WEBVTT 00:00:06.700 --> 00:00:10.939 This is The Litterbox, a Detroit Lions podcast 00:00:10.939 --> 00:00:15.160 with your hosts, Chet West and Bill Patterson. 00:00:22.059 --> 00:00:25.719 Litterbox listeners, it's your co -host, Billy 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:29.079 P. from the D with my co -host, Chet West. And 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:33.179 as promised, we are introducing a second Litterbox 00:00:33.179 --> 00:00:35.859 for your listening enjoyment. This one's going 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:39.039 to concern our beloved Honolulu Blue and Silver, 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:42.460 the Detroit Lions. And we're going to start this 00:00:42.460 --> 00:00:46.179 off because this week the Lions were selected 00:00:46.179 --> 00:00:50.039 to play in the Hall of Fame game, a glorified 00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:54.100 scrimmage against your Los Angeles Chargers in 00:00:54.100 --> 00:00:56.820 Canton, Ohio, for the Hall of Fame ceremonies 00:00:56.820 --> 00:01:01.560 for the National Football League. The Lions had 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:05.359 a fantastic season last year. Despite losing 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:08.239 in the divisional round as the one seed to the 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:11.459 Washington Commanders and their upstart quarterback, 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:15.560 Jaden Daniels, the Lions posted a 15 -2 record 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:18.640 on the season, won an ultra -competitive division, 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:22.959 and the grit that they showed from every player, 00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:26.459 despite injuries being so numerous that we didn't 00:01:26.459 --> 00:01:28.700 even know who was out there against Jaden Daniels 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:31.519 in the playoff game. Still would say I was really 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:33.840 proud of this team and I'm very optimistic as 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:37.040 I know my co -host is going into the 2025 season. 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:41.260 Recently, ESPN took their football writers and 00:01:41.260 --> 00:01:44.959 compiled a list of most talented rosters in the 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:48.120 NFL and the Detroit Lions finished third after 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:50.400 only the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles. 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:52.780 Yes, the schedule is going to be brutal this 00:01:52.780 --> 00:01:55.700 year and we'll do that at a different pod. This 00:01:55.700 --> 00:01:59.269 is more. A primer for what we're looking for 00:01:59.269 --> 00:02:04.010 this week as Jim Harbaugh and his Los Angeles 00:02:04.010 --> 00:02:07.689 Chargers play in a basically glorified scrimmage 00:02:07.689 --> 00:02:11.530 at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio. So with 00:02:11.530 --> 00:02:13.629 that, we've got a few topics that we're going 00:02:13.629 --> 00:02:16.050 to go through. I'm going to kind of lead us through 00:02:16.050 --> 00:02:18.569 this. Chet's, of course, going to offer his sound 00:02:18.569 --> 00:02:22.210 opinions. And we also had some topics from listeners 00:02:22.210 --> 00:02:26.090 that they wanted us to address. via the Tigers 00:02:26.090 --> 00:02:28.449 podcast, even though they were Lions questions. 00:02:28.729 --> 00:02:31.729 So we'll also try to do that as well. And we 00:02:31.729 --> 00:02:33.509 look forward to talking to you weekly. We'll 00:02:33.509 --> 00:02:37.310 do a preview and a post show as the Lions embark 00:02:37.310 --> 00:02:41.449 on training camp and the 2025 season. Chet, is 00:02:41.449 --> 00:02:43.509 there anything you'd like to add? No, other than 00:02:43.509 --> 00:02:46.169 the fact that we are thrilled to be doing this, 00:02:46.229 --> 00:02:49.449 another litter box production here. And I'll 00:02:49.449 --> 00:02:52.610 tell you what, I probably talk about the Lions 00:02:52.610 --> 00:02:54.669 back channeling with the buddies and everything 00:02:54.669 --> 00:02:57.789 more than I do the Tigers. And so this will be 00:02:57.789 --> 00:03:01.490 a fascinating experiment and experience from 00:03:01.490 --> 00:03:04.569 our end. And I can't wait to get rolling on this. 00:03:04.689 --> 00:03:07.550 And the fact that we kind of kicked the season 00:03:07.550 --> 00:03:11.310 off here with the Hall of Fame game. adds a little 00:03:11.310 --> 00:03:13.629 more excitement. I'm not going to lie. I'm not 00:03:13.629 --> 00:03:16.830 a huge NFL preseason fan, other than it means 00:03:16.830 --> 00:03:20.189 football starting back up. It's fun to see what 00:03:20.189 --> 00:03:22.250 we got, but the game is so different when you 00:03:22.250 --> 00:03:25.379 get the full regular season that. outside of 00:03:25.379 --> 00:03:27.120 doing a little scouting, that's kind of where 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:30.300 I stand. So if you want any real passion it takes 00:03:30.300 --> 00:03:32.539 from me, check back in a month and a half, okay? 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:34.539 For right now, I'm going to have a little fun 00:03:34.539 --> 00:03:36.560 watching who we got in the draft, watching a 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:38.900 few of these young guys play and kind of putting 00:03:38.900 --> 00:03:41.259 together what I see out there on the field. But 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:44.080 Bill, why don't you get us kicked off with our 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:46.620 first topic? So our first topic, we're going 00:03:46.620 --> 00:03:49.240 to start on the defensive side of the ball. And 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:52.639 one of the biggest issues last year, despite 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:56.189 the 15 -2 record, was just the sheer amount of 00:03:56.189 --> 00:03:58.990 injuries the Lions experienced throughout the 00:03:58.990 --> 00:04:01.969 season, most specifically the defensive line. 00:04:02.210 --> 00:04:05.870 And there were just so many injuries from Aiden 00:04:05.870 --> 00:04:08.969 Hutchinson going down with a broken leg in the 00:04:08.969 --> 00:04:13.169 Cowboys game to Aleem McNeil being lost for the 00:04:13.169 --> 00:04:16.569 season. And the Lions literally looked like a 00:04:16.569 --> 00:04:19.310 mash unit out there at certain times. This year 00:04:19.310 --> 00:04:22.029 has gotten off to a pretty rough start as well 00:04:22.029 --> 00:04:25.279 with... One of the Lions draft picks, a second 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:29.480 round pick five years ago, Levi Onzerike is now 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:33.240 out for the year after tearing his ACL. So, Chet, 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:37.120 what are your thoughts on what can happen going 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:40.300 forward, knowing that Aleem McNeil, who I mentioned, 00:04:40.579 --> 00:04:45.220 and Aiden Hutchinson might not be back? for certainly 00:04:45.220 --> 00:04:47.639 not McNeil for week one. He's scheduled to be 00:04:47.639 --> 00:04:50.459 mid to late season. Hutch, everybody says is 00:04:50.459 --> 00:04:53.519 looking good, but what are your thoughts on what 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:56.860 this D -line needs to do and how much more can 00:04:56.860 --> 00:04:58.819 the Lions sustain from an injury standpoint? 