Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • B10

10B MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 DETROIT FREE PRESS ment of how and where the Lions have im- proved and regressed on their roster. Quarterback In: Jared Tim Boyle. Out: Matthew Chase Daniel. The skinny: acquired as part of that trade, said he does not consider the Li- ons to be a rebuilding team. think the pieces are there.

I think a big part of he said. certainly is a big part of the plans, in the short-term, at least, and how he performs this fall will go a long way towards determining how the Lions do on the But most NFL people agree that, on paper, the Lions down- graded at the most important position on the this It is up to to prove them wrong this fall. Better or worse: Worse. Running back In: Jamaal Williams. Out: Adrian Peterson (unsigned).

The skinny: The Lions subbed one backup running back for another, signing Williams away from the divisional rival Green Bay Pack- ers to be their No. 2 back. Williams put up huge numbers playing behind Swift, but he is a solid No. 2 who is good in pass pro- tection and adds a physical element to the Peterson may be the bigger name, but he is not the better back, and if Swift takes a step forward this fall, the Lions will be in good shape at running back. Better or worse: Better.

Wide end In: Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman, Josh Hill. Out: Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Jamal Agnew, Danny Amendola (unsigned), Mo- hamed Sanu (unsigned), Jesse James. The skinny: The Lions made their biggest downgrades this spring on and no- where more so than at the receiver position. Golladay and Jones were a respected 1-2 punch, and Golladay is a borderline top-10 re- ceiver in the NFL. Williams and Perriman are depth signings, and neither is a maker on the level of Golladay.

possible the Lions that player in the draft, but even if they do, he will encounter a learning curve as a rookie. Trading Hill for James is a wash at tight end. Better or worse: Worse, Offensive line In: None. Out: Oday Aboushi, Joe Dahl. The skinny: The Lions, rightfully, felt strong about their line heading into free agency and have not made any moves at the position yet.

They still need to add a swing tackle, maybe a young one in case they do not sign Tyrell Crosby to an extension this sum- mer. But they have not any losses to their core, either. Halapoulivaati Vai- tai projects as a starting guard for now, so the Lions could use a depth piece on the interior line, too. Better or worse: Worse, due to the current lack of depth. Defensive line In: Michael Brockers, Charles Harris.

Out: Danny Shelton, Everson (un- signed). The skinny: As part of their new-look de- fense, the Lions had to reshape their defensive line this spring. Brockers played well for the Los Angeles Rams last season and is a better for what new coordinator Aaron Glenn wants to do than the one-dimensional Shelton. Harris has never made good on his draft status, but can be useful as a situational pass rusher. The biggest move of free agency was re-sign- ing Romeo Okwara, their leader with 10 sacks in 2020.

If Trey Flowers returns healthy and with John Penisini at nose tackle, the Lions could be decent up front. Better or worse: Better, slightly. Linebacker In: None. Out: Jarrad Davis, Christian Jones, Reggie Ragland, Miles Killebrew. The skinny: There has to be another move (or two) coming because the Lions are thin at linebacker.

None of Davis, Jones, Ragland or special teams ace Killebrew is a de- fensive loss, and there is an addition-by-sub- traction element at play. But if the Lions lined up to play a game tomorrow, their starting line- backers would be Jamie Collins, Jalen Reeves- Maybin and Julian Okwara? It feels like the Lions are counting on adding the draft to ad- dress this position. Better or worse: Worse, but subject to change. Defensive back In: None. Out: Desmond Trufant, Justin Coleman, Duron Harmon (unsigned), Darryl Roberts (unsigned), Tony McRae (unsigned).

The skinny: See above. The Lions willingly parted ways with two expensive cornerbacks at the start of free agency and have not re- signed any of their depth players. I expect Okudah to be much improved under Glenn and secondary coach Aubrey Pleasant, but that is a speculative play at this point. The Lions did not get in the bidding for safety John Johnson or any of the other top defensive backs in free agency. They reportedly will host Damontae Kazee on a free agent visit, but he is another stopgap, leaving the Lions with much work to do in the draft.

