Episode #11: For Better, or Worse

A quiet week in Lions land, but there was still a lot for Erik and Joe to talk about…

  • A special thanks to Scott and Brock for giving us 5 star reviews on the Podcasts App!!
  • The Lions are already making cuts and keeping the roster under 90
  • Unsurprising Matthew Stafford contract extension talk
  • A sasquatch-like sighting of LaGarrette Blount at Metro Airport
  • Blount was May 9th tendered by the Pats, whatever that means
  • Jarrad Davis makes a way too early All-Rookie team
  • Gambling spreads and early season win-loss predictions
  • Are the Lions the team to supplant the Packers in the NFC North
  • Erik takes a look at the current roster vs. the one that took the field in Seattle and if the Lions are better or worse than they were 4 months ago
  • We wrap the show with some ancient personal history talk and thoughts on how to structure a Madden roster

Just a reminder, if you like our show you can subscribe on iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher

As always, thanks for listening. Tweet us (@erikschlitt, @JoeKania_DLB, @lionsbreakdown)

Episode #10: My Friends Call Me “Teez”

To no surprise of football fans the draft was last week, which has resulted in our longest podcast to date…

  • Eric Ebrons 5th year option was picked up
  • The Lions and Giants have interest in LaGarette Blount much to Joe’s dismay
  • Former Viking Matt Asiata will be participating in rookie mini-camp
  • Senior “Fake Generic Title” Brian Xanders leaves the Lions after 4 years of service
  • More Matt talk, this time about Matthew Stafford’s contract extension
  • Joe tackles some Lions trivia
  • Erik breaks down every Lions draft pick from Jarrad Davis to Pat O’Conner, explaining all their QIB failings in between
  • 13 undrafted free agents were all signed and Erik talks about how they fit in with the Lions

Just a reminder, if you like our show you can subscribe on iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher

As always, thanks for listening. Tweet us (@erikschlitt, @JoeKania_DLB, @lionsbreakdown)

Episode #9: Heading to the Draft Launchpad

The draft starts this Thursday 4/28/17.  There is a lot to cover in this episode with the back seven on defense to be evaluated…

  • Reactions to the new uniforms
  • A quick look at the 2017 schedule
  • Matthew Stafford contract extension talk
  • Joe vs. the Mini-Taco Charltons (the Mini-Ditkas would beat us both)
  • The top QIB qualifiers at LB, Erik’s LB article
  • The top QIB qualifiers at CB, Erik’s CB article
  • The top QIB qualifiers at S, Erik’s S article will drop early this week

Up Next: Reactions to the Draft

As always, thanks for listening. Tweet us (@erikschlitt, @JoeKania_DLB, @lionsbreakdown)

Episode #8: Grading the Beef

The draft is now only 3 episodes (14 days) away.  The USDA busy so Erik will do the evaluating of Defensive Line prospects in this episode…

  • Titus Young is headed to prison
  • Erik quizzes Joe on the Final 4 of the Lions Combine of Sorrow
  • Four former college WRs visit Allen Park
  • More David Njoku talk
  • The Lions will unveil their new uniforms
  • Top QIB qualifiers at DT (Erik will have an article up 4/14/17)
  • Will the Lions favor a bigger closed DE or will they go for someone more svelte

Up Next: Linebackers and the Secondary

As always, thanks for listening. Tweet us (@erikschlitt, @JoeKania_DLB, @lionsbreakdown)

Episode #7: Dutch Clark’s Favorite Podcast

The draft is now only 4 episodes (22 days) away.  Erik and Joe will spout out their thoughts and feelings about…

  • Richard Shermans availability
  • A new Lion via Mt. Pleasant
  • The surprising exit of Gunther Cunningham
  • Reactions to Daniel Jeremiah’s latest Mock Draft
  • Potential Lions at TE (hopefully not David Njoku) and their QIB
  • WR fits (likely no targets in the first round)
  • Tony Romo’s retirement plans (They don’t include Phil Simms)

Next week our focus will switch to the defense

As always, thanks for listening. Tweet us (@erikschlitt, @JoeKania_DLB, @lionsbreakdown)

Episode #6: And then… There was QIB

The draft is only 5 episodes (29 days) away.  In this episode Erik rolls out the QIB (Quinn Influenced Benchmark) system.

  • What are the Quinn Influenced Benchmarks for Running Backs
  • Who fits those benchmarks in the early and late rounds
  • There are fewer QIB qualifying scores for Offensive Linemen, who fits currently on Lions?
  • What Offensive Linemen might the Lions target late in the draft?
  • We look at SI’s latest Mock Draft Version 9.0
  • We once again travel to the Rod Wood-shed and listen to the requests he made at the owners meetings.

We will be covering all of the other position groups in the ensuing weeks leading up to the draft.

As always, thanks for listening. Tweet us (@erikschlitt, @JoeKania_DLB, @lionsbreakdown)

Episode #5: Mailbag Time

Its only episode 5 and we’re already doing a mailbag episode. A special thanks goes out to everyone that submitted us a question.

  • What are the Lions draft needs?
  • What does the Lions Draft Board look like?
  • Who does Erik like besides Haason Reddick?
  • Obi Melifonwu? (not a typo)
  • What are the chances of seeing the Lions make a trade in the first round?
  • When might the Lions take a running back?
  • Why do the Lions even consider taking a player with perceived “motor” issues?
  • Who do we see starting right away after drafting them?
  • Why not draft a DE? (Especially when they are so expensive in FA)

It was great getting all the questions and we will definitely do this again.  If anything ever pops into your mind that you might want to hear us talk about, send us a tweet anytime.

As always, thanks for listening. Tweet us (@erikschlitt, @JoeKania_DLB, @lionsbreakdown)

Episode #4: 4th and Lang

Due to a natural disaster we have missed 2 weeks of free agency. We catch up this week chatting about these additions…

  • Keshawn Martin (the man whose punt return never counted)
  • Former journeyman pro basketball player Darren Fells
  • Direct benefactor of Martin’s nullified punt return Rick Wagner
  • Hippo Hot Dogs Hall of Famer T.J. Lang
  • Potential Ngata successor Akeem Spence
  • Rotational DE Cornelius Washington
  • Future starter Paul Worrilow
  • Not Logan Ryan

We wrote this two weeks ago and we nailed it, “We expect the Lions to spend heavily on the Offensive Line, Blocking TE, Linebacker and Corner and mostly address the other needs in the draft.”

As always, thanks for listening. Tweet us (@erikschlitt, @JoeKania_DLB, @lionsbreakdown)

Episode #3: Quinn’s got 99 Problems but Cap Space isn’t One

The cap is up to $167,000,000!  We can only imagine how mad Jim Thorpe and Red Grange are. All free agency talk this week as we look forward to the combine results. In this episode we discuss…

  • The league calendar
  • No options at QB
  • RBs that may have been on your fantasy team last year
  • High priced WR options
  • More sensibly priced TEs
  • High end targets on the OL
  • Pass rush and rush stuffing on the DL
  • Dont’a Hightower and other LBs
  • Plenty of CBs and SS John Cyprien

We expect the Lions to spend heavily on the Offensive Line, Blocking TE, Linebacker and Corner and mostly address the other needs in the draft.

As always, thanks for listening. Tweet us (@erikschlitt, @JoeKania_DLB, @lionsbreakdown)

Episode #2: We Play Hyder and Go Seek

Podcast #2

Moving to the other side of the ball…

  • A look at the Lions available free agents on Defense and Special Teams
  • DT – Khryi Thornton, Tyrunn Walker and Stefan Charles
  • DE – Kerry Hyder and Devin Taylor
  • LB – Josh Bynes, Jon Bostic
  • SS – Rafael Bush (and how Miles Killebrew will take his role)
  • CB – Where they need to look for new Lions
  • Does Erik think Jabril Peppers fits with these Lions?
  • LS – Don Mulbach
  • Salary cap talk, the Lions have a hole burning in their pocket of spending cash.

Note: The names Tavon Austin and Travis Wilson are both really supposed to be Tavon Wilson.

Let us know your thoughts, tweet us (@erikschlitt@JoeKania_DLB@lionsbreakdown)