2025 Detroit Lions: 0-0 X-Season in the books. Time for final cuts. (17 Viewers)

[ignatiusjreilly]

I'll update as the official schedule is announced, but these are the games reported so far:

Week 1: Detroit @ Green Bay (4:25)
Week 2: Chicago @ Detroit
Week 3: Detroit @ Baltimore
Week 4: Cleveland @ Detroit
Week 5: Detroit @ Cincinnati
Week 6: Detroit @ KC (SNF)
Week 7: Tampa @ Detroit (MNF)
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Minnesota @ Detroit
Week 10: Detroit @ Washington
Week 11: Detroit @ Philly
Week 12: Giants @ Detroit
Week 13: Green Bay @ Detroit (1pm Thanksgiving)
Week 14: Dallas @ Detroit (TNF)
Week 15: Detroit @ Rams
Week 16 Pittsburgh @ Detroit
Week 17 Detroit @ Minnesota (Christmas Day)
Week 18 Detroit @ Chicago

Nothing in ink yet but this is probably it. Will fill in times when available.

Will be curious to see if there are more island games. Right now I see one each of TNF-SNF-MNF, plus Christmas (and of course Thanksgiving). I would have expected more. IIRC last year they had two each of SNF (Rams/Texans) and MNF (Sea/SF), plus the Week 18 flex.

Either Philly or Washington seem like obvious candidates

 

[Leroy Hoard]

The potential schedule pitfalls have been well documented, so here are a few minor positives to be gleaned:

No euro games. Never been a fan of flying overseas to play at 9:30am our time. Escaped that another year.

Fourth shortest travel in miles. Tied into the previous but playing mainly central and east coast road games has the most to do with it.

Week 8 bye. Better than last year's week 5 at least. A couple of later Thursday holiday games create short weeks for both teams, but also a couple 10 day gaps a week later for the Lions.

 

[Zeppelin]

I'll update as the official schedule is announced, but these are the games reported so far:

Week 1: Detroit @ Green Bay (4:25)
Week 2: Chicago @ Detroit
Week 3: Detroit @ Baltimore
Week 4: Cleveland @ Detroit
Week 5: Detroit @ Cincinnati
Week 6: Detroit @ KC (SNF)
Week 7: Tampa @ Detroit (MNF)
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Minnesota @ Detroit
Week 10: Detroit @ Washington
Week 11: Detroit @ Philly
Week 12: Giants @ Detroit
Week 13: Green Bay @ Detroit (1pm Thanksgiving)
Week 14: Dallas @ Detroit (TNF)
Week 15: Detroit @ Rams
Week 16 Pittsburgh @ Detroit
Week 17 Detroit @ Minnesota (Christmas Day)
Week 18 Detroit @ Chicago

Nothing in ink yet but this is probably it. Will fill in times when available.

Will be curious to see if there are more island games. Right now I see one each of TNF-SNF-MNF, plus Christmas (and of course Thanksgiving). I would have expected more. IIRC last year they had two each of SNF (Rams/Texans) and MNF (Sea/SF), plus the Week 18 flex.

Either Philly or Washington seem like obvious candidates

The Eagles game is on SNF.

 

[Zeppelin]

It'll be interesting to see how many of the leaks are wrong.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

It'll be interesting to see how many of the leaks are wrong.

Yeah I'm still using a pencil. Once it's confirmed I'll walk over to CVS and buy an ink pen.

 

[Zeppelin]

It'll be interesting to see how many of the leaks are wrong.

Yeah I'm still using a pencil. Once it's confirmed I'll walk over to CVS and buy an ink pen.

Its confirmed. Start walking.

 

[Mt. Man]

Lions Schedule Reveal Video

As laid out above, but includes some more times. Lions @ Ravens is MNF, too. So that's 5 primetime games plus Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[ignatiusjreilly]

The potential schedule pitfalls have been well documented, so here are a few minor positives to be gleaned:

No euro games. Never been a fan of flying overseas to play at 9:30am our time. Escaped that another year.

Fourth shortest travel in miles. Tied into the previous but playing mainly central and east coast road games has the most to do with it.

Week 8 bye. Better than last year's week 5 at least. A couple of later Thursday holiday games create short weeks for both teams, but also a couple 10 day gaps a week later for the Lions.

Also I don’t see a lot of potential cold-weather games beyond Chicago in W18 (which could well be meaningless for one or both teams)

ETA: From Weeks 12-17 every game is either in a dome (home games plus Minny) or in warm weather (Rams). And I don’t see Philly or Washington experiencing frigid temps or snow in mid-November

 

[ignatiusjreilly]

Lions Schedule Reveal Video

As laid out above, but includes some more times. Lions @ Ravens is MNF, too. So that's 5 primetime games plus Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Same as last year, right? (Again, excluding the W18 flex). Pretty sure all the ones last year were as originally scheduled

 

[BobbyLayne]

WEEK	DATE	OPPONENT	TIME SLOT	GAME TIME	TV
1	Sunday, September 7	at Green Bay Packers	late	4:25 p.m.​	CBS
2	Sunday, September 14	vs Chicago Bears	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
3	Monday, September 22	at Baltimore Ravens	Monday Night	8:15 p.m.​	ESPN/ABC
4	Sunday, September 28	vs Cleveland Browns	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
5	Sunday, October 5	at Cincinnati Bengals	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
6	Sunday, October 12	at Kansas City Chiefs	Sunday night	8:20 p.m.​	NBC
7	Monday, October 20	vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Monday Night	7:00 p.m.​	ESPN/ABC
8		BYE WEEK

 

[BobbyLayne]

9	Sunday, November 2	vs Minnesota Vikings	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
10	Sunday, November 9	at Washington Commanders	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
11	Sunday, November 16	at Philadelphia Eagles	Sunday Night	8:20 p.m.​	NBC
12	Sunday, November 23	vs New York Giants	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
13	Thursday, November 27	vs Green Bay Packers	Thanksgiving	1:00 p.m.	FOX
14	Thursday, December 4	vs Dallas Cowboys	Thursday Night	8:15 p.m.​	PRIME
15	Sunday, December 14	at Los Angeles Rams	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
16	Sunday, December 21	vs Pittsburgh Steelers	late	4:25 p.m.​	CBS
17	Thursday, December 25	at Minnesota Vikings	Christmas	4:30 p.m.​	NETFLIX
18	TBD	at Chicago Bears	TBD	TBD	TBD

 

[BobbyLayne]

Thursday - 3 (2 holiday, 1 TNF)
Sunday early - 4
Sunday late - 5
SNF - 2
MNF - 2
TBD - 1

 

[Zeppelin]

The schedule is tough of course but it could have been a lot worse. The only real freezing cold road game is week 18 against the Bears. Obviously we don't know how the weather will be in mid-November against the Commanders and Eagles but it's unlikely to be really cold like it would in December or January.

ETA: @ignatiusjreilly beat me to it.

 

[Zeppelin]

It seems like people are so worried about the schedule that, along with how last season ended, are forgetting just how good of a team the Lions have. Of course the road schedule is brutal and we have to travel to play some great teams, but those teams have to play a great team too.

I'm with Dan Campbell: bring it on.

 

[BobbyLayne]

We don't actually know who the good teams will be in 4 to 8 months from now, it's all TBD.

No question on paper, it's a daunting road schedule, with arguably all 9 contests being challenging - but we've known that ever since the end of last season, when the opponents were largely set.

I don't know if they'll average 33 ppg again, scoring 70 TDs is pretty rare. As in 4th most all-time rare.

But if they hold opponents to 20.1 PPG or better, they should have a floor of 11-12 wins and a ceiling of 14-16. Last years PA was 7th in the NFL, and that was with a final 4 g avg of 27.0 (+45 in the divisional round.) There was nothing wrong schematically or philosophically with their defense last year, they were a Top 5 unit up until Week 14. But losing Alex, Alim, CD3 and a plethora of others was just too much. Hutch is looking great in rehab and I think the only guys who might land on the PUP are McNeill and Rodrigo. Just having 97 for close to 17 g instead of 5 will make them massively better.

Gotta love how much love they got from the time slots; 5 prime time, 2 holidays, and 6 late afternoon starts. One overlap in the counting so it's 11 primo slots, 4 early games, 1 early holiday game, plus 1 TBD. Lions pay the bills, dudes, and Roger gots to squeeze that golden goose for all its worth.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

9	Sunday, November 2	vs Minnesota Vikings	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
10	Sunday, November 9	at Washington Commanders	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
11	Sunday, November 16	at Philadelphia Eagles	Sunday Night	8:20 p.m.​	NBC
12	Sunday, November 23	vs New York Giants	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
13	Thursday, November 27	vs Green Bay Packers	Thanksgiving	1:00 p.m.	FOX
14	Thursday, December 4	vs Dallas Cowboys	Thursday Night	8:15 p.m.​	PRIME
15	Sunday, December 14	at Los Angeles Rams	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
16	Sunday, December 21	vs Pittsburgh Steelers	late	4:25 p.m.​	CBS
17	Thursday, December 25	at Minnesota Vikings	Christmas	4:30 p.m.​	NETFLIX
18	TBD	at Chicago Bears	TBD	TBD	TBD

I see they stacked the Philly/Was games. Gonna do a long Mid-Atlantic trip, or back & forth?

 

[BobbyLayne]

As noted when they made the hire, ARSB and Goff have known Shaw for a decade, having first run into him at youth camps when they were in their teens. Of no particular relevance, my best friend went to Rochester Adams so he's been pretty geeked about this hire since it was announced.

Opportunity with Lions connects David Shaw to his past, ambitions put on hold, and best friend​

Allen Park — David Shaw’s football life has been circles within circles.

The latest loop has brought him back to Detroit, where he spent a chunk of his youth. While his father, Willie, coached the Lions’ defensive backs from 1985-88, David starred as a receiver for Rochester Adams High School.

“Just as a kid, going to Oakland University (for Lions training camp), shagging balls and watching (former running back) James Jones, and following around (former wide receiver) Pete Mandley and those guys, it was just such a great time for me just to be around the NFL,” Shaw said. “It was my dad’s first NFL job, so to be there for training camp, to meet a lot of the players, and be there for the Monday Night Football game against the ‘85 Bears, that was an exciting time for me.”

Shaw parlayed his success at Rochester Adams into an opportunity at Stanford, where he played for legendary coach Bill Walsh. But it wasn’t long after Shaw exhausted his eligibility that he followed his father into coaching.

After a couple of seasons as an assistant at D-II Western Washington University, Shaw earned his first NFL job as a quality control coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997, working under offensive coordinator Jon Gruden.

A year later, Shaw followed Gruden to Oakland, where he connected with another young coach and former college receiver, John Morton. It would be the beginning of a lifelong friendship and one of the biggest reasons Shaw has joined the Lions coaching staff, where he’ll serve as Morton's right-hand man and head up the passing game for the Lions’ first-year offensive coordinator.

“He’s my best friend,” Morton said. “There’s gotta be one guy in this business that you trust, because it’s hard to trust guys in this business. He’s been the one. We grew up together, we’ve always been friends for the longest time, so we targeted him right away. And we were very fortunate to get him.”

If you met them separately, you might be surprised to learn they’re so tight.

“We present very, very differently,” Shaw said. “We are flip sides of the same coin. Super competitive, Gruden-trained, geared at truly how we can dissect this defense and use our assets to do that. We have a very, very similar mind in attacking defenses, and what we see in the game. While we present very differently, since the first day we have met, our personalities have meshed.”

With the Raiders, under Gruden, Morton and Shaw spent four years together, cutting their teeth. Shaw wound up coaching the quarterbacks before departing when Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay. Morton stayed on staff for a few additional years, eventually becoming the team's tight ends coach.

The two intersected again in 2006 when Shaw replaced Morton as the passing game coordinator and receivers coach under Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego. Like Morton, Shaw intended for it to be a one-year pitstop before returning to the NFL, but the one opportunity he couldn’t pass up presented itself.

“We won a national championship, we played really well, broke a bunch of records, and I was on my way back (to the NFL),” Shaw said. “Coach Harbaugh was up for a lot of different jobs from San Diego, and he kept saying, ‘Hey, I got a chance here, chance there.’ I said, ‘Jim, I told you, I’m going back. I’m done. I’m going back to the NFL. This was great, but I’m going back.’ And he said, ‘I have a chance to interview with Stanford.’ And I said, ‘Well, hold on a second. If you get that one, I’ll go with you, but no other ones.’ He got that one.”

In one of those full-circle moments, Shaw was back at his alma mater, serving as the offensive coordinator. And four years later, when Harbaugh made the jump back to the NFL, Shaw stayed, leading the Cardinal for another dozen years, breaking the school record for wins, and earning the conference’s Coach of the Year award four times.

While at Stanford, the NFL came calling. Constantly. Shaw estimates he received interest for an average of three head coaching opportunities each offseason. He didn’t entertain a single one. Running a pro-style system at Stanford, he was always studying the league. Regardless, he was committed to where his feet were planted, pushing aside his previous desire to coach professionally.

“I'm a coach's kid, so growing up in this thing, I have a lot of little principles,” Shaw said. “No. 1, when you have a job, get the most out of that job, not peeking over the fence. There are a lot of great things out there, and that's great. I had a great job and I wanted to get the most out of it. That was the thing for me. I always wanted to go back to the NFL, but so much of it is about timing. I loved what I was doing. I loved where I was doing it. I loved who I was doing it with. ...I wanted to finish that run, knowing that whatever was next was going to be next.

“The other principle I have is, not taking a job thinking about getting another job,” Shaw continued. “I don't think of this profession as stepping stones to other things. When I was going to take a job, I'm taking that job. So, I'm not taking this job to see if I can build enough equity to get a head-coaching job. I took this job to take this job. I want to be here.”

Shaw resigned from Stanford in 2022 after back-to-back 3-9 seasons. When he made the decision, he noted, “It's time.” After a year away from football, he joined the Denver Broncos last year, not in a coaching capacity, but as a senior personnel advisor. There, he had the opportunity to work with Morton for the first time since their time with the Raiders more than two decades earlier.

Shaw recently drove around Rochester, soaking in a little nostalgia. There's time for that now, before the grind begins in earnest. He’s recharged and ready to go into battle with his friend with one goal in mind.

“We’re not resting on our laurels,” Shaw said. “We’re trying to push the envelope. We’re trying to grow, we’re trying to push ourselves, push the players to be better, and that’s the goal every year is to be better, to go farther, and take our best shot at winning that trophy.”

