WEBVTT 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:11.919 This is The Litterbox, a Detroit Lions podcast 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:15.640 with your hosts, Chet West and Bill Patterson. 00:00:18.760 --> 00:00:23.019 Detroit Lions Litterbox listeners, welcome to 00:00:23.019 --> 00:00:26.280 the newest edition of the Detroit Lions Litterbox. 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:32.039 Billy P and Chet here and We've got a final 53 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:34.600 -man roster, so we have some news to share with 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:36.399 you on that. We're going to go through it by 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:40.159 position group, but there is one notable name. 00:00:40.899 --> 00:00:43.240 Chet, can you share with us who isn't on the 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:46.479 53 -man roster right now? Well, you know, the 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:49.719 guy we were all looking for, Zadaria... Z... 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:53.560 Wow, that is a mouthful. Holy cow. Zadaria Smith. 00:00:53.579 --> 00:00:56.500 I'm sure that's what Cashtal says as well. Oh, 00:00:56.500 --> 00:01:00.960 boy. Yes, Zadaria Smith. the mouthful, as he 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:03.719 will be known from here on out, is not on our 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:06.739 53 bill. I think we all expected it. Maybe he 00:01:06.739 --> 00:01:09.239 still gets there. I mean, what are your thoughts? 00:01:09.260 --> 00:01:11.400 Is this something that they're waiting on and 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:14.060 kind of seeing how game one goes? I've read and 00:01:14.060 --> 00:01:16.420 heard the same things you have that at this point, 00:01:16.420 --> 00:01:19.959 he might only be a third down option. And he 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:24.099 because there were such such a gap between the 00:01:24.099 --> 00:01:26.640 contract that he would have had going into the 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:30.010 season and what the Lions actually Probably think 00:01:30.010 --> 00:01:32.870 in their heads they can get him for it. He probably 00:01:32.870 --> 00:01:35.730 doesn't want to do training camp and all that 00:01:35.730 --> 00:01:39.510 the wrong side of 30 and I'd say let's hold out 00:01:39.510 --> 00:01:42.109 hope but everything from the Lions camp says 00:01:42.109 --> 00:01:44.810 that they believe that Marcus Davenport is gonna 00:01:44.810 --> 00:01:49.209 be a Feasible answer and that Josh Pascal when 00:01:49.209 --> 00:01:51.750 he comes back healthy will also be part of that 00:01:51.750 --> 00:01:54.310 if you have anything to add But I would say at 00:01:54.310 --> 00:01:58.439 this point I have thought if we get to this Thursday 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:03.040 and he is not signed meaning in You know before 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:05.439 Thursday night football. I'd say the likelihood 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:07.819 is not good Well, even if he is he's not gonna 00:02:07.819 --> 00:02:12.319 play in week one. So I have thoughts about This 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:14.939 defensive line and we're gonna go through this 00:02:14.939 --> 00:02:19.139 the the aftermath here of the 53 man selection 00:02:19.139 --> 00:02:22.340 and what we're going into game one with as it 00:02:22.340 --> 00:02:25.680 stands and When we get to the D -line talk, I'll 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.159 give you some thoughts and some things I've been 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:31.699 reading up on. Because I think they have more 00:02:31.699 --> 00:02:35.479 confidence in that unit than you and I may. Where 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:38.020 do you want to start, Bill? I think at the weakest 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:39.919 position or the position that I have the most 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:42.199 questions about, and I know that you do as well, 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:44.300 and that's going to be the offensive line. So 00:02:44.300 --> 00:02:47.479 I'm going to do this by starters, and then I'll 00:02:47.479 --> 00:02:49.759 talk about the backups in each position as well. 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:52.400 So we're going to start at left tackle, the stall 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:55.669 work. From Ohio State, Taylor Decker, he's there. 00:02:55.990 --> 00:02:58.229 He's been a little banged up, but he's supposed 00:02:58.229 --> 00:03:01.069 to be good to go. Playing next to him at left 00:03:01.069 --> 00:03:04.090 guard is going to be Christian Mahogany, Brad 00:03:04.090 --> 00:03:06.069 Holmes draft choice, a guy that they've been 00:03:06.069 --> 00:03:08.930 really high on. He filled in admirably last season. 00:03:09.110 --> 00:03:10.889 Manning the center position and probably our 00:03:10.889 --> 00:03:13.129 biggest question is Graham Glasgow, the Wiley 00:03:13.129 --> 00:03:15.650 veteran from the University of Michigan. And 00:03:15.650 --> 00:03:18.129 then the strength of the offensive line, though 00:03:18.129 --> 00:03:20.870 he's right guard a rookie, a second round pick 00:03:20.870 --> 00:03:23.819 from Georgia, Tate Ratledge. Next to him is the 00:03:23.819 --> 00:03:26.300 stalwart on the offensive line the best player 00:03:26.300 --> 00:03:29.780 I would say on this 53 -man roster and probably 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:31.780 one of the top five or ten players in the league 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:34.240 is Panay Sul Let's go through the backups on 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:37.280 that at left tackle. We've got Giovanni Manu 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.580 and at left guard We've got Myles Frazier, although 00:03:40.580 --> 00:03:42.599 he was a six -round pick from Louisiana State 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:45.860 He's out right now, but he is listed is that 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:50.879 left guard backup for center Kingsley Kuan Yguang 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:55.629 Yguacun Iguacun, thank you. And at right guard, 00:03:55.789 --> 00:04:00.090 we've got Coyote Awasika. And then at right tackle, 00:04:00.210 --> 00:04:03.050 which let's pray this doesn't happen because 00:04:03.050 --> 00:04:05.270 I already stated the importance, Jamarco Jones. 00:04:05.330 --> 00:04:07.810 So I'm really only going to go too deep on that. 00:04:07.889 --> 00:04:11.090 There's some other names like Colby Sorsdale 00:04:11.090 --> 00:04:14.009 is on injured reserve. Justin Herron's on injured 00:04:14.009 --> 00:04:16.490 reserve. Like I said, Miles Frazier's out. Couple 00:04:16.490 --> 00:04:18.750 guys floating around that you may hear a name 00:04:18.750 --> 00:04:20.589 later, but I don't think they're going to play 00:04:20.589 --> 00:04:23.180 a huge role. They're going to dress nine heading 00:04:23.180 --> 00:04:25.500 to Lambeau is what we're seeing and hearing. 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:28.000 What thoughts do you have on the offensive line? 00:04:28.220 --> 00:04:30.360 Well, I mean, I think the obvious question marks 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:32.779 here and it's crazy because Tate Ratledge is 00:04:32.779 --> 00:04:35.019 a rookie, but what he's shown so far as he plays 00:04:35.019 --> 00:04:38.180 well above a rookie is the mahogany Glasgow combo 00:04:38.180 --> 00:04:41.579 there on the left and center. I think I trust 00:04:41.579 --> 00:04:44.939 mahogany from what I have seen Graham Glasgow 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:47.769 in the past. in his game, he's gotten some pretty 00:04:47.769 --> 00:04:50.389 low ratings at center from Pro Football Focus. 00:04:51.250 --> 00:04:55.829 And unless there's some real big improvement 00:04:55.829 --> 00:04:59.790 in his game, that position scares me the most 00:04:59.790 --> 00:05:01.870 this season. Our offense has struggled in the 00:05:01.870 --> 00:05:04.230 past when he has filled that role. That's about 00:05:04.230 --> 00:05:06.870 it. I mean, I'm not going to pour on maybe it'll 00:05:06.870 --> 00:05:10.009 work out great, but we don't really have outside 00:05:10.009 --> 00:05:11.850 of Iguacun. We don't really have a true center 00:05:11.850 --> 00:05:14.769 on the roster. The I think there's two things 00:05:14.769 --> 00:05:19.240 at play here. One, players look really, really 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:21.920 good playing next to Panay Sewell. That's how 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:25.540 good he is. I'll give an example. Jonah Jackson 00:05:25.540 --> 00:05:30.800 was a Pro Bowler playing next to Panay Sewell 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:36.660 in 2023. The Rams signed him to a massive contract 00:05:36.660 --> 00:05:39.829 and benched him five weeks into the season. He 00:05:39.829 --> 00:05:42.230 is now going to be a starting guard for the Chicago 00:05:42.230 --> 00:05:45.029 Bears, and again, is not playing next to Penne 00:05:45.029 --> 00:05:47.149 Sewell, so I don't expect good things coming 00:05:47.149 --> 00:05:51.509 from that. I mean, the offensive line is it is 00:05:51.509 --> 00:05:54.730 a place. It's very much like a lineup in baseball 00:05:54.730 --> 00:05:57.410 where who are you hitting around? Who hits in 00:05:57.410 --> 00:05:59.970 front of you? Who hits behind you? Definitely 00:05:59.970 --> 00:06:03.930 helps your overall performance. So you're right. 00:06:04.230 --> 00:06:07.189 How many of these guys are feeding off of Penne 00:06:07.189 --> 00:06:10.620 Sewell? Taylor Decker. So we'll see. We'll see. 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:14.000 And the secret to the sauce on the O line is 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:16.459 that Hank Freely is the offensive line coach 00:06:16.459 --> 00:06:19.399 and he's now helping more with the offense. He's 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:22.379 like a co -offensive coordinator. And so much 00:06:22.379 --> 00:06:24.680 has been written and talked about what was lost. 00:06:25.420 --> 00:06:28.740 We need to keep in mind that MCDC, Dan Campbell 00:06:28.740 --> 00:06:32.860 and Hank Freely are still there. And if you ask 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:35.699 me, yeah, are we going to miss Benedict Johnson? 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:40.019 Of course we are. Benedict. All things being 00:06:40.019 --> 00:06:43.839 equal, Hank Fraley would have been a bigger loss 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:46.779 in my opinion, because word around NFL circles 00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:50.480 is he is the best offensive line or one of the 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:52.860 two or three best offensive line coaches in the 00:06:52.860 --> 00:06:54.879 game. I think that's probably true. Who do you 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:56.759 want to go to next? What other unit are we looking 00:06:56.759 --> 00:06:58.540 at? You want to do tight ends. Let's do tight 00:06:58.540 --> 00:07:02.139 ends. Sam Laporte at the top and then Brock Wright 00:07:02.139 --> 00:07:05.139 is your blocker or second tight end. After that, 00:07:05.220 --> 00:07:09.399 it's Shane Zylstra. And I have to say that after 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:11.980 Sam Laporta, I don't terribly love this group. 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:14.720 So if he went down for any prolonged period of 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:16.660 time, the tight end's not going to be the weapon 00:07:16.660 --> 00:07:18.579 that it could be. So let's hope that doesn't 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:21.579 happen. But, you know, injuries are so commonplace, 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:23.980 especially in the NFL. Brack writes okay, but 00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:26.480 like we were, we've said this before, he's just, 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:29.579 it's such a step down from Laporta. I'd love 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:32.560 to see him draft somebody. Gosh, I really don't 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:34.399 want to take another tight end in the first round. 00:07:34.889 --> 00:07:37.089 It's just been one of those lions things to do 00:07:37.089 --> 00:07:39.290 in the past, but I'd like to see him get somebody 00:07:39.290 --> 00:07:42.310 that can maybe pull a little more weight as that 00:07:42.310 --> 00:07:45.129 other tight end, run a pattern and catch a ball 00:07:45.129 --> 00:07:48.050 on occasion. Is that the ghost of Eric Ebron 00:07:48.050 --> 00:07:50.949 haunting you? It's the ghost of Eric Ebron, Brandon 00:07:50.949 --> 00:07:53.410 Pettigrew. Pettigrew, okay. Yeah, but Pettigrew 00:07:53.410 --> 00:07:56.490 wasn't as painful because Aaron Donald wasn't 00:07:56.490 --> 00:07:59.449 the next pick. True. That's, it's true. Like, 00:07:59.449 --> 00:08:01.509 what did we miss out on? I'm sure there's somebody 00:08:01.509 --> 00:08:03.769 in that list we can find. Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure. 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:07.100 Yeah, so tight end, a weaker position for us 00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:10.740 for sure. But our starter is going to be a good 00:08:10.740 --> 00:08:12.259 one. I think he's going to have a bounce back 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:14.279 season. He was injured at the start of last season. 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:16.459 I think that threw things into chaos a little 00:08:16.459 --> 00:08:19.939 for him. And early reports or reports from camp 00:08:19.939 --> 00:08:23.240 are that Johnny Morton, the OC loves using the 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:27.160 tight end and to expect a bounce back Pro Bowl 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:29.949 type year provided he's healthy. Yeah, when we 00:08:29.949 --> 00:08:32.289 get done talking about the offense for the 53 00:08:32.289 --> 00:08:34.169 man, we should touch on Johnny Moorings. There's 00:08:34.169 --> 00:08:36.129 been some new news out there, but go on, let's 00:08:36.129 --> 00:08:38.929 get to the next unit here. Well, you talked about 00:08:38.929 --> 00:08:41.830 drafting or tight end. What about, I don't know 00:08:41.830 --> 00:08:44.889 that, I know he's been part of the team for a 00:08:44.889 --> 00:08:48.230 number of years, but could you see Shane Zylstra 00:08:48.230 --> 00:08:50.929 being cut if a better option became available? 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:53.519 That's just something I want to put out there 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:57.480 that I could see in acquisition or a trade happening 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:00.360 more so than a regular. Yeah, he's been a regular 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:03.019 practice squad player until now, and it's just 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:05.440 worth in there. So it's possible something had 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:08.360 happened. Let's go to the receiver room. Your 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:10.259 starters are going to be Amund St. Brown, Jamison 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:13.100 Williams, and Khalif Raymond. Backing them up 00:09:13.100 --> 00:09:17.000 is going to be Isaac, Isaac, excuse me, Coleslaw 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:21.080 Tesla and. The rookie, Dominic Lovett, made the 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:23.720 team. And so we're going to go with five receivers 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:25.559 heading into the season. I'm going to jump beyond 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:28.679 this one. Go. I think Tesla will be the third 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:31.559 receiver. I think Khalif Raymond will be four. 00:09:32.059 --> 00:09:34.360 So in those big four receiver sets, you're going 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:36.179 to see Khalif out there. I think in the three 00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:38.980 receiver sets, you're going to see Tesla. That's 00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:41.200 just my prediction for this. I think they have 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:45.059 that much confidence in him. Week one at Lambeau. 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:47.750 Wow. All right. We'll see. I think you're going 00:09:47.750 --> 00:09:49.789 to see a lot more in than you think. Running 00:09:49.789 --> 00:09:52.730 back room, which is, I would say the strongest 00:09:52.730 --> 00:09:56.230 position on this offense. Oh yeah. The two headed 00:09:56.230 --> 00:10:00.149 monster of Sonic and Knuckles, Jameer Gibbs and 00:10:00.149 --> 00:10:02.470 David Montgomery. Backing them up is going to 00:10:02.470 --> 00:10:04.950 be Craig Reynolds. We have to do it from the 00:10:04.950 --> 00:10:08.909 movie Friday. Come on, Craig. And Sione Vahki 00:10:08.909 --> 00:10:11.929 is going to be the fourth. Running back the key 00:10:11.929 --> 00:10:14.330 thing about Reynolds and Vahki is they both contribute 00:10:14.330 --> 00:10:17.889 a lot on special teams giving them value because 00:10:17.889 --> 00:10:19.909 Gibbs and Montgomery don't contribute nor should 00:10:19.909 --> 00:10:22.570 they be expected to and some of the statistics 00:10:22.570 --> 00:10:26.129 around how Accomplished both backs have been 00:10:26.129 --> 00:10:28.629 and what rare air it is for Gibbs and Montgomery 00:10:28.629 --> 00:10:32.929 are just outstanding and The Lions will go as 00:10:32.929 --> 00:10:36.830 far as these two go this year Yeah, and I think 00:10:36.830 --> 00:10:38.870 Gibbs is getting ready to have a heck of a season 00:10:39.049 --> 00:10:41.509 Yeah, I don't think I'll have 20 touchdowns again. 00:10:41.809 --> 00:10:43.590 I think he's a top three fantasy running back. 00:10:43.669 --> 00:10:44.929 I think he's going to be a top three running 00:10:44.929 --> 00:10:47.889 back in the league. I think maybe Bijan Robinson 00:10:47.889 --> 00:10:52.570 and Saquon best him, but I don't know. I think 00:10:52.570 --> 00:10:54.970 Johnny Morton is going to deploy him in every 00:10:54.970 --> 00:10:57.610 fashion possible. I agree with that. I just think 00:10:57.610 --> 00:11:00.029 it's a tall order to expect any player to score 00:11:00.029 --> 00:11:03.710 20 touchdowns again. Quarterback room. Jared 00:11:03.710 --> 00:11:06.710 Goff and then backing him up as Kyle Allen. This 00:11:06.710 --> 00:11:09.169 is old news, yesterday's news, but Hendon Hooker 00:11:09.169 --> 00:11:11.830 is now on the Carolina Panthers practice squad. 00:11:12.029 --> 00:11:14.789 He was given every opportunity and it just seemed 00:11:14.789 --> 00:11:17.950 like the game moved too fast for him. And Brad 00:11:17.950 --> 00:11:20.830 Holmes has done so much well in the draft and 00:11:20.830 --> 00:11:23.129 building this roster that he deserves a pass 00:11:23.129 --> 00:11:27.169 for taking his former college teammates kid and, 00:11:27.169 --> 00:11:29.090 you know, trying to rehab him and believe in 00:11:29.090 --> 00:11:31.389 him. And it just didn't happen. It'll be interesting 00:11:31.389 --> 00:11:34.450 to see what they do for that third QB spot. I 00:11:34.450 --> 00:11:37.110 don't know what they're gonna do there. Well, 00:11:37.110 --> 00:11:39.070 it is interesting too, because you know the Lions 00:11:39.070 --> 00:11:42.889 were the ones that instituted or petitioned the 00:11:42.889 --> 00:11:45.429 NFL to have that third receiver, or excuse me, 00:11:45.570 --> 00:11:48.429 third quarterback, emergency quarterback, like 00:11:48.429 --> 00:11:52.070 added. That was the Detroit Lions rule. So they 00:11:52.070 --> 00:11:54.129 don't have to do anything because of the rule, 00:11:54.230 --> 00:11:57.649 you know. Should it go down, you're gonna see 00:11:57.649 --> 00:12:01.230 Gibbs or Montgomery Hello, Walter Payton, 1985. 00:12:01.669 --> 00:12:03.470 Come in and be the Russian quarterback. Wildcat 00:12:03.470 --> 00:12:05.669 with Gibbs all day long. That'll be interesting. 00:12:05.769 --> 00:12:07.570 Love it. You wanted to talk about Johnny Morton 00:12:07.570 --> 00:12:09.049 before we get into the defense. Before we jump 00:12:09.049 --> 00:12:10.929 to the defense, Johnny Morton has all of a sudden 00:12:10.929 --> 00:12:14.289 become this hot commodity over the last couple 00:12:14.289 --> 00:12:16.990 of days in the press. Apparently, Benedict Johnson, 00:12:16.990 --> 00:12:19.649 as you call him, tried to get him for the Bears' 00:12:19.830 --> 00:12:23.049 staff before the Lions did. And he said no. And 00:12:23.049 --> 00:12:25.759 he's going over to... coach with MCDC apparently. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:28.139 I, I found that interesting. I kind of thought 00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:30.299 Johnny Morton was like, well, it's the best of 00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:32.679 what's available right now because Ben left so 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:35.779 late in the process. But, um, you know, we played 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:38.240 into the playoffs in the postseason, but maybe 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:40.759 Johnny Morton was the guy. Maybe he was the get. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:44.600 I don't know. He is a Sean Payton guy. Yeah. 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:48.120 And keep in mind that's where Dan Campbell cut 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:51.639 his teeth. Yep. So he comes highly recommended 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:54.139 from Peyton. I can see it on the family tree. 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:56.980 I get it. Yeah. And Johnny Morton's failure was 00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:59.720 the New York Jets, which when was the last time 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:02.200 the Jets had a quarterback? I guess. Joe Namath? 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:06.039 Yeah. Yeah. So let's move to the defense if we 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:07.899 can. Yeah. Let's get there. What do you want 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:10.019 to start with? What's your spot that you, you 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:13.200 want to open the defense with? Well, this is 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:16.779 not the deepest position group per se, but it's 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:18.919 the one we're hearing the most noise. And that 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:21.629 is let's just start it. the defensive ends and 00:13:21.629 --> 00:13:24.950 edges. Sure. Aiden Hutchinson, by all accounts, 00:13:25.330 --> 00:13:28.529 is back better than ever, healthy, ready to wreak 00:13:28.529 --> 00:13:32.129 havoc, and I think we can all safely expect with 00:13:32.129 --> 00:13:35.450 health him to have a monster season. And you 00:13:35.450 --> 00:13:37.250 talked about Jameer Gibbs being one of the top 00:13:37.250 --> 00:13:39.889 two or three players at his position. The exact 00:13:39.889 --> 00:13:42.210 same thing with Aiden Hutchinson. Where we start 00:13:42.210 --> 00:13:45.169 getting a little bit of more questions, let's 00:13:45.169 --> 00:13:47.389 just say, is it the right defensive end with 00:13:47.389 --> 00:13:50.870 Marcus Davenport? Yeah. Again, an ex -New Orleans 00:13:50.870 --> 00:13:55.389 Saints that both, you know, Aaron Glenn, you 00:13:55.389 --> 00:13:57.850 know, when he was the DC, but now Kelvin Shepherd 00:13:57.850 --> 00:14:00.610 and Dan Campbell have, you know, good familiarity 00:14:00.610 --> 00:14:02.309 with. They believe in him. Apparently he's had 00:14:02.309 --> 00:14:05.549 a great camp and is healthy. We'll see. Backing 00:14:05.549 --> 00:14:07.450 them up is where it gets a little bit scary. 00:14:07.929 --> 00:14:10.570 We have a gentleman by the name of Tyler Lacey 00:14:10.570 --> 00:14:13.850 on the right. And then Josh Pascal is out right 00:14:13.850 --> 00:14:17.230 now, but they hope they be in the Lions. that 00:14:17.230 --> 00:14:20.750 he moves in from that third position to actually 00:14:20.750 --> 00:14:25.049 be the third edge rusher. So you're going to 00:14:25.049 --> 00:14:29.950 dress five for week one at Lambeau and it's top 00:14:29.950 --> 00:14:33.870 heavy provided that provided that Davenport actually 00:14:33.870 --> 00:14:36.450 is the player that the Lions signed in free agency 00:14:36.450 --> 00:14:39.190 and have invested in and believe in. That is 00:14:39.190 --> 00:14:42.700 what we're going with your thoughts. I'm fine 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:44.879 with where we're at at the very moment. Aiden 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:47.039 Hutchinson on one end, Davenport on the other 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:51.519 end. I have been reading a little, and the next 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:53.500 group we're going to talk about is that interior. 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:55.720 Yeah. So let me give my thoughts after we get 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:58.519 to the interior. OK. You've got the rookie Tyleek 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:01.559 Williams from Ohio State at your left defensive 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:03.879 tackle. But really, this doesn't mean a whole 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:05.580 lot in terms of who they're playing next to. 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:07.419 These guys are going to move around quite a bit. 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:10.340 And then the free agent signing of a couple years 00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:12.600 ago, DJ Reader. Apparently his health has been 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:16.080 good and he's had in a monster camp. So I do 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:19.019 think that again, we're a little thin here, but 00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:21.620 I think those starters are excellent. I think 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:24.379 Tylek Williams is just going to be the guy. I 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:26.879 think he's going to be great. I agree. I think 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:30.059 he's going to earn that first round status. Everything 00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:32.200 that's coming out of camp right now is we're 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:34.679 not terribly worried about our pass rush because 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:37.879 Tylek Williams is going to fill some void there. 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:41.100 And the good news is, is that if DJ Reader can 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:44.419 just hold, you know, he's really a run stopper 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:47.639 and he can occupy two, two, you know, three blockers 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:50.379 until Lima McNeil gets back. This could be the 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:52.879 strongest position group outside of running back 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:55.919 on the team. All right. Backing them up, Makai 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:57.940 Wingo, who was a draft pick out of Louisiana 00:15:57.940 --> 00:15:59.899 State really hasn't shown a whole lot, but the 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:02.080 lines are sticking with them. Another free agent 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:04.720 signing via the Arizona Cardinals, Roy Lopez. 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:07.620 He's just a depth piece. And then one of the 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:10.159 guys that I think that you and I both kind of 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:12.299 have some affinity for, just because he seems 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:17.399 like a lunch pail, MCDC kind of guy. POC. O 'Connor. 00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:20.460 Nothing real sexy there, and let's hope he doesn't 00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:22.860 play too many snaps, but he's a depth piece. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.759 But we'll applaud him when he comes in. He's 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:27.039 kind of like the Jake Rogers of the Detroit Lions, 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.379 if you will. Absolutely. Son's mustache, or at 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.679 least I don't think he's got a mustache. I don't 00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:32.940 think he has. is good at facial hair as Jake 00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:35.799 Rogers, but few do. Moving over, well, did you, 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:38.139 you had a comment on this, right? No, I gave 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.759 it. Tyleek Williams, I think he's the difference 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.779 maker here. I think he's going to be the rookie 00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:44.440 of the year for the Lions this year. I think 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:47.620 he beats out Tate Ratledge even, but let's see. 