Detroit Lions Breakdown Podcast

January 23, 2020January 3, 2025

Episode #138: Senior Bowl Preview

This week Matt Patricia got to make a lot of noise at the Senior Bowl, as ESPN mic’d him up for practice. The Lions coaches got to remain busy while observing this years’ draft class go through a week’s worth of practices leading up to the game on Saturday. Erik and Joe discuss who the Lions may unearth based off of what they’ve seen in Mobile.

The Lions still have 3 coaching spots open
Should the Lions have a full staff at the senior bowl and did they miss an opportunity by not having a full staff in place?
Who got to be stand-in coaches this week?
Jeff Davidson acted as coach emeritus at the Senior Bowl
Kenny Golladay added to the Pro Bowl roster
Darius Slay to showcase himself in the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown
North Roster
Previewing the Senior Bowl: Wide receivers
Previewing the Senior Bowl: Small school stars
Senior Bowl weights and measures: 20 prospects who hit the Lions benchmarks
Darrell Bevell mic’d up along with Patricia
Erik and Joe discuss Patricia’s quote of the week: “No one that rushes the passer well uses finesse. It’s all power“
Patricia states that it is, “Way too early” to know if the Lions are interested in trading the No. 3 pick
A dip into the listener mailbag
Who have the Lions been focused on during practices?
Javon Kinlaw versus Derrick Brown, how do they stack up?
Is trading down still realistic?

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January 16, 2020January 3, 2025

Episode #137: Coordinators Hired

The Lions are filling out the ranks at the top with the additions of a new Defensive and Special Teams Coordinator. This week Erik and Joe discuss the coaching staff and many of the potential rookies that could find themselves in Honolulu Blue and Silver next year.

Lions make Eagles DB coach Cory Undlin as their defensive coordinator
What is Undlin’s connection to Patricia?
Undlin has connections to 8 Defensive Backs that will be free agents
Lions have added Bengals’ assistant Brayden Coombs to be the new special teams coordinator
What Coombs will bring to the Lions
Looks like Lions QB coach Sean Ryan will remain in Detroit, with the Panthers hiring LSU’s Joe Brady
Three position coaching spots are still open
Erik explains how the Senior Bowl works
Bob Quinn will attend some of the East-West Shrine practices
Erik’s favorite players from the Shrine Game
Alabama QB Tua Tagovaiola will work out for teams before the draft, so the Lions will have a gauge on how much their #3 pick will be worth
#OnePride Lions Fan Mock Draft 2.0
Lions Mock Draft Round up — a bunch of new names emerge for the #3 pick
How Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons will fit in their defense
The Lions should consider these 7 free agent pass rushers
Listener draft questions
Alex Karras elected to Pro Football Hall-of-Fame

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January 9, 2020January 3, 2025

Episode #136: Answering the Mailbag

Now in Week 2 of the offseason Erik and Joe delve into the mailbag for the first time since the season began.

Updating the Lions coaching search highlighting DC and Special Teams Coordinator
Hank Fraley gets to lose “assistant” from his title
Billy Yates replaces Fraley as assistant offensive line coach
QB coach Sean Ryan is now a heavy favorite to be the Carolina Panthers new offensive coordinator
Erik goes over the front runners for the coordinator spots
Will the Ford’s “win now” mandate change the way Quinn approaches the offseason?
RB Tra Carson returns on a reserve/futures contract
What free agents are the Lions looking at?
What could the Lions get with the 3rd overall pick via trade
What are the plusses/minuses of selecting a quarterback at pick No. 3?
Which pass rushers could be an appropriate at #3?
Erik and Joe discuss the first #OnePride fan-driven mock draft this offseason
OSU CB Jeffery Okudah is emerging as a popular choice among Lion mock drafts

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January 2, 2020January 3, 2025

Episode #135: We’re Onto the Offseason

The Lions season mercifully ended on Sunday with a 23-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The team heads into the offseason with a 3-12-1 record and the 3rd overall pick in the NFL Draft. This week Erik and Joe begin to discuss the coaching turnover and the impending player turnover.