Better or worse: Worse, with no discernible plan to upgrade. Special teams In: Randy Bullock. Out: Matt Prater. The skinny: The Lions let Prater and Ag- new, their longtime return man, walk in free agency, and while it is hard to argue those deci- sions both departures left holes in their wake. The Lions signed Bullock to com- pete for the kicking job, but he does not have strong leg or clutch history.

Return du- ties are completely up for grabs, and the Lions need to replace core special-teamers Killebrew and McRae. Better or worse: Worse. Contact Dave Birkett at Follow him on Twitter Lions Continued from Page 1B COVER STORY The Rams traded Michael Brockers in a sala- ry dump. The Lions acquired him to be more than a one-year rental. Brockers signed a contract extension with the Lions over the weekend after the team ac- quired him in a Wednesday trade at the start of the 2021 league year.

Brockers, 30, declined to cut his $6.5 million base salary in half coming a steady sack season, which prompted the Rams, in need of both cap and cash space, to deal him for a 2023 seventh-round draft pick. say this about Lions coach Dan Campbell said Friday. probably one of the few in this league that can wield the hammer of Thor. So real excited about new contract includes $11 million guaranteed and should tie him to the Lions through at least the 2022 season. He received a $5.925 million signing bonus and minimum base salary this season, a league source told the Free Press, has $4 million of his $7 million base salary guaranteed for 2022 and a $10 million base salary in 2023.

The Lions lowered cap hit from the $7 million charge they inherited to just $3.05 million this fall. Brockers, who has missed just six games in his nine-year NFL career, should be a key con- tributor on the defensive line in 2021, playing alongside Trey Flowers, Romeo Okwara and John Penisini. He had 51 tackles in 15 games last season, when he re-signed with the Rams after a spring deal with the Ravens fell through over injury concerns about his ankle. He played the sec- ond-most snaps of any Rams defensive lineman last season, behind Aaron Donald, and missed his only game in January when he was on the list. Contact Dave Birkett at Follow him on Twitter Lions DL Brockers gets $11M guaranteed in reworked deal Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK Lions coach Dan Campbell said Michael Brockers, left, is one of the few in this league that can wield the hammer of JOE TODAY SPORTS ferent junctures of the season.

of- fense needs Dickinson to feast when he estab- lishes good position in the post. And it needs him to have the vision to pass to open team- mates if the Tigers choose to double him. This should work out well for U-M, though. There just many big men like Dickinson in the SEC. Dickinson will have his hands full on de- fense with Watford, who averages 16.5 points and 12.7 shots per game and can attack the dribble.

Watford averages 5.3 free-throw at- tempts per game, so Dickinson will have to be careful not to get into early foul trouble. A contrast in 3-point defense The Tigers are not particularly adept at de- fending the 3-point line yet have skated by despite allowing tons of 3s. A whopping 43.9% of attempts have been 3s, which ranks No. 327 out of 347 eligible teams in the nation. Opposing teams, though, are hit- ting just 29.6% from 3-point range against LSU.

Expect Michigan to do better. The Wolverines are the top 3-point shooting team that the Tigers have played all season. Michigan is shooting 38.5% from 3-point range, No. 11 in the nation. The Wolverines have as much with Isaiah Liv- ers sidelined by injury, but Mike Smith, Franz Wagner, Eli Brooks and Chaundee Brown have combined to make 129 of 325 (39.7%) 3s, with each player making at least 30.

Michigan emphasizes 3-point defense. Just 32.1% of attempts come from beyond the arc, which ranks No. 31 na- tionally. The Wolverines double team in the post (and need to against LSU) and over-help at the expense of leaving shooters open. So for the most part, the Tigers will have to hit their 3s the dribble or over contesting defenders.

Michigan has reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. The next opponent: A team that can score 80-plus points and give up that many. LSU, the 8-seed in the East region, is one of the more fascinating teams remaining in the tournament. The Tigers have the most according to KenPom.com, while the defense ranks No. 121.