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:50.159 Or even Tesla. We got three guys to watch now 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:52.519 that I think about it, but I think Tyleek's up 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:54.460 there with them as far as difference makers on 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:56.779 this team in year one. You're not giving much 00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:59.320 support to Dominic Lovett. I'm not. Not yet. 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:03.230 I'm wrong, Dom. The linebacker room is really 00:17:03.230 --> 00:17:05.690 deep, almost an embarrassment of riches for a 00:17:05.690 --> 00:17:08.470 position that often there's only two on the field. 00:17:08.910 --> 00:17:11.289 So it'll be interesting to see how the Lions 00:17:11.289 --> 00:17:13.789 do this. Your starters are going to be Alex Ancelone. 00:17:13.990 --> 00:17:16.809 What I heard is that they came to some type of 00:17:16.809 --> 00:17:19.529 contract agreement and it just kind of worked 00:17:19.529 --> 00:17:22.829 out. I don't think the Lions budged a ton and 00:17:22.829 --> 00:17:27.369 apparently he budged a little bit. So Jack Campbell's 00:17:27.369 --> 00:17:30.279 going to be your I guess middle linebacker of 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:32.539 Alex Anzaloni is playing weak side or you will. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:35.779 And then your strong side. And here's an X factor 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:38.299 for the season is Derek Barnes. I believe the 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:40.839 Lions are going to use him as an edge when fresh 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:44.200 off his new contract. Yeah, that's and he's healthy. 00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:46.019 I think he's going to be doing a lot of blitzing 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:48.740 from the outside. Yes, I do. And then backing 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:52.180 them up. Everybody's favorite mop of hair from 00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:55.319 preseason. Grant Stewart, Zach Cunningham and 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:58.549 then Ezekiel Turner, who's injured, and then 00:17:58.549 --> 00:18:02.309 a name that I have to bring up for you, Trevor 00:18:02.309 --> 00:18:05.670 Nowowski, just another Pat O 'Connor lunch pail 00:18:05.670 --> 00:18:09.029 type of guy. And then Malcolm Rodriguez is hurt, 00:18:09.130 --> 00:18:12.289 but probably going to play a role here. I could 00:18:12.289 --> 00:18:14.390 see, you know, we talked about maybe trading 00:18:14.390 --> 00:18:17.210 for a tight end. There's an embarrassment of 00:18:17.210 --> 00:18:20.930 riches in this room. Could they maybe leverage 00:18:20.930 --> 00:18:23.589 one of them? Yeah, could, you know, and if Barnes 00:18:23.589 --> 00:18:26.789 plays as well as they're hoping he does. Ancelone 00:18:26.789 --> 00:18:30.549 might be an option that they could part with. 00:18:31.150 --> 00:18:33.470 Interestingly enough, I think it was two to three 00:18:33.470 --> 00:18:35.869 years ago, we would have probably said this was 00:18:35.869 --> 00:18:39.009 the weakest unit on the team. Not many of these 00:18:39.009 --> 00:18:42.109 names have really changed. Ancelone was on the 00:18:42.109 --> 00:18:44.029 team two years ago. Campbell was on the team 00:18:44.029 --> 00:18:46.730 two years ago. Barnes was on the team two years 00:18:46.730 --> 00:18:49.329 ago, if I remember correctly. Stewart, new guy. 00:18:50.289 --> 00:18:52.150 What? No, he wasn't on the team. No, he wasn't. 00:18:52.309 --> 00:18:55.299 No, Stewart's like the journeyman, right? new 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:57.279 guys at Cunningham, I think has been on the team 00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:00.380 now for a year. I don't, I guess I look at this 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:03.960 unit and providing everybody stays healthy, even 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.420 if they don't, I'd be interested to see what 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:07.920 Stewart could do or Cunningham could do in live 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:10.200 game action with the ones out there. But yeah, 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:12.059 I think there is strength now. This is another 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:13.819 one of those units we look at and we go, wow, 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:17.259 we went from nothing to having depth, which is 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:19.440 just such a bizarre thing inside of a year or 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:22.240 two, something that happens in the NFL to one 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:24.369 degree or another. So, yeah, that's my take. 00:19:24.490 --> 00:19:26.450 I think it'll be a strong unit this year. All 00:19:26.450 --> 00:19:28.109 right. And then the secondary has nowhere to 00:19:28.109 --> 00:19:31.529 go but up. And left cornerback, you've got Tarion 00:19:31.529 --> 00:19:34.210 Arnold. And moving over to the safeties, you've 00:19:34.210 --> 00:19:37.130 got possibly the best safety room in all of the 00:19:37.130 --> 00:19:39.990 NFL. And Brian Branch playing strong. Kirby Joseph 00:19:39.990 --> 00:19:42.490 playing the free safety. Your right corner is 00:19:42.490 --> 00:19:44.289 going to be the free agent acquisition from the 00:19:44.289 --> 00:19:46.730 New York Jets. DJ Reed. By all accounts, we're 00:19:46.730 --> 00:19:50.029 hearing he is an upgrade over Carlton Davis III. 00:19:50.589 --> 00:19:53.089 And then your Nickelback is Amique Robertson, 00:19:53.190 --> 00:19:55.910 who I'm really high on. I really think Amique 00:19:55.910 --> 00:19:58.190 Robertson is a difference maker when he's on 00:19:58.190 --> 00:20:02.950 the field. And again, if fortune is good for 00:20:02.950 --> 00:20:07.369 health with these five position players, I think 00:20:07.369 --> 00:20:11.190 the Lions could have turned the corner on what 00:20:11.190 --> 00:20:13.589 has historically been a weakness. I think it's 00:20:13.589 --> 00:20:15.369 going to be incredible. And it could be a real 00:20:15.369 --> 00:20:17.049 strength. I think this will be the strength of 00:20:17.049 --> 00:20:18.809 the defense, to be honest. They're going to be 00:20:18.809 --> 00:20:21.460 very good this year. So backing these guys up, 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:24.279 you've got Khalil Dorsey at one of the corner 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:28.940 spots. You've got Rok Yasin backing up one of 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:31.380 the corner spots. And then for your nickelback, 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:33.220 you've got a gentleman by the name of Avante 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:36.380 Maddux. I think we'll see all three of those 00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:39.119 guys in various packages, dime, you know, different 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:41.720 formations. And then the safeties where it gets 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:46.880 a little thin. Dan Jackson was drafted is a former 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:48.859 walk -on from the university of Georgia. He's 00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:51.220 going to be out for the year, but he's a special 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:53.400 teams ace. He was a guy that they were really 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:55.740 counting on grooming behind Joseph and branch. 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:59.019 And so the lions have Daniel Thomas and then 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:01.559 a recent pickup from the Raiders, Thomas Harper. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:04.799 Yeah. Backing up the safety. So again, really 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:08.839 top heavy, but not real strong depth behind. 00:21:09.069 --> 00:21:12.210 Branch and Joseph, just something to look for. 00:21:12.549 --> 00:21:15.089 One thing that you and I keep reading and hearing 00:21:15.089 --> 00:21:19.650 is that Rak Yassin can move over to both safety 00:21:19.650 --> 00:21:22.769 roles, and apparently Avante Maddox can as well. 00:21:23.410 --> 00:21:25.890 So I think the way the depth charts reading to 00:21:25.890 --> 00:21:28.569 us isn't necessarily how everybody will be deployed 00:21:28.569 --> 00:21:31.410 and then injured for the year, out for the year, 00:21:31.509 --> 00:21:34.089 but Ennis Rake Straw is still part of this franchise, 00:21:34.430 --> 00:21:36.730 former second round pick. So your thoughts on 00:21:36.730 --> 00:21:38.750 the secondary before we go to special teams and 00:21:38.750 --> 00:21:42.250 wrap this up. I'm looking forward to these guys 00:21:42.250 --> 00:21:44.130 this year and Terry and Arnold, I mean, they're 00:21:44.130 --> 00:21:45.990 putting a lot on this guy's back in year two. 00:21:46.109 --> 00:21:47.869 They're basically saying like the defense goes, 00:21:47.990 --> 00:21:50.450 the Lions go where Terry and Arnold goes. So 00:21:50.450 --> 00:21:52.569 I think they're planning on him being that lockdown 00:21:52.569 --> 00:21:54.789 corner. Last year was a lot of physical play. 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:57.759 I remember he led the league in pass interference 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.980 at some point in time by quite a bit because 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:02.039 it seemed like he was getting flagged every series 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:05.720 down the field and he was very physical. Sometimes 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:08.380 you want to complain and debate whether it was 00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:11.079 pass interference. He left no question whatsoever 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:13.359 most of the time. Brian Branch will be Brian 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:16.799 Branch. Kirby Joseph, another guy that really 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:19.200 popped up in the last year or two, that's another 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:22.019 stalwart in this defensive backfield. DJ Reed, 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:24.599 a newcomer, and Amique Robertson, also known 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:26.940 as Dirt. Remember when he did the Dirt rant? 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:29.539 You can't get lower than Dirt. The Dirt, or whatever 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:31.720 it was that he did in that game, it was great. 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:35.299 Thomas Harper, he filled out our 53 man just 00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:37.640 a couple days ago. Kind of shocking that it was 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:41.539 him, and not the mouthful Zadarius, but he, yeah. 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:44.000 Thomas Harper is the guy you're getting to round 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:47.519 out that 53 man. So they took a strong unit and 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.740 Presumably made it even stronger So I'm looking 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:51.680 for big things from the defensive backfield this 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:54.660 season and Dan Campbell said numerous times since 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:57.960 camp opened That this is the strongest deepest 00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:01.660 best 53 man roster He's had in his Lions tenure 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:04.660 shows Yeah, it does show a lot of guys that were 00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:06.339 starters two years ago are sitting in the third 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:09.339 and fourth spot You know depth chart right now. 