Scanning the Savanna: Detroit Lions News from Around the Web
By Zac Snyder
Scanning the Savanna searches the web for Detroit Lions news and notes each morning and brings it to your fingertips in one easy location.
How Eric Ebron Projects into a Jimmy Graham Role for the Lions Offense
Zach Kruse — Bleacher Report
"No one will be questioning the Detroit Lions’ selection of North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron at No. 10 overall if he provides Joe Lombardi’s offense with the kind of impact the former New Orleans Saints offensive coach once received from All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham.The two are different players—Graham is 6’7″, while Ebron is just 6’4″, and Graham tested out better athletically at his combine—but Ebron figures to slide into a similar type of role in Detroit’s new offense under Lombardi."
O’HARA: Raiola ready to help, but not surrender his job
Mike O’Hara – DetroitLions.com
"Dominic Raiola can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it isn’t a headlight on an onrushing locomotive that is going to knock him off the track of some goals he still wants to accomplish in the latter stages of a long, distinguished career with the Lions.The NFL draft starts some careers, puts others in jeopardy and signals the eventual changing of the guard of many others.The Lions’ decision to draft Travis Swanson of Arkansas in the third round last week is the sign of the eventual changing of the guard."
Ryan Broyles could be squeezed out of slot by Eric Ebron, Golden Tate, TJ Jones
Kyle Meinke – MLive.com
"The Detroit Lions drafted a tight end, Eric Ebron, with the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft. And top-10 picks typically start right away if they aren’t quarterbacks.So one question many were asking: How does Ebron’s addition affect Brandon Pettigrew, who just signed a four-year deal worth $16 million to stay in Detroit?But that’s the wrong question.The question should be: How does Ebron’s addition affect Ryan Broyles?"
Detroit Lions will have separate defensive end designations in new scheme
Justin Rogers – MLive.com
"The Lions will continue to value defenders with well-rounded skill sets, but new coordinator Teryl Austin intends to bring back the traditional positions. The team added veteran James Ihedigbo via free agency to serve as the strong safety, moving Glover Quin into the free safety role."
For Lions GM, drops a bigger concern than route-running for receivers
Carlos Monarrez — Detroit Free Press
"Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew made a point of mentioning the route-running ability of his new receivers, tight end Eric Ebron and T.J. Jones, during the NFL draft last week.But Mayhew curiously chose to say that route-running wasn’t especially a problem for his receivers last year, even though he seemed to indicate as much."