 

[BobbyLayne]

9	Sunday, November 2	vs Minnesota Vikings	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
10	Sunday, November 9	at Washington Commanders	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
11	Sunday, November 16	at Philadelphia Eagles	Sunday Night	8:20 p.m.​	NBC
12	Sunday, November 23	vs New York Giants	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
13	Thursday, November 27	vs Green Bay Packers	Thanksgiving	1:00 p.m.	FOX
14	Thursday, December 4	vs Dallas Cowboys	Thursday Night	8:15 p.m.​	PRIME
15	Sunday, December 14	at Los Angeles Rams	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
16	Sunday, December 21	vs Pittsburgh Steelers	late	4:25 p.m.​	CBS
17	Thursday, December 25	at Minnesota Vikings	Christmas	4:30 p.m.​	NETFLIX
18	TBD	at Chicago Bears	TBD	TBD	TBD

I see they stacked the Philly/Was games. Gonna do a long Mid-Atlantic trip, or back & forth?

Hey this isn't SF going to the East Coast lol.

They will fly back after the game - no reason not too, it's barely an hour flight time in a charter (404 + 452 miles by air.)

They've never had back-to-back west coast games but that might be the only scenario where they might spend the prep time at another facility

Wifey and I probably stay over Sunday night both weeks. If the time slots were flipped I'd come back from Philly same day as it only takes 2.5 hours. But we're old and like our routines hehe.

 

[BobbyLayne]

That would be a good trivia Q to stump the kids/grandkids. Which is farther from Detroit, Washington or Philadelphia?

By car or plane, DC is closer.

EDIT

Another good one which I know from my son going to Tech: which is farther, Houghton or DC? It's the little town on the Keweenaw pennisula.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

9	Sunday, November 2	vs Minnesota Vikings	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
10	Sunday, November 9	at Washington Commanders	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
11	Sunday, November 16	at Philadelphia Eagles	Sunday Night	8:20 p.m.​	NBC
12	Sunday, November 23	vs New York Giants	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
13	Thursday, November 27	vs Green Bay Packers	Thanksgiving	1:00 p.m.	FOX
14	Thursday, December 4	vs Dallas Cowboys	Thursday Night	8:15 p.m.​	PRIME
15	Sunday, December 14	at Los Angeles Rams	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
16	Sunday, December 21	vs Pittsburgh Steelers	late	4:25 p.m.​	CBS
17	Thursday, December 25	at Minnesota Vikings	Christmas	4:30 p.m.​	NETFLIX
18	TBD	at Chicago Bears	TBD	TBD	TBD

I see they stacked the Philly/Was games. Gonna do a long Mid-Atlantic trip, or back & forth?

Hey this isn't SF going to the East Coast lol.

They will fly back after the game - no reason not too, it's barely an hour flight time in a charter (404 + 452 miles by air.)

They've never had back-to-back west coast games but that might be the only scenario where they might spend the prep time at another facility

Wifey and I probably stay over Sunday night both weeks. If the time slots were flipped I'd come back from Philly same day as it only takes 2.5 hours. But we're old and like our routines hehe.

No, I meant for you - not the team. Sorry, should have been clearer.

 

[BobbyLayne]

9	Sunday, November 2	vs Minnesota Vikings	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
10	Sunday, November 9	at Washington Commanders	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
11	Sunday, November 16	at Philadelphia Eagles	Sunday Night	8:20 p.m.​	NBC
12	Sunday, November 23	vs New York Giants	early	1:00 p.m.	FOX
13	Thursday, November 27	vs Green Bay Packers	Thanksgiving	1:00 p.m.	FOX
14	Thursday, December 4	vs Dallas Cowboys	Thursday Night	8:15 p.m.​	PRIME
15	Sunday, December 14	at Los Angeles Rams	late	4:25 p.m.​	FOX
16	Sunday, December 21	vs Pittsburgh Steelers	late	4:25 p.m.​	CBS
17	Thursday, December 25	at Minnesota Vikings	Christmas	4:30 p.m.​	NETFLIX
18	TBD	at Chicago Bears	TBD	TBD	TBD

I see they stacked the Philly/Was games. Gonna do a long Mid-Atlantic trip, or back & forth?

Hey this isn't SF going to the East Coast lol.

They will fly back after the game - no reason not too, it's barely an hour flight time in a charter (404 + 452 miles by air.)

They've never had back-to-back west coast games but that might be the only scenario where they might spend the prep time at another facility

Wifey and I probably stay over Sunday night both weeks. If the time slots were flipped I'd come back from Philly same day as it only takes 2.5 hours. But we're old and like our routines hehe.

No, I meant for you - not the team. Sorry, should have been clearer.

My bad - thought just how old is Urik, does he think they're using stage coaches & trains?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Plus, Baltimore in September is really nice weather-wise.

 

[Payne]

It seems like people are so worried about the schedule that, along with how last season ended, are forgetting just how good of a team the Lions have. Of course the road schedule is brutal and we have to travel to play some great teams, but those teams have to play a great team too.

I'm with Dan Campbell: bring it on.

I consider myself a realist. Although some of you may consider me negative. 2025 is much harder than last year in my opinion.

2024, the Lions played four games outdoors.
@ Arizona
@GB
@Chicago
@San Fran

2025, the Lions play Seven.
@GB
@Baltimore
@Cincy
@KC
@Wash
@Philly
@Chi

Let's also look at the QB's they played against outside of the division. In 2024 Goff was better than most. That is not the case in 2025.
2024: 2025
Stafford Lamar
Baker Burrow
Kyler Mahommes
Geno Baker
Dak Daniels
CJ Hurts
Rudolph Dak
Trevor Stafford
Richardson Clev?
Allen Giants?
Purdy Pitt?

This team is in for a battle.

Edit: website messed up my format. Apologies.

 

[King of the Jungle]

It seems like people are so worried about the schedule that, along with how last season ended, are forgetting just how good of a team the Lions have. Of course the road schedule is brutal and we have to travel to play some great teams, but those teams have to play a great team too.

I'm with Dan Campbell: bring it on.

I consider myself a realist. Although some of you may consider me negative. 2025 is much harder than last year in my opinion.

2024, the Lions played four games outdoors.
@ Arizona
@GB
@Chicago
@San Fran

2025, the Lions play Seven.
@GB
@Baltimore
@Cincy
@KC
@Wash
@Philly
@Chi

Let's also look at the QB's they played against outside of the division. In 2024 Goff was better than most. That is not the case in 2025.
2024: 2025
Stafford Lamar
Baker Burrow
Kyler Mahommes
Geno Baker
Dak Daniels
CJ Hurts
Rudolph Dak
Trevor Stafford
Richardson Clev?
Allen Giants?
Purdy Pitt?

This team is in for a battle.

Edit: website messed up my format. Apologies.

No doubt a tougher hill to climb, especially with the division improving. I am not expecting the same record as last year, however if we stay healthy I am expecting us to be atop the division. We will certainly be battled tested if we make the playoffs, which I think is a positive.

 

[BobbyLayne]

If we don't execute and pay attention to details, we can be beaten....by any team, any week. That's the NFL, nothing is given. Those other guys get paid and want to win, too.

But we are a battle for anyone. Very few exploitable weaknesses in any positional group, in all three phases. That's not hopium or wishful thinking or projecting, that's been the reality for 2.5 years and counting. We got better or deeper at DL, OL, WR, CB. We have elite production from QB, RB, TE, WR, ED and S tandem. The OL is highly regarded and the DL/LB is more than adequate, plus we have the best special teams in the NFL.

Go ahead and tell the whole world the sky is falling, IDC. Let's circle back in February to talk about it.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Plus, Baltimore in September is really nice weather-wise.

We loved Inner Harbor, and there were plenty of historical sites to take in, but obviously that’s a pretty limited take on the city. But I thought the people were awesome.

 

[Zeppelin]

It seems like people are so worried about the schedule that, along with how last season ended, are forgetting just how good of a team the Lions have. Of course the road schedule is brutal and we have to travel to play some great teams, but those teams have to play a great team too.

I'm with Dan Campbell: bring it on.

I consider myself a realist. Although some of you may consider me negative. 2025 is much harder than last year in my opinion.

2024, the Lions played four games outdoors.
@ Arizona
@GB
@Chicago
@San Fran

2025, the Lions play Seven.
@GB
@Baltimore
@Cincy
@KC
@Wash
@Philly
@Chi

Let's also look at the QB's they played against outside of the division. In 2024 Goff was better than most. That is not the case in 2025.
2024: 2025
Stafford Lamar
Baker Burrow
Kyler Mahommes
Geno Baker
Dak Daniels
CJ Hurts
Rudolph Dak
Trevor Stafford
Richardson Clev?
Allen Giants?
Purdy Pitt?

This team is in for a battle.

Edit: website messed up my format. Apologies.

I'm also a realist. The schedule is much tougher than last year, which makes 15-2 unlikely. But they could have a better team than last years and a worse record. I would think 12-5 is doable and I fully expect the Lions to win their division.

I'm not one bit worried about the QBs we face. Not that they aren't great but we don't play against just QBs, we play against teams. We had the number one offense in the NFL last year and return 10 of 11 starters. Those teams with great QBs will be challenging but their defenses will have a huge challenge stoping the Lions offense.

I'm also not worried about playing road games. The Lions were unbeaten on the road last year. This team runs the ball as well as any team in the league. Obviously the road schedule is tough and I agree it will be a battle. They won't go unbeaten on the road this year. Other than the last game against the Bears, we don't play outdoors in a cold weather stadium in December or January. But this roster is as good as any in the NFL and they can play anywhere.

 

[fatness]

Plus, Baltimore in September is really nice weather-wise.

Typical Balto-Wash weather in September:
96 degrees, 81% humidity
or
snow

 

[Da Guru]

Looks like the Rams will be an annual game as long as Stafford is in LA.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Not a big fan of the Lions off season but they were already a strong team, it should be expected that you might not see instant starters like they have had from recent drafts several years in a row, it's the backbone of the team up and down the roster.

They will be good in 2025 but perhaps not 14-3 type good
12-5/11-6, more comfortable with that for a win/loss prediction.

The playoff loss to Washington is going to haunt them for a while
That said, I believe in DC the HC and he will have them prepared and ready to do battle

I'll read what you all have to say but for an avg NFL fan that simply has enjoyed the turnaround fo the franchise, I'm happy for the city of Detroit, they have a team to be proud of

 

[Ministry of Pain]

As noted when they made the hire, ARSB and Goff have known Shaw for a decade, having first run into him at youth camps when they were in their teens. Of no particular relevance, my best friend went to Rochester Adams so he's been pretty geeked about this hire since it was announced.

Opportunity with Lions connects David Shaw to his past, ambitions put on hold, and best friend​

Allen Park — David Shaw’s football life has been circles within circles.

The latest loop has brought him back to Detroit, where he spent a chunk of his youth. While his father, Willie, coached the Lions’ defensive backs from 1985-88, David starred as a receiver for Rochester Adams High School.

“Just as a kid, going to Oakland University (for Lions training camp), shagging balls and watching (former running back) James Jones, and following around (former wide receiver) Pete Mandley and those guys, it was just such a great time for me just to be around the NFL,” Shaw said. “It was my dad’s first NFL job, so to be there for training camp, to meet a lot of the players, and be there for the Monday Night Football game against the ‘85 Bears, that was an exciting time for me.”

Shaw parlayed his success at Rochester Adams into an opportunity at Stanford, where he played for legendary coach Bill Walsh. But it wasn’t long after Shaw exhausted his eligibility that he followed his father into coaching.

After a couple of seasons as an assistant at D-II Western Washington University, Shaw earned his first NFL job as a quality control coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997, working under offensive coordinator Jon Gruden.

A year later, Shaw followed Gruden to Oakland, where he connected with another young coach and former college receiver, John Morton. It would be the beginning of a lifelong friendship and one of the biggest reasons Shaw has joined the Lions coaching staff, where he’ll serve as Morton's right-hand man and head up the passing game for the Lions’ first-year offensive coordinator.

“He’s my best friend,” Morton said. “There’s gotta be one guy in this business that you trust, because it’s hard to trust guys in this business. He’s been the one. We grew up together, we’ve always been friends for the longest time, so we targeted him right away. And we were very fortunate to get him.”

If you met them separately, you might be surprised to learn they’re so tight.

“We present very, very differently,” Shaw said. “We are flip sides of the same coin. Super competitive, Gruden-trained, geared at truly how we can dissect this defense and use our assets to do that. We have a very, very similar mind in attacking defenses, and what we see in the game. While we present very differently, since the first day we have met, our personalities have meshed.”

With the Raiders, under Gruden, Morton and Shaw spent four years together, cutting their teeth. Shaw wound up coaching the quarterbacks before departing when Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay. Morton stayed on staff for a few additional years, eventually becoming the team's tight ends coach.

The two intersected again in 2006 when Shaw replaced Morton as the passing game coordinator and receivers coach under Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego. Like Morton, Shaw intended for it to be a one-year pitstop before returning to the NFL, but the one opportunity he couldn’t pass up presented itself.

“We won a national championship, we played really well, broke a bunch of records, and I was on my way back (to the NFL),” Shaw said. “Coach Harbaugh was up for a lot of different jobs from San Diego, and he kept saying, ‘Hey, I got a chance here, chance there.’ I said, ‘Jim, I told you, I’m going back. I’m done. I’m going back to the NFL. This was great, but I’m going back.’ And he said, ‘I have a chance to interview with Stanford.’ And I said, ‘Well, hold on a second. If you get that one, I’ll go with you, but no other ones.’ He got that one.”

In one of those full-circle moments, Shaw was back at his alma mater, serving as the offensive coordinator. And four years later, when Harbaugh made the jump back to the NFL, Shaw stayed, leading the Cardinal for another dozen years, breaking the school record for wins, and earning the conference’s Coach of the Year award four times.

While at Stanford, the NFL came calling. Constantly. Shaw estimates he received interest for an average of three head coaching opportunities each offseason. He didn’t entertain a single one. Running a pro-style system at Stanford, he was always studying the league. Regardless, he was committed to where his feet were planted, pushing aside his previous desire to coach professionally.

“I'm a coach's kid, so growing up in this thing, I have a lot of little principles,” Shaw said. “No. 1, when you have a job, get the most out of that job, not peeking over the fence. There are a lot of great things out there, and that's great. I had a great job and I wanted to get the most out of it. That was the thing for me. I always wanted to go back to the NFL, but so much of it is about timing. I loved what I was doing. I loved where I was doing it. I loved who I was doing it with. ...I wanted to finish that run, knowing that whatever was next was going to be next.

“The other principle I have is, not taking a job thinking about getting another job,” Shaw continued. “I don't think of this profession as stepping stones to other things. When I was going to take a job, I'm taking that job. So, I'm not taking this job to see if I can build enough equity to get a head-coaching job. I took this job to take this job. I want to be here.”

Shaw resigned from Stanford in 2022 after back-to-back 3-9 seasons. When he made the decision, he noted, “It's time.” After a year away from football, he joined the Denver Broncos last year, not in a coaching capacity, but as a senior personnel advisor. There, he had the opportunity to work with Morton for the first time since their time with the Raiders more than two decades earlier.

Shaw recently drove around Rochester, soaking in a little nostalgia. There's time for that now, before the grind begins in earnest. He’s recharged and ready to go into battle with his friend with one goal in mind.

“We’re not resting on our laurels,” Shaw said. “We’re trying to push the envelope. We’re trying to grow, we’re trying to push ourselves, push the players to be better, and that’s the goal every year is to be better, to go farther, and take our best shot at winning that trophy.”

I know it was June and well after the Draft but being part of the personnel crew at Denver last season as they made a total turnaround and developed Bo Nix, pretty nice feather in his cap
Also gave him a full season to see an NFL team from a different POV than the sidelines and coaching, that could be of real benefit to him
Pass Game Coordinator, who is the OC now in Detroit?

Great find, you always being gifts to share around here, thank you Bobby

 

[BobbyLayne]

As noted when they made the hire, ARSB and Goff have known Shaw for a decade, having first run into him at youth camps when they were in their teens. Of no particular relevance, my best friend went to Rochester Adams so he's been pretty geeked about this hire since it was announced.

Opportunity with Lions connects David Shaw to his past, ambitions put on hold, and best friend​

Allen Park — David Shaw’s football life has been circles within circles.

The latest loop has brought him back to Detroit, where he spent a chunk of his youth. While his father, Willie, coached the Lions’ defensive backs from 1985-88, David starred as a receiver for Rochester Adams High School.

“Just as a kid, going to Oakland University (for Lions training camp), shagging balls and watching (former running back) James Jones, and following around (former wide receiver) Pete Mandley and those guys, it was just such a great time for me just to be around the NFL,” Shaw said. “It was my dad’s first NFL job, so to be there for training camp, to meet a lot of the players, and be there for the Monday Night Football game against the ‘85 Bears, that was an exciting time for me.”

Shaw parlayed his success at Rochester Adams into an opportunity at Stanford, where he played for legendary coach Bill Walsh. But it wasn’t long after Shaw exhausted his eligibility that he followed his father into coaching.

After a couple of seasons as an assistant at D-II Western Washington University, Shaw earned his first NFL job as a quality control coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997, working under offensive coordinator Jon Gruden.

A year later, Shaw followed Gruden to Oakland, where he connected with another young coach and former college receiver, John Morton. It would be the beginning of a lifelong friendship and one of the biggest reasons Shaw has joined the Lions coaching staff, where he’ll serve as Morton's right-hand man and head up the passing game for the Lions’ first-year offensive coordinator.

“He’s my best friend,” Morton said. “There’s gotta be one guy in this business that you trust, because it’s hard to trust guys in this business. He’s been the one. We grew up together, we’ve always been friends for the longest time, so we targeted him right away. And we were very fortunate to get him.”

If you met them separately, you might be surprised to learn they’re so tight.

“We present very, very differently,” Shaw said. “We are flip sides of the same coin. Super competitive, Gruden-trained, geared at truly how we can dissect this defense and use our assets to do that. We have a very, very similar mind in attacking defenses, and what we see in the game. While we present very differently, since the first day we have met, our personalities have meshed.”

With the Raiders, under Gruden, Morton and Shaw spent four years together, cutting their teeth. Shaw wound up coaching the quarterbacks before departing when Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay. Morton stayed on staff for a few additional years, eventually becoming the team's tight ends coach.

The two intersected again in 2006 when Shaw replaced Morton as the passing game coordinator and receivers coach under Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego. Like Morton, Shaw intended for it to be a one-year pitstop before returning to the NFL, but the one opportunity he couldn’t pass up presented itself.

“We won a national championship, we played really well, broke a bunch of records, and I was on my way back (to the NFL),” Shaw said. “Coach Harbaugh was up for a lot of different jobs from San Diego, and he kept saying, ‘Hey, I got a chance here, chance there.’ I said, ‘Jim, I told you, I’m going back. I’m done. I’m going back to the NFL. This was great, but I’m going back.’ And he said, ‘I have a chance to interview with Stanford.’ And I said, ‘Well, hold on a second. If you get that one, I’ll go with you, but no other ones.’ He got that one.”

In one of those full-circle moments, Shaw was back at his alma mater, serving as the offensive coordinator. And four years later, when Harbaugh made the jump back to the NFL, Shaw stayed, leading the Cardinal for another dozen years, breaking the school record for wins, and earning the conference’s Coach of the Year award four times.

While at Stanford, the NFL came calling. Constantly. Shaw estimates he received interest for an average of three head coaching opportunities each offseason. He didn’t entertain a single one. Running a pro-style system at Stanford, he was always studying the league. Regardless, he was committed to where his feet were planted, pushing aside his previous desire to coach professionally.

“I'm a coach's kid, so growing up in this thing, I have a lot of little principles,” Shaw said. “No. 1, when you have a job, get the most out of that job, not peeking over the fence. There are a lot of great things out there, and that's great. I had a great job and I wanted to get the most out of it. That was the thing for me. I always wanted to go back to the NFL, but so much of it is about timing. I loved what I was doing. I loved where I was doing it. I loved who I was doing it with. ...I wanted to finish that run, knowing that whatever was next was going to be next.

“The other principle I have is, not taking a job thinking about getting another job,” Shaw continued. “I don't think of this profession as stepping stones to other things. When I was going to take a job, I'm taking that job. So, I'm not taking this job to see if I can build enough equity to get a head-coaching job. I took this job to take this job. I want to be here.”

Shaw resigned from Stanford in 2022 after back-to-back 3-9 seasons. When he made the decision, he noted, “It's time.” After a year away from football, he joined the Denver Broncos last year, not in a coaching capacity, but as a senior personnel advisor. There, he had the opportunity to work with Morton for the first time since their time with the Raiders more than two decades earlier.

Shaw recently drove around Rochester, soaking in a little nostalgia. There's time for that now, before the grind begins in earnest. He’s recharged and ready to go into battle with his friend with one goal in mind.

“We’re not resting on our laurels,” Shaw said. “We’re trying to push the envelope. We’re trying to grow, we’re trying to push ourselves, push the players to be better, and that’s the goal every year is to be better, to go farther, and take our best shot at winning that trophy.”

I know it was June and well after the Draft but being part of the personnel crew at Denver last season as they made a total turnaround and developed Bo Nix, pretty nice feather in his cap
Also gave him a full season to see an NFL team from a different POV than the sidelines and coaching, that could be of real benefit to him
Pass Game Coordinator, who is the OC now in Detroit?

Great find, you always being gifts to share around here, thank you Bobby

John Morton. He was on the offensive staff in 2022 and helped Ben Johnson install his first offense. Lot of familiarity there and while Ben had a special relationship with Jared Goff, I don’t expect much of a drop off.

(I’m expecting some slippage, due solely to regression. Only 4 teams have scored 70 TDs so doesn’t seem rational to presume they’ll average 33.2 again. In the same way, I think Gibbs will have a great year, but nobody should try to contend 20 TDs is normative.)

I imagine we won’t see Penei running an RPO or Jamo chucking an ill-advised interception off a sweep, but they should still be a very efficient and effective offense. Everyone is back except RG Kevin Zeitler - was great last year but he’s 35 - but either Christian Mahogany or Tate Ratledge will become a starter. Ratledge is a possible Ragnow replacement down the line.

I think the biggest change will be Jamo seeing 20-30 more targets, Morton expects him to breakout in 2025.

Tough schedule, but they’re a tough team.

 

[BobbyLayne]

They will be good in 2025 but perhaps not 14-3 type good
12-5/11-6, more comfortable with that for a win/loss prediction.

Seems reasonable. Saw a headline today predicting they’ll go 9-8. I didn’t click but that’s within the range of outcomes. Although I would think that’s pretty far out on the curve and unlikely to happen.

They haven’t lost two games in a row since Week 8 2022.

 

[Moonlight]

It seems like people are so worried about the schedule that, along with how last season ended, are forgetting just how good of a team the Lions have. Of course the road schedule is brutal and we have to travel to play some great teams, but those teams have to play a great team too.

I'm with Dan Campbell: bring it on.

I consider myself a realist. Although some of you may consider me negative. 2025 is much harder than last year in my opinion.

2024, the Lions played four games outdoors.
@ Arizona
@GB
@Chicago
@San Fran

2025, the Lions play Seven.
@GB
@Baltimore
@Cincy
@KC
@Wash
@Philly
@Chi

Let's also look at the QB's they played against outside of the division. In 2024 Goff was better than most. That is not the case in 2025.
2024: 2025
Stafford Lamar
Baker Burrow
Kyler Mahommes
Geno Baker
Dak Daniels
CJ Hurts
Rudolph Dak
Trevor Stafford
Richardson Clev?
Allen Giants?
Purdy Pitt?

This team is in for a battle.

Edit: website messed up my format. Apologies.

Very tougH schedule. Hard, very hard to see us going 15-2 again. As has been said earlier we will likely have a worse record with a better team. Expect that we win the division.
I think Dan Campbell is looking forward to playing the Bears and beating Ben Johnson.
I am too.

 

[BobbyLayne]

New DC Kelvin Sheppard, old (just turned 50) Special Teams Coordinator Dave Fipp and a gaggle of defensive assistants appeared at the podium today. Here’s the recap.

Hutchinson turning a corner, no more nickel for Rakestraw, new drill for Branch, and more from Lions' defensive coaches​

Allen Park — Following Tuesday's sessions with the offensive coaching staff, the Detroit Lions' defensive coaches (and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp) met with the media on Thursday. Here are some of the most interesting items from those chats.

Hutch on the mend​

Telling someone to touch grass is usually used as an insult. But in the most literal sense, it’s the latest sign Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is inching closer to full strength after breaking his leg last season.

“I went over there during individual (drills), and I said, ‘Hutch, you know how I know you’re back?’” defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard shared. “He said, ‘How?’ I said, ‘Because you’re touching that ground when you run that hoop.' That’s his little thing that he does, like he’s some supernatural cat — which he is. But I’m like, ‘That’s how I know you’re back, big dog.’”

Detroit’s early OTA practices haven’t been open to the media, and we haven’t spoken with Hutchinson since before his injury, so our updates have largely been the same as the public’s — social media posts and random podcast appearances.

To hear that Hutchinson's football-specific movement skills have reached this stage is encouraging.

“He looks really good,” defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said. “I'm sitting here just imagining what this guy went through, what he worked on to get back in case they made it to the end last year and didn't. Then to see where he is right now is just, this guy, he's a trooper pro."

Sheppard said there’s not a more resilient, mentally tough player on Detroit's roster than Hutchinson. And the young defender, who was leading the NFL in quarterback pressures and sacks at the time of his injury, has been a ball of energy during the early stages of the offseason program.

“He’s out there, he’s the most energetic guy on the field,” Sheppard said. “He’s ready to make the call out the huddle today. …The relationship he has with his peers, his teammates. You would not know he’s the caliber player that he is by the way he carries himself. The way he works, his attention to detail in meetings, the way he helps people, the way he wants to be pushed and coached hard.

“…He’s a guy that’s all-in, and I’m elated to have him out there on the grass.”

No concerns about Anzalone​

Linebacker coach Shaun Dion Hamilton declined comment when asked if captain Alex Anzalone was participating in the voluntary portions of the offseason program, deferring to coach Dan Campbell.

In recent days, Anzalone has shared a couple of posts on social media, including one of my film reviews from last year, highlighting his on-field value. Making a relatively safe logical leap, the veteran appears to have issues with his contract status, with his current deal set to expire at the end of this season.

I asked Sheppard if he had any concerns about the situation.

“Zero,” Sheppard said. “Me and Alex are all good. I have zero concern. That player’s a leader here, he’s been a leader here. He’s been an (integral) piece in building the culture that’s here, and I’m gonna pay the respect that he’s earned and that he’s due.

“Whatever his private situations are, I’ll let Alex address those when he’s face-to-face with you all,” Sheppard said. “What I can tell you, as far as it concerns me, it has no effect on how I see Alex or how I view him. That’s one of our captains. He’s been one of our captains, and I still see it as such.

Locking into a role​

After splitting his time between outside cornerback and nickel as a rookie, Ennis Rakestraw’s attention will be focused on the former entering his second season, according to position coach Deshea Townsend.

“In this league, you can only travel with so many,” Townsend said. “Right now, we're going to let him focus on outside, let him go compete out there. Amik (Robertson) has done a really good job (at nickel). We have Avonte (Maddox), who is another positional flex type of person. I think that will help (Rakestraw), as well.

Rakestraw was set to join the starting lineup early last season before suffering a hamstring injury during pre-game warmups. That issue lingered, eventually resulting in a lengthy stint on injured reserve.

Townsend said injuries are something often outside of a player’s control. However, he expects Rakestraw to benefit from having a full offseason where he could focus on his development instead of preparing for the draft.

“The thing I do like about how he came back is just his mindset,” Townsend said. “You can tell he understood what went wrong last year.”

Being on the outside, Rakestraw is unlikely to have an opportunity to see significant playing time, at least while starters Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed are healthy. Still, he can earn a critical role as the top backup, given the high rate of injury at the position.

Bring on the returns​

It’s hardly a surprise to learn special teams coordinator Dave Fipp is thrilled about the league’s adjustment to kickoffs. Touchbacks will now come out to the 35-yard line, which will undoubtedly lead to more returns and enhance the importance of Fipp’s units.

“I’m fired up,” Fipp said. “It’s going to be great. We’re going to get a ton of plays. I think it’s going to change quite a bit.”

The league initially overhauled the kickoff play last offseason. However, most teams quickly determined that the risk outweighed the reward when it came to encouraging returns, reverting to settling for touchbacks.

Now, with a year to study the dynamics of the play, Fipp is more comfortable and confident that his players will be able to capitalize on the setup.

“I feel great about it,” he said. “…I definitely feel like I have a much better grasp of it. We will definitely play the play a whole lot differently than we did a year ago, in a lot of respects, not only obviously forcing a return — we didn’t do it a ton a year ago, for a lot of different reasons — but just how each player will play. We’ll play a lot more on the attack, a lot more aggressively, a lot more trying to create negative field position.

Fipp said another component of being able to play more aggressively on kickoffs is kicker Jake Bates, who has a year of experience in the league, and the confidence that came with that.

