WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.439 Chet, it's good to see you again after a little 00:00:02.439 --> 00:00:04.759 time away. It's good to see you. Give me back 00:00:04.759 --> 00:00:08.660 on the show here. Who is Drew Petzing? And why 00:00:08.660 --> 00:00:10.880 should I be excited about this? I don't think 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:13.339 we're in the minority when we say that nobody 00:00:13.339 --> 00:00:15.580 really knew who Drew Petzing was prior to this 00:00:15.580 --> 00:00:18.179 hire. I don't think any Lions fans knew who he 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:30.420 was. This is The Litterbox. a Detroit Lions podcast 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:39.439 with your hosts, Chad West and Bill Paxton. Litterbox 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:42.719 listeners, welcome back to Litterbox Detroit 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:46.600 Lions podcast. We've got a whole host of things 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:49.479 to discuss today for you. We're going to cover 00:00:49.479 --> 00:00:52.100 this question you just heard. Who is Drew Petzing 00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:54.579 and what are the Lions doing with this OC position? 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:56.719 And we're going to cover a little bit of the 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.539 sprinkle there that you just heard this past 00:00:58.539 --> 00:01:01.539 week. The hiring of Mike Kafka, which I think 00:01:01.539 --> 00:01:05.040 is a bigger deal than just a small thing. We're 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:07.480 going to go through the free agents, unrestricted 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:09.980 free agents for the Lions. We're going to talk 00:01:09.980 --> 00:01:12.319 about how we feel about re -signing them, what 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:16.310 we need, who we may need to bring back. And that 00:01:16.310 --> 00:01:18.969 list may be kind of short. And then we're going 00:01:18.969 --> 00:01:22.069 to talk a little bit about kind of the DC equivalent, 00:01:22.230 --> 00:01:24.010 the defensive coordinator equivalent as well 00:01:24.010 --> 00:01:27.150 coming post Super Bowl. And maybe a who's on 00:01:27.150 --> 00:01:30.769 our wish list for that. Stick with us. We're 00:01:30.769 --> 00:01:33.329 going to be right back. So Bill, Drew Petsing, 00:01:33.629 --> 00:01:36.530 not a name that rolls off the tongue in OC circles 00:01:36.530 --> 00:01:40.269 in the NFL. I don't think you or I had ever said 00:01:40.269 --> 00:01:43.049 his name before in conversation about how, oh, 00:01:43.049 --> 00:01:46.299 I hope we get Drew Petsing as our OC. He's a 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:48.400 he's a run first guy. He's a running back guy. 00:01:48.459 --> 00:01:51.400 So I think they're thinking he will bring David 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:54.900 Montgomery back to life and expand on what Gibbs 00:01:54.900 --> 00:01:59.459 is capable of. We also got a little a little 00:01:59.459 --> 00:02:02.159 signing there this past week of Mike Kafka as 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:05.180 a high ranking offensive staff role. And I put 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:08.340 air quotes around that. I think he's there to 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:11.000 make sure the passing game and the creativity 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:14.400 in the offense sticks around. What are your thoughts? 00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:17.560 On let's go to the offensive coordinator. I'm 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:20.080 extremely happy that a they didn't promote from 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:23.639 within or go the Johnny Morton route. So I'm 00:02:23.639 --> 00:02:26.979 just happy it's somebody new from a different 00:02:26.979 --> 00:02:30.039 system, a different tree chat that is going to 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:33.080 bring new ideas to the Detroit Lions. I am going 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:35.960 to say this very concerned for Dan Campbell's 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:39.180 future. If this hire doesn't go right. And that 00:02:39.180 --> 00:02:42.319 leads me to Mike Kafka, who torched the Lions 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:45.219 with Jameis Winston that day at Ford field. That 00:02:45.219 --> 00:02:47.199 was the beginning of the end of the season, or 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:49.120 maybe I guess it was the Vikings game before 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:53.419 that, but still he torched that defense. So the 00:02:53.419 --> 00:02:56.159 good news is Kafka can teach Kelvin Shepherd 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:59.479 everything that went wrong. Yep. Going back to 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:03.659 MCDC though, this is going to be his fourth go 00:03:03.659 --> 00:03:06.139 around at this. And I don't think you get four 00:03:06.139 --> 00:03:09.860 cracks at this as the CEO type in the NFL. And 00:03:09.860 --> 00:03:14.639 so the pressure I think is firmly on Brad Holmes 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:17.800 now to get the draft and free agency right. But 00:03:17.800 --> 00:03:20.699 should the offense be stagnant at all this year, 00:03:20.900 --> 00:03:25.419 Chet, he can't he be an MCDC afford to make a 00:03:25.419 --> 00:03:28.620 quick hook or a fire like he's done with Anthony 00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:32.590 Lynn and Johnny Morton in the past. I don't disagree. 00:03:33.129 --> 00:03:36.409 But I don't think this means his job. I think 00:03:36.409 --> 00:03:39.409 there's a there's an element to this where a 00:03:39.409 --> 00:03:41.969 healthy team, you can judge your coaches when 00:03:41.969 --> 00:03:44.629 they have their full cadre of healthy players 00:03:44.629 --> 00:03:47.750 out there on the field. They're starting, you 00:03:47.750 --> 00:03:49.830 know, they're starting offense, starting defense, 00:03:50.389 --> 00:03:53.030 special teams, etc. We have not had this was 00:03:53.030 --> 00:03:56.189 one of the we've gone through two injury laden 00:03:56.189 --> 00:04:00.310 seasons back to back. OK, I am not judging people. 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:04.460 Based on what we saw this past season especially 00:04:04.460 --> 00:04:06.419 the last half of the season where we were rolling 00:04:06.419 --> 00:04:08.960 out third and fourth string tight ends We were 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:10.780 rolling out third and fourth string offensive 00:04:10.780 --> 00:04:14.280 lineman centers I mean you got D backs that are 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:17.279 coming in off the street I there was we just 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:20.139 kept going down and down and down and the quality 00:04:20.139 --> 00:04:24.019 of player on the field and Yeah, they had some 00:04:24.019 --> 00:04:26.379 magic moments. Don't get me wrong. They make 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:28.920 great bench guys. Okay, they're not starters 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:33.720 I wanna see and judge Dan with a healthy group 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:36.279 of players on the field. That's where I'm at. 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:39.259 I start looking at this stuff and I don't know 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:41.199 how much coaches really matter at this point. 00:04:41.300 --> 00:04:45.100 I think it's like a tripod. You have to have 00:04:45.100 --> 00:04:47.100 the players first and foremost. You gotta have 00:04:47.100 --> 00:04:50.120 the talent. Secondarily, you have to have the 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:54.040 health. And then third on the list, then you're 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:59.949 talking about the strategy, the play calls, OC 00:04:59.949 --> 00:05:03.050 and the DC and everything working in harmony 00:05:03.050 --> 00:05:06.129 as far as that goes. I don't think the coaches 00:05:06.129 --> 00:05:09.810 and the strategy are at number one. I think you 00:05:09.810 --> 00:05:11.870 have to have the first two to get to the third 00:05:11.870 --> 00:05:14.370 and make it even worth it. So that's my take. 00:05:14.750 --> 00:05:16.709 I've, you know, kind of been going around looking 00:05:16.709 --> 00:05:19.050 at where teams were ranked at the start of the 00:05:19.050 --> 00:05:22.490 season, where they finished. I mean, we're not 00:05:22.490 --> 00:05:25.550 experts, Bill. Amin Rah will tell you to shut 00:05:25.550 --> 00:05:27.920 up. that you're not an expert. I don't know if 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:30.500 you caught that on his podcast, but he's kind 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:32.819 of like, what do you people know? We got Drew 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:34.439 Petzig. We're going to do everything we can to 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:36.720 win. You're smarter than Brad Holmes and Dan 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:38.779 Campbell. I don't blame him. I don't blame him. 00:05:39.019 --> 00:05:41.199 I don't think you and I know squat personally. 00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:44.740 So, you know, we're fans and we just got to wait 00:05:44.740 --> 00:05:47.360 and see. We just got to wait and see. So hopefully 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.399 you're going to send out the diagram of your 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:52.730 tripod to our listeners. I will send a tripod 00:05:52.730 --> 00:05:57.230 diagram out on social media. There's a lot to 00:05:57.230 --> 00:06:00.970 unpack there, pal. Let's do this. First and foremost, 00:06:01.370 --> 00:06:03.529 Aman walked that back so quickly because his 00:06:03.529 --> 00:06:05.810 brother's face, if you looked at the live stream 00:06:05.810 --> 00:06:08.610 or YouTube of the pod, was aghast when he said 00:06:08.610 --> 00:06:10.930 that. He was basically... He can't talk trash 00:06:10.930 --> 00:06:12.910 about the fans. Don't talk trash about the fans, 00:06:13.089 --> 00:06:16.649 man. Next up, what's better than having one outside 00:06:16.649 --> 00:06:19.689 voice in the offensive meeting rooms? Two offensive 00:06:19.689 --> 00:06:22.829 voices. And what I like about Kafka, former quarterback, 00:06:23.629 --> 00:06:25.550 uh, former offensive coordinator for the New 00:06:25.550 --> 00:06:28.910 York Giants, uh, and you know what? He was an 00:06:28.910 --> 00:06:30.750 interim head coach and he gave the Lions fits 00:06:30.750 --> 00:06:34.050 as we talked about. So coupled that with Drew, 00:06:34.050 --> 00:06:38.810 uh, we've got two freshly shorn bald headed offensive. 00:06:39.449 --> 00:06:42.449 Co -ordinators there is slash something going 00:06:42.449 --> 00:06:45.730 on on this team with heads of hair and I lack 00:06:45.730 --> 00:06:49.649 thereof I Think it's to offset Kelvin Shepard's 00:06:49.649 --> 00:06:54.430 glowing law. You think that's yes. I do He doesn't 00:06:54.430 --> 00:06:58.290 fit in he needs to shave his head. No, no, we 00:06:58.290 --> 00:07:00.649 balance the hair balance the hair chat It's like 00:07:00.649 --> 00:07:04.430 run pass. All right with that this all remains 00:07:04.430 --> 00:07:06.670 to be seen, but I think two voices the other 00:07:06.670 --> 00:07:10.050 plus chat I'll say for the season upcoming is 00:07:10.050 --> 00:07:12.709 that it frees Dan Campbell to be the CEO. I think 00:07:12.709 --> 00:07:15.790 some of the fourth down calls, he really wasn't 00:07:15.790 --> 00:07:17.829 looking at the clock. He wasn't managing down 00:07:17.829 --> 00:07:21.629 in distance. His fingers weren't, I'm doing the 00:07:21.629 --> 00:07:23.490 doctor when they take your pulse on your wrist, 00:07:23.589 --> 00:07:27.110 two fingers. He was too occupied doing Johnny 00:07:27.110 --> 00:07:30.670 Moe's job to do the job that he really needs 00:07:30.670 --> 00:07:33.850 to do, which is be the CEO. With that, again. 00:07:34.350 --> 00:07:36.230 Well, it's chemistry, right? Like he's in charge 00:07:36.230 --> 00:07:38.490 of being the, he's the chemist, he's the chemistry. 00:07:38.670 --> 00:07:42.050 He keeps things all flowing and moving in the 00:07:42.050 --> 00:07:44.050 right direction. When he's got to do two jobs, 00:07:44.089 --> 00:07:46.829 it's harder to do that. Look at the bottom of 00:07:46.829 --> 00:07:49.589 Chet's diagram when it's sent out. Everybody, 00:07:49.589 --> 00:07:52.470 he'll explain this algorithm as well. So, yes. 00:07:52.629 --> 00:07:54.790 All right. Let's go through unrestricted free 00:07:54.790 --> 00:07:57.389 agents as promised. We're going to do this this 00:07:57.389 --> 00:08:02.389 way, Chet. It's keep, drop, debate. Okay. I'm 00:08:02.389 --> 00:08:04.790 going to tell you right now, I don't have a lot 00:08:04.790 --> 00:08:07.620 of guys that I have to keep on this list. Guess 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:10.540 what, Chet, we're in agreement then. And it's 00:08:10.540 --> 00:08:12.240 all going to come down to cost to keeping the 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:14.180 ones that I want to keep. So quarterback Kyle 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:16.860 Allen, I could care less. We'll get another one 00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:19.100 of that. We can get another one of him. All right. 00:08:19.180 --> 00:08:22.519 This one's more important. Alex Zaloni. For the 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:25.519 right price. Yes. I'd put him on a one year deal. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:28.259 I don't know how much he's got left. I certainly 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:30.120 don't think I'd want to extend him to two. I 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:32.580 think he'll get two from somebody. He will. That 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:35.200 needs a linebacker. He'll get a two year deal 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:38.379 with a nice little price tag on it. I don't know. 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:40.799 I mean, you know, it depends on which Anzaloni 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:43.279 we're getting. Is it last year Anzaloni before 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.460 the injury or this year Anzaloni? You know what 00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:47.700 I'm getting. I think he retires in New Orleans. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:52.299 Yeah. That's my prediction. Okay. Offensive lineman, 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:56.080 Coyote Awasika. You know, I don't think he's, 00:08:56.179 --> 00:08:57.919 I think we need to see a little more of him. 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:01.179 I wouldn't mind having him as a backup guy, right? 00:09:01.179 --> 00:09:04.039 As depth. But I don't really want to see him 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:06.779 play center again. When he played center this 00:09:06.779 --> 00:09:09.259 past season, that one game, it was an ugly affair. 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:13.220 So if you want to sign him as backup, as depth, 00:09:13.700 --> 00:09:16.299 that's fine. I hope they would not sign him thinking 00:09:16.299 --> 00:09:18.080 he's going to start anywhere. Well, hold on. 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:20.700 Let me rephrase this. More interesting question. 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:24.019 The next guy is basically the same player. Yeah, 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:26.740 Tristan Colon. Yeah. So you can only pick one. 00:09:26.909 --> 00:09:30.129 What do you do? I think, and this is just a pedigree 00:09:30.129 --> 00:09:32.289 thing because he's supposed to be a little better 00:09:32.289 --> 00:09:35.570 as Cologne. But again, his injuries kept us from 00:09:35.570 --> 00:09:37.970 seeing much of him this past season. Take one 00:09:37.970 --> 00:09:40.490 for depth. If you get two for depth, great. But 00:09:40.490 --> 00:09:43.549 they got to come cheap. Otherwise, I don't care, 00:09:43.889 --> 00:09:46.370 to be honest. They're depth pieces. The only 00:09:46.370 --> 00:09:50.190 thing is, I was sick as played in 49 games. Yeah. 00:09:50.570 --> 00:09:54.009 For Detroit total Cologne. made starts in Baltimore 00:09:54.009 --> 00:09:56.990 and Arizona beforehand. Articles I've read, articles 00:09:56.990 --> 00:09:59.490 you've read, say that Cologne has some familiarity 00:09:59.490 --> 00:10:03.649 with Coach Bald Drew. And maybe there's that 00:10:03.649 --> 00:10:05.950 edges. Maybe there's something there. It's a 00:10:05.950 --> 00:10:07.669 coin flip for me. I don't really care. Yeah, 00:10:07.669 --> 00:10:09.590 that's what I'm saying. I wouldn't mind. Pick 00:10:09.590 --> 00:10:11.850 one of them up, but let the other go. Yeah, whoever's 00:10:11.850 --> 00:10:14.470 cheaper. All right. Zach Cunningham can go. I 00:10:14.470 --> 00:10:16.289 could care less. Yeah. I don't know. Although 00:10:16.289 --> 00:10:18.710 you got to start looking at linebacker if Anzaloni 00:10:18.710 --> 00:10:21.090 is walking. But there's other guys on this list 00:10:21.090 --> 00:10:33.799 that I might be more This is a position I want 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:36.379 to talk about as we continue through the offseason. 00:10:37.230 --> 00:10:41.029 Anthony Fursker or Ferk Sir, tight end. I would 00:10:41.029 --> 00:10:43.830 say skip because I think this is one position 00:10:43.830 --> 00:10:46.750 group on the offense. The one outside of center 00:10:46.750 --> 00:10:49.870 guard tackle that also needs upgrading beyond 00:10:49.870 --> 00:10:54.090 Sam Laporta. I would say move on. You? I'm fine 00:10:54.090 --> 00:10:57.250 moving on. We do have to keep an eye on how many 00:10:57.250 --> 00:11:00.029 tight ends we've got. I don't know if Sam projected 00:11:00.029 --> 00:11:03.039 to come back at the start of next season. He 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:06.980 is. Okay. So I think you can get rid of the Ferxer 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:08.759 because I think there are going to be many Ferxers 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:10.919 out there for us to grab like there were this 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:13.919 year. And Brock Wright's under contract, so that's 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:16.860 good. All right. Jermarco Jones didn't play Who 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:19.700 Cares. Let him know. No clue. He was always hurt. 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:22.220 This one's interesting. Roy Lopez, defensive 00:11:22.220 --> 00:11:25.419 lineman. I hate this. This is a no for me and 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:28.000 I'll tell you why. This is the classic. He went 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.090 off to get his contract. You're gonna sign him 00:11:32.090 --> 00:11:35.169 and he's not gonna be as good as even reader. 00:11:35.509 --> 00:11:38.529 So just just it's a no. That's a no for me I 00:11:38.529 --> 00:11:40.090 like what he did for us in the one year. We caught 00:11:40.090 --> 00:11:42.250 lightning in a bottle now We gotta let the lightning 00:11:42.250 --> 00:11:45.909 go Well, is it also indicative of how poor the 00:11:45.909 --> 00:11:48.149 defensive line play was that he was could have 00:11:48.149 --> 00:11:50.730 been it could have been So two things might be 00:11:50.730 --> 00:11:53.269 true. Yeah once at the same time. This is one, 00:11:53.269 --> 00:11:56.690 you know where I'm gonna go Avante Maddox, I 00:11:56.690 --> 00:11:59.850 think you sign him Sign him. I like okay. Well, 00:11:59.870 --> 00:12:01.830 we agree that yeah, we're in agreement on this 00:12:01.830 --> 00:12:03.970 and we did not talk about this before before 00:12:03.970 --> 00:12:06.929 this No, no. No, I I think of everybody we've 00:12:06.929 --> 00:12:10.610 gone over He's the only one I rance D back getting 00:12:10.610 --> 00:12:14.169 old but it's personal back versatile plays multiple 00:12:14.169 --> 00:12:16.909 positions We're probably gonna have injuries 00:12:16.909 --> 00:12:18.909 there next year of some sort because we just 00:12:18.909 --> 00:12:21.129 can't have a defensive backfield to stay healthy 00:12:21.129 --> 00:12:24.210 Knock on wood all you want. All right, next up 00:12:24.210 --> 00:12:28.129 Arthur mullet Yeah, I'm a no on Arthur. I'm pretty 00:12:28.129 --> 00:12:31.629 much done there. Jalen Mills, safety, no. Didn't 00:12:31.629 --> 00:12:34.090 get to see much of him, to be honest. I don't 00:12:34.090 --> 00:12:36.529 remember much of what he did, but I'm a no there, 00:12:36.590 --> 00:12:39.730 too. I feel like guys like Mollet and Mills will 00:12:39.730 --> 00:12:43.490 be available somewhere. Yeah, yeah. And they 00:12:43.490 --> 00:12:45.870 were the villains when we got Desperate 2. I 00:12:45.870 --> 00:12:47.669 mean, Desperate, yeah. All right, this one's 00:12:47.669 --> 00:12:51.409 an interesting one. The next two are interesting. 00:12:52.590 --> 00:12:56.139 Edge, Bob Muhammad. Bob Muhammad, he kind of 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:59.379 falls into that Anzaloni. If he wants a one year 00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:01.960 and he's cheap, we'll do it, but he won't be. 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:04.220 He had a great season. He's going to command 00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:06.279 like a two or three year deal somewhere probably 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:09.100 and get some money. He kind of falls. He may 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:12.220 even fall more into that Lopez category where 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:14.840 he had an incredible season contract year and 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:16.600 now he's going to go cash in and who knows what 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:20.799 happens after that. He fits my. Bad description, 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:23.940 which is contract year, wrong side of 30, career 00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:27.600 year, forget about it. The next guy I'm decisively 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:30.779 no on, Levi Owens -Rike. Are you just sick of 00:13:30.779 --> 00:13:34.200 him being injured? Levi, you're no on Levi then? 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:38.700 I'm a no on Levi. Yeah. I just don't, you know, 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:42.480 when he's healthy, he was good. But it was so 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:44.799 rare. It was kind of like Mark is Davenport in 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:47.039 a lot of ways. Like just the two of them just 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:49.440 seem to be injured more than they were ever healthy. 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:53.120 Yeah, I would say let him go to the Raiders or 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:56.159 Cardinals and if he turns out to be a pro bowler 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:58.899 there then Yeah, we were wrong. All right. This 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:01.500 one's interesting Khalifa Raymond. He's getting 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:05.019 up there However, I think he does so many little 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:08.059 things that we don't see that at the right price 00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:10.320 and if he's willing to take a home team discount 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:12.899 I sign him at all costs. That's this is what 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:14.720 I was saying some of these guys as long as the 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:16.460 price is right I have no problem bringing them 00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:19.730 back. He's one of them Okay, he basically will 00:14:19.730 --> 00:14:22.730 be a four receiver next year number four receiver 00:14:22.730 --> 00:14:26.990 if they bump Tisla up to third Finally, but he 00:14:26.990 --> 00:14:29.870 plays that number three role and he does kick 00:14:29.870 --> 00:14:32.330 returns which he does adequately But yeah, it 00:14:32.330 --> 00:14:34.970 comes down to cost for me. What's he gonna cost 00:14:34.970 --> 00:14:37.750 us? I just don't know at his age and how familiar 00:14:37.750 --> 00:14:40.169 he is with the line system He's getting up there 00:14:40.169 --> 00:14:43.889 that he would be that lucrative or enticing to 00:14:43.889 --> 00:14:46.559 another franchise, but you never know There's, 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:49.220 we've talked about eight good franchises and 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:51.679 24 dumb ones, so someone will probably overpay 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:54.039 him. Which leads us to our next guy that's going 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:56.620 to get overpaid and has been a bum, DJ Reader. 00:14:57.559 --> 00:15:00.620 So DJ Reader, the final sentence of this little 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:02.899 caption that you and I have been reading up on 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:05.120 these free agents. He was solid against the run, 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:07.320 but didn't offer a lot in terms of interior pass 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:10.549 rush. Yeah. 17 hurries. He didn't have a sack 00:15:10.549 --> 00:15:14.690 all season. Four QB hits. We had very little 00:15:14.690 --> 00:15:17.350 pass rush up the gut. I wouldn't mind a D tackle 00:15:17.350 --> 00:15:18.889 that puts a little pressure on the quarterback 00:15:18.889 --> 00:15:21.590 that can get that surge. I know Reeder does a 00:15:21.590 --> 00:15:24.289 lot of his work in the run game, but I would 00:15:24.289 --> 00:15:25.850 like somebody that puts a little pressure up 00:15:25.850 --> 00:15:28.149 the gut on the quarterback personally. So would 00:15:28.149 --> 00:15:30.730 I, and that's what I think Tyleke Williams was 00:15:30.730 --> 00:15:33.669 drafted for is to be that big run stuffer. Yeah. 00:15:34.119 --> 00:15:36.659 And when we need somebody to empower up, when 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:38.620 we get to draft previews and all that, we can 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:41.580 talk about some D tackles that can bring pressure. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:44.139 All right. Next one, you, you know, cause I even 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:47.480 have a nickname for him. Amique the freak Robertson. 00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:52.259 I would resign him again. He goes back to the 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:55.100 Avanti Maddox. He's versatile. He can play safety. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:58.200 He can play nickel. He can play outside corner. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.179 He's not a number one. He's not a number two, 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:03.100 but guess what? Guys get hurt. You need guys. 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:05.940 I would sign him. I agree. And he's one that 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:09.220 I would overpay for just because I don't know 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:11.620 that I'd pay overpay for a meek, but I will pay 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:14.000 market rate for a meek. I don't expect a deal, 00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:17.419 but I would pay market. Well, hold on. I guess 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:20.440 what I'm saying in free agency is overpaying 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:25.009 would be allowing the guy to leave. in getting 00:16:25.009 --> 00:16:28.830 somebody else's free agent that's not as good 00:16:28.830 --> 00:16:31.309 or something along. I gotcha. Similar player 00:16:31.309 --> 00:16:34.509 on a different team you're overpaying for. So 00:16:34.509 --> 00:16:37.110 I'm saying if you pay him a little more to stay 00:16:37.110 --> 00:16:39.649 in house, I would do it. Next one, Rodriguez, 00:16:40.169 --> 00:16:43.909 Malcolm, linebacker, no. You know, I'm not a 00:16:43.909 --> 00:16:46.389 no on him, but I don't need to make him a starter. 00:16:46.669 --> 00:16:49.909 Let's put it that way. Again, he's a nice special 00:16:49.909 --> 00:16:53.509 teams guy. He is a nice backup linebacker. I'm 00:16:53.509 --> 00:16:55.889 okay there, but I'm not paying him starter money. 00:16:56.470 --> 00:17:00.370 Dan Skipper was next up. He retired. And word 00:17:00.370 --> 00:17:03.049 I'm hearing today out of Detroit is that he might 00:17:03.049 --> 00:17:08.009 be in a coach. It sounds like he aspires to a 00:17:08.009 --> 00:17:10.569 coaching role, which may be a good role for Mr. 00:17:10.730 --> 00:17:13.049 Skipper. I don't think he's ready to leave the 00:17:13.049 --> 00:17:15.029 sideline yet. I think he wants to be down there 00:17:15.029 --> 00:17:17.690 with the squad. So if you can bring him in and 00:17:17.690 --> 00:17:20.309 get him to help out down there, I'm all for it. 00:17:20.630 --> 00:17:23.759 Perfect. And there is no limit on coaching hires 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:26.279 in the NFL, unlike college football. So go nuts, 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:29.480 lions, keep them in house. Grant Stewart linebacker 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:33.039 slash special teams ace. I don't need to pay 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:36.119 them, but as special teams, maybe. I mean, you 00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:37.740 let our special teams attack. Well, we didn't 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:41.380 have that special of a special teams this season. 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:43.460 If you remember early in the season, we had a 00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:45.319 little problem letting people score touchdowns 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:49.099 on kick returns. So I'm okay with it, but depth 00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:52.410 piece better be cheap. Safety Daniel Thomas. 00:17:52.470 --> 00:17:56.190 No, no, I don't he was injured. I barely remember 00:17:56.190 --> 00:17:59.210 him. He only played two games Yeah, linebacker 00:17:59.210 --> 00:18:02.329 Ezekiel Turner. No again. I've heard not. Yep. 00:18:02.690 --> 00:18:05.930 All right Two guys we've got two debates coming 00:18:05.930 --> 00:18:09.609 up. Yep, rock. Yes in yes. I'm bringing rock 00:18:09.609 --> 00:18:12.450 back Don't bring in rock back. I want to see 00:18:12.450 --> 00:18:15.569 what a year two of rock looks like Well, here's 00:18:15.569 --> 00:18:17.769 the thing. It's really easy to say I'm bringing 00:18:17.769 --> 00:18:20.009 back defensive backs because you know how badly 00:18:20.009 --> 00:18:22.609 we just need all of them and They're hard to 00:18:22.609 --> 00:18:25.089 find so we know what we're getting with Maddox. 00:18:25.109 --> 00:18:26.730 We know what we're getting with a meek We know 00:18:26.730 --> 00:18:29.390 what we're getting with rock. I'm bringing I'm 00:18:29.390 --> 00:18:33.509 bringing rock. Yes in back I Agree for all the 00:18:33.509 --> 00:18:36.720 reasons you said which is boring potting So I'll 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:39.420 get into a good pod debate with you on the next 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:42.339 guy, which is Shane Zylstra, tight end. I just 00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:45.240 don't think we need him. Damn it. OK, you're 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.880 not. I'm sorry. We're not going to have a debate. 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:49.200 I don't think we need. I just don't look at Shane 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:51.599 Zylstra. He's a practice squad guy. We cannot 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:53.500 was at the start of the season when we are at 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:55.920 a full cadre of tight ends. We can not grow. 00:18:56.240 --> 00:19:00.000 OK. Yeah. Alright, that goes for your unrestricted 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:02.539 free agents going to restricted Tom Kennedy It 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:04.720 doesn't matter what Chet and I think they will 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.880 resign him. He's don't he I don't think he's 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:09.859 allowed to wear another jersey I think he saw 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:13.839 I don't know Sheila squad starting yeah in the 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:16.720 shower doing something Yeah, why he's got dirt 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:19.839 on somebody Trevor Nowaski the pride and joy 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:23.900 I believe of a small college in Michigan somewhere 00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:28.690 Saginaw State maybe He was a good special teamer. 00:19:28.829 --> 00:19:30.769 Fine. Bring him back. Cheap. Don't do anything 00:19:30.769 --> 00:19:35.990 crazy. Tyra Sweet, I think the future is... I'm 00:19:35.990 --> 00:19:39.630 not. I mean, I think more sacks than DJ Reader 00:19:39.630 --> 00:19:42.230 did, isn't it, Rush? I don't know if that matters, 00:19:42.269 --> 00:19:45.329 but... I'd say, you know, bring him back. Yeah. 00:19:45.329 --> 00:19:47.569 And then exclusive rights, Jake Bates. Come on, 00:19:47.569 --> 00:19:49.349 our kicker's going nowhere. We love that guy. 00:19:49.369 --> 00:19:52.069 You know, I think Jake Bates, 54 -56 on extra 00:19:52.069 --> 00:19:55.950 points, 27 -34 on field goals. He's a worthy... 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:59.180 He's a worthy kicker. I think we bring him back. 00:19:59.259 --> 00:20:00.740 We don't need to go shopping for a kicker with 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:04.700 everything else. And he's a kicker. He hits some 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:07.279 big field goals. He can make the field goal in 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:10.480 the big moment. So I say we bring him back mainly 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.880 because I don't want to do the effort of going 00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:16.079 and looking for it. Can I sidebar? Yeah. I've 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:18.759 always wanted to have a kicker jersey and John 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:22.940 Palmer, our good friend Adam. Palmer's son actually 00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:26.880 has a Jake Bates jersey. You're kidding me. And 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:29.140 I just don't... So he's the guy that bought it. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:33.240 Yeah, I just don't want, you know, my buddy Adam 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:35.640 and his son John to have to go get a new kicker 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:38.099 jersey because that's unfair. Yeah. Then what 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:39.859 do you do with a kicker that leaves your team? 00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:42.299 Like you can't move that jersey. You can't give 00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:45.279 that to somebody. eBay's full of expired kicker 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:48.039 jerseys. Is there an Ali Haji Sheikh jersey out 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:50.220 there somewhere I can get? Oh, that would be 00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:52.960 wonderful. I got two things I wanna call out 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:55.039 for you, Bill. Interesting facts. We're gonna 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:58.980 move along here. Do you know the week one NFL 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:02.599 .com rankings, power rankings, okay? Can you 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:05.319 guess who the top five teams in the NFL were 00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:08.099 in week one? This season or next season? This 00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:11.240 season, this season, this past season. The top 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:13.859 five. Who do you think they were? Some combination 00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:17.319 of Chiefs, Bills, Ravens, Lions, Eagles. You 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:20.440 got them all. Some combination of. Eagles were 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:24.119 one, Ravens were two, Bills three, Chiefs four, 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:27.779 Lions five. Of those teams, three didn't make 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:30.319 the playoffs out of the top five teams in week 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:34.180 one. Do you know where our Super Bowl teams were 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:37.579 ranked in the power rankings in week one? I'm 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:40.660 going to guess the Patriots were like 18 to 25. 00:21:40.569 --> 00:21:45.009 three, and the Seahawks are probably like 11 00:21:45.009 --> 00:21:50.890 to 14. Seahawks were 19th. Okay. The Patriots 00:21:50.890 --> 00:21:55.450 were 22nd. Not bad. They came in the season 19th 00:21:55.450 --> 00:21:58.009 and 22nd and made the Super Bowl. This is just 00:21:58.009 --> 00:22:00.730 parody in the NFL. I mean, any team can win any 00:22:00.730 --> 00:22:02.769 given season. You can have the Jaguars go to 00:22:02.769 --> 00:22:05.289 the Super Bowl next year. I'm just saying we 00:22:05.289 --> 00:22:07.230 don't know what's going to happen with the Lions. 00:22:07.829 --> 00:22:09.710 Actually, I'll make you a gentleman's wager right 00:22:09.710 --> 00:22:12.809 now. Boy, here we go. The Jaguars, you can pick 00:22:12.809 --> 00:22:16.069 any one of 31 other teams. The Jaguars are never 00:22:16.069 --> 00:22:19.480 good in back to back years. So just Florida Marlins 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:21.339 of baseball. It's something about Florida. They 00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:23.880 just I'm sure can't string two seasons together 00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:26.700 Whatever you want a wager like food. Whatever 00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:30.039 will do it. I'm telling you I don't know if they'll 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:32.160 be last place I'm just saying they will not win 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:34.599 the Super Bowl or even go to the Super Bowl I 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:37.420 will say it's not the Jaguars names and Saints 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:39.440 the Jets Browns and Saints were the bottom three 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:41.279 So if you end up in the bottom three, you're 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:44.099 gonna be awful probably but other than that it's 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:47.420 kind of a toss -up the Colts who were What they 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:49.380 did with Daniel Jones, they were on top of the 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:53.440 world five weeks into the season We're 28th in 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:56.660 the power rankings in week one. Who knew? Who 00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:59.980 knew at any rate fun stuff that I figured I'd 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:01.660 look up because I was curious as to where those 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:03.740 guys were and what people thought they were gonna 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:05.960 do at the very start of the season. All right, 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:12.359 so I personally think Dan Campbell is kind of 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:16.500 Insulating himself via Teflon getting Kafka in 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:19.880 just in case for some reason ball, ball drew, 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:22.940 frustrates him. Okay. He's going to have two 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:25.079 options as offensive coordinator this coming 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.960 season. He doesn't have to fire anybody. He's 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:29.539 going to tell these guys to work together. Yeah. 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:32.660 Or it's going to be a, yeah. And that way he's 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:36.759 going to say, look, I hired two, one guy who's 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:38.720 considered very intelligent. The other guy is 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:40.920 considered a kind of a run game master. So I'm 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:44.069 kind of attacking it with two guys. Yeah. Taking 00:23:44.069 --> 00:23:46.710 that angle. I don't know if they'll both be there 00:23:46.710 --> 00:23:49.690 in the second season the next season after in 00:23:49.690 --> 00:23:53.490 the 2027 season, but I think ceiling says that 00:23:53.490 --> 00:23:57.809 one gets promoted you think so Probably that's 00:23:57.809 --> 00:23:59.950 probably probably Kafka becomes a full -time 00:23:59.950 --> 00:24:02.309 offensive coordinator. I wanted him to go after 00:24:02.309 --> 00:24:04.970 him for oh, yeah I know you did so when I found 00:24:04.970 --> 00:24:07.589 out that they got him as the special specialty 00:24:07.589 --> 00:24:11.390 offensive guy was like, oh wow, okay he's the 00:24:11.390 --> 00:24:14.150 He's like Dwight K. Schrute to Michael Scott. 00:24:14.289 --> 00:24:18.170 He's like the assistant to the assistant regional 00:24:18.170 --> 00:24:20.089 manager type thing. You know what I'm saying? 00:24:20.210 --> 00:24:22.369 What did you want to talk about with the defensive 00:24:22.369 --> 00:24:24.970 coordinator stuff? This threw me. Guys, Bill 00:24:24.970 --> 00:24:26.990 throws me notes as to what he wants to talk about 00:24:26.990 --> 00:24:29.509 that day. And he's got a DC thing on him. I'm 00:24:29.509 --> 00:24:32.069 like, we have, Calvin, we're not going anywhere. 