The Detroit Lions Podcast

In this episode of The Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris, Case, and Sandman cover the kickoff of Detroit Lions Training Camp! We discuss the end of Snacks and Darius Slay holding out, the fact that we are now credentialed media at training camp, Matt Patricia’s injury, Lions 2019 top prospects, Roster Predictions, Power Rankings, adjustments, the hill, and a whole lot more! This is a huge episode jam packed with great Lions info to kick off training camp right. Detroit Lions Podcast – Sandman In The House! We start off welcoming Sandman to the show this week, he will be joining us in our coverage of the Lions Training Camp this year – look for some great reporting from him about what he sees and how this team has changed year over year. He had a keen eye for what last year would look like, and he started calling it from the second week of training camp last year. We’re excited to have him continue to share his talents with us. Next on the Detroit Lions Podcast, we talk about the end of the Slay and Snacks holdouts – huzzah! No more arguments between Chris and Case about the semantics of that one. It could have been a long season otherwise. They may be starting under the NFI designation, but we’ll tell you why not to worry and to be happy for day one of camp. Living The Football Fantasy So much more, our Detroit Lions Podcast Fantasy Football season has opened up! We have made big changes this year as a result of your feedback – no IDP leagues, it’s all team defense, no more cross-league competition it’s you against 11 others for that first place cash, we’ve even got a few Pick ‘Em leagues! /u/A5hcrack did the math and realized we’ve quadrupled the number of prizes. Check it out and sign up at http://DetroitLionsPodcast.com/store We discuss TJ Hockenson and his great day 1 play. Matt Patricia and his injury. Lions Top Prospects for 2019 in DaShawn Hand, Tracy Walker, and Tyrell Crosby. Early roster predictions, the adaptability of Matt Patricia, “The Hill” and a whole lot more. Case even takes the Detroit Lions Podcast ‘Around The Division’. Third Annual Detroit Lions Podcast Training Camp Party! Also, don’t forget about the Third Annual Detroit Lions Podcast Training Camp Party!!  Dean Blandino, (likely) Dan Miller, Jeff Risdon, Case, Sandman, and Chris will all be there. It’s the party of the year, you don’t want to miss it. Everyone you know from the internet will be there and you’ll regret missing out, we promise you! Go to http://party.DetroitLionsPodcast.com to get your tickets. Let us know what you think about the show by commenting in the podcast thread in the subreddit, or by leaving us a voice mail message via Skype at: Detroit Lions Podcast  Your input will help make the show better, and if you leave us a message on Skype, you just might be featured in an upcoming Detroit Lions Podcast!  You can also give us a call at (929) 33-Lions. Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px Shop Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2O8LUti Get Detroit Lions Podcast Merchandise at: https://bit.ly/2JcMKb2 Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Case cover the latest Lions offseason news including the new Madden rankings, Golden Tate and his words on Matthew Stafford, some offseason work that Stafford has put in with a couple of Lions receivers, the biggest concern for the 2019 Lions, and a lot more! Detroit Lions Podcast Apologizes We start off with an apology for last week’s missing show. Chris had to leave town for work and the boys weren’t able to get together to put a show together. The promise to try and make it up to you though… After that we take on the biggest topic of the day, the Lions player rankings in Madden. Chris laments our two highest rated players holding out (Case tries to stem an aneurysm at Chris’s choice of words. With his new ‘stache, it probably would have been a favor if he had). There are many obviously questionable choices and ratings that seem out of touch. It’s just another rating system that attempts to take some subjective information and quantify it. These are never perfect, but it is better than nothing… Next on the Detroit Lions Podcast, we discuss Golden Tate and his reference to Matthew Stafford as the best quarterback that he’s ever played with. Case seems to take exception and wants to dance around in the semantics of the situation. Chris (who seems to always be right – mainly because he writes the show notes) has fun agitating Lt. Jim Dangle. If you don’t get the reference, take a look at this week’s episode on our YouTube channel (first cut releases on Thursday) and evaluate Case’s new look. Summer Practice Builds Teamwork From there the Detroit Lions Podcast discusses the scene of Matthew Stafford’s offseason workout with Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola. After that we move on to cover an article posted by Reddit user /u/Waxxo discussing the biggest concern for the Detroit Lions in 2019. Case provides analysis while Chris finds a different area of concern for this team. Good discussion ensues. The boys also talk about the latest rankings on the Lions offensive line as created by PFF. Case again makes his thoughts on PFF clear, Chris feels that they are as valid as the Madden rankings or any other ranking system. Helping to quantify the subjective is helpful, but always requiring further context. Lastly the Detroit Lions Podcast covers an article posted by Reddit user /u/NFLFan84 in which each team’s biggest sleeper player was chosen. For the Lions, they chose CB Amani Oruwariye. We discuss what it means, and if the contribution of first year cornerbacks is about to push to the fore like it has for tight ends. Let us know what you think about the show by commenting in the podcast thread in the subreddit, or by leaving us a voice mail message via Skype at: Detroit Lions Podcast  Your input will help make the show better, and if you leave us a message on Skype, you just might be featured in an upcoming Detroit Lions Podcast!  