DC Paul Pasqualoni and OL coach Jeff Davidson avoid the firing squad by “stepping away from coaching”
4 other assistant coaches, and 2 strength and conditioning coaches were not so lucky
Who might replace Pasqualoni at defensive coordinator
Contract status of every Lions player heading into the offseason
11 players were added to the roster via Reserve/Futures contracts, added 3 more the next day
For the season Matthew Stafford and Trey Flowers received the highest PFF marks
Kenny Golladay sets a new career-high in receiving yards and leads the NFL in touchdown receptions
Damon Harrison may retire
Tracy Walker finishes the season with over 100 tackles
The Lions unrestricted free agents, ranked
Graham Glasgow… re-sign him or let him walk?
Lions will pick 3rd in 2020 draft
The Lions will coach in the Senior Bowl
It is once again possible the Lions will end up on HBO’s “Hard Knocks”
Jeff Risdon penned his initial Lions 7 round Mock Draft

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December 26, 2019January 3, 2025

Episode #134: Packers Week 17 Preview

The Lions long and disastrous season came one game closer to the end this past Sunday as the Lions lost in Denver 27-17. This Sunday the sun goes down on the season at Ford Field as the Lions host the 12-3 Packers as the Packers look to potentially lock up the #1 seed in the NFC

Christian Jones and Jahlani Tavai now also on injured reserve
Kerryon Johnson returns to game action
DE Jonathan Wynn goes from practice squad to active roster
S A.J. Howard now on the practice squad
Kenny Golladay is the player of the game
Snap Count Review
Lions now in the 3rd spot in 2020 draft, could rise as high as 2, can only drop to 5
One Senior Bowl team will likely be coached by the Lions
The Lions opponents for 2020 are finalized
Vegas opening line favors the Packers by -9.5 points (now much higher)
Special thanks to Lil Maua and Loyal Lion in Cali for the reviews!

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December 20, 2019January 3, 2025

Episode #133: Broncos Week 16 preview

Joe Kania is unavailable this week, so Erik Schlitt is running solo. He discusses last week’s loss to the Buccaneers, updates the Lions injuries, reviews the latest news from Allen Park and previews the Lions Week 16 game against the Denver Broncos.

Discussed this week:

Ownership is retaining GM Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia for at least the 2020 season
Rod Wood says prices are staying the same or being lowered and more importantly, the Ford’s are not interested in selling team
Wednesday and Thursday’s injury report
Kerryon Johnson looks close to returning
Matthew Stafford, Jarrad Davis, Mike Daniels, Joe Dahl, and Kenny Wiggins placed on injured reserve
Wes Hills and Dan Skipper promoted to the active roster ahead of this week’s game
Lions claim OL Caleb Benenoch off of waivers and Signed DL Jamie Meder
Lions sign LB Christian Sam and NT Olive Sagapolu to the practice squad
Review the Buccaneers loss
Danny Amendola was the Player of The Game
Darius Slay is going to the Pro Bowl for the 3rd consecutive year
Examining all the Lions draft pick scenarios, currently have the 5th pick
Examining the key matchups to a Lions victory over the Broncos
Vegas opening line favors the Broncos by -6.5 points

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December 12, 2019January 3, 2025

Episode #132: Buccaneers Week 15 Preview

Last week the Lions traveled to Minneapolis and suffered their 6th straight defeat at the hands of the Vikings 20-7. This loss was the 9th in the last 10 games and has vaulted the team to the 5th pick in the NFL draft. This Sunday the Lions return to the friendly confines of Ford Field where they will face the 6-7 Buccaneers.