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:03.279 I am optimistic based on some of the youth we 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:05.360 got coming back and from what I'm hearing in 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:08.759 camp. But again, it's camp. It's one week. So 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:11.180 how much are we going to get out of this? Aiden 00:05:11.180 --> 00:05:13.319 Hodginson's apparently looked great. exploding 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:15.439 off the line and doing Aiden Hutchinson things, 00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:17.800 which is awesome. That's exactly what you want 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:19.180 to hear at this point. We're not going to get 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:21.620 much more than that, right? So if people said, 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:23.879 hey, he's taking it light, he's not doing as 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:26.139 much, he's not doing as much work, then I'd probably 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:28.779 temper my expectations for what he'll do when 00:05:28.779 --> 00:05:30.839 the season starts up. I don't think there's anybody 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:33.160 on the team chomping at the bit more to get back 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:35.240 on the field than that guy, though. He had to 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:38.060 basically torture himself watching last season 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:40.579 and all the success the team had and then watching 00:05:40.579 --> 00:05:43.089 them fold up in the playoffs. against the commanders 00:05:43.089 --> 00:05:45.689 and knowing he could have played a big role in 00:05:45.689 --> 00:05:48.149 succeeding and getting them through that. They 00:05:48.149 --> 00:05:50.529 got a couple of young guys, but Marcus Davenport 00:05:50.529 --> 00:05:52.790 is another guy, not a young guy who I want to 00:05:52.790 --> 00:05:55.470 talk about. He apparently has come out saying 00:05:55.470 --> 00:05:58.050 he feels great and he has invested in making 00:05:58.050 --> 00:06:00.470 this a big season. I would like to see that. 00:06:00.550 --> 00:06:02.449 They re -signed the guy. I was kind of shocked 00:06:02.449 --> 00:06:05.170 that they re -signed him instead of Z, but they 00:06:05.170 --> 00:06:08.829 brought him back. And if we can get, and there's 00:06:08.829 --> 00:06:11.290 no question the guy has talent. He's a talented 00:06:11.290 --> 00:06:14.129 edge guy when he's healthy. He's rarely healthy 00:06:14.129 --> 00:06:17.769 these days. Big if. Big if. And I still think, 00:06:17.870 --> 00:06:20.449 which I've heard from so many talking heads, 00:06:21.250 --> 00:06:26.110 Zedaria Smith is dating a hip hop artist in the 00:06:26.110 --> 00:06:29.850 Detroit area and is still residing or at least 00:06:29.850 --> 00:06:32.250 spending most of his time in the Detroit area. 00:06:32.550 --> 00:06:35.149 I still think - We still may be back. It's early. 00:06:35.170 --> 00:06:37.670 We're in the early days of this right now. But 00:06:37.670 --> 00:06:40.610 Matthew Judon, that's been mentioned lately as 00:06:40.610 --> 00:06:44.189 a rumor, as edge help. He's a Michigan guy from 00:06:44.189 --> 00:06:45.709 back in the day, went to Grand Valley State. 00:06:46.490 --> 00:06:49.389 So he's a hometown kid who may come back around. 00:06:50.040 --> 00:06:53.540 Maybe they're using Judon to get Z to sign something. 00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:56.180 I don't know. Maybe we can pump it, but it'd 00:06:56.180 --> 00:06:57.759 be great if we had them both. We won't. They 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:00.660 won't use that much of the resources on that 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:03.259 many edge guys. Although after last season, I'd 00:07:03.259 --> 00:07:05.180 say you can never have too many. They've got 00:07:05.180 --> 00:07:10.819 a young kid by the name of Ahmed Hassanin. Correct. 00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:15.779 From everything I've seen from this guy, he looks 00:07:15.779 --> 00:07:18.129 like he could be the real deal. And I think we're 00:07:18.129 --> 00:07:22.110 going to see him in the Hall of Fame game. He's 00:07:22.110 --> 00:07:24.209 one of the guys, one of, I've got a couple others 00:07:24.209 --> 00:07:26.009 on my list that I'll be watching in the Hall 00:07:26.009 --> 00:07:28.230 of Fame game just to see how they do. Again, 00:07:28.370 --> 00:07:30.490 who knows who we'll be going up against. We don't 00:07:30.490 --> 00:07:32.029 know what we're going to get, you know, as far 00:07:32.029 --> 00:07:35.009 as a real look. But another guy I'm going to 00:07:35.009 --> 00:07:37.790 look at. And I think there's a couple other guys 00:07:37.790 --> 00:07:40.490 on the list like Nate Lynn, who has shown up 00:07:40.490 --> 00:07:45.610 in this first week of offseason. So we'll see. 00:07:45.949 --> 00:07:48.029 We'll see what happens our first week of preseason. 00:07:48.610 --> 00:07:51.389 I'm I'm not think it's going to be Z getting 00:07:51.389 --> 00:07:53.490 signed back on. So you're going to have some 00:07:53.490 --> 00:07:57.170 sort of a rotation between Davenport Z and Hutchinson. 00:07:57.250 --> 00:07:58.750 And then it's probably going to come down to 00:07:58.750 --> 00:08:00.550 attrition from there as to who can stay on the 00:08:00.550 --> 00:08:03.290 field and be healthy. And I'm hoping Aiden is 00:08:03.290 --> 00:08:05.750 the one stalwart and the other two guys volley 00:08:05.750 --> 00:08:07.870 back and forth. That's my hope for this whole. 00:08:08.430 --> 00:08:11.490 D -line edge rush. As far as the interior goes, 00:08:11.850 --> 00:08:14.490 I mean, you're looking at some young guys here. 00:08:14.589 --> 00:08:18.509 Tyleek Williams. Is DJ Reeder going to be effective 00:08:18.509 --> 00:08:21.730 this year? That's my key to the defensive line 00:08:21.730 --> 00:08:24.189 success is not what you've talked about from 00:08:24.189 --> 00:08:27.189 the edge to this point. And no surprise that 00:08:27.189 --> 00:08:30.329 Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell knew exactly what 00:08:30.329 --> 00:08:32.289 they were doing drafting Williams in the first 00:08:32.289 --> 00:08:35.350 round because I think they knew, even though 00:08:35.350 --> 00:08:38.149 they signed him for a pittance. that Onzurike 00:08:38.149 --> 00:08:41.889 probably wouldn't be able to sustain his health 00:08:41.889 --> 00:08:44.149 through a full season, which is a shame because 00:08:44.149 --> 00:08:47.230 when Levi, when he was on the field, he was very 00:08:47.230 --> 00:08:49.269 good, very disruptive. He could play the edge. 00:08:49.330 --> 00:08:52.110 He could play inside. That being said, I think 00:08:52.110 --> 00:08:56.429 Reeder is the key to success for the front four 00:08:56.429 --> 00:08:59.210 on this defensive line. And the early reports 00:08:59.210 --> 00:09:03.149 from camp are outstanding. Outside of Hutch looking 00:09:03.149 --> 00:09:05.909 in the best shape he's ever been in, Reeder, 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:10.340 on multiple drills is beating guys 10 years his 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:14.840 junior to loose balls and blocking drills. And 00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:18.620 so I'm cautiously optimistic on this. I don't 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:21.659 think there can be anywhere near the health issues 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:24.340 that were experienced last year. There's also 00:09:24.340 --> 00:09:27.659 a new defensive coordinator, although he was 00:09:27.659 --> 00:09:31.399 essentially the new coordinator in waiting. Aaron 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:33.919 Glenn, the past coordinator, for those that maybe 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:36.500 haven't been following this as closely as We 00:09:36.500 --> 00:09:39.039 do. Is now the head coach of the New York Jets. 00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:41.120 He was a former player there. I don't terribly 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:42.879 love it because that's typically where head coaches 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:46.340 go to lose their job in three seasons. And I 00:09:46.340 --> 00:09:48.600 thought pretty highly of Aaron Glenn. So I hope 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:50.620 he's the exception, not the rule. That being 00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:53.279 said, we've got Kelvin Shepard. Coming in, I 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:55.759 have heard that the calls are staying the same, 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:58.039 the cadence is staying the same, and the schemes 00:09:58.039 --> 00:09:59.460 are staying the same. I think we're going to 00:09:59.460 --> 00:10:02.120 see a little more blitz. Even though we saw a 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:04.259 lot of blitz, we blitzed out of necessity last 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:06.860 year. Yeah. I think now it's going to be used 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:08.600 a little more strategically, and I think it's 00:10:08.600 --> 00:10:10.960 going to be a little more effective, providing 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:14.600 that everything stays healthy and as expected. 