Hour 4: Are the Lions a top 10 team?

0:00I'm going to give back to your phone calls in a moment. Stony off the top of your head. Yes. What do you think the Detroit Lions rank in early preseason before the season starts power rankings? All the teams in the NFL rank one to 32. We're in an appropriate place to slot them. Roughly nine, nine, Kang, uh, preseason before the season starts NFL power rankings. Where do you stony says nine is about the appropriate place to slot them? How do you feel about that? Yeah. I think they're in that ballpark, Stony. I maybe would say like 11 ish, but not too far off. Bucky Brooks just did his top 10. Number one, the Rams, number two, the sea hawks. Number three is, uh, what am I looking at here?

1:03Okay, this didn't print up right three is Seattle. No, I said to a Seattle. Is he of Houston? Number three. No, Denver three. Sorry. Uh, New England for a Philly five Houston six Chicago seven Buffalo eight Jacksonville nine Dallas 10. Not in the top 10. No football talk. Just put out their power rankings. Seattle one Rams to Texans three. They do have Texans three Broncos four bills five bear six Patriots seven Eagles eight Jaguars nine Ravens 10. Lions didn't make the top 10 in either of these two. In fact, pro football talk keeps going. Bengals 11, Chargers 12, chiefs 13 Lions 14. I think that's ridiculous. Personally, how you look if they're safety's and their offensive line do not perform up to snuff, that's where they'll be probably slotted.

2:05But I think their offense is going to be so good that they're going to be a top 10 team in this league. And we'll see what happens after that. I mean, like like Jacksonville, yeah, Trevor Lawrence gets a little better and they're going to have a hunter for a full season. No, I don't think Jacksonville is better than the Lions. Lions also, you know, power rankings don't necessarily, you know, go by wins, but their schedule definitely helps them. Well, yeah. I mean, if this is just a ranking of your roster, although I think even 14, 14. Look at their look how many pro bowl players they have. They have what was it? Five of the top 22 players in the league according to ESPN. I guess this is everybody's opinion, right? But I would love to bet the bet this person who put together or whoever put together pro football talk power rankings that they will be better than the 14th team by the end of the season. Yeah. And like some of the teams, I mean, I feel like everything would have to go wrong. And things can go wrong.

3:06Right. So look, some of the teams have major question like, like Philly. Okay, I think their defense is going to be great. Who knows how good their offense is going to be without AJ Brown? How healthy is Lane Johnson going to be the whole season? Jalen Hertz is like a polarizing figure in the city of Philadelphia. I mean, who knows how good they're going to be Dallas. I happen to think the Cowboys are going to be really good this year, but how many times in our lives of people thought that and they haven't. So it happens all the time. And I hate the Cowboys. It pains me to say that. But I think they're going to be really good. 248, 539, 97, 97. Let's get back to your open mind calls. We're going to David. You're on 97 one. Hello, David. Hello. How are we doing today? Good. What's up? I was just calling in to get your guys opinion on what you think Bryce Underwood wrote this, if you will, for the starting to go. Obviously, he has to have played better. But like, what is better compared to what he's put on table so far?

4:08Got a big opponent opponent coming up this Saturday. Can he play decent and lose and save the job? Or do you think it's like they're on like 10 ice? Like they're looking to put in the back up at any kind of like split the jump of the game? Well, I think and Doug's obviously a lot closer to the program than I am. I think if he plays decent and they lose, I think that he's safe. As long as he keeps playing where he can some see that he's decent and improving. If he keeps getting worse, if he like completely poops the bed on Saturday where he can sit there, okay, it's not just the offensive line. It's definitely him, him, him. I would not be stunned if they make a quarterback change for the next week, which is you tap or that you tap be the final chance for him because it's you tap. I think he might be one no-call. Okay. Chances are if you bench him, he's a good at going.

5:09He's transferring, especially in today's tournament of college football. He's not going to sit like if he gets advanced, that's the end of that book, if you will. David, I think one thing that we're sitting here on a Tuesday, I don't think they're sitting here going, okay, what's our plan with Bryce? They are trying to figure out how they beat Oklahoma and how they prepare Bryce to beat Oklahoma, how they prepare Tommy Card and beat Oklahoma, how they prepare Braden Fowler Nickel, I'll see to beat Oklahoma. It's a hard question to answer because as far as I'm concerned, if they get into this game, all that matters is how do you win the game? That may be with Bryce, it may be without Bryce, but that's trying to say what their decision is going to be is based 100% on, well, what's happening in the game and what can we exploit that they do defensively and maybe they'll say, there's something that Tommy does that will be better against Oklahoma, but I don't think they're sitting around going, okay,

6:14we're giving him a quarter or we're giving him this whole game before the game. I don't think I would be surprised if they predetermined that. And I hope the coaching staff realizes that you're going against one of the best defensive minds in recent college football and Brett. And I struggled against him last year. You had a much better game two weeks later on, the road at Nebraska, but struggled against Brent Vanibles, I guess the Nebraska points are relevant other than say that Vanibles got him Nebraska didn't and he's got another year under his belt. The receiver position should be better. I don't think the past protection was awful. I think they struggle more in the run game. They did the past protection. They put another ball. I can't run the ball. They're really kind of they won't win a game. Let's go to Dennis next on 97 one. Hello, Dennis. Yes, good afternoon guys. I'm enjoying the show. How's everybody? Good, Dennis. Thank you. Good. My question too, I know the emphasis is put on the quarterback and it should, but in a

7:18football game, it's everybody's effort and I didn't see much of a scheme for the running game. And that's what I'm most surprised at with the coach coming in is Monica was supposed to be for a strong running game and I didn't see much there. So I'm just talking about that. Dennis, of all the things that perplexes me, certainly we could all reasonably see that Bryce may or may not make steps forward. You can reasonably see a lot of things. The one thing I did not foresee and doesn't add up to me is their offensive line struggles. It was horrible. Dennis that team a year ago, Michigan with many of the same people, they have 54 starts amongst their five offensive linemen. Everybody's got starting experience. They were second in the big 10 and rushing yards per game. I believe it was 211. They were first in the big 10 and yards per carry at 5.6. Jim Harding is a well respected offensive line coach. They put in another year in the weight room to get to get bigger and stronger. Another year of eating to get bigger and stronger and everybody did get bigger and stronger

8:19and Western lost a bunch up front. A plus B plus C plus D equaled worse than last year. You're looking equal. That was crazy. They couldn't do anything. That's the most. And I hope we can see a change in that. Get a running game going with the quarterback and I hope for better for the team. And one other thing, burn those yellow outfits, please. Thank you. Yeah. It's the first time they warm into big house and it's also the first time they want, they wanted the big house and they were undefeated in those uniforms, having beaten Florida. Right. In those uniforms down in Dallas. They also tied Navy in like 1927 wearing Maze. Oh, God, I remember. If anybody does. Yeah. My father was born in 1927. Was he? No, so I don't think they're going to wear him again. From what I don't believe that's the case. But here's the thing about uniforms. When you don't play well in uniforms, they don't want them back. So I don't think you're going to see him again.

9:22No, they were brutal. Don't think you're going to see them. And I've had some linemos brutal. Everything was just brutal about that game. Everything offensively was brutal. Yeah, defense wasn't bad. But you know, it's Western strength was their offense. So I do think that that was a pretty good job to keep out of the end zone. Yeah. And to hold their rushing attack. I feel like they're rushing attack, which I believed averaged 3.3 yards per carry. Western Michigan. It felt like they were literally getting 3.3. 3.3. That's how they took up all the clock in the third quarter. I mean, and the other day, the penalties, I mean, a lot of it's, you know, a lot of times coaches get blamed for penalties. But when you can't line up properly, you have 12 men on the field. That's on, I think a lot of it's on the coaching. And you had brain fart penalties. Jay Eier Hill, right? He had, there's no reason for him to push off that he was going to intercept that ball. Anyway, that was absurd. Underwood with a holding penalty.