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:12.609 So that's a good thing. Not a bad thing Special 00:23:12.609 --> 00:23:15.849 teams. You want to do it? Yeah. Jake Bates is 00:23:15.849 --> 00:23:18.269 going to be your place kicker. Yep. Jack Fox 00:23:18.269 --> 00:23:20.769 is your punter. Both are excellent. And the lines 00:23:20.769 --> 00:23:23.309 have upgraded there. Jack Fox holds for Jake 00:23:23.309 --> 00:23:25.950 Bates. And then punt returns is going to be Khalifa 00:23:25.950 --> 00:23:28.210 Raymond's responsibility. Kick returns are going 00:23:28.210 --> 00:23:31.430 to be Khalifa Raymond and Khalil Dorsey. And 00:23:31.430 --> 00:23:35.190 then the long snappers Hogan Hatton. So really 00:23:35.190 --> 00:23:38.730 an unchanged group. all the way around in one 00:23:38.730 --> 00:23:41.509 that I think is solid and very serviceable. I 00:23:41.509 --> 00:23:43.549 don't think there's a huge upside with it, but 00:23:43.549 --> 00:23:45.710 I also don't think you're ceiling, but there's 00:23:45.710 --> 00:23:48.730 also not a very low floor with it either. So 00:23:48.730 --> 00:23:51.890 Jack Fox, I think is the strength of that. He 00:23:51.890 --> 00:23:54.509 really does a good job pinning teams inside their 00:23:54.509 --> 00:23:57.170 own 20, inside their own 10, sometimes even inside 00:23:57.170 --> 00:24:01.630 their own five. And we talked about some of the 00:24:01.630 --> 00:24:03.970 guys that are willing to pay special teams at 00:24:03.970 --> 00:24:07.589 a high level, Craig Reynolds, Vahki. Cleve Raymond. 00:24:08.170 --> 00:24:11.210 So it's exciting. And I feel really good about 00:24:11.210 --> 00:24:14.829 the roster. If I can circle back to one, I had 00:24:14.829 --> 00:24:17.569 the statistic pulled up, but Sonic and Knuckles, 00:24:17.809 --> 00:24:19.950 Gibbs and Montgomery have each recorded at least 00:24:19.950 --> 00:24:23.150 a thousand scrimmage yards and 10 scrimmage touchdowns 00:24:23.150 --> 00:24:25.789 in each of the last two seasons. We know that. 00:24:26.470 --> 00:24:28.549 What's interesting is they're the first running 00:24:28.549 --> 00:24:31.789 back tandem in NFL history to have done it in 00:24:31.789 --> 00:24:35.779 two such seasons at all. Not just consecutively. 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:38.960 It's never, never been done. And you and I fully 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:42.839 expect with health that this should happen again. 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:45.619 So go ahead. Just one more factoid to throw in 00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:48.920 there to lap onto your factoid. Fourth oldest 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:53.500 roster in the NFL, which shocks me. Shocks me. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:57.519 We are at average age of just over 26. Yeah, 00:24:57.799 --> 00:25:00.279 we got old, Bill. When did we get old? We seemed 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:04.299 so young. Not long ago. I asked myself that daily. 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:08.000 I think that's not about the lions and that's 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:10.480 the news on the roster We're old and just getting 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:13.680 older We'll bring you a Green Bay preview before 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:16.660 that. But yeah, I would say let's not worry about 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:19.380 it I went through and actually analyzed where 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:23.359 the age was and a lot of its depth pieces So 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:26.259 average age, you know of our starters is a little 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:30.559 better. Okay. Well now golf's 30 Decker's, you 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:32.700 know, the wrong side of 30. Glasgow's the wrong 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:35.460 side of 30. So, I mean, those are three key contributors 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:39.180 right there. Uh, I, I love them, but I don't 00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:40.759 think David Montgomery is probably going to be 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:44.640 a lion beyond maybe this season or next. The 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:47.400 names will change. The names will change. Vahki 00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:50.819 was drafted to be his replacement. So no shocker 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:53.099 there, folks. And then Zach Cunningham's old. 00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:56.039 So we talked about him like, okay, Alexander 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:59.049 Zaloni is old. Outside of that, a lot of the 00:25:59.049 --> 00:26:01.670 defensive guys aren't that old. So it really 00:26:01.670 --> 00:26:03.430 showed in like a... The core is still youth. 00:26:03.690 --> 00:26:07.509 Yeah, a few key areas. DJ Reader, old. So it's 00:26:07.509 --> 00:26:10.329 not, it's the free agent guys. It's not the Lions 00:26:10.329 --> 00:26:12.609 draft picks for the most part. I wish I had a 00:26:12.609 --> 00:26:16.109 youthful core, boy. Well, you look a little banged 00:26:16.109 --> 00:26:19.069 up. It's a long couple days, long couple days, 00:26:19.210 --> 00:26:22.410 long weekend. We'll get you guys a Packers preview 00:26:22.410 --> 00:26:25.019 here later in the week. We got our first game. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:28.299 We'll talk a little about their trade that they 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:31.700 made. And yeah, we'll talk to you guys later 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:34.640 in the week. But that's the roster review. Go 00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:36.000 Lions. Go Lions.