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:17.639 Yeah. So let's move to the linebackers, and we'll 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:19.820 talk a little bit about this. There is a hold. 00:10:20.269 --> 00:10:22.529 And you heard me correct on that. Now to hold 00:10:22.529 --> 00:10:27.049 out Alex Anzalone, who is, let's face it, I mean, 00:10:27.049 --> 00:10:29.950 outside of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes taking 00:10:29.950 --> 00:10:33.470 over this franchise and redirecting it in the 00:10:33.470 --> 00:10:38.590 direction that it's gone, Alex Anzalone and Jared 00:10:38.590 --> 00:10:41.409 Goff would probably be your two poster boys or 00:10:41.409 --> 00:10:44.269 players on the offensive and defensive side. 00:10:44.490 --> 00:10:48.929 He's got flowing blonde locks. of Greek heritage. 00:10:49.309 --> 00:10:51.210 He played at the University of Florida. He runs 00:10:51.210 --> 00:10:53.909 all over the field. And I don't want to bore 00:10:53.909 --> 00:10:56.269 our listeners with metrics, but our defense when 00:10:56.269 --> 00:10:59.950 he was out last year was demonstratively worse. 00:11:00.250 --> 00:11:02.669 It's already been said that it's Jack Campbell's 00:11:02.669 --> 00:11:05.629 defense to run this year. Jack Campbell will 00:11:05.629 --> 00:11:09.049 be the linebacker if there's only one linebacker 00:11:09.049 --> 00:11:11.700 on the field. He will be that linebacker. He 00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:14.919 is the one calling everything for Calvin Shepard. 00:11:14.980 --> 00:11:18.100 And Jack Campbell did blitz quite heavily at 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:21.139 the University of Iowa. If my co -host can see 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:23.139 my t -shirt on. Love you, Hammes family. He's 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:25.179 wearing a University of Iowa t -shirt, folks. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:28.820 And Jack Campbell does have that ability. He's 00:11:28.820 --> 00:11:31.279 also, you know, a rock 'em, sock 'em, old school, 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:34.000 stay -at -home linebacker. I expect to see he 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:38.100 and Derek Barnes being the starters. Anzalone 00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:41.059 decides to do something stupid, which I would 00:11:41.059 --> 00:11:43.600 consider stupid, you know, doing this hold in 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:47.080 when the season starts. Anzalone is our baseball 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:49.440 listeners. No, I'm not a big fan of guys that 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.559 are on the wrong side of 30. And that means you're 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:54.320 30 or above. He is in the last year of his current 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:57.480 deal that he signed just three years ago. Yes, 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:01.080 he probably is underpaid comparatively. It's 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:04.200 not. He is not a priority for the Lions right 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:06.600 now with Jack Campbell entering year three. Derek 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:09.159 Barnes being someone they've been very high on 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:11.519 that can also rush the passer, which is not something 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:14.059 Ancelone can do with great success. He's more 00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:16.320 a stay at home. I almost look at him as like 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:19.200 a fifth or sixth defensive back, like a safety. 00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:21.480 A coverage linebacker. Yeah. That's his strong 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:24.490 point. Strong suit. You have a better, younger, 00:12:24.549 --> 00:12:27.470 faster version in Brian Branch in the secondary 00:12:27.470 --> 00:12:31.090 to do that. But I will say this. I want to ask 00:12:31.090 --> 00:12:33.070 you a question, Bill, real quick on Anzalone 00:12:33.070 --> 00:12:38.009 while we're picking on him here. Prior to, let's 00:12:38.009 --> 00:12:41.710 see, the 2023 season. So let's take last year 00:12:41.710 --> 00:12:44.629 and the previous year into consideration. Prior 00:12:44.629 --> 00:12:48.190 to that. I don't think I've ever done a bigger 00:12:48.190 --> 00:12:52.669 180 on a player. I mean, the 2021 -22 seasons, 00:12:52.789 --> 00:12:55.029 I think their first two seasons for Campbell, 00:12:55.509 --> 00:12:59.889 Anzalone kind of came with him, right? I was 00:12:59.889 --> 00:13:03.850 dying on the inside watching Anzalone play linebacker. 00:13:03.909 --> 00:13:07.370 Why is this guy on the field? I mean, he was 00:13:07.370 --> 00:13:12.309 kind of just a liability at the position at the 00:13:12.309 --> 00:13:16.360 time, and I did not see him. ever becoming who 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:19.480 he became for us in the last two seasons. I think 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:22.779 it was 2023 season. He came out with a vengeance 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:25.600 and showed that he could hit. And then he could 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:28.639 break plays up in the backfield. And he could 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:30.960 get out on the edge and track guys down. And 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.519 I was getting excited. I'm like, who is this 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:34.759 Anzalone guy all of a sudden? Because this isn't 00:13:34.759 --> 00:13:36.820 the guy I've been watching. And then last season, 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:39.639 up till he broke his forearm, he had continued 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:41.899 that. And I started thinking to myself, wow. 00:13:42.730 --> 00:13:45.509 We really caught some lightning in a bottle here 00:13:45.509 --> 00:13:47.490 with this guy. He's either that or he's just 00:13:47.490 --> 00:13:51.610 figured it out, but he did it late in his career. 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:54.879 I mean, he'd been around for a while prior to 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:57.740 those years. I mean, he was with the Saints prior 00:13:57.740 --> 00:14:00.340 to as kind of a special teams guy. Which is where 00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:03.039 Campbell and Glenn knew him from. Exactly. And 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:06.139 I'm with you 100%. I'm just saying he wants to 00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:08.320 get paid now, but nobody really wants to pay 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.940 him because he's too far down the road. So it's 00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:12.899 kind of like, look, man, it's like bad timing. 00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:14.960 I hate to say it. Yeah, he probably deserves 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:17.659 a couple more dollars. But do you want to invest 00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:19.860 in that from a business and making a business 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:23.159 decision? Do you want to invest? No. No, he is 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:25.360 not what I would consider a good business decision. 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:28.360 And I hope that cooler heads prevail. Yeah. If 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:31.399 they want to convert some of his money into signing 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:34.620 bonus, if it doesn't ruin the cap, which it shouldn't, 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:36.460 from what I understand about the salary cap, 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:39.139 I'm fine with that. Like, I just don't want him 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:41.980 extended because how many years are you going 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:45.039 to give him? I mean, I and look, Jack Campbell, 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:48.559 it's a part of the timing thing here, but he's 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:51.539 coming along. And all the reports from camp are 00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:53.799 that he's been doing great and he looks ready 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:56.580 to go this season. He and Barnes have been the 00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:58.899 two starting linebackers. We're still waiting 00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:01.460 for... Campbell really rose up when Anzalone 00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:03.500 went out last year for an extended period of 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:05.399 time. Campbell rose up and kind of grew into 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:08.179 that position, started to mature into that. There's 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:09.940 a lot more upside there. You're going to spend 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:11.519 your money on Campbell before you're going to 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:13.220 spend it on Anzalone here in the next couple 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:15.019 of years to retain him. So we'll see what happens. 00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:16.799 And let's talk about the rest of the defense. 00:15:17.289 --> 00:15:20.230 Yeah. Kirby Joseph got paid, but you still have 00:15:20.230 --> 00:15:23.169 to extend Hutch. You're going to have to extend 00:15:23.169 --> 00:15:26.250 Branch. You're going to want to probably extend 00:15:26.250 --> 00:15:28.669 Terryon Arnold. Well, based on what everybody 00:15:28.669 --> 00:15:31.409 says he's been doing this first week, again, 00:15:31.570 --> 00:15:34.370 we're only a week in. Apparently, Terryon Arnold 00:15:34.370 --> 00:15:37.350 looks like a new man out there, like a completely 00:15:37.350 --> 00:15:39.850 different player. Last season, he was aggressive, 00:15:40.350 --> 00:15:42.450 okay? But he lacked a lot of technique. He got 00:15:42.450 --> 00:15:45.200 a ton of freaking flags. pass interference like 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:48.480 on every play he just mauled receivers this year 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:51.120 apparently he's quicker stronger better to the 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:54.460 ball better in defensive coverage i am i'm going 00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:58.059 to be fascinated to see this evolution of this 00:15:58.059 --> 00:16:00.690 cornerback i think he's going to be our best 00:16:00.690 --> 00:16:03.750 defensive back this year. I share your optimism, 00:16:03.889 --> 00:16:06.350 and I think the Lions might have made one of 00:16:06.350 --> 00:16:09.009 the best free agent signings, if not the best 00:16:09.009 --> 00:16:11.990 free agent signing of the offseason with DJ Reed 00:16:11.990 --> 00:16:15.409 from the Jets. He was cheaper than the outgoing 00:16:15.409 --> 00:16:18.490 veteran Carlton Davis, formerly of the Tampa 00:16:18.490 --> 00:16:21.750 Bay Buccaneers Lions, and now going to the Patriots. 00:16:21.870 --> 00:16:25.809 He was less expensive, and by all metrics, which 00:16:25.809 --> 00:16:27.730 pro football focus, you're going to hear us mention 00:16:27.730 --> 00:16:30.870 that a lot, PFF. is typically where Chet and 00:16:30.870 --> 00:16:33.850 I are going to go. Had him graded a lot higher. 00:16:34.029 --> 00:16:39.509 I mean, we're talking 10, 12 spots higher. I 00:16:39.509 --> 00:16:42.629 think the Lions secondary is going to be vastly 00:16:42.629 --> 00:16:45.570 improved this year. I think we might actually, 00:16:45.610 --> 00:16:49.769 for once in a long, long while, say that our 00:16:49.769 --> 00:16:51.730 defensive backfield is going to be a strength. 00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:54.740 Which would enable... And what will that do for 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:58.000 our D -line and our rush and our, I mean... Guess 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.360 where your blitz is going to come from. Tell 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:02.639 you what. That right there, Chet. So I think 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.099 Kelton Shepard's going to have fun with this 00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:07.500 defense. My only question, Mark, and this is 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:10.039 one for you outside of just general health, you 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:14.309 know, going forward on it. Do we ever see Enos 00:17:14.309 --> 00:17:17.829 Raikstra suit up? He was always hurt at Missouri. 00:17:18.130 --> 00:17:20.809 He was the second round pick after Terryon Arnold, 00:17:20.990 --> 00:17:23.950 not this past draft, but the draft before. Is 00:17:23.950 --> 00:17:27.230 he ever going to be someone that remains healthy 00:17:27.230 --> 00:17:29.869 enough? Because my only frustration with Brad 00:17:29.869 --> 00:17:33.230 Holmes drafting has been that he does take flyers 00:17:33.230 --> 00:17:36.549 on players that were hurt in college. Example 00:17:36.549 --> 00:17:39.289 would be Levi Onzerike. He took him a full round 00:17:39.289 --> 00:17:43.009 before he took Aleem McNeil. McNeil, outside 00:17:43.009 --> 00:17:46.470 of last year tearing his knee, has been a rock 00:17:46.470 --> 00:17:50.309 -steady starter and reliable performer, where 00:17:50.309 --> 00:17:53.390 Onsarike came in with a back injury, had to have 00:17:53.390 --> 00:17:55.789 surgery, and it just never really got right. 00:17:55.890 --> 00:17:57.869 When he was on the field, he was great, but just 00:17:57.869 --> 00:18:00.869 wasn't on the field enough. And football is like 00:18:00.869 --> 00:18:04.589 many sports, but if you can't be available, you're 00:18:04.589 --> 00:18:08.049 really not all that important. With that, that 00:18:08.049 --> 00:18:10.170 kind of covers my defense, unless you had anything 00:18:10.170 --> 00:18:12.970 you wanted to add on. No, we touched on the corner. 00:18:13.009 --> 00:18:14.630 I wanted to talk about the defensive backfield 00:18:14.630 --> 00:18:16.190 because the reports at a camp are that it's a 00:18:16.190 --> 00:18:19.569 strength this year with Reed and and in the coming 00:18:19.569 --> 00:18:21.849 up of Arnold. And you're going to see like our 00:18:21.849 --> 00:18:24.029 third our third guy is probably going to be a 00:18:24.029 --> 00:18:26.670 Meek Robertson, I would assume. Yes. I don't 00:18:26.670 --> 00:18:28.190 think it's going to be a rake straw. I think 00:18:28.190 --> 00:18:30.549 rake straw is going to be down the list a little 00:18:30.549 --> 00:18:34.349 ways. They picked up a couple other vets and 00:18:34.349 --> 00:18:36.430 they drafted Russell. Tyson Russell, I believe, 00:18:36.450 --> 00:18:38.609 was a draft pick later in the rounds there. I 00:18:38.609 --> 00:18:41.349 think that, you know, we've covered the D. I 00:18:41.349 --> 00:18:43.980 think the D is going to be a... strength going 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.880 forward i think kelvin shepherd's going to be 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:48.180 a great defensive coordinator i don't see any 00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:50.319 reason to believe that he won't be i mean i had 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:52.700 my frustrations with glenn at times right i did 00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:56.259 so up until probably last season i had my frustrations 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:59.220 with glenn so we'll see what happens let's flip 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:02.400 it over to the offense bill all right so i think 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:07.000 the key story here is twofold on frank ragnow 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:10.410 the all everything, but certainly all pro center 00:19:10.410 --> 00:19:13.250 for the last, what, eight, nine seasons for the 00:19:13.250 --> 00:19:16.930 Lions, retired his body. You know, he wants to 00:19:16.930 --> 00:19:20.849 enjoy his life with his family and hopefully 00:19:20.849 --> 00:19:23.809 he's invested well, made enough money through 00:19:23.809 --> 00:19:26.269 his career to retire successfully and happily. 