10:22Andrew Marsh, not calling for a fair catch. And to me, as I've said, nauseam, the worst thing schematically or whatever about that game to me was what they did at the end of the first half and not take a knee or just run the ball into the line. They were up 7 to 3 and to come up with that type of pass play called granted underwood looked right into the eyes of the safety. So that's his fault too. It should have been a need. It should have got out of there with a four point leading been happy. It's Carson Anderson open lines 248 539 97 97 97 Oh, let's get back to your open line calls.

11:26We got a Roman in sterling. Hi John 97 one. Hello Roman. Hi Doug. I got a comment on eligibility really. You talked about that earlier. Yeah. People are back around by myself. I watch the NFL. I'm afraid it's my favorite sport, but I don't watch college football. OK. But you're not going to like this comment. I'm going to say in any way, I think once a player goes to college, it's an extra career clarity. Football is, but once you start paying them, becomes a job. And I don't think I don't see how anybody could say you only have five years to do a job unless it's the school. We're talking about outside entity. So let me give you another example. I used to work for new for new shipbuilding. And they have something called a apprentice program there. And what it is, you go to school and you pay, you're going to go to school and you work. And it used to be, you have to be under 24 years old because they want your work a long time. But what happened is people start suing and it was the judge rules, there's a stereotype

12:31that's not really anything. So I could see a point in time when players could sue the NCAA for age stereotyping. But we, Roman, I'm sorry. What are we talking about? We're talking about eligibility. I think a player should be able to play college football and receive an income as long as they want. OK. Well, it's a school says you have to be making, you have to be a student, a registered student, making progress towards your undergraduate degree. You have five years to do so. And if you, once you've got that undergraduate degree, you're done playing college sports, you think you should be able to keep going. Yeah, I think you should be able to keep going because you know, it's all of a sudden it's an income and it's not extra correct where it's going. So you, so you want grown men who are like 30 years old, let's say, who have been in college football for 10 years to go compete against kids that are coming in and playing as freshmen as 18 year olds. Well, you already have 23 year olds competing.

13:34OK. I'm a job in facetious. I mean, it's dangerous. I keep, pardon me. I'm being facetious too. You can't have. Do we want this? Roman, is this something you want? Well, like I said, I don't want your college football, but yeah, I think I want it because I think it's fair. Because all of a sudden it's a job and they want to work at that location or another college to be able to do it. And other places you can get that job once you've graduated. Yes, exactly. Go to the UFL or can you leave? Go to the NFL, go play arena ball. Exactly. But let's say you want to go, you want to keep going to college. I mean, I think you get more exposure going to college because there's other players, you know, you know, with the, and feltings, they're allowed to make rules. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I, I guess in this day and age, we should be cognizant of the fact that every, many decisions are made because of a lawsuit or to avoid a lawsuit.

14:34In fact, I feel like that's how rules are being shaped. True. That's why they didn't see that. I mean, really getting to the point that our guy Roman wants because it's fair that players after five years of eligibility are up, somebody's going to sue to keep playing college football. You know what? I'm suing. I want to play. I want to play for Roman. I'm 67 years old. Damn it. I can still play. That's a stupid. I don't want to be dismissive of a Roman who says I don't even really watch college football. But it just thinks it's fair. I don't know. I want to be just, I want to be dismissive Roman because of one of the stupidest things I've ever heard my life. Yeah. I'm just going to keep playing kids playing college sports for like five years for ten years. What about high school, Roman? Of course, that sounds stupid, but I think I'm trying to think what Roman, what's going through his mind, right?

15:35Why would he bring this up and he says fairness? So if you guys both have kids that went to college, right? Go to college. Yes. If they got a job with the university while they're in college, and then after they graduated, the university still wanted to employ them. They would be able to work there, right? Yep. This is Roman's argument, essentially, isn't it? Kind of like, A. Wait, how's what they could? I still want to work here. You know what I was like, it's an argument like, I don't mean this in a bad way. But I hate Roman. I don't hate Roman. I hate the idea of what are we doing? What are we doing? Well, that's where we're at now, unfortunately. We have people coming over these ideas now because college football has no guard around. Here's the other thing. They are not employees. That is not theirs. Not the collective bargaining. They are not employees. So I think the school can make rules for its students. Yes, I can. I think the schools can make rules for the students.

16:35So maybe that's as simple as it is. The schools also can determine who gets paid NIL money. The schools can say we're stopping your contract after your fifth year is up. Why are we even doing this? I look. I have no idea. I like the bet on Calci Roman's IQ right now. Wow. I didn't say I hate the guy. I don't hate the guy. No, you don't hate him. I don't hate him. I hate his idea. Yeah, it's moronic. Roger and Waterford, what's up, Roger? Yes, I'm calling just to follow up really on Roman's call only in the regard of this. A lot of the people in NIL, they're not going to school at all. So in reality, the eligibility rule is a farce because they're not even going to school. Who do you know that you're not going to school?

17:35They're going to. They might not be actually in a classroom. They're going to school. Online stuff. They're not taking any. If you did a survey of all the NIL players that are being paid throughout the landscape of college football, what percent are actually going to class and what percent are only there because they're being paid by the university. If you are counting online classes, I would say the percentage would be 9. 98 percent. I will tell you that these kind of gross grand statements, they're not even going to class. Right. If somebody's caught not going to class and take care of that, they should be going to class. But that building deals. And you know, that again, I'm not going to co-sign on this. This note, they're not even going to class. No. You know, there's one of the things that that Western Michigan president said is that,

18:39you know, he was a former prosecutor, which was probably why he talked to everybody involved. But the one thing I realized is he wanted accountability to the people involved. So he reached out and talked to all kinds of people. The officials involved in the play, the big 10, the people in the big 10 in charge of officiating, people at the Mid-American conference. Like he talked to everybody. And as a prosecutor, I got the sense of what he was doing. He was looking for accountability. I take this job so seriously that I look for accountability from our audience as well. This guy calls up and says they're not even going to class. He's got nothing to do with that. I want to. Yeah, name him. Tell me who. Yeah. And people get cynical and say, come on, don't kid yourself. None of these guys are going to class. I operate in the world where you got to know before you say something like that. Right. And look, do some of them go to class and they get grades whether they take tests or not. Yeah, probably. Is there an academic fraud happening in collegiate athletics? Yes. I would bet that there is. Yes. But I wouldn't make that the basis for making any decision.

19:40Right. Which is what is what has happened in this conversation. Look, there's been athletes who say, look, I've, I don't go to a classroom. What's his name? Actually sellers from South Carolina. When are sellers? He's got an internship at a driving range, but he got his degree before that. Yeah. And they go. I'm not naive here. Don't get me wrong. I'm talking about changing the rules based on, you know, give me some data if the data's overwhelming or something, but I'm not going to base it upon hyperbolic feeding of, of rumors. All right. Brad and Windsor. Hi, Brad. Hey, how are you doing? What's up? So the Roman guy, I mean, the minute he said that he doesn't watch college football, I'm not sure why he would even have a comment then because he clearly doesn't understand the whole thing about college. And you know, neither do I for that matter. When I first heard a little while ago that they were going to start paying players in

20:43college, I was like, well, is that only because they're making so much money off these guys is back that somebody feels that the players deserve some money. And I think it's a very real thread on disrupting the actual college game. I mean, the whole idea was these guys are hungry and they're trying to prove themselves and they're playing through it to do to make it to the next level. That's what the whole game used to be about. So I'm not really sure all about the whole money thing and how it's worked in. And I don't know if it's going to wreck the game eventually, but so that was my thing as I didn't really understand the whole money thing and the fact that it's now here, well, it's not a job, but I don't know how that's even working, but I just Roman just, I don't understand what he was even thinking. Well, it's intriguing that he parachutes in as a non college football watcher with this opinion. But as he said, he wants it all to be fair. For people miss a call, Roman called and said players should be able to, he wants to

21:46see him sue to get eligibility beyond five years. Yeah, I don't think anybody who watches college football will be in favor of that. No, let's go to shaky and Orton, Vellier on 971. Hello, shaky. Hey, what's going on guys? Well, hey, with that caveat, you just put on it as far as players being able to sue. Like I don't agree with the way Stony put it. Yeah, you can't be 67 years old and decide you want to play college football and sue to play. I don't necessarily think that's what she's saying. But I never thought about it before and you guys can beat me up after you hang up on me. But the guy's kind of got a point. You know what I mean? I mean, if a guy's, it is a job. I'm sorry. You want to work money into the college game. They're no longer amateurs, right? This idea that they're all going to class. Yes, they've got internships and car dealerships. They've got internships at TV studios and all these kinds of things. It's become a job for them. If a guy can still play, you can still play the game.

22:48You can still perform in his position. Doesn't he ever write to keep that job if the team wants him and he wants to play? Not right now. It's not collectively bargained. It's not a job. It's not technically a job. No way though. They're making it. If it gets collectively bargained, it becomes officially a job. And did you refer to yourself in the third person? I do that all the time. I've got names shaking. My parents were hippies. Of course I do. I give myself another third person. Wow. Nice. Stoney does not approve. Ain't no Hutchinson next. Nice of one. I think I got the schedule down now.

23:49Hutch will be joining us on Mondays at 11.30. Throughout the football season, although it gets a little wonky with Monday and Thursday games, Jared Goff will be Tuesday's at 10.30. Okay. What time you're roaming on? Roman came out of from a different perspective. I just think it's I have no interest in a world that Roman, what Roman wants comes. It's an overstate. I have no interest in a college football world. Roman gets what Roman wants, which is players to have. I think it's not going to be a good match. I think it's going to be a good match. A college football world. Roman gets what Roman wants, which is players to have unlimited eligibility. And I told you earlier, my college roommate was listening from New Jersey. And he said, Roman equals the dumbest call of the decade, if not ever. And then he was talking about that other guy, shaky.

24:50And anyone who refers themselves in a third person is a complete tool. Well, the court is a side-feld moment where I want to George likes chicken spicy. I want to make something clear. I do end every show with treat each other with respect. So I know, but that doesn't mean I'm always doing that. Try. I try very hard. And I try to be fair to everybody and let them give their opinions. But why are we even thinking about suing to have guys have unlimited college eligibility? I don't know. The thing is preposterous is trying to sue the su so you can kick LSU out of the league. Well, and they're going to be a vote on Thursday for people just joining us. The SEC chancellors, I guess, are going to get together. And if they get two thirds vote, LSU is getting ejected from the southeastern conference, which is unbelievable. And you say there's no way in hell it's going to happen. I thought there was no way in hell the bears are going to go to Hammond.

25:53And I think the bears are going to end up in Hammond. So we're getting back to something we talked about earlier today, better chance of happening. LSU can kick that OEC or trailing during developing a jump shot. You were specific. You said an eight foot jump shot. Eight foot jump shot. I'm going to go with Dern. Okay. No, but lo and behold, let's have them both happen. Yeah, that would be nice. Okay. So Hutch interview, like the preseason is such a tease. And I asked him, you know, I thought that being that close to football without actually playing football, I thought of my drive him nuts and it obviously doesn't. But I think is for us who as the baseball team fades to black in August, which is what they did. And the attention turns squarely to the coming football season. Anything we get is fantastic. And like all of the Lions key weapons were shelved during the preseason. And hence, I, I can't wait to see the guys play again.

26:57The guys that we're talking about, Almanra and Jamo and Jameer Gibbs are an elite trio of weapons. Laporta's back, Penny Soulden play. You got Jared Goff who's the Maestro, the whole thing. You got Hutch himself. You know, this, there's a lot riding on some players success and failure. And we're kind of taking it as a given that the great players are going to be great. And that's not always a given. But Blake Miller, it's got to be really good. Chuck Clark or Christian Isian or some of those Roger McCreary. Yeah. Some of those guys in the secondary got to step up and make play. No doubt about it. And then you get into the fascinating questions of, okay, was Skylar Gill Howard just a preseason flash in the pan? Or is this guy going to make plays in the regular season? Is Ahmed Hassanine actually going to be a factor on, on passing down? That's where it gets really good. Yeah, you think both those guys will be active. I don't even know. They might not be.

27:57They might not be. I mean, you heard earlier in the show, uh, Dan Campbell rave about Eric O'Neal. Is Eric O'Neal going to be in uniform? Who knows? So all of this starts to get answered this week. Meanwhile, there's a game tomorrow night. In is tomorrow night tomorrow night, it's not the Melbourne game. Melbourne game is the Seattle. Tomorrow's Patriots Seahawks rematch is Super Bowl. Thursday is the Melbourne game. I have been in that stadium. Wow. I have been to the Melbourne, Australian rules football. I have been to the Melbourne cricket ground and I saw, uh, both Aussie rules football and rugby. I saw the first ever night match played in cricket at the Melbourne cricket ground. Wow. Now, it's funny. Since I've been there, it looks like they've done some substantial upgrades. But I've been there. I have an Australian rules football jersey that I, oh, wow. Doesn't fit any.

28:58Do you know what team? Don't tell me, but do you know what team? No. I forget. I have it. I'll tell you. You need to bring it into work. I want to see if I can name the team based on the jersey. I'll send you a picture like is it the black and white Collinwood pinstripes? No, it's got like red black. Red is it ascended? Is it an ascended bomber, Jersey? I don't know. I'll find out when I go home and I'll text you the picture. It's right. Is it fits for all the lines? I don't know. They are defiant. Actually, they move and became the West Coast. By the way, I apologize. As everyone knows, I realized I failed in the Aiden Hutchinson interview. I should have asked them a question in what way? When I brought up the golfing thing he does, he did one with Dylan Larkin. Should I ask him about it? Yeah, so I have an intel. So I got a story for you here. Our crime in studio. Yes. I have no idea how to golf, none whatsoever. So I'm taking lessons. The guy giving me the lessons gave Hutch lessons. Really? How crazy is that? But you said something today that almost had me driving off the road with laughter.

29:59And I just got to tell you, it is all about, I think a listener said it, not if you honk, but how are you honk? And I got to tell you, when I moved here, it listened. Learning the Detroit drivers is an indoctrination man. That's an indoctrination. And let me tell you, the thing that bothered me. So these are otherwise nice people until you get them in their cars. I didn't understand the Michigan left. There was no poop. There was no poop. There was, I lean in on the horn. Why in the heck do they not have a function where you can only honk for two seconds? Just a fact that you can do that till the end of time is ridiculous. Rico, did you hear the scenario that played out for me this morning? No. I was driving to work. I was a second in line in a red light. The light turned green. The car in front of me didn't move. I gave it three seconds, gave it five seconds. I was going to give it all day because it was a, it was a cop. And I'm like, do you beep at a cop?

30:59You not breaking the law? I absolutely would not have beeped it. I would have. I'm not breaking the law. Hey, buddy, you're not slamming the horn. You're just getting a regular. I got stuff to do. I let, I let it ride. I was, I sat there for seven seconds before it. And you didn't make it. You're white, you're fine. Oh. Hahaha. Five did it as a whole. I'm on a T-shirt. Rico, how do you follow that up? I don't. Yeah, I just let it fly. I just, I, we had some police officers call say get the quick polite honk. If you're sitting there on your phone because, you know, you're a cop and I guess you can be on your phone in the car, move. Well, the cops said they frequently have radio traffic or the computer. They're getting messages. I know, which is funny because this whole distracted driving and they literally have a computer in there. They do. They do. But yeah, you would be fine. Why just I played it safe and got to work on time. What do you guys got playing?

31:59Come at them next. Well, I just got here. So we'll talk a little bit about Michigan and, and, and whether this is a, not necessarily this one second left, but is this a blip on the radar? Is this, is it a pen stayed from last year or they noted aim from two years ago? Hoping noted aim for two years ago. Have a great show. Okay. Stay safe, everyone. Treat each other with respect.