“That wasn’t necessarily his strength going into the season,” Fipp acknowledged. “We didn’t want to add a whole lot to his plate. …We kinda stayed away from some of that to help him a little bit, to be honest with you. But he was out there today kicking his balls. He looks great doing it, so I’m excited.”

New paycheck-protecting drills​

Lions safety Brian Branch has had issues with penalties and subsequent fines. The coaching staff has previously said they're reluctant to tone down his aggressiveness. Still, they’d like to find a way to eliminate the 15-yard infractions, and he’d certainly prefer to stop the league from docking his paycheck.

Safeties coach Jim O’Neil is on the case.

“(Equipment manager) Tim (O’Neil) got a custom bag about that high off the ground,” Jim O’Neil said, holding his hand about waist high. “We're going to live on that post-practice and save some of his money.

“He's not trying to hurt guys out there,” Jim O’Neil said. “A lot of times, as you guys know, those are bang-bang plays. If I'm a DB, I have my aiming point of where I'm about to strike a guy, and then if a guy catches and his aiming point drops, it ends up helmet-to-helmet or shoulder-to-helmet or shoulder-to-neck. That stuff is a lot easier to coach in slow motion than it is in full speed. The answer is you just go lower, but now you're hurting guys. We'll work it. That's a real thing. Tim got that bag for him, so we're going to use it. We'll see if BB can punch a hole in it by the end of the season."

 

[BobbyLayne]

Dave Fipp presser today

(Outside of Dan Campbell, he’s my favorite guy in the building. Always interesting, he’s a great story teller, self-effacing, and whip smart. I always learn something watching him.)

 

[Moonlight]

It's becoming increasingly evident that DC's ability and coaching talent is being discounted as the new season approaches. Focus is currently about how much the Lions will miss both Glenn and Johnson. Johnson's smarts and creativity are viewed as being extraordinary.
What is not being emphasized is Campbell's intelligence in building strong and dynamic coaching staffs. Campbell got off the OC Anthony Lynn when the offense wasn't working. While calling plays himself he promoted Ben Johnson from TE coach to passing game coordinator and then next year to OC. Interestingly, Johnson was the only coach retained from the previous coaching staff. Which strongly suggests DC knows how to identify coaching staff.
Another aspect is that DC is an offensive minded coach. The aggressiveness and creativity of the Lions offense begins and stems from him. He is more than just a culture changer. He's smart and is comfortable in both the world of analytics and old fashioned gritty football. I think the Lions will be fine without Glenn and Johnson.
Regarding both Glenn and Johnson they both will need to show that they can build a staff and culture and handle the pressure of being the top guy.

I've got a few peeves against Johnson for being too cute at times and particularly for the playoff loss to San Francisco. To me Reynolds and Johnson screwed up in the second half. That said Ben Johnson was a good coach and definitely deserves a chance to become a head coach. He just made the mistake of picking the wrong division to do it.

 

[Zeppelin]

Interestingly, Johnson was the only coach retained from the previous coaching staff. Which strongly suggests DC knows how to identify coaching staff.

Hank Fraley was also retained from the previous coaching staff, which validates your post even more.

 

[Payne]

Vegas has them at 10.5 wins.
Only four teams with more wins. Buffalo, Philly, KC and Baltimore are all at 11.5 wins.

I think they would be fortunate to get to 11, but feel they are too good to be at 10.
Therefore, Vegas has it spot on.

Highly doubt they get more than 11.

 

[Moonlight]

Interestingly, Johnson was the only coach retained from the previous coaching staff. Which strongly suggests DC knows how to identify coaching staff.

Hank Fraley was also retained from the previous coaching staff, which validates your post even more.

Thanks for correcting my post in such a supportive way. Appreciated.
Would you be my neighbor? <g>

 

[BobbyLayne]

10 Lions players who were 2024 Pro Bowlers, All Pro players, or on at least one All NFC team:

• Goff
• Gibbs
• St Brown
• Ragnow
• Sewell
• Campbell
• Branch
• Joseph
• Fox
• Raymond

Does not include Hutchinson or McNeill (injuries) or LaPorta (PB in 2023), or unsung stalwarts like Anzalone, Decker and Robertson.

11 win ceiling? We can agree to disagree.

ETA - does not include Jamo

 

[BobbyLayne]

Scouting Tate Ratledge: College tape reveals better pass protector than anticipated given mauler reputation​

The Detroit Lions didn’t have any urgent short-term needs they were forced to address going into the 2025 Draft. Still, they faced several roster areas meriting long-term attention. Near the top of that list was a guard, where soon-to-be 33-year-old Graham Glasgow is coming off a down season and likely nearing the end of his career.

The Lions took care of that roster concern in the early stages of the event when general manager Brad Holmes used a fourth-round pick to move up three slots in the second round for Georgia guard Tate Ratledge.

Detroit would later double-dip on the draft’s third day, packaging two late-round choices to get into the back of the fifth for a perceived value selection, LSU’s Miles Frazier.

Frazier’s future impact shouldn’t be dismissed. He’s a superb pass protector with experience playing three different positions and the willingness to line up at all five. However, there will inevitably be higher expectations placed on Ratledge, who should push for a starting job as a rookie.

To better understand why the Lions felt compelled to move up and prevent another team from swiping Ratledge out from under them, we rolled the tape on several games from the guard’s senior season with the Bulldogs.

Below is a breakdown of what we learned about his skill set.

Games watched​

2024: Clemson, Florida, Texas (SEC Championship), Notre Dame (CFP)

Quick Bio​

The son of a former all-conference defensive end at Tennessee Tech, the younger Ratledge was initially a two-way player before locking into protecting quarterbacks as opposed to trying to sack them.

A four-star recruit who served as a left tackle, he also played center for his high school’s varsity basketball team and was a school record holder and state qualifier in the shot put.

Ratledge had scholarship offers from more than a dozen schools, including Michigan, Alabama and LSU, before committing to Georgia.

Ratledge’s trademark mullet was initially intended to be a joke during COVID, but he ended up keeping the look.

Statistics​

2020 and 2021: Two appearances, 11 combined offensive snaps.

2022: 14 starts at right guard, six QB pressures allowed (1.0 sack)

2023: 13 starts at right guard, five QB pressures allowed (zero sacks), second-team All-American

2024: 10 games (nine starts) at right guard, seven QB pressures allowed (1.0 sack), third-team All-American

Durability​

Ratledge battled a number of injuries during his college career, starting with a Lisfranc injury in the 2021 opener that put him on the shelf for the remainder of the season and required surgery.

Ratledge missed one game each in 2022 and 2023. The 2022 issue was undisclosed, but he practiced the week leading up to the matchup before it was determined he couldn’t play through the issue. The following year, he sat out the team’s regular season finale against Georgia Tech with a knee issue, but was back for the SEC Championship game against Alabama a week later.

Last season, Ratledge dealt with two issues, including an ankle sprain that required a TightRope surgery. That procedure involves the insertion of a device that stabilizes the joint. He also missed time with an MCL sprain. Both injuries were to his left leg.

Athletic profile​

Ratledge performed very well in pre-draft testing, resulting in an elite overall athletic profile for his position. Measuring 6-foot-6, 308 pounds, he showcased top-end explosion in the vertical and broad jumps, impressive speed via his 40-yard dash, including the more important 10- and 20-yard splits, and eye-catching agility through the 3-cone drill. He added an above-average 25 reps in the bench press to round out the resume.

