The Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up their respective preseason campaigns in Detroit. It was a last chance for many players to make their case for a roster spot. Final cut day is always a tough day with so many players who played well and were close to making an NFL roster and finding themselves on the outside looking in. There were 14 players released on Tuesday’s final cuts from both teams that left an impression on me with their performance in the final preseason game.
We saw 2 players who played for the Michigan Panthers in the UFL this past season on the Detroit Lions this preseason. Kicker Jake Bates made the team after making 6 of his 7 field goals including a 43-yard game-winner against the Chiefs in preseason week 2. Bates also made 3 of his 4 extra points in the preseason. Another Michigan Panther on the Lions this preseason was offensive lineman Jake Burton who was released during final roster cuts. Burton had the 2nd highest pass-blocking grade among offensive linemen on the team from Pro Football Focus over the preseason.
There were 3 additional players who played in the UFL in this contest as well. LB Joel Iyebuniwe had 3 tackles and half a sack for the Lions. Iyebuniwe played for the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL this past season. LB Kyahva Tezino had 4 tackles and DB Kiondre Thomas had 5 tackles for Pittsburgh in this game. Tezino played for the Birmingham Stallions this past UFL season and Thomas with the Houston Roughnecks.
Great Atmosphere and Attendance
It was an amazing feat that the Lions were selling standing-room tickets to a preseason game. 51,976 were in attendance for the game and the fans were into it. There were 2 instances in which crowd noise helped cause a false start on a 4th down situation in which Pittsburgh was going to go for it before the penalty. Both times Pittsburgh punted after the penalty. Two false starts generated by the crowd noise in a preseason game is unbelievable.
Hendon Hooker Earned QB2, Demonstrated Leadership
Hooker handled pressure well and he was pressured a lot. He seemed to grow more confident over the game and utilized his dual-threat capabilities as the game progressed. Once he started running he did a very good job choosing when to do so. He finished the game with 12 completions on 20 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown on an interception from a tipped ball. Not terrible numbers considering there were 4 drops in the game. While some of his throws could have certainly been placed better he showed good potential in a game that he was pressured a lot. On the ground, he rushed 10 times for 93 yards.
Hooker responded well to adversity after the interception. A tipped ball that was thrown slightly ahead of the receiver resulted in an interception. On the sideline, Hooker could be seen walking over to the receiver that tipped the ball and sat next to him, and the two were seen talking and looking friendly with one another. It’s a good sign of the 26-year-old’s maturity and the 23-year-old receiver’s maturity to handle a moment so calmly in a game that can potentially impact the direction of their careers.
Pittsburgh’s Defensive Line Dominate Detroit’s Offensive Line Early
Pittsburgh’s defensive line was very impressive especially early in the game. LB Nick Herbig was particularly impressive as he recorded 2 sacks including one in which he forced a fumble and had an additional pressure in just 6 passing plays. He also had a solo run stop.
DT Larry Ogunjobi got to the backfield to help create pressure on 2 plays despite only playing in 4 passing downs. DT Keaeanu Benton had a sack and only played in 5 passing plays.
Things improved after those players mentioned above were no longer in the contest but pressure was still frequently being generated by Pittsburgh. Julius Welschof had 2 sacks and 2 additional pressures by my count. LB Kyron Johnson had 4 QB hurries.
There were many contributors for the Steelers in generating pressure for Pittsburgh in this contest. Should they play Hendon Hooker again they will need to limit the quarterback’s opportunities to break containment to pick up rushing yards.
Jake Bates’ Tackle
Jake Bates was the tackler on a kickoff which saw him plant the return man on the ground near the sideline. There is something so nice about watching a kicker make a tackle.
Dan Campbell’s Postgame Words Ahead of Final Cuts
Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell spoke with a sense of empathy and respect for his players following the team’s final preseason game. He reflected genuine concern for the players who had given their all knowing that this was their last chance to secure a spot on the team.
“I was proud of the guys. It didn’t start real pretty, but we finished strong. We got ourselves back in that game, the guys really fought hard and to see that group, just the way they’ve adjusted and really doing things the way that we do things around here, and continuing to grow and come away with a W. I was really proud of those guys.” Campbell said following the game. “I told them in the locker room, ‘You wish you could keep everybody, but that’s not the way it works.’ They have mine and this coaching staff’s, (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes’) respect, I mean, for everything they’ve done. Man, I respect the hell out of them and we appreciate it very much – put themselves out there and throw their bodies to the – So, but, inevitably we will keep some guys and then there will be some guys that make our practice squad, and it may not taste good at first if you’re one of them, but we’re looking for the 69 best players we can find, and we’re going to need all of them. And they will play for us, whoever those guys are. So, that is important to us. So, anyway, I’m proud of them and now this is a tough time that’s coming up (the) next 48 hours here.”
8 Players Cut From the Detroit Lions Who Stood Out to Me in the Final Preseason Game
RB Jake Funk
Funk was effective as he rushed 10 times for 40 yards. He also caught 1 of his 2 targets for 4 yards. The incompletion he did not quite adjust to the ball enough on what would have been about a 20-yard gain that would have either been a touchdown or close to it had he caught it.
QB Jake Fromm
Fromm came into the game late and was an efficient passer as he completed 6 of his 8 passes for 89 yards.
WR Maurice Alexander
Alexander led the team in receiving as he caught all 4 of his targets for 60 yards. He forced 2 missed tackles on his final reception for 14 yards late in the game.
WR Jalon Calhoun
Calhoun caught both of his targets for 37 yards which came on back-to-back plays. He picked up 21 yards on a play that saw him break a tackle then on the next play made a good grab on a low throw for 16 yards.
G Jake Burton
There was only 1 play in which pressure came from Burton’s area on the line and it was a play in which it was arguably not attributable to him. He was a bright spot on the line in a game in which pass protection was a strong point for the team as he was on the field for 20 pass protection snaps.
LB Ty Summers
Summers was immensely impactful in the win as he recorded 3 solo tackles and 9 total tackles. He assisted on 3 run stops and finished the game with 1.5 sacks.
LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Iyiebuniwe had 2 total tackles which were a solo run stop and a shared run stop. Additionally, he had half a sack.
CB Rachad Wildgoose
Wildgoose was impressive as he played 11 cover snaps and the only target that came his way he closed quickly to make a tackle and keep the play to 7 yards resulting in Pittsburgh punting the following play.
6 Players Cut From the Pittsburgh Steelers Who Stood Out to Me in the Final Preseason Game
QB/KR John Rhys Plumlee
That’s not a typo. John Rhys Plumlee played quarterback and made returns in special teams in the third preseason game. He completed 3 of his 4 passes for 32 yards coming into the game late and looked pretty good. He also returned 2 punts for 16 yards and 2 kickoffs for 60 yards with the longest being for 38.
WR Dez Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick caught both of his targets for 64 yards including the longest play of the game for his team on a 59-yard play. The 59-yard play had pass interference against him but he made the play and made 2 tacklers miss on the way.
G Joey Fisher
I did not attribute any pressures past Joey Fisher. Per PFF he played 24 snaps, 13 of which were pass-blocking snaps.
T Tykeem Doss
Doss played 18 snaps in the game, 9 of which were in pass protection and I did not attribute any pressures to him.
LB Kyron Johnson
Johnson did a good job finding ways to apply pressure in the pass rush and by my count had 4 QB hurries.
DT Jacob Slade
Slade was very impactful int he game as he 5 total tackles, 1 of which was a solo run stop, 2 of which were shared run stops. He also had 2 pressures and a batted pass.
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