You can also give us a call at (929) 33-Lions. Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px Shop Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2O8LUti Get Detroit Lions Podcast Merchandise at: https://bit.ly/2JcMKb2 Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Case cover a number of important Detroit Lions topics including: Nate Burleson on his time in Detroit, Matthew Stafford’s performance under center vs. in the shotgun, the party that no one will want to miss, digging deep on your questions in our mailbag, and we chat about the additional NFL Football Hall Of Fame inductees that might be added this year as a part of the centennial celebration. Detroit Lions Podcast Brings Nate Back We start off with a great quote from Nate Burleson about his time in Detroit. Listening to him speak about the city shows you just how awesome a guy he is, he “gets” the city and its heart. We spend a little bit discussing different players and how you can tell how committed to the city they really are. Next on the Detroit Lions Podcast, we talk about Matthew Stafford’s stats when he plays under center. Specifically, comparing them to when he’s playing out of the shotgun. The stats tell a very interesting story. Jeff Risdon breaks down how those stats should present themselves to Darrell Bevell. We also analyze how he might utilize them when building his offensive scheme. Chris rains on the parade with the idea that the stats might mean something in the Cooter/Lombardi offense, but the changes that Bevell brings might invalidate them. It may not, but it is definitely something to take in mind when building a scheme around the Lions most expensive player. Mailbag time! From there we welcome Jeff Risdon on the show to dive into the Detroit Lions Podcast Mailbag. We field questions from: @MrWoodsLoL, @GMart4041, @Lionsfan1960, @Ray7James, @IanEvan71041877, @SFHCommish_1, Ken in Brandon, and @ThisGuyNeil.  Unfortunately we missed questions from: @ZugIreland, @DCWaz and might just pick them up on the next show. Lots of great discussion here, thank you everyone for the amazing questions – really got us going for a bit. The NFL is proposing changes to the Hall Of Fame this year. The NFL wants to add 20 players to the Hall Of Fame as a part of the league’s centennial celebration. We decide whether its overdue or if it devalues the idea of being a Hall of Fame inductee.  We make arguments from both sides of the equation and weigh them to determine what this might mean across the broader spectrum. Share Your Feedback Let us know what you think about the show by commenting in the podcast thread in the subreddit, or by leaving us a voice mail message via Skype at: Detroit Lions Podcast  Your input will help make the show better, and if you leave us a message on Skype, you just might be featured in an upcoming Detroit Lions Podcast!  You can also give us a call at (929) 33-Lions. Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px Shop Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2O8LUti Get Detroit Lions Podcast Merchandise at: https://bit.ly/2JcMKb2 Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you know you’ve made great friends? When you decide on a vacation week and someone shows up and says, “I covered for you”.  That is what happened this week with Ash Thompson, also known as the “man with the oversized football brain.” Ash is the kind of guy that everyone needs in their life. Give him some love for stepping up via Twitter! Ash has been a writer for the site since the very beginning and has put together an excellent off-season roundup for those who are hungry for Lions chat during this slow period ahead of Training Camp. Huge thanks to Ash, and we hope you enjoy his show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Case kick off what is known as the NFL’s “dead season” with some key news about the team, the podcast and more. We kick off with the final data from our St. Jude fundraising effort. We discuss the recently breaking news about Matthew Stafford’s back – and this time it isn’t just from carrying the team. We set the record straight on the Training Camp Party, talk power rankings, and celebrate the Detroit Lions Podcast anniversary. Who said it’s the “dead season”? Detroit Lions Podcast Scores For St. Jude First off, we need to thank each and every one of you who took part in our St. Jude fundraising drive. What an amazing effort you all put forth. We raised a total of $7,641.38 to help sick kids though the Detroit Lions Podcast Patreon donations, PayPal donations, direct donations to St. Jude, and through our auction. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to I Prevail, Dean Blandino, and the Detroit Lions organization for donating such amazing items to the auction. Then we talk about Matthew Stafford and his sore back. For the first time he’s suffering not from carrying the team, but from real injuries sustained during the season. Stafford suffered from micro-fractures in his back during the season and evidently continued to play even with the injuries. In response, Chris goes on a jag about how Stafford checks all the boxes when it comes to being an amazing man. There may be a real love affair budding in the Detroit Lions Podcast studios, even bigger than the original love for Zach Zenner. We’ll have to see how this competition plays out… Annual Training Camp Party Date Changes The Detroit Lions Podcast Training Camp Party takes center stage next. With the final announcement from the Lions about Training Camp dates, we were able to hone in on the exact date for our annual party.  Tickets will go on sale for Patreon donors on Wednesday and the general public on Saturday at about noon on DetroitLionsPodcast.com.  Lots of information here on guests, prizes, and more! You will not want to miss this event – the landscape is changing… Let us know what you think about the show by commenting in the podcast thread in the subreddit, or by leaving us a voice mail message via Skype at: Detroit Lions Podcast  Your input will help make the show better, and if you leave us a message on Skype, you just might be featured in an upcoming Detroit Lions Podcast!  You can also give us a call at (929) 33-Lions. Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px Shop Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2O8LUti Get Detroit Lions Podcast Merchandise at: https://bit.ly/2JcMKb2 Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris is joined by Jeff ‘The Riz’ Risdon for our last look at the Lions before the time of year known as “the dead zone” begins. We found it important to discuss Damon Harrison again, a little making up for our mistake, and a little further look at his situation. We take a listener’s call on the Calvin situation and then clarify a little bit on contracts in the NFL as well. The boys even sneak in some CBA chatter.  Next, we  touch base on Teez Tabor’s changes, the news about HBO’s Hard Knocks, and some interesting stats about Matthew Stafford. We also discuss a great post about the power of persistence from the subreddit, do a new segment “Pimp My article”, and talk Lions upcoming important dates. Detroit Lions Podcast Corrects The Record Chris has to apologize for saying Rosenhaus negotiated Snacks’ current contract. We knew he didn’t but we all brain farted last week when we discussed the situation. We break down what things look like for Harrison and how things may play out. From there we take a Detroit Lions Podcast listener’s call on the Calvin Johnson situation. We weigh in on it a bit and talk about negotiating contracts and where people may be getting hung up when they talk about players’ monetary figures. Additionally, we preview portions of the CBA to be addressed in the next agreement. Its also worth pointing out that current player movements and negotiations may be foreshadowing for what to look for. Meinke Brings Tabor To Life Kyle Meinke wrote an excellent article about Teez Tabor and how his life has changed over the last few years, particularly heading into this year. Teez visited an event held by the Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Initiative: The Brotherhood & Sisterhood in a pretty rough section of Detroit and spent some time speaking with kids about life. He spoke about how his circumstances were similar to theirs, how he had come up out of a tough neighborhood, and how he had stumbled along the way. He also talked about how doing the right things can help these kids rise above the situation they were born into, how they can also succeed. Tabor also discussed how it took a long time and a lot of inner reflection to get to where he is today. Working for a new start for himself with the Lions in the NFL. The Detroit Lions Podcast discusses how a lot of credit should go to Tabor, the Lions players, and Lions management for the work they are doing to help confront social injustice. This exemplifies a great effort and a huge push forward that can hopefully make a big impact on a number of young lives. Well written by Meinke, definitely worth a read. Knocking On A Different Door From there the Detroit Lions Podcast discuss HBO’s Hard Knocks, some interesting 2018 Matthew Stafford statistics (we sneak a Kelly Stafford update in there too!), and speak to the question from jahvidsanders44 in the Detroit Lions subreddit in which he asks: “Do you think part of the reason for our Super Bowl drought is because we don’t stick to a plan?” A great conversation ensues. Let us know what you think about the show by commenting in the podcast thread in the subreddit, or by leaving us a voice mail message via Skype at: Detroit Lions Podcast  Your input will help make the show better, and if you leave us a message on Skype, you just might be featured in an upcoming Detroit Lions Podcast!  You can also give us a call at (929) 33-Lions. Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px Shop Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2O8LUti Get Detroit Lions Podcast Merchandise at: https://bit.ly/2JcMKb2 Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Case kick off mandatory mini-camp, discuss Hard Knocks, and dissect the offensive line.  We’re also joined by Jeff ‘The Riz’ Risdon to discuss the newly breaking contract dispute with Darius Slay and Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison. Detroit Lions Podcast Is Ready For Hard Knocks We kick it all off with the chatter that won’t go away – HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’. While we both love and hate the idea of the Lions being featured, in the end we just want an answer. It sounds like it’s down to the Lions and Raiders and we talk about the logic behind HBO picking either one. We take another look at Teez Tabor and some changes he’s gone through in the last year. He sounds like he has really buckled down and is working on his game harder than ever. We discuss what that mean for him and how the team should assess his performance. It’s not time to give up just yet. Then the Detroit Lions Podcast opens the book on CJ Anderson and what he means to Detroit’s offense. With Kerryon Johnson’s injury history, it’s good to have a hungry back itching to break out. Anderson brings that to Detroit and even as a “second on the committee” back, he will make a noticeable impact this year. This could be a good year for Anderson and Lions fans, definitely one to watch. Offensive Lines Aren’t Offensive Well, the offensive line seems to be locked in at this point. Things could switch up but the Taylor Decker – Kenny Wiggins – Frank Ragnow – Graham Glasgow – Rick Wagner crew seems to have locks on their spots. What does this mean for the team, and its most expensive player, Matthew Stafford? The Detroit Lions Podcast breaks it down. After that we discuss Calvin Johnson, he’s back in Lions news – and it’s not hugs and cuddles. He’s put a price on hugs and snuggles with Lions – likely over the market rate. We go over the situation, and even wind up with a caller who brings the conversation to an excellent conclusion. Contracting Something Ugly Lastly we are joined by Jeff Risdon to discuss the week’s big news, Darius Slay and Damon Harrison not showing up at mandatory mini-camp. This is both frustrating and depressing for Lions fans, and it is likely for Slay and Snacks as well.  We talk about why there are likely different motivations for the players, but a single reason why. We also do a little role playing, and devil’s advocating around the impasse in an effort to provide perspective. In the end we want it all to work out in the best way possible for all involved parties. Let us know what you think about the show by commenting in the podcast thread in the subreddit, or by leaving us a voice mail message via Skype at: Detroit Lions Podcast  Your input will help make the show better, and if you leave us a message on Skype, you just might be featured in an upcoming Detroit Lions Podcast!  You can also give us a call at (929) 33-Lions. Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2NYp8F0 Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px Shop Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2O8LUti Get Detroit Lions Podcast Merchandise at: https://bit.ly/2JcMKb2 Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris is joined by Jeff ‘The Riz’ Risdon to break down the first week in OTAs, have some Hock talk, discuss the broader Lions offensive plans, analyze the CB position, and more! Detroit Lions Podcast OTA Report Out of the gate we dive in to what we learned about the team in their first weeks of OTAs. There was a lot to look at and learn from this team. Tim Twentyman gives us 5 takeaways from week one and we walk through them and what they mean for the team. We take a look at first round draft pick T.J. Hockenson’s performance so far. The Riz talks about what he means to the team and how he can really help Matthew Stafford in a place where he badly needs it. Then the Detroit Lions Podcast takes a look at Darrell Bevell’s offensive strategy and some of the tenants of the offense that he’s bringing.  One thing for sure, they look to be leaning on the defense to win games more than the offense, and that will be different for a lot of fans. Seeing who can accept it and how the team can execute will be one of the stories of the 2019 football season. It makes sense, but definitely leaves us with questions. Is the time right to go against the passing grain in the NFL? Do we have the personnel to execute? What the heck do “shots down field” look like in 2019? There is much here to discuss through camp and into the season. No Clear Corners Darius Slay is still looking for someone to play on the other side of the field from him. It feels better to have Justin Coleman in the slot, but will he line up as the Lions cb2? Questions remain about Quandre Diggs and Jamal Agnew – where will they line up? And of course, Ford, Oruwariye, and Tabor are all still open questions. The Detroit Lions Podcast takes a stab at how things might shake out and why. We spend some time discussing Kelly Stafford and her progress after brain surgery. She shared another update and continues to spark hope for a full recovery. She