Wednesday’s injury report,Thursday’s injury report
Kerryon Johnson finds himself practicing, could potentially play in Week 16
The season is over for WR Marvin Jones as he heads to IR
DL Da’Shawn Hand placed on injured reserve for the second straight year
WR Travis Fulgham promoted to the 53-man
DL Frank Herron is now an ex-Dolphin as the Lions plucked him from their practice squad
What the Lions can expect out of Herron
WR Jon Duhart finds his way back on the practice squad
LB Anthony Pittman is back on the practice squad, releasedTE Cole Herdman
WR Chris Lacy will be looking at more opportunities
Mike Daniels and Sam Martin make PFF’s Week 14 Team of the Week
Kenny Golladay turning out another great season, passing the 1,000 yard receiving mark again
Tracy Walker – Player of the Game
Jahlani Tavai and Amani Oruwariye find themselves with roles increasing
Lions now have the 5th pick in 2020 draft
Lions projected to have at least $47 million as the salary cap increases
Bucs QB Jameis Winston will not miss Sunday despite nursing a broken thumb
Bucs WR Mike Evans‘ season is likely over
Buccaneers favoredby -3.5 points

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December 7, 2019January 3, 2025

Episode #131: Vikings Week 14 Preview

For the 41st time the Lions lost on Thanksgiving Day, this time to the Chicago Bears where Mitch Trubisky was the shining star again. On Sunday the Lions will face the 8-4 Vikings in Minneapolis, who are coming off a Monday Night Football loss to the Seahawks. Erik and Joe talk about the game as the ship continues to ease its’ way to the bottom of the sea.

Injuries from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Kerryon Johnson is back with the team practicing, it will be possible for him to play starting Week 16
Marvin Hall,Jeff Driskel, and T.J. Hockenson all have their seasons end as the head for injured reserve
QB Kyle Sloter is the new backup QB
WR Chris Lacy and LB Jason Cabinda have been promoted to the active roster
Practice squad adds: QB Joe Callahan, WR/KR Victor Bolden, TE Cole Herdman, and Punter Jack Fox
LB Anthony Pittman, and Punter Matt Wile find themselves released
David Blough not bad in his first start, very comfortable
WR Kenny Golladay takes Blough’s first NFL completion, and 2nd pass, 75 yards to the house
David Blough ends up as Player of the Game
Blough also the most impressive rookie
The Silver (and Blue) Lining
Snap Counts: Bo Scarbrough continues to dominate touches
Film Study: Scarbrough is officially the lead back
Lions defense is a 4th quarter sieve
Lions finally mathematically eliminated from the Playoffs
If the season ended today, Lions pick 6th in 2020 draft
Vegas likes the Vikings from the get-go by -13.5 points
Vikings injuries
My Cause My Cleats… David Blough is representing Tyler Trent from their days at Purdue

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November 27, 2019January 3, 2025

Episode #130: Bears Week 13 Preview

On Sunday the Lions fell to the 1-9 (now 2-9) Redskins 19-16 which featured 3 Jeff Driskel interceptions, a 91 yard kickoff return for touchdown, a punt returned from the 1 yard line for some reason and numerous other miscues. This Thursday, for the 80th time, the Lions will host their annual Thanksgiving game, this time vs the Chicago Bears. Erik and Joe will discuss the debacle of the Washington game and what to

Injury Report: From Monday and Tuesday
Matthew Stafford really wants to play again this season, which is a bad idea
TE Isaac Nauta joins the active roster before the Washington game
11 of the 46 actives were rookies on Sunday
Amani Oruwariye and Nauta were rookies that stood out
Short discussions on the special teams disasters
Player of the game: Bo Scarbrough
Taylor Decker is on a run of being the NFLs best Left Tackle in 3 of the last 4 weeks, per Pro-Football Focus
Oruwariye piles up snaps in Rashaan Melvin’s absence
Taylor Decker also finds himself for the 3rd time in 4 weeks on the Week 12 Team Of The Week
If the season ended today the Lions would pick 7th in the 2020 draft
The Bears are more injury-riddled than the last time these 2 played. Any Bear we mentioned during the podcast with injury concerns is likely not playing Thursday
The Vegas line initially was Lions favored -1.5 points but has swung greatly and now the Bears are favored by -2.5 points

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November 21, 2019January 3, 2025

Episode #129: Washington Week 12 Preview

The Lions suffered a 35-27 loss to the Cowboys this past Sunday and sunk to a 3-6-1 record. This Sunday they will get one of their final chances to be favored by the sharps in Vegas as they visit FedEx Field to take on the 1-9 Redskins