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:31.019 is a true Honolulu blue and silver warrior. I 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:33.579 wish him nothing but the best in this. So that's 00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:36.619 a big hole to fill and one that we probably won't 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:39.119 know until training camp and the preseason concludes. 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:42.059 There's been two players that have been trying 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:44.940 to fill that hole. One is a veteran that a lot 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:47.819 of you will be familiar with, Graham Glasgow, 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:50.640 formerly of the University of Michigan. He was 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:53.359 drafted by the Lions, played center his first 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:55.960 year, and then moved to guard. He's much more 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:58.200 comfortable on the right side than he is on the 00:19:58.200 --> 00:20:01.380 left side. When he is a guard, he then was a 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:03.619 free agent with the Broncos and then came back 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:07.500 to the Lions and again was really good, graded 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:10.839 well in PFF, provided he was playing next to 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:14.180 Panay Sewell on the right side. Last season, 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:17.339 the Lions signed an excellent free agent addition, 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:20.980 Kevin Zeitler, who did leave again in free agency 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:24.559 because he was 35, the Lions smartly. My old 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:28.000 axiom, don't sign players to long -term deals 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:30.359 on the wrong side of 30. They didn't. He ended 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:32.960 up going to the Tennessee Titans. And so the 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:35.720 Lions had another hole to fill on that. So the 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:39.240 debate on this is the Lions drafted a player 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:41.759 by the name of Tate Ratledge from the University 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.700 of Georgia in the second round this year. He's 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:47.099 an absolute mauler, an absolute beast, a four 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:50.200 -year starter for a Georgia team that I... won 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:52.640 the most games for any four -year span in the 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:55.160 history, which is illustrious of University of 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:58.779 Georgia football. The question is, do you keep 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:01.299 Ratledge at the left guard spot next to Taylor 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:07.099 Decker and keep Glasgow on the right side? Or 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:09.779 do you move Ratledge to center? Or do you have 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:13.529 Glasgow play center? And we won't know. A lot 00:21:13.529 --> 00:21:16.109 of this because both men have played there this 00:21:16.109 --> 00:21:18.950 past week. I don't expect to see either of them 00:21:18.950 --> 00:21:21.369 for any prolonged period of time. As a matter 00:21:21.369 --> 00:21:22.789 of fact, I don't know that Glasgow will even 00:21:22.789 --> 00:21:25.029 play in the Hall of Fame game. Ratledge might, 00:21:25.190 --> 00:21:27.710 but I still would be somewhat surprised at that 00:21:27.710 --> 00:21:30.289 if it's more than, I don't know, a series. So, 00:21:30.289 --> 00:21:32.549 you know, there's going to be some reshuffling 00:21:32.549 --> 00:21:35.920 there. The constants that we know of. is that 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:38.480 the bookends, our tackle spots are occupied. 00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:41.779 As I mentioned, Taylor Decker on the left, Panay 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:44.019 Sewell, who might be the best tackle in the game 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:46.619 on the right. So I think there's reason for optimism 00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:50.180 on that. And then there's a fairly deep bench 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:53.779 of draft picks that Brad Holmes and company have 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:57.849 done to fortify the offensive line. I overall 00:21:57.849 --> 00:22:00.369 feel good about it. Not as good as I would if 00:22:00.369 --> 00:22:03.529 Frank Ragnar were still here and if Zeitler had 00:22:03.529 --> 00:22:05.990 resigned for one year with us. What are your 00:22:05.990 --> 00:22:07.789 thoughts on the offensive line and what would 00:22:07.789 --> 00:22:11.130 you like to see, you know, week one when the 00:22:11.130 --> 00:22:13.829 Lions travel to Lambeau Field to play the Packers? 00:22:14.029 --> 00:22:16.569 Well, first and foremost, I'd love to see no 00:22:16.569 --> 00:22:19.150 change in the effectiveness of our O -line because 00:22:19.150 --> 00:22:21.390 it was our strength of our offense for the past 00:22:21.390 --> 00:22:23.910 couple of years now. I mean, we do everything 00:22:23.910 --> 00:22:26.390 we're able to do because that line is so good. 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:31.519 Now, I do worry. I do worry with Graham Glasgow 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:34.599 at center. We saw him play center a few times 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:39.819 last season, and the result was mixed at best. 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:44.640 At times, very frustrating. I think, I think 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:47.500 that job will be Tate Ratlidge's eventually. 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:52.390 I think we will see Glasgow start there. I think 00:22:52.390 --> 00:22:56.329 we will see him get the first reps, if you will. 00:22:56.849 --> 00:22:59.769 And then I think it's going to be Tate Ratlidge's 00:22:59.769 --> 00:23:03.150 job eventually. I just don't see a situation 00:23:03.150 --> 00:23:08.170 where Ratlidge doesn't win that job. He's too 00:23:08.170 --> 00:23:10.710 skilled. And I'll be watching. This is something 00:23:10.710 --> 00:23:12.990 we want to watch in the Hall of Fame game. The 00:23:12.990 --> 00:23:16.109 Hall of Fame game, presumably, we will get to 00:23:16.109 --> 00:23:18.670 see quite a bit of Ratlidge in that game. Presumably. 00:23:19.589 --> 00:23:23.539 Or we should. I would think. And I'm excited 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:26.519 to see what he can do. He's somebody that people 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:29.099 have been pumping up pretty good, looked good 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:32.140 in practice. I finally ended his holdout and 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:35.799 got his money. For a second rounder, I think 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:38.859 he could end up being somewhat of a steal in 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:42.799 this draft. Outside of that, the O -line, you 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:45.619 know, I know what I'm getting from Sewell. I 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:47.640 know what I'm getting from the rest of the gang 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:51.519 there. I'll be curious to see who steps up, who 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:58.460 fills the gap. I don't know what the loss of 00:23:58.460 --> 00:24:01.539 Ragnow is going to be right now. I don't know 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:03.279 how big it's going to be. He was injured quite 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:06.140 a bit last season. And like I said, I didn't 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:07.980 like what I saw with Glasgow filling in at center 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:10.519 for him. Yeah, I mean. Frank Ragnow played, not 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:12.920 last season, but the season before with a broken 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:15.380 throat. Yeah. Which I didn't even know. Yeah, 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:17.559 I didn't even know your throat could break. Yeah. 00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:19.799 And Zeitler was great. Like, I would love to 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:21.420 have had Zeitler back this year because it would 00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:23.880 have answered a lot of questions for us. But 00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:26.140 he was too good and he was going to get paid 00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:29.319 somewhere. And the Titans did the dumb thing. 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:32.220 They gave him an extra year on that. So let's 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:34.380 talk a little bit about other options. We've 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:37.839 got the most beloved player. possibly that doesn't 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:40.019 actually play a lot for the Lions, Dan Skipper, 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:42.980 now eligible. Dan Skipper. Re -signed. Re -signed 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:44.700 Dan Skipper. He's re -signed, so you've got that 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:47.539 as a tackle option. Feel confident, folks. Dan 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:49.319 will be back. No, no, no. I mean, that's only 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:51.220 when they bring him in as an extra blocker and 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:55.039 eligible, but he's awesome. Extra points. Two 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:56.680 -point conversions. A couple guys I do want to 00:24:56.680 --> 00:25:01.019 bring up are Mahogany. who started last year. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:03.660 He was from Boston College. He's a guard and 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:06.380 could man that left guard spot. I could see him 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:09.420 getting some, taking that next step this year. 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:12.319 Yeah. The only thing you said that I don't care 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:15.740 for is that Glasgow gets reps, let's just say 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:18.039 in the Green Bay game at center, and then Ratledge 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:20.500 moves in. I would just rip the Band -Aid off 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:22.440 and just have Ratledge there the whole season 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.759 is my preference. I just don't know if he's going 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:25.480 to pick it up quick enough. I mean, that's really 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:27.359 what it comes down to, right? He's got to pick 00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:30.380 it up. I'm saying eventually he will. I think 00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:32.339 we're going to see Glasgow there for the first 00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:34.119 couple games of the season. And then Ratledge 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:37.740 eventually will fall in. A pick that I am very 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:41.839 dubious on is Giovanni Manu, who can play tackle 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:44.779 or guard. He's from the University of British 00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:48.619 Columbia. In stereo, folks. And that was Brad 00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:53.019 Holmes traded up to get him guy. Yes. And again, 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:56.940 I need to see something because a listener did. 00:25:57.319 --> 00:26:00.019 text me a question and i will deal with it before 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:03.000 we get off but it's on the topic of brad holmes 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:05.799 trading up to get something that he really likes 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:08.359 i have never been uh and you're going to hear 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:10.579 this consistently as you listen to this podcast 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:14.440 i have two steadfast beliefs in all sports one 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:17.779 don't trade up trade down more picks are better 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:21.279 because it's it's it's an art it's not a science 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:24.660 and then two don't sign guys above the age of 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:27.420 30 he's an incredible athlete Okay, but he picked 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:31.119 football up in his teens, this guy. So Manu, 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:35.319 he's a project. What I don't understand is drafting 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:37.880 him as high as they kind of did as a project. 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:40.000 I think they, where did they take him? Was he 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:42.519 a fourth round? Yeah, yeah. Something like that. 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:45.079 But they gave up a lot of draft capital. Yeah, 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:48.859 and I don't know why. I guess, you know, offensive 00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:51.539 linemen are just projects when you're drafting. 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:56.059 They're young guys. You rarely see a rookie offensive 00:26:56.059 --> 00:27:00.579 lineman succeed at the highest level. That usually 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:02.960 takes them a couple seasons. Veterans are where 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.619 you want. You want to sign veteran offensive 00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:09.289 linemen. And it's so we'll see. No, I mean. You 00:27:09.289 --> 00:27:11.250 don't want to sign veteran offensive linemen. 00:27:11.349 --> 00:27:13.670 You want veteran offensive linemen. You want 00:27:13.670 --> 00:27:16.630 guys who understand. Homegrown, though, because 00:27:16.630 --> 00:27:19.309 the one position you're going to overpay for. 00:27:19.450 --> 00:27:22.190 Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, that's just how it 00:27:22.190 --> 00:27:24.849 works because the young guys take three, four 00:27:24.849 --> 00:27:27.250 years to become effective as offensive linemen. 00:27:27.250 --> 00:27:29.490 Which is why. How long can you wait? Which is 00:27:29.490 --> 00:27:31.329 why you build it like the Lions are building 00:27:31.329 --> 00:27:33.430 it, taking two or three of them almost every 00:27:33.430 --> 00:27:34.750 draft on both sides of the ball. And then getting 00:27:34.750 --> 00:27:36.970 them this two or three years of kind of where, 00:27:37.029 --> 00:27:41.190 I mean, Manu wasn't even on the perform, he was 00:27:41.190 --> 00:27:43.269 on the unable to perform list or something last 00:27:43.269 --> 00:27:46.329 year. They left him off of the actual roster. 