LSU has NBA-caliber talent, thanks to its recruiting over the past few cycles. And there are several players who are a threat to heat up and score 20-plus points in any given game. Still, the Wolverines are the clear favorite. Both KenPom.com and Bart Torvik give them a chance to beat the Tigers. backcourt could present a challenge Those who pay attention to NBA mock drafts know star freshman guard Camer- on Thomas.

The former recruit has been one of the top scorers, averaging 22.8 points. Thomas particularly he shoots 40.5% from the but he is a volume scorer who averages 17 at- tempts per game and has taken 134 more shots than second-leading scorer, Trendon Watford. The 6-foot-4 Thomas, can create his own shot whenever he wants and shoot the drib- ble, but he is most dangerous attacking the rim. He draws 6.6 fouls per 40 minutes (No. 19th in the nation) and shoots 87.8% on 7.6 free-throw attempts per game.

That could be a problem for Michigan, considering its lack of backcourt depth; the Wolverines either Eli Brooks or Mike Smith getting into foul trouble. Brooks seems likely to draw this matchup, but sixth man Chaundee Brown could also see time on Thomas. One key to defending Thomas will be to provide ample help if he beats his defend- er the dribble, as he rarely passes (1.4 assists per game and a 8.7% assist rate) for someone who touches the ball as much as he does. backcourt mate is an adept scorer, too. Senior guard Jaonte Smart is averaging 15.6 points on 46.2% shooting; unlike Thomas, Smart is a much more shooter.

He has made 68 of 164 (41.5%) 3s. Smart rarely gets to the line he has attempted 58 free throws in 27 games so the key for Michigan will be to stay attached to him at the 3-point line. Dickinson vs. Watford This looks like a good matchup for Michi- star center at least on Hunter Dickinson has a size advantage over Watford, who is 6-9 and 240 pounds. Dickin- son has shown all season that he can score against smaller defenders; against Texas Southern, which also lacked height, he shot 6- for-7 from the Dickinson occasionally gets into trouble when smaller teams send help down low.

He had six turnovers against Texas Southern and has struggled with giving the ball away at dif- NCAA tournament second round 2:40 p.m.: CBS Oklahoma vs. Gonzaga 5 p.m.: TBS Abilene Christian vs. UCLA 6 p.m.: TNT Ohio vs. Creighton 7 p.m.: CBS LSU vs. Michigan 7:30 p.m.: TBS Colorado vs.

Florida St. 8:30 p.m.: TNT Maryland vs. Alabama 9:40 p.m.: CBS Southern Cal vs. Kansas Michigan must contain backcourt Meet the teams Free Press sports writer Ryan Ford breaks down the Wolverines and Tigers by the numbers: U-M Location: Ann Arbor. Coach: Juwan Howard.

Tournament record: 54-24, 27 years. Scoring: Team (76.5); Hunter Dickinson 14.3; Franz Wagner 12.7; Mike Smith 9.5. Rebounds: Team (37.5); Dickinson 7.4; Wagner 6.3. Team (15.6/11.2); Mike Smith (5.4/2.1). 3-pointers: Team (38.5%); Wagner 34; Eli Brooks 33; Chaundee Brown 32; Mike Smith 30.

Last 10: 7-3 LSU Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Coach: Will Wade. Tournament record: 27-25, 23 years. Scoring: Team (81.9); Cameron Thomas 22.8; Trendon Watford 16.5; Javonte Smart 15.6; Darius Days 11.8. Rebounds: Team (38.7); Days 8.0; Watford 7.5; Josh LeBlanc 4.5; Shareef 4.4..

Team (12.3/11.6); Smart 3.9/2.7; Watford 3.0/2.7; Thomas 1.5/1.7; Eric Gaines 1.3/1.3. 3-pointers: Team (34.9%); Smart 68; Thomas 65; Days 51. Last 10: 7-3. BROADCAST SCHEDULEOrion Sang Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK.