2025 Preseason Game Day Threads

[Jason_R]

I don't know why I assumed Hooker would get the start last night, but I was disappointed that the guy they drafted and have been working with for three years got clean-up duty after a guy they just signed. 

I guess if you get Gibbs, Campbell, Laporta, and Branch in one draft, you can't complain too much about your Hendon Hookers, Brodric Martins, and Colby Sorsdals, but boy that third round is looking 🤮.

[RedRamage]

9 hours ago, buddha said:

3) the lions look terrible.

I'm just not sure how much importance to put on this one, ya know?

But, how much of that is:

• no starters playing
• not enough time for the scrubs to learn the system 
• how limited the offense and defense were in terms of play calling
• the players are bad
• the new OC/DC don't know what their doing

Of the first three I'm absolutely certain it played a factor. I'm not sure on the last two but I suspect there was a part there that played a factor as well. The real question what percentage each of those contributed to the team looking bad? And of course there's no way to know that right now. We'll have to see how the rest of preseason and, more importantly, how the season starts.

[RedRamage]

9 hours ago, buddha said:

all the talk about hooker being better looks to be a lie.  he looks like the same deer in the same headlights he's always been.  very disappointing tonight.

It was a "middle" risk, high reward pick. If Hooker panned out and if Goff didn't didn't repeat his performance Holmes would have looked like a genius. Right now it looks like a wasted 3rd round pick... which isn't the worst thing in the world, but certainly isn't a good thing either.

I just looked back at the 2023 draft for round 3 and I don't see any names I recognize but I also am not expert enough in other teams to know if those are solid contributors who just aren't household names either. So I don't think we "missed out" on some star by picking Hooker, but a solid rotational guy certainly seems like it would have brough more value that what we've got from Hooker so far, or likely to get from him in the future.

On a completely side note: As I scanned through the list I notice that there are two "Byron Young" players taken in the 3rd round. The first was a DT drafted by the Raiders. The second a DE taken by the Rams. Now obviously the player himself knew ahead of time because we see that the teams call the guys before they announce the picks on air, but it must of have been a bit weird if Byron Young (the DE) was a friend or distant relative to hear his name called at pick 70, only to see it wasn't your Byron Young... and then just 7 picks later your Byron Young is drafted.

[RedRamage]

26 minutes ago, Jason_R said:

I don't know why I assumed Hooker would get the start last night, but I was disappointed that the guy they drafted and have been working with for three years got clean-up duty after a guy they just signed. 

I thought about that too but then I thought I could easily justify the decision from two completely opposite ways so decided I just shouldn't read too much into it right now.

Pro: The Lions know what they have in Hooker and they're comfortable with what they see, so they put in the other guy to get some "game tape" on him and get a better evaluation with better players. It's not that they don't like Hooker it's just that the wanted to see the new guy under the best reasonable conditions to get a good evaluation on him.

Con: The Lions know what they have in Hooker and they're not terribly impressed so they want to give the new guy the best shot to evaluate him and make sure he's ready to be the primary back up.

[Jason_R]

What I would be interested in, and maybe what one of the enterprising reporters who lurk  here might look into, is whether there were any obvious changes to offensive or defensive schemes or formations as compared to last year. 

The key issue this season is not the roster, at least not beyond player health, it is the changes in coordinator. I am not smart or attentive enough to know whether there were any obvious differences on display last night.

[Motown Bombers]

I think it would be hard to tell as in the preseason you run a pretty vanilla scheme. 

[buddha]

6 hours ago, RedRamage said:

It was a "middle" risk, high reward pick. If Hooker panned out and if Goff didn't didn't repeat his performance Holmes would have looked like a genius. Right now it looks like a wasted 3rd round pick... which isn't the worst thing in the world, but certainly isn't a good thing either.

I just looked back at the 2023 draft for round 3 and I don't see any names I recognize but I also am not expert enough in other teams to know if those are solid contributors who just aren't household names either. So I don't think we "missed out" on some star by picking Hooker, but a solid rotational guy certainly seems like it would have brough more value that what we've got from Hooker so far, or likely to get from him in the future.

On a completely side note: As I scanned through the list I notice that there are two "Byron Young" players taken in the 3rd round. The first was a DT drafted by the Raiders. The second a DE taken by the Rams. Now obviously the player himself knew ahead of time because we see that the teams call the guys before they announce the picks on air, but it must of have been a bit weird if Byron Young (the DE) was a friend or distant relative to hear his name called at pick 70, only to see it wasn't your Byron Young... and then just 7 picks later your Byron Young is drafted.

im not disappointed in the pick.  it was a good risk to take and he may still end up being an ok backup.

[Longgone]

4 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

I think it would be hard to tell as in the preseason you run a pretty vanilla scheme. 

In the second half of the first preseason game, as a quarterback, you are basically operating in chaos.

[Motown Bombers]

The Lions only scored 3 points in their preseason opener last year. 

[MichiganCardinal]

31 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

The Lions only scored 3 points in their preseason opener last year. 

And look how that turned around it, a Divisional Round exit. /s

[MichiganCardinal]

Detroit Lions (0-1) @ Atlanta Falcons (0-0)

 

          vs.          

Setting: 08/08/2025 7:00pm EST on FOX

Site: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA

Weather: Climate Controlled

Opening Spread: Lions -3.5

All-Time Series Record: Lions lead, 26-14

Last Meeting: 09/24/2023, Lions won 20-6

[Motown Bombers]

I can't imagine there are many teams in the league where the Lions all-time record against them 12 games over 500. 

[MichiganCardinal]

19 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

I can't imagine there are many teams in the league where the Lions all-time record against them 12 games over 500. 

Just the Falcons in that category. The Browns (16-5), Jaguars (6-3), Falcons (26-14), Cardinals (38-28-6), Giants (24-21-1), Jets (8-7), and Buccaneers (32-29) are the only active teams the Lions have an all-time winning record against.

They’re also tied all-time with the Saints (13-13-1) and Raiders (7-7)

[MichiganCardinal]

I’m curious to see the snap counts at the WR position tomorrow.

I think Lovett and Tim Patrick are battling for the 5th seat in that room, and I might give Lovett the edge based on his special teams ability.

[Motown Bombers]

Patrick is the #3. The receiver room seems set. St Brown, Williams, Patrick, Raymond, Teslaa. I could see Teslaa moving ahead of Raymond. 

[MichiganCardinal]

12 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

Patrick is the #3. The receiver room seems set. St Brown, Williams, Patrick, Raymond, Teslaa. I could see Teslaa moving ahead of Raymond. 

Reports out of camp have seemed to indicate that TeSlaa is outperforming Patrick. I don’t think they are married to keeping Patrick if TeSlaa is ready on day one.

[Sports_Freak]

8 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Reports out of camp have seemed to indicate that TeSlaa is outperforming Patrick. I don’t think they are married to keeping Patrick if TeSlaa is ready on day one.

His veteran leadership is kinda valuable. Ease the rookie in...

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

They need a backup QB because Hooker simply doesn't have it thus far. What a waste of a 3rd round pick. 

[Tigeraholic1]

Hooker has shown that he ain’t him. He just doesn’t have it. Need to find a vet after cuts and hope for the best.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

That was a weak roughing the passer call. 

[Motown Bombers]

Broderic Martin sighting. He's playing well. 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

TeSlaa looking good tonight too.

[Motown Bombers]

Have a feeling Hooker will be on the street soon. 

[Motown Bombers]

Ambulance on the field. Seemed like they knew instantly it was bad.