers this weekend. He’s a name many thought the Detroit Lions would target in free agency http://www.lionscheapstore.com/ricky-wagner-jersey-cheap , but the young linebacker chose to stay in New England. But after he was cut by the Patriots this week, you just knew Matt Patricia was going to go get him, and, indeed, that’s exactly what happened according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter:As you may remember, Flowers was a former sixth-round pick who credits Patricia for his development in the NFL. Check out this quote from Flowers from a great piece in the Providence Journal:After being just a special teams guy with the team that drafted him—the Cincinnati Bengals—Flowers had a somewhat breakout year last year in New England. He played in all 16 games, made two starts http://www.lionscheapstore.com/t.j.-lang-jersey-cheap , and tallied 32 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Those aren’t exactly eye-popping numbers, but this is a Lions team that needs some serious depth at linebacker, and Flowers is a guy that knows exactly what Patricia is looking for in the position. The Lions will obviously have to make a corresponding move to fit Flowers on the roster. If Detroit decides to replace another linebacker on the roster, Trevor Bates is the most likely player to be cut. However, Detroit does have a surplus of players at other positions (coughwidereceivercough) that could be trimmed.Lions-Bucs snap count observations: Jamal Agnew, Ricky Jean Francois earn playing time Here are the snap counts and some observations from the Detroit Lions’ Week 3 preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Offense:QuarterbacksMatthew Stafford: 36 (48%)Matt Cassel: 25 (33%)Jake Rudock: 14 (19%)Running backsAmeer Abdullah: 15 (20%) — 2 special teams snaps (6%)Theo Riddick: 15 (20%)LeGarrette Blount: 15 (20%)Dwayne Washington: 11 (15) — 6 (19%)Kerryon Johnson: 10 (13%)Zach Zenner: 9 (12%) — 10 (31%)FullbacksNick Bellore: 9 (12%) — 9 (28%)Tight endsMichael Roberts: 33 (44%) — 9 (28%)Levine Toilolo: 19 (25%) — 3 (9%)Hakeem Valles: 16 (21%) — 12 (38%)Marcus Lucas: 14 (19%)Luke Willson: 10 (13%) — 2 (6%)Sean McGrath: 0 (0%) — 6 (19%)Wide receiversMarvin Jones Jr.: 33 (44%)Golden Tate: 32 (43%)Brandon Powell: 27 (36%) — 6 (19%)TJ Jones: 26 (35%)Kenny Golladay: 26 (35%)Bradley Marquez: 23 (31%)— 8 (25%)Chris Lacy: 10 (13%) Teo Redding: 10 (13%)Dontez Ford: 8 (11%) — 3 (9%)Brian Brown: 4 (5%) — 4 (12%)Jace Billingsley: DNPOffensive tacklesCorey Robinson: 39 (52%) — 7 (22%)Tyrell Crosby: 39 (52%) — 6 (19%)Taylor Decker: 37 (49%)Rick Wagner: 36 (48%) — 3 (9%)Dan Skipper: 11 (15%) — 1 (3%)Brian Mihalik: 0 (0%) — 4 (12%)Guards/centersLeo Koloamatangi: 42 (56%) — 4 (12%)Wesley Johnson: 38 (51%) — 4 (12%)Graham Glasgow: 36 (48%) — 3 (9%)Frank Ragnow: 36 (48%) — 3 (9%)Joe Dahl: 32 (43%) — 4 (2%)Kenny Wiggins: 29 (39%) — 3 (9%)T.J. Lang: DNPObservations:Brandon Powell was not just a big winner by his performance, but in the playing time that he got. He saw the field even more than some starters Youth Ricky Jean Francois Jersey , and is clearly emerging as one of the coaching staff’s favorite reserve receivers. Look at that logjam on the interior of the offensive line. The Lions rotated Koloamatangi, Wiggins and Dahl at left guard with the starters, but Wesley Johnson got a lot of time in the second half. Interesting to see three of the Lions’ top running backs split 15 carries, but their presumed (eventual starter), Kerryon Johnson, barely played at all. Defense:Defensive endKerry Hyder: 34 (52%) — 2 (6%)Ezekiel Ansah: 28 (43%) — 1 (3%)Anthony Zettel: 23 (35%) — 3 (9%)Da’Shawn Hand: 22 (34%) — 4 (12%)Alex Barrett: 20 (31%) — 6 (19%)Cam Johnson: 16 (25%) — 1 (3%)Jeremiah Valoaga: DNPDefensive tackleRicky Jean Francois: 32 (49%) — 3 (9%)Sylvester Williams: 27 (42%)A’Shawn Robinson: 22 (34%) — 4 (12%)Jeremiah Ledbetter: 5 (8%) — 3 (9%)Toby Johnson: DNPChristian Ringo: DNPJosh Fatu: DNPLinebackersJarrad Davis: 37 (57%) — 5 (16%)Devon Kennard: 31 (48%) — 5 (16%)Christian Jones: 22 (34%) — 4 (12%)Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 20 (31%) — 8 (25%)Trevor Bates: 17 (26%) — 11 (34%)Jonathan Freeny: 14 (22%)Miles Killebrew: 13 (20%) — 9 (28%)Chad Meredith: 7 (11%)Freddie Bishop: 3 (5%) — 12 (38%)Darnell Sankey: 0 (0%) — 11 (34%)CornerbacksDarius Slay: 40 (62%) — 4 (12%)Nevin Lawson: 36 (55%) — 5 (16%)Quandre Diggs: 34 (52%) — 5 (16%)Jamal Agnew: 28 (43%) — 7 (22%)Dexter McDougle: 22 (34%) — 4 (12%)Teez Tabor: 21 (32%) — 10 (31%)Sterling Moore: 17 (26%) — 8 (25%)Chris Jones: 11 (17%) Mike Ford: 0 (0%) — 4 (12%)Josh Okonye: DNPDeShawn Shead: DNPSafetyTavon Wilson: 35 (54%) — 3 (9%)Glover Quin: 34 (52%) — 5 (16%)Rolan Milligan: 22 (34%) — 11 (34%)Tracy Walker: 21 (32%) — 11 (34%)Charles Washington: 1 (2%) — 8 (25%)Marcus Cromartie: 0 (0%) — 11 (34%)Observations:No snaps for Jeremiah Valoaga. Seems like he’s going to have to really impress in the preseason finale to crack this final roster. Cam Johnson’s snap count was low, but his playing time is significant Youth Michael Roberts Jersey , because when Devon Kennard was resting with the first team, Johnson was the one to take his place. Jonathan Freeny got some playing time after not playing last week. Elsewhere at linebacker, interesting to note that Trevor Bates is getting more playing time than Miles Killebrew at this point. The Lions wasted no time in getting new cornerbacks Dexter McDougle and Sterling Moore in the game. McDougle actually saw the field more than Teez Tabor, while Moore wasn’t far behind. Special teamsSam Martin: 11 (34%)Don Muhlbach: 10 (31%)Ryan Santoso: 10 (31%)Matt Prater: 3 (9%)