MichiganCardinal

It’s a smart move by Harbaugh. College ball isn’t specialized enough that you need only one starting QB. JJ and Cade will both see the field plenty, and oftentimes together. Naming a starter would just be bad politics.

When Stanford University did away with the Stanford Indians moniker (in 1972, way before it was cool) they put it to the student body to vote on a new nickname. The winner was the Stanford Robber Barons, a derisive nod to Leland Stanford himself. The administration didn’t like that very much and implemented Stanford Cardinal, an option that wasn’t even on the ballot. The more you know.

My mom has had back problems for nearly 30 years. Started with tweaking it helping someone move. Seven surgeries have provided only temporary relief. It’s only finally gotten tolerable in the last five years, when she retired because of the pain and was able to focus on full-time rehabilitation. Back pain is no joke. Even the best doctors don’t know much when it comes down to it.

Levi’s injury concerns me because it’s his back. It’s not like a broken arm or leg that has a set “heal date”, back injuries can linger for decades among anyone, even people who aren’t playing a violent sport for a living. Its not likely ever really going to be like it was five years ago, even if it gets to a place he’s comfortable pushing through. And at his position, every play is like another car wreck, doing more damage to his back.

NFHS (high school) football still has the 5-yard face mask penalty for inadvertent grasping of the face mask, in addition to the 15-yard penalty for grasping and twisting or grasping and tackling. Allows the official to have more latitude in that penalty for this exact reason. NFL did away with the 5-yard variety a number of years ago. Beats me why.

Just watched Hard Knocks episode 3… of all the bubble guys on this team they chose Eze and Pimpleton? Okay I guess.

Yeah I think it comes down to our different valuations of him as a player. I think he’s potential to be a top five TE in the league (though that hasn’t shown itself yet). I don’t have an issue franchising him though if he’s good this year.

I wouldn't approach it like this. He still fills a need on this team for TE1, it's not like James Mitchell or Brock Wright could plug-and-play his role if he wasn't re-signed, so money has to go to a TE somewhere. If he's willing to get paid for being a TE1 but not ask for Travis Kelce or George Kittle type money ($15MM+), I think he's worth it.

I think Hockenson will be much better this year when he doesn’t have to be the best receiving option out there. If your expectations for a 1st round TE are that they be top 3 at their position he may still disappoint, but I think Chark, St. Brown, and eventually JaMo will allow him to be a TE again, rather than a TE *and* our WR1

I believe with the IR rules if a player is placed on IR before the cut to 53, they must be on IR for the entire season, but if the move is made after final cutdowns, they only have to be on for four weeks.

I would think the latter. He can be a valuable asset in the NFL. Just not at that price tag.

I agree with 1 and 3. I don’t think we were that desperate though. Holmes knew we weren’t going to win many games and it’s not as if WR depth was going to magically change that. If Holmes hadn’t seen something in Benson it wouldn’t have happened.

I don’t think there is a real competition for the backup QB role. I have a hard time believing that after more than a year of having both Boyle and Blough on the roster, which the FO favors would boil down to the results of Blough v. 2nd team defenses or Boyle v. 3rd team defenses. They know both of these guys pretty well at this point. I am sure it matters to an extent, but I’d be willing to bet their minds have been largely made up since the decision to cut the depth chart to 2 QBs was made.

I think the same could have been said for Benson last year though.

In hindsight I would walk back my post last night a little. I still think they are more likely to keep Benson than either TK or Cephus and I do think it’s related to the trade, but more so because clearly they saw something they liked about Benson that led to them giving up assets for him. I don’t think they would dig their heels in on a bad trade and say “A is better than B but we have to look good and since we traded for B he is who I’m keeping”. I think that’s kind of what I insinuated last night. I think TK would have to *clearly* be better and more valuable than Benson though to make them bail on Benson. I’m not sure that he has set himself up for that, despite the preseason success. It’s not as if TK would challenge even Josh Reynolds for WR4. Anyway you cut it though it’s a good problem to have.

I think Benson is more likely to make the team than either Kennedy or Cephus, at least in part because of the trade that acquired Benson. Unless their hand is forced, front offices aren't in the game of admitting bad moves within a year of them being made. Benson has played well enough to justify a spot. If I had to guess right now, I would think they try to shop Tom Kennedy for a 6th or 7th round pick to a team not as deep at WR - the Bears and Texans come to mind. If they can't swing a deal, they'll try to stash him on the practice squad if he can clear waivers. If they really want to keep both TK and Benson, they could Waive/Injury Cephus at final cuts and hope he clears to the short-term IR. Ultimately, I think we are talking about the difference between three guys who are ultimately the WR6, WR7, and WR8 on this team (behind Jamo, Chark, St. Brown, Reynolds, and Raymond), and that it won't really matter much at the end of the day.

A Lions victory. A must win and they got it done. Extend Campbell.

I haven't been paying close enough to attention to know if it matters but special teams has really shined today. Big returns on the kickoffs.

Our backup offensive line is allowing Reynolds to absolutely gash the backup Indianapolis defense.

Kidz Bop with the National Anthem. Those poor spectators.

Yep. Stop placating them. The B1G is enabling ND's independence by scheduling with them. Announce that B1G is moving to a 10-team conference schedule, along with an SEC partnership for one game per year. No competitive B1G team will take their one non-conference game that can be a cupcake and schedule ND. ND will be left with table scraps and would join the B1G within two years, when their most competitive game on the schedule is against Miami.

I've been that way for a while now. I could get behind it as Minor League Football if their talent dispersement and playoff format were reasonable.

I’ve predicted 7-10 wins. I think I’m higher on the Lions than others for two reasons: (1) my valuation of last year, and (2) my valuation of the offense this year. With respect to (1), the Lions had only two really bad losses last season- the Bengals and the Eagles. I’m not counting the Broncos because of the COVID backdrop to that game. Every other game they were reasonably competitive, even when they shouldn’t have been (see Rams). They beat a good Cardinals team soundly. They were in position to beat the Ravens, Vikings, Steelers, Browns, and Bears, had a few breaks gone their way. Even with just two of those games going their way, you’re talking about a 5 win team that got healthy and better in the offseason. With respect to (2), offense is what wins games and championships in the NFL nowadays. I’m sure some will call me crazy, but with our offensive line and the addition of JaMo around the halfway point, I think our offense has the ability (if healthy) to be a top ten scoring offense in the NFL. I think there will be games this year where we plain outscored our opponents. It may not be pretty but it will get the job done. I’m not saying that they’re going to compete for the NFC crown, but if this coaching staff is as good as we think they are, I don’t think being on the graphic come December is an unreasonable ask.

🎵 forward down the field…. 🎵

I thought the second episode of HK was good. Not as fun to watch as the first with the novelty wearing off, but still good. I think the bit in the linebackers room where the room gets chastised for a 6th round pick outperforming them says a lot about that room (more than anything Campbell or Holmes say publicly). The bit at the end with Hank Fraley and his son was cute. Would have loved to have my dad be an NFL coach as a kid LOL.