00:27:46.450 --> 00:27:48.910 So he was never going to be coming in. I don't 00:27:48.910 --> 00:27:50.609 know when this guy's going to be ready to go. 00:27:50.910 --> 00:27:52.890 I mean, it sounds like he's still learning how 00:27:52.890 --> 00:27:54.890 to play offensive line. Like he's still, he's 00:27:54.890 --> 00:27:57.869 a credible athlete. He just doesn't have the, 00:27:58.170 --> 00:28:01.430 have it down yet he is a name and number to watch 00:28:01.430 --> 00:28:04.910 he's 59 and he is a number to watch this week 00:28:04.910 --> 00:28:08.009 in the hall of fame yeah thursday so all right 00:28:08.009 --> 00:28:10.829 so let's i've got a couple more topics for us 00:28:10.829 --> 00:28:13.269 one we can gloss over and then the other will 00:28:13.269 --> 00:28:16.849 do a little bit of topic on okay apparently jameson 00:28:16.849 --> 00:28:20.319 williams looks unreal in this training camp he's 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:22.660 been incredible he's gonna want to get paid as 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:25.619 well and this is one that lion fans no matter 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:28.079 how much you love the guy he switched his number 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:30.960 from number nine to number one i love that i 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:35.019 love receivers that are speed guys that can wear 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:37.880 number one and dominate games. Apparently, he 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:40.079 and the new offensive coordinator, John Johnny 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:42.799 Morton, formerly of the Denver Broncos, he was 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:44.859 the passing game coordinator under Sean Payton, 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:47.279 which is outstanding. He has great comfort with 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:52.460 Dan Campbell from Dan's time in New Orleans under 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:55.859 Sean Payton. So there's been a lot said about 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:59.119 this and the fact that Ben Johnson was this secret 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:01.700 weapon for the Lions, this and that. Ben Johnson 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:06.990 never had to deal with any adversity. was fired 00:29:06.990 --> 00:29:09.269 as a New York Jets offensive coordinator. And 00:29:09.269 --> 00:29:13.349 again, as I said earlier in this pod, the Jets 00:29:13.349 --> 00:29:15.650 are where coaches go to get fired typically. 00:29:16.170 --> 00:29:19.609 I think John Morton has been... shown some humility. 00:29:19.849 --> 00:29:22.369 I think he has more tools than he's ever had 00:29:22.369 --> 00:29:24.569 to work with, whether that was last year in Denver 00:29:24.569 --> 00:29:26.750 with a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix or whatever 00:29:26.750 --> 00:29:29.650 he had in New York, but it was lousy. I can guarantee 00:29:29.650 --> 00:29:32.369 you that. The offense is completely loaded. I 00:29:32.369 --> 00:29:34.930 mean, you're starting three receivers or four, 00:29:35.029 --> 00:29:37.490 I should say, are nothing short of amazing. And 00:29:37.490 --> 00:29:39.769 the fact that you've got Amon St. Brown, Amon 00:29:39.769 --> 00:29:42.970 Rock, excuse me, Jamo, and then you've got Tim 00:29:42.970 --> 00:29:45.789 Patrick as a big bodied guy that loves to block. 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:48.519 I love the mantra of the receiving room that, 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:51.099 you know, no rock if you don't block. And then 00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:52.740 you've got Khalif Raymond, who was hurt last 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:54.640 year, but he's great on special teams, and he's 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:56.900 a great either third or fourth slot receiver, 00:29:57.160 --> 00:30:00.779 a speed guy that has really good hands. And then 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:03.140 this is one of the listener questions. What about 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:07.660 Tesla, the Brad Holmes trade? Everybody's going 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:10.319 to pronounce this last guy's name wrong forever. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:14.319 I thought it was Tesla. It's Tislaw. Oh, Tislaw. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:18.700 Or Tislaw. But the Slaw is Slaw. Okay. So we 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:20.819 should just call him Slaw. That should be his 00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:25.319 nickname is Slaw. I got that from Razorback Radio. 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:28.799 So that's straight from Arkansas. Nice. So he 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:31.000 did play at Arkansas is the reference there. 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:33.720 Well, two years. Yeah, two years. His final two 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:36.680 years. That being said, he's a local kid. I think 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:39.279 he was at Grand Valley State before that. Hillsdale. 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:42.920 Hillsdale. Sorry. He's a big guy, high school 00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:45.259 quarterback, option quarterback, super fast, 00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:49.420 big -bodied. I don't see him playing a ton this 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:52.160 year outside of special teams. The receiver room 00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:54.720 is stacked. I think best -case scenario for him 00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:57.440 in his ceiling is to take the Tim Patrick big 00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:00.140 -bodied third receiver when Tim Patrick's time 00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:03.779 as a Lion is up. If that happens this season, 00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:06.539 great. I just think the receiver room, as I already 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:09.500 alluded to, is pretty jam -packed. If Jamo leaves 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:13.400 in free agency, at some point just because receivers 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:16.180 are really expensive. And when we talked about 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:17.799 the defense, there's a lot of guys that need 00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:21.579 to be paid. Branch, Hutchinson, Campbell, Arnold. 00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:24.759 I just don't know if Chamo is going to be part 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:27.079 of the equation, especially if Tesla is somebody 00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:29.559 they believe in. So let me give you a little 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:34.539 on Isaac Tesla, if you don't mind. This guy is 00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:37.559 from, well, he went to Hillsdale, as we said. 00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:40.759 He's from Hudsonville, Michigan. He went to Unity 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:44.079 Christian in Hudsonville, Michigan. He was. He 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:46.779 won a state championship. Yep, he did. As we 00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:50.740 stated with Manu, he was one of these trade -up 00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:54.079 deals for Holmes. So they traded up to get him 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:57.440 in the third round this year with the 60th pick. 00:31:58.059 --> 00:32:01.519 This is a kid that had one offer out of college 00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:04.619 or out of high school, and it was to go to Hinsdale. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:07.299 Which is pretty much a - Excuse me, Hillsdale, 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:10.140 not Hinsdale. Hillsdale. That's a pay -to -play, 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:13.319 walk -on type of thing. Yes, he went to Hillsdale 00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:17.279 College. So he is Division II, okay? That was 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:20.960 his only option. Yeah. He then, after two years 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:23.380 there, goes to Arkansas and plays in the SEC. 00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:27.420 He has some crazy stat. He, like, didn't drop 00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:31.490 any balls. Something nuts like that. Uh, and 00:32:31.490 --> 00:32:34.910 on top of that, he runs a four, four 40 and he's 00:32:34.910 --> 00:32:39.009 six, four to 14 on the weight. So he's not a 00:32:39.009 --> 00:32:43.690 small guy. I, I kind of assumed he was a small 00:32:43.690 --> 00:32:46.170 guy. I'm like, how does a guy that big get through 00:32:46.170 --> 00:32:48.589 high school, everything else and get, you know, 00:32:48.589 --> 00:32:51.329 just get looked over like that with that type 00:32:51.329 --> 00:32:53.509 of ability. I think because he played quarterback 00:32:53.509 --> 00:32:55.950 and was probably the best athlete. Probably was 00:32:55.950 --> 00:32:58.890 one of those deals. And so they used him where 00:32:58.890 --> 00:33:00.730 they needed to to win the state championship 00:33:00.730 --> 00:33:03.829 and probably didn't ever develop him as a late 00:33:03.829 --> 00:33:06.829 bloomer. And he's probably worth a flyer. I just 00:33:06.829 --> 00:33:09.309 wish Brad Holmes didn't feel the need to trade 00:33:09.309 --> 00:33:12.910 picks to get up to trade these guys. Here we 00:33:12.910 --> 00:33:15.049 go again with the trading up thing. So, hey, 00:33:15.190 --> 00:33:18.509 you know what? Maybe he's the next. I don't know. 00:33:19.130 --> 00:33:22.430 Great ride receiver for the Detroit Lions. Here's 00:33:22.430 --> 00:33:25.849 hoping. So speaking of trade -ups, our last listener 00:33:25.849 --> 00:33:29.190 question that they wanted addressed was Hendon 00:33:29.190 --> 00:33:32.769 Hooker, question mark, which Hendon Hooker will 00:33:32.769 --> 00:33:35.250 be either the backup quarterback or the third 00:33:35.250 --> 00:33:38.430 string quarterback. He was a developmental project 00:33:38.430 --> 00:33:40.950 coming out of the University of Tennessee. He 00:33:40.950 --> 00:33:44.609 was hurt very, very severely his senior year 00:33:44.609 --> 00:33:47.750 at Tennessee. Yeah, he had great tape. but he 00:33:47.750 --> 00:33:50.269 had a major injury, so he missed an entire season. 00:33:50.490 --> 00:33:54.069 And if Jared Goff gets hurt, this team's chances 00:33:54.069 --> 00:33:57.569 of winning double -digit games is, I think, rather 00:33:57.569 --> 00:34:00.690 limited despite how talented the roster is. And 00:34:00.690 --> 00:34:03.849 I'm not sure that either Allen or Hooker would 00:34:03.849 --> 00:34:06.490 be all that serviceable. I hope I'm wrong on 00:34:06.490 --> 00:34:09.090 that. We have three rostered quarterbacks right 00:34:09.090 --> 00:34:12.630 now. Yeah, and Goff, Hooker, and Kyle Allen. 00:34:12.989 --> 00:34:15.610 I mean, the backstory on Hooker is that Brad 00:34:15.610 --> 00:34:19.010 Holmes and his dad played together and are really 00:34:19.010 --> 00:34:22.369 close. I almost viewed this as like a favor to 00:34:22.369 --> 00:34:25.650 his pops. That being said, Brad Holmes did trade 00:34:25.650 --> 00:34:29.309 picks to move up to draft Hooker. So I think 00:34:29.309 --> 00:34:31.630 it's a little more than that. Needless to say, 00:34:31.829 --> 00:34:36.809 the clock is ticking on Hendon Hooker. He wasn't 00:34:36.809 --> 00:34:38.429 a first round pick. He was a third round pick. 00:34:38.530 --> 00:34:41.989 And just NFL Players Association 101 for y 'all. 00:34:42.409 --> 00:34:44.949 is that unless you're a first -round pick, you 00:34:44.949 --> 00:34:47.989 get five seasons of team control before you extend. 00:34:48.170 --> 00:34:51.690 Any other round, meaning non -first -round picks, 00:34:51.809 --> 00:34:54.690 you only have four years of team control. So 00:34:54.690 --> 00:34:58.010 we're entering that fourth year, and he has yet 00:34:58.010 --> 00:35:01.190 to see meaningful snaps on the field. My biggest 00:35:01.190 --> 00:35:04.829 talking point on this is that he had the ability 00:35:04.829 --> 00:35:07.969 to come in last year in the playoff game when 00:35:07.969 --> 00:35:10.909 Jared Goff was hurt, and Teddy Bridgewater, who 00:35:10.909 --> 00:35:14.769 had been in You know, the Lions facility, the 00:35:14.769 --> 00:35:17.809 Meyer, you know, Lions Performance Center, Detroit 00:35:17.809 --> 00:35:20.789 Lions Training Center for a hot minute. I know 00:35:20.789 --> 00:35:23.030 Bridgewater had been there before, but he finished 00:35:23.030 --> 00:35:25.849 coaching high school football in Florida and 00:35:25.849 --> 00:35:28.329 came back. And Bridgewater was the one that came 00:35:28.329 --> 00:35:32.250 in to take a couple snaps, not Hooker. And that 00:35:32.250 --> 00:35:36.630 tells me more about where Hooker's career progress 00:35:36.630 --> 00:35:39.489 is than anything else. And so I. Well, you got 00:35:39.489 --> 00:35:42.119 Hooker and you got Kyle Allen. So Kyle Allen 00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:44.800 hasn't started a football game since 2022. I 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:46.980 mean, this is I got the wrong Allen. I thought 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:49.760 it was Braylon Allen. So there you go. So Kyle 00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:51.800 Allen. Yeah, that tells you how much I think 00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:56.420 of this Allen. I don't I don't think that I think 00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:58.980 quarterback is going to be as scary for us this 00:35:58.980 --> 00:36:00.659 year as it has been for the last couple of years. 00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:02.920 If something happens to Jared Goff, what happens? 00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:05.940 It's very scary. I guess in conclusion, I just 00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:07.900 wanted to wrap up a couple other things. There 00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:10.579 was another. Six round pick Miles Frazier from 00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:13.420 Louisiana State University that was supposed 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:16.840 to be a tackle. He got seriously injured and 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:18.760 is going to be out for an extended period of 00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:20.940 time. The other thing I want to talk about was 00:36:20.940 --> 00:36:23.960 and we'll do this post Hall of Fame game is why 00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:27.059 second round picks like our guy Tate Ratledge 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:29.719 took so long to sign. It's something that we. 00:36:30.190 --> 00:36:32.489 I'll just do it now. The Cleveland Browns decided 00:36:32.489 --> 00:36:34.929 to be smarter than everybody else in the league 00:36:34.929 --> 00:36:37.929 and offer guaranteed money, which has never been 00:36:37.929 --> 00:36:39.909 done to second round picks in the history of 00:36:39.909 --> 00:36:42.929 the NFL. After they did it for a linebacker, 00:36:42.929 --> 00:36:45.210 Carson Schlesinger or something like that from 00:36:45.210 --> 00:36:48.170 UCLA, a guy that I don't see being a meaningful 00:36:48.170 --> 00:36:51.250 player for the Browns. Same song, same dance. 00:36:51.389 --> 00:36:54.340 The Houston Texans signed. Their second round 00:36:54.340 --> 00:36:56.579 pick. And so there was a huge impasse between 00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:58.980 most franchises in their second round picks. 00:36:58.980 --> 00:37:00.760 Interesting to see how that stuff snowballs. 00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:03.380 And so it was never really Ratledge and it was 00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:06.719 never really the Lions. The contract that he 00:37:06.719 --> 00:37:09.739 signed apparently was already discussed. The 00:37:09.739 --> 00:37:12.039 Lions just had to offer him more guaranteed money 00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:15.179 than probably they wanted to. That being said, 00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:17.039 the Lions are really bullish on him and he's 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:20.739 bullish on being a Lion and he reeks grit and 00:37:20.739 --> 00:37:25.309 all that Dan Campbell, you know. Oxymorons. So 00:37:25.309 --> 00:37:28.170 that about wraps it up, Lions fans, for our first 00:37:28.170 --> 00:37:31.690 edition of the Litterbox Detroit Lions. Look 00:37:31.690 --> 00:37:34.550 forward to connecting with you all post Hall 00:37:34.550 --> 00:37:37.590 of Fame game. I think we're going to see a bunch 00:37:37.590 --> 00:37:38.929 of guys we're not going to see in the regular 00:37:38.929 --> 00:37:43.190 season. I'm excited to see a couple guys for 00:37:43.190 --> 00:37:44.969 a little bit and then I'm probably not going 00:37:44.969 --> 00:37:47.530 to watch the last half of the game. Probably 00:37:47.530 --> 00:37:49.170 try to fast forward through the advertisements. 00:37:49.489 --> 00:37:51.130 All right. We'll talk to you all soon, Lions 00:37:51.130 --> 00:37:51.389 fans.