discusses the mental difficulty that comes with some of the effects so far and how it will take up to 12 months to find out if there are any permanent symptoms as a result. We continue to hope and pray for her full recovery – we know she’s going to use her experience to help others, and often, providing hope is key. Matthew Stafford Humiliates Aaron Rodgers Again She also shared a video of Matthew Stafford absolutely humiliating Aaron Rodgers in the realm of beer chugging. I’m certain that Aaron would have run to hide in the locker room again if he had the chance after being humiliated by Matthew twice in the last 6 months. The story is a little old, but still worth having fun with on the first Detroit Lions Podcast since it happened. Let us know what you think about the show by commenting in the podcast thread in the subreddit, or by leaving us a voice mail message via Skype at: Detroit Lions Podcast  Your input will help make the show better, and if you leave us a message on Skype, you just might be featured in an upcoming Detroit Lions Podcast!  You can also give us a call at (929) 33-Lions. Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px Shop Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2O8LUti Get Detroit Lions Podcast Merchandise at: https://bit.ly/2JcMKb2 Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Case break down the first day of OTAs for the Lions in 2019. We talk about positional movements, listen to player quotes, discuss Taste of the Lions, provide an update on Kelly Stafford, and last, but certainly not least, are joined by Jeff ‘The Riz’ Risdon to get his report from day 1 of OTAs! The Detroit Lions Podcast Has You Covered First, we hit the high points of the Lions last two weeks in ‘This Week In Reddit’ and help provide insights on everything that happened on the week we took off.  We have solid audio from Matthew Stafford about how things went today and which areas they are focusing on at the beginning of camp. We also discuss some positional movements that weren’t a surprise, and should have been expected. The Detroit Lions Podcast also discusses who isn’t in camp.  Should fans should be worried?  We also have a discussion about our old gal Suh being signed by the Bucs in Tampa. We spend some time discussing Kelly Stafford and her progress after brain surgery. She shared another update and it was amazing. She went to a friend’s wedding and looked no worse for the wear. Kelly articulates some of the struggles she’s had as she works through her recovery from surgery. We are inspired by the excellent progress she’s made already. Getting A Taste Of The Lions The Detroit Lions Podcast then bounces in on Taste of the Lions. We cover the great stuff that happened there, including naming Chris’s undercover +1. We then move on to key upcoming dates in the Lions schedule. Let us know what you think about the show by commenting in the podcast thread in the subreddit, or by leaving us a voice mail message via Skype at: Detroit Lions Podcast  Your input will help make the show better, and if you leave us a message on Skype, you just might be featured in an upcoming Detroit Lions Podcast!  You can also give us a call at (929) 33-Lions. Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px Shop Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2O8LUti Get Detroit Lions Podcast Merchandise at: https://bit.ly/2JcMKb2 Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Case break down the Detroit Lions first round 2019 NFL draft pick. We walk through the areas in which we believe TJ Hockenson could help this team as well as key areas to watch in training camp and the preseason. We also spend some time discussing Jahlani Tavai, Kelly Stafford, and more! Detroit Lions Podcast Case Study First, in this Case Study we catalog the TJ Hockenson pick and the many ways in which he helps this Lions team. We analyze this from a number of perspectives including value, scheme, ability, and more. Finally, we cover areas of risk and how to mitigate them. This is a good in-depth conversation about the 2019 Lions first round draft pick. The Detroit Lions Podcast also discusses Jahlani Tavai, who the Lions nabbed in the second round. We don’t go nearly as deep as we did with Hockenson, but we take a look at what he brings. We also discuss why he was taken where he was, and the information that Chris received during the draft itself. Prayers For Kelly We spend a little time discussing Kelly Stafford and her progress after brain surgery. She shared another update and while things are moving slower than anyone wants, there’s a lot to celebrate with her situation. We still wish her the very best in her recovery and will be following closely. Let us know what you think about the show by commenting in the podcast thread in the subreddit, or by leaving us a voice mail message via Skype at: Detroit Lions Podcast  Your input will help make the show better, and if you leave us a message on Skype, you just might be featured in an upcoming Detroit Lions Podcast!  You can also give us a call at (929) 33-Lions. Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px Shop Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2O8LUti Get Detroit Lions Podcast Merchandise at: https://bit.ly/2JcMKb2 Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices