RedRamage Posted October 31 Posted October 31 5 hours ago, Motown Bombers said: Didn’t the media say their window was closed after 2023? Meh... the media - specifically the national talking heads - say a lot of stuff. And I truly think much of what they say is designed to attract attention (negative or positive) more than it is to try to convey what they actually think. Quote
gehringer_2 Posted October 31 Posted October 31 5 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said: "Windows" are different in the NFL than they are in other sports. It's not like we have a rotation of aces and a lineup of bats that will need to be locked up on decade-long contracts that will either (a) cripple the team in seven years with mediocre performance we can't afford to cut or (b) cripple the team with replacement level players when they are all traded. In the NFL, it's all about winning 10-11+ games and being hot enough in January to win 3-4 in a row. A lot of that is talent, absolutely. But a lot of it is also just health and cohesion and everything working in synch at the right time. I think it's something this year's team understands on a fundamental level, and it's why a guy like Decker is taking an extra game off against an opponent like the Chiefs. I bet you he plays on Thanksgiving against the Packers. For as fun a run as 2023 was, I think 2022 could have been special in its own right if the refs didn't bungle the ending of the Seahawks-Rams game. That team was hot and they weren't going to just roll over against the 49ers in the wildcard round. Likewise, the Rams were hot in 2023 when they came into Ford Field. If a couple 4th downs went their way and they squeezed by us, it wouldn't have surprised me to see them go the distance as a 6-seed. As a final example, the Commanders were probably the least talented team on the NFC side last season. But they caught the Bucs on a walk-off field goal and then the defensively depleted Lions flat footed. Just like that, a game away from the Super Bowl. Football is just different. We can ride this wave a long time if the front office does it right, which they are. all this. The critical thing to keep it going, and the one that needs a bit of luck, is QB succession. You can't start the process too soon, and when the time does come, you have be at a point where you have enough 'capital' in picks or player to swing a trade or make the move up in the draft to get your guy. Quote
Motown Bombers Posted October 31 Posted October 31 25 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said: all this. The critical thing to keep it going, and the one that needs a bit of luck, is QB succession. You can't start the process too soon, and when the time does come, you have be at a point where you have enough 'capital' in picks or player to swing a trade or make the move up in the draft to get your guy. Or you draft a guy late in the 1st and sit them for a bit like Green Bay or Baltimore. Quote
Mr.TaterSalad Posted Monday at 03:50 PM Posted Monday at 03:50 PM It's trade deadline time. For all my crowing about Trey Hendrickson, the move I actually want them to make the most is to go out and bring back Kevin Zeitler. While Hendrickson would be amazing to have here, if he is cleared and healthy, we actually don't need another DE/Edge Rusher as much as we need a starting Guard. With Mahogany out for an unknown. lengthy amount of time, we need to get a replacement in there fast. This offense is built around and predicated on ball control, running the football, and using play action. Without a good offensive line, that all falls apart. So I want Holmes to go out and bring back Kevin Zeitler or a starting Guard of some sort. I'm also thinking it feels like we need depth at Tackle with how banged up Taylor Decker is. I would love to go out and get another depth piece along the offensive line at Tackle. We have the draft assets to go and do both. The question is, will Holmes make the move or will he hold firm with what he has and keep his draft assets? Quote
4hzglory Posted Monday at 04:16 PM Posted Monday at 04:16 PM 24 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said: It's trade deadline time. For all my crowing about Trey Hendrickson, the move I actually want them to make the most is to go out and bring back Kevin Zeitler. While Hendrickson would be amazing to have here, if he is cleared and healthy, we actually don't need another DE/Edge Rusher as much as we need a starting Guard. With Mahogany out for an unknown. lengthy amount of time, we need to get a replacement in there fast. This offense is built around and predicated on ball control, running the football, and using play action. Without a good offensive line, that all falls apart. So I want Holmes to go out and bring back Kevin Zeitler or a starting Guard of some sort. I'm also thinking it feels like we need depth at Tackle with how banged up Taylor Decker is. I would love to go out and get another depth piece along the offensive line at Tackle. We have the draft assets to go and do both. The question is, will Holmes make the move or will he hold firm with what he has and keep his draft assets? I think Zeitler would be a great get with Mahogany down - only question is his comfort level on the right side when Mahogany played on the left. Quote
1984Echoes Posted Monday at 04:19 PM Author Posted Monday at 04:19 PM Can Ratledge handle switching to Left? Quote
Motown Bombers Posted Monday at 04:24 PM Posted Monday at 04:24 PM I wonder if you would want to switch the rookie midway through the season? Quote
Hongbit Posted Monday at 04:30 PM Posted Monday at 04:30 PM 8 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said: Can Ratledge handle switching to Left? Ratledge to Center, Zeitler to RG, Awosika to LG, and Glasgow to Left Out. Quote
1984Echoes Posted Monday at 04:59 PM Author Posted Monday at 04:59 PM I don't know if Ratledge is ready for Center just yet either. It would be fantastic if he was that ready... But I don't believe that it is so... yet. Quote