00:24:32.410 --> 00:24:35.509 So if we're willing, the Lions willing to do 00:24:35.509 --> 00:24:39.049 this on offense. Who would you like to be? You 00:24:39.049 --> 00:24:42.809 know the ying to Kelvin Sheppard's Yang because 00:24:42.809 --> 00:24:45.789 I think as a first -year defensive coordinator 00:24:45.789 --> 00:24:48.849 Down the stretch last four or five games Kelvin 00:24:48.849 --> 00:24:50.970 Sheppard looked a little bit overwhelmed. I'm 00:24:50.970 --> 00:24:53.519 gonna discount the last game of the year's the 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:56.059 Bears game. I don't know why you want. Do you? 00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:58.660 You're asking you want a situation like Mike 00:24:58.660 --> 00:25:01.140 Kafka for the defensive side of the ball to chat. 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:04.160 They're like a specialist. Yes, because they're 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:06.500 great. You want to keep Calvin on staff chat. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:11.160 I would hire Brian Flores tomorrow. OK, as assistant 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:15.180 head coach. Is he available? He's out of contract 00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:17.619 with the Vikings. True. That's a good point. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:20.700 And the question is, are the cardinals? Raiders 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:23.359 or Brown's gonna hire him. I believe nobody else 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:25.579 has a job opening now that he's got some stink 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:28.660 on him You know, he's got some issues. He's got 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:30.700 some stink on him. Yeah, cuz he's amy fallout 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:34.140 He sued the NFL for racial discrimination, which 00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:37.940 yes Have we looked at that coach? I hires like 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:40.660 there's talk. I don't know outside of Robert 00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:43.460 Salah They haven't hired anybody of I'd like 00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:46.160 Robert Salah if he was available that'd be great, 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:49.319 but he's not okay So let's talk in reality. Yeah 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:53.000 Would give him whatever he wants. It's a one 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:56.039 -year. He's just gonna come in Flores Oh, yeah, 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:59.500 I would give him I would I would pay him I would 00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:01.259 make him the highest paid assistant in the history 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:04.619 of the NFL Okay, knowing that he won't be around 00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:07.660 for long And if he's as good as advertised as 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:10.160 he has been with the Vikings, you know, guess 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:16.230 what best scenario he stays so That is my I do 00:26:16.230 --> 00:26:17.990 think Kelvin Shepard is not going to be long 00:26:17.990 --> 00:26:19.869 for this organization. He interviewed with the 00:26:19.869 --> 00:26:22.710 Dolphins. Do I think he's that good? No, but 00:26:22.710 --> 00:26:25.329 because, you know, opportunities are going to 00:26:25.329 --> 00:26:29.109 arise. Yeah. And I'm good with it. I have one 00:26:29.109 --> 00:26:33.210 more for you. Okay. Jim Schwartz. I mean, he's 00:26:33.210 --> 00:26:38.529 the only man that wants the Brown's job. Again, 00:26:38.769 --> 00:26:42.789 bring him in. Special. He's Dwight K. Schrute 00:26:42.789 --> 00:26:48.480 too. Michael Scott MCDC and he can dictate, you 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:53.180 know what I like Sala I like Available I'm fine 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:55.500 with all three of those guys. I know but I wish 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:57.400 we would have I wish he would have been our D 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:59.980 Courtney I wish I wanted him to hire him as head 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:01.640 coach back in the day when he was available, 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:05.720 but That's I like his he's got a ball dumb too. 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:09.559 So now he would completely fit with Wait a second 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:11.539 rest of the crew. There's not enough hair there 00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:15.519 Not enough hair? Now you need hair? Now you need 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:19.140 somebody with hair to fill in. Hence, Florence. 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:21.660 So our D coordinators have to have hair is basically 00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:26.039 your rule. Okay, very good. Chet Ying Yang. Folks, 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:28.660 we're gonna leave you there for this wonderful 00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:31.319 episode. This little ketchup pod for the lion's 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:34.220 litter box. Thanks for listening. We'll keep 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:36.480 you guys posted if anything incredible happens 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:40.190 between now and the draft. But, yep, keep an 00:27:40.190 --> 00:27:42.769 eye out for the sister podcast, the Litterbox 00:27:42.769 --> 00:27:45.730 Detroit Tigers. We'll be back for a new season 00:27:45.730 --> 00:27:47.769 with that. We'll give you some updates there 00:27:47.769 --> 00:27:51.349 likewise. Until then, so long and go Lions in 00:27:51.349 --> 00:27:52.710 the offseason. Go Lions.