His 9.96 Relative Athletic Score, a composite designed by Kent Lee Platte to compare prospects by position, indicates Ratledge is one of the most athletic guard prospects to ever enter the NFL.

Usage​

All but four of Ratledge’s offensive snaps came at right guard. However, he did get some practice work at center ahead of his senior season. On special teams, he worked on the school’s kick block unit.

Skill assessment​

Pass blocking: When you see Ratledge labeled as a physical mauler and a self-described dirtbag, you don’t expect to see an interior lineman so light on his feet.

I’d go as far as to say Ratledge’s footwork in pass protection, particularly in his ability to mirror and stay in front of his blocking assignment, might be one of his better traits. It also shows up with his ability to decipher and address interior stunts.

Ratledge’s hands work well in conjunction with his feet. He has a good punch and latch, and when a defender is able to break his grasp, Ratledge is able to quickly loop his hands back around and re-engage.

In the screen game, Ratledge shows impressive quickness getting to the second level, squaring up his assignment to pave the way for his back. Against Clemson in the season opener, he managed to work his way to and run over the deep safety on a screen pass.

Overall, the leverage is typically good, but the nearly 6-foot-6 Ratledge does get too high a handful of times each game. That can make him susceptible to early knockback on those snaps. Still, he regularly demonstrates the ability to reanchor and stall out those efforts. The only time he looked physically overwhelmed during this study was his first snaps back from a midseason ankle surgery, when he was tasked with blocking Florida’s 464-pound (!) defensive tackle Desmond Watson.

There’s an occasional example of Ratledge’s reach exposing him to counter moves, particularly a swim to his inside shoulder. A defender with an explosive first step, slanting inside, can also give him occasional issues.

Run blocking: Ratledge is at his best working combination blocks with his center or right tackle. He fires into forceful initial contact at the snap, establishing control at the line, then demonstrates effective timing to move to a secondary assignment.

Ratledge works to the second level with controlled movements, and he’s effective at bottling up linebackers in the box. There are times when his second-level assignment shoots around the outside edge, and Ratledge doesn’t have a clear plan to adjust, leaving him aimless 3-5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.

Working as a single blocker, he shows a strong base and good hand placement to seal open a run lane. However, he doesn’t have the leg drive to regularly displace an interior lineman, leaving his assignment in position to shed the block and make stops near the line of scrimmage when running to his gap.

As a puller, Ratledge moves well enough to execute his assignments, but he’s not nearly as fluid getting out of his stance and moving laterally as his athletic testing suggests.

Conclusion​

Despite only playing right guard at Georgia, Ratledge’s athleticism, pass protection, plus his practice experience at center, which extended to Detroit’s recent rookie minicamp, make me believe he can be effective on the left side of the line. That puts him in a position to immediately challenge Graham Glasgow for a starting job.

Ratledge’s Georgia teammate, wide receiver Dominic Lovett, said the lineman will die to protect his quarterback. Obviously, that’s overly dramatic, but Ratledge’s pass protection is better than advertised. He has pro-ready strength and a fundamental base — footwork, hands and leverage — to consistently maintain the integrity of Jared Goff’s pocket.

Ratledge may not be a dominant run blocker, but he has the athleticism and power to execute almost any assignment. His ability to effectively work combinations should be immediately impactful, and Detroit will be able to keep its playbook open with stretch zone concepts and screen passes because of Ratledge’s ability to operate in the second level.

Like any young player, there’s room for sanding the rough edges and some overall refinement. At his size, maintaining leverage can never be too far from his mind.

 

[Zeppelin]

10 Lions players who were 2024 Pro Bowlers, All Pro players, or on at least one All NFC team:

• Goff
• Gibbs
• St Brown
• Ragnow
• Sewell
• Campbell
• Branch
• Joseph
• Fox
• Raymond

Does not include Hutchinson or McNeill (injuries) or LaPorta (PB in 2023), or unsung stalwarts like Anzalone, Decker and Robertson.

11 win ceiling? We can agree to disagree.

ETA - does not include Jamo

You can also factor in expected improvement from the key players entering year 3: Gibbs, LaPorta, Campbell, and Branch. Add in Terrion Arnold, who could take a big leap this year. The Lions young players almost always improve year over year and that's a testament to Dan Campbell and the coaching staff he has assembled as @Moonlight mentioned above.

Personally I think 11 wins is the floor.

 

[Payne]

10 Lions players who were 2024 Pro Bowlers, All Pro players, or on at least one All NFC team:

• Goff
• Gibbs
• St Brown
• Ragnow
• Sewell
• Campbell
• Branch
• Joseph
• Fox
• Raymond

Does not include Hutchinson or McNeill (injuries) or LaPorta (PB in 2023), or unsung stalwarts like Anzalone, Decker and Robertson.

11 win ceiling? We can agree to disagree.

ETA - does not include Jamo

Who said 11 was the ceiling?

 

[BobbyLayne]

Highly doubt they get more than 11.

 

[Payne]

Highly doubt they get more than 11.

That is not the same as saying their ceiling is 11.
Their ceiling is 17 if you want to play semantics.
I also said they are too good to only get 10.
Therefore, I think 11 wins is the sweet spot. 12 if the stars align.

However, I can also see them getting 9 or 10 wins.
Not too much of a stretch to see losses to:
@GB
@Balt
@kc
@Was
@Philly
Chic
Minn
TB
LAR

TB beat them last year and the Rams have played them tough.
That's 10-7 or even 9-8.

 

[Moonlight]

Current SB odds from Draftkings:

PHI +650
BUF +700
BAL +700
KC +750
DET+1000

WAS +1800
SF +2000
GB +2000
CIN +2000
LAR +2200
DEN +2500
TB +2800
LAC +2800
MIN +3000
CHI +3500
PIT +4000
HOU +4000

SEA +6000
NE +6000
DAL + 6000
ARI +6000
MIA +8000
JAX +8000
ATL + 8000

LVR +12000
IND +12000
CAR +14000

TEN +18000
NYG +18000
NYJ +20000
CLE +25000
NO +30000

Rams are good value and I'd fade KC the other way.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Current SB odds from Draftkings:

PHI +650
BUF +700
BAL +700
KC +750
DET+1000

WAS +1800
SF +2000
GB +2000
CIN +2000
LAR +2200
DEN +2500
TB +2800
LAC +2800
MIN +3000
CHI +3500
PIT +4000
HOU +4000

SEA +6000
NE +6000
DAL + 6000
ARI +6000
MIA +8000
JAX +8000
ATL + 8000

LVR +12000
IND +12000
CAR +14000

TEN +18000
NYG +18000
NYJ +20000
CLE +25000
NO +30000

Rams are good value and I'd fade KC the other way.

I know KC is like a bad penny (they just won't go away) but I tend to agree with this at current odds. Rams might be in their last ditch mode, this is probably be their last realistic chance to get another one soon.

In the AFC Denver seems to be on an upward trajectory, but they have that big 3 to contend with.

 

[Moonlight]

It seems like people are so worried about the schedule that, along with how last season ended, are forgetting just how good of a team the Lions have. Of course the road schedule is brutal and we have to travel to play some great teams, but those teams have to play a great team too.

I'm with Dan Campbell: bring it on.

Another factor is the bye week in week 8 is later than last year's week 5 which nobody was happy with.
Another positive is there are no international travel games.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Congrats to D-Mo