TWENTYMAN: Lions should look to Hockenson to help solve red-zone issues

 

Nov 12, 2021 at 07:49 AM

Tim Twentyman

Senior Writer

 

The Lions have talked a lot this week about their issues in the red zone through the first eight games of the season, both offensively and defensively.

 

Offensively, Detroit ranks 30th in the NFL with a touchdown percentage of just 50 percent. Only the New York Giants (46.2) and Washington (45.5) have a lower percentage.

 

It's usually tough sledding for offenses in the red zone. The field is compacted, there's less room to operate, and this league has a lot of versatile playmakers on defense.

 

But Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson has to be more of a factor down there for the Lions the second half of the season.

 

Hockenson's 48 receptions are second only to Kansas City's Travis Kelce (54) among tight ends. His 448 yards are sixth most at the position. But Hockenson has just two touchdowns on the season, and none since Week 2.

https://www.detroitlions.com/video/hockenson-on-finding-space-downfield

Hockenson's begun to get the star treatment from opposing defenses, mostly because of his talent, but partly due to the fact that teams aren't as concerned about Detroit's ability to make plays on the outside.

 

When those rare instances come when Hockenson does have a one-on-one opportunity in the red zone, he's got to be a priority read, though he admitted Friday those are few and far between. Still, he's got be more of a factor down there. He's too good not to be.

 

"Each week you go into it and kind of have that mentality and we have some plays that are in for that," Hockenson said Thursday, when asked if he'd like to be a more featured weapon in the red zone. "In the last few weeks we haven't been able to get down there as much probably and use those, and when we are, late in the game, it's one of those things where we're going to run it in.

 

"But yeah, I'm always trying to do what I can each week, especially in the red zone, that's usually a tight end's down. Just trying to do what I can every day, especially down there. I just want to help out as much I can."

 

Quarterback Jared Goff's five touchdown passes in the red zone this season are tied for the second fewest in the NFL.

 

Hockenson has been really good this year in the 20-yard range that encompasses the red zone. He's caught 10 of 16 targets in the 10-to-19-yard range for 150 yards and a score, per Pro Football Focus statistics. It's even better when Hockenson is targeted from the line of scrimmage out to nine yards. He's caught 33-of-39 targets in that range for 253 yards and a score.

 

Hockenson said his focus the second half of the season is making more plays every time his number is called. He included beating double teams as part of that, and having the run-after-the-catch part of his game be more of a weapon.

 

Hockenson said he licks his chops when he sees single coverage these days because it doesn't happen a lot. He said quarterback Goff is good about identifying those opportunities and getting him the ball.

 

Giving Hockenson more chances to make plays in the red zone, whether its scheming better opportunities for him or giving him a chance to beat a double team, could be a good way to help boost the red zone numbers for Detroit's offense.

Jay Greeson: 5-at-10: Weekend winners (Mike Vrabel's great at his job)

 

Mon, November 8, 2021, 11:00 AM·9 min read

 

Nov. 8—Weekend winners

Local NFL teams. Man, nice wins for the Titans and the Falcons, with both coming on the road. While the jury is still out on first-year Falcons boss Arthur Smith, I believe there is enough case evidence to support the claim that Tennessee top dog Mike Vrabel is as good as anyone in a headset this side of Foxboro. Because every pundit from Bristol to the Bay touts Rams leader Sean McVay as an offensive savant. And Vrabel's defense ran circles around McVay's O last night.

 

https://news.yahoo.com/jay-greeson-5-10-weekend-160000867.html

Grading the Bengals' loss to the Jets: Who stood out, who struggled in Week 8

Kelsey Conway

Cincinnati Enquirer

The Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) loss to the New York Jets (2-5) was surprising and disappointing in many aspects.

Several players on the defensive side of the ball didn't tackle well as the Bengals missed 15 tackles and were unable to generate a pass rush like we've seen in previous weeks. On offense, although Cincinnati was able to score 31 points, the unit could have played better in the following areas: Third down (4-of-10), red zone ( 4-of-6), fourth down (0-for-1) and rushing yards (41). 

In order to improve to 3-0 in the AFC North and beat the Cleveland Browns (4-4) on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, the Bengals collectively need to play a much cleaner game. 

Here's a look at who stood out and who didn't in the Week 8 loss to the Jets at MetLife Stadium: 

Top defensive player of the game: D.J. Reader 

The Bengals weren't able to see the full impact D.J. Reader could have in their defense in his first season with the team. Reader suffered a season-ending quad injury in the fifth game of the 2020 season. Not only has Reader shown his importance to Cincinnati's defense, he's playing as good as any defensive tackle in the NFL this season. Per Pro Football Focus, Reader recorded five quarterback hurries, the most of any player on the Bengals' roster, and was given the second-highest defensive grade for the Bengals against the run. Not only is Reader important in the run game, he's evolving as a pass rusher also and it's a big reason Cincinnati's defensive line is playing at a high level. 

Good days for: Jonah Williams, Riley Reiff 

Cincinnati's offensive line problems aren't coming from their tackles this year. Third-year left tackle Jonah Williams and veteran right tackle Riley Reiff were Cincinnati's two highest-graded offensive line players against the Jets, according to Pro Football Focus. To show just how solid Reiff and Williams were, let's take a look at the disparity in the numbers: Reiff earned an 81.2 grade and Williams with a 73.8 grade in pass blocking. The next best offensive lineman, Quinton Spain, earned a 66.0 grade in pass blocking. 

X-Factor: Tyler Boyd

Typically, when Tyler Boyd touches the ball, good things happen for the Bengals. That was certainly the case in New Jersey as Boyd not only made plays catching the ball, he also threw a pass that resulted into a game-changing momentum play for Cincinnati. Boyd recorded five catches for 69 yards and one touchdown. He threw a 46-yard pass to running back Joe Mixon on a trick play. Boyd earned 71.2 grade overall for his performance and was Pro Football Focus' second-highest graded Bengals player on offense. 

The not so good 

A rough day on offense for: Jackson Carman, Trey Hopkins 

The second-round pick, Jackson Carman, and the veteran, Trey Hopkins, have been a liability at times for the Bengals' offensive line. Most of the time when quarterback Joe Burrow is getting pressured, it's coming from up the middle where those two sit. Carman and Hopkins were the two lowest-graded offensive linemen for the Bengals in pass blocking. Burrow was sacked three times in the loss. Hopkins was also particularly bad in the run game as well as he earned a 48. 3 grade for his performance and was the lowest-graded player on the Bengals' roster in the run game. 

A rough day on defense for: Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither 

After Sunday's game, it became evident what teams view as Cincinnati's weak spot on defense is: The linebackers. The Jets attacked the the Bengals at the second level all game. The Bengals gave up 511 yards of total offense to a quarterback who had never started a game before, Mike White, and a rookie running back in Michael Carter. Logan Wilson led the team in missed tackles with three. Akeem Davis-Gaither recorded two of the 15 missed tackles also. Wilson was also given the Bengals' second-lowest grade in run defense, according to Pro Football Focus.