Mr.TaterSalad Posted Monday at 05:34 PM Posted Monday at 05:34 PM I've heard TJ Lang and Jon Jansen talk about switching sides as an Offensive Lineman before on the Ticket. They've both said it can be very hard at times and isn't as easy as fans make it out to be. The synchronization you have with the guy next to you, knowing the run and pass block calls for your spot, make it more of a challenge then it would seem. These are guys whose opinions I trust on this. Quote
Motown Bombers Posted Monday at 06:34 PM Posted Monday at 06:34 PM Looking at teams who could make a trade, Bitonio from Cleveland may be a better option than Zietler since he’s an actual LG. Last year if his contract and playing well. 1 Quote
Hongbit Posted Monday at 09:01 PM Posted Monday at 09:01 PM I was guilty of thinking that Ben Johnson was good but not as special as he was made out to be. A product of being around high end talent and Dan Campbell. I was wrong. Ben is an elite play caller and we miss him. 1 Quote
sagnam Posted Tuesday at 10:13 AM Posted Tuesday at 10:13 AM 13 hours ago, Hongbit said: I was guilty of thinking that Ben Johnson was good but not as special as he was made out to be. A product of being around high end talent and Dan Campbell. I was wrong. Ben is an elite play caller and we miss him. Agreed. It’s true that the Lions offense is supremely talented. It’s also true that Johnson’s creativity allows him to design plays to be successful. His creativity and this talent together was amazing. i think it’s similar to what Sheppard has been able to do with the defense. I also think Morton and Glenn are similar. They understand what to call and how to coach, but they don’t have that creativity. They are limited to basic ideas that succeed or fail strictly by the execution of the players. I’d be ok with ending the Morton experiment today. I think he’s shown he’s just not good enough to be in charge of an offense like this and he is holding them back. Quote
RatkoVarda Posted Tuesday at 02:56 PM Posted Tuesday at 02:56 PM 4 hours ago, sagnam said: I’d be ok with ending the Morton experiment today. I think he’s shown he’s just not good enough to be in charge of an offense like this and he is holding them back. so who calls the plays than? Dan Campbell? Brunell? Montgomery? Quote
sagnam Posted Tuesday at 05:46 PM Posted Tuesday at 05:46 PM 2 hours ago, RatkoVarda said: so who calls the plays than? Dan Campbell? Brunell? Montgomery? I am not qualified to make that decision. Hopefully there is another creative mind on the staff waiting for their turn. Quote
Mr.TaterSalad Posted Tuesday at 07:01 PM Posted Tuesday at 07:01 PM As much as I wanted a move to be made today at the deadline, I had a feeling they weren't making a splash move of any kind. I didn't need it to be Trey Hendrickson or insert big name Edge Rusher here for me to feel happy. I really had no expectation that a Hendrickson or Crosby-type player was ever on our radar or coming here, Diana Russini report or otherwise. Over the last couple of days, given the injury to Mahogany, I actually wanted it to be a Guard who has versatility along the front like a Joel Bitonio or Kevin Zeitler. Someone who could play either Guard position or be an emergency Tackle if needed. I doesn't appear, the closer we get to 4pm, that we're making that time of move. They believe in their players and that is that. I hope I am wrong and Holmes has something up his sleave. Quote
Mr.TaterSalad Posted Tuesday at 07:37 PM Posted Tuesday at 07:37 PM If Brad is willing to make a move by trading draft capital to move up and get a completely unproven commodity like Brodric Martin in the draft, why not be willing to move draft capital to go and get a proven commodity like a Joel Bitonio or Kevin Zeitler? They have to know they need real help on their banged up and depleted offensive line, no? It can't be next man up mentality all the time. At some point, as we saw last year with the injuries on defense, a lack of talent catches up with you. 1 Quote
Motown Bombers Posted Tuesday at 07:44 PM Posted Tuesday at 07:44 PM There’s salary cap implications and the Lions don’t have a 3rd round pick which hurts. Quote
Mr.TaterSalad Posted Tuesday at 07:53 PM Posted Tuesday at 07:53 PM That's on Holmes that we don't have a third round pick. I believe Bitonio is on a one year contract with the Browns for $15 million. Zeitler is on a one year deal as well, for around $8.5 million. We have the cap space to absorb those contracts given our current cap situation. The Trey Hendrickson conversation I get. Trying to make an extended deal, beyond a rental, work for him is a lot harder. It involves letting a core piece or two that you've drafted walk. It involves restructuring deals like Goff's and/or St. Browns to fit him under. But adding a Bitonio or Zeitler requires none of that. Quote
Motown Bombers Posted Tuesday at 08:00 PM Posted Tuesday at 08:00 PM 3 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said: That's on Holmes that we don't have a third round pick. I believe Bitonio is on a one year contract with the Browns for $15 million. Zeitler is on a one year deal as well, for around $8.5 million. We have the cap space to absorb those contracts given our current cap situation. The Trey Hendrickson conversation I get. Trying to make an extended deal, beyond a rental, work for him is a lot harder. It involves letting a core piece or two that you've drafted walk. It involves restructuring deals like Goff's and/or St. Browns to fit him under. But adding a Bitonio or Zeitler requires none of that. No we don’t. The Lions need to roll cap space from this year to next year. They helped themselves a little in the short term since they lowered Hutchinson’s cap number the next couple years, but they got at least four more extensions to give out next year plus free agency. Quote
Motown Bombers Posted Tuesday at 08:07 PM Posted Tuesday at 08:07 PM So far, no guards have been traded. They may not even be available. Quote
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