It is refreshing and I'm glad he's the coach. But we all know how this ends if it doesn't result in wins. That said, I do think the recipe for success is in place. It feels different for the first time in a long time. And in addition to the tone that is being set, this front office seems to have an attention to detail that is the core foundation of any winning organization. I am 100% convinced that Holmes knows how to evaluate talent better than most in the league and that's the #1 trait you need in a GM.Prime example is how he handled the A Lynn situation last year. Past years the SOL would have said well got a let him try the rest of the year. Or do something ridiculous like publicly firing them & making a scapegoat out of him. MCDC was like “OK I respect the hell out of you but this ain’t good enough. I have to try something else.” He took over playcalling, got better at it as the year went on, and let Lynn continue doing the OC press conferences. Whatever was going on - they kept it private, they kept it in house. That’s the way you’re supposed to handle your business. With dignity & class.
that was a leadership move. That was a declaration that “whatever went on before I got here - that’s not we’ll do things on my team. Everyone’s accountable, including me.” He really won a lot of respect by 1) doing right by Lynn, who has a good rep & got another gig after he left Detroit, and 2) hey, buck stops here. We’ve got issues. Let’s call that what it is. Let’s fix that.”
Or cutting Mule. Hell, 17 years doing the same job, on his 40th birthday. He could have just said “hey we made a decision that is best for the team.” That was enough. But not MCDC. “This sucks. It’s the guys 40th birthday and he’s second all time in games played for the franchise, and I’m an #######. It had be done, but I don’t like it.”
Dude is all heart, and it’s in his sleeve.
Coach is stacked. You don’t gotta be an athlete to be a winning HC (lol obviously) but it’s pretty cool he is out there mixing it up with the boys.
Players are all in.
People mock MCDC, the knee caps, the oversharing. It’s a cynical age, they think it’s schtick. He talks like The Dude abides and all this folksy shoot man west Texas stuff - they think he’s thick headed. He is whip smart but doesn’t have to feed his ego showing everyone. He is as authentic and genuine as you will find.
Love the tone Holmes and MCDC set. It permeates all through the building. “This is what we’re about. These are our guys - athletes, gritty, love ball, smart, ready to be coached. LFG.” From Day 1 they had a clear shared vision of the way they wanted to build the roster from the outside in. Just getting started, but this time around, it really is different than any regime before them.
Great guess, but George Plimpton is not the answer. He was in the Lions training camp in 1963.Kid named Plimpton? Loved the movie!
Marvin Gaye. And some of the Lions did backing vocals on one of his albums.Fun trivia - who famously tried out for the Lions in 1970?
Marvin Gaye. And some of the Lions did backing vocals on one of his albums.
Looks like you know what's going on...Marvin Gaye. And some of the Lions did backing vocals on one of his albums.
Was Mel Farr the other backing singer (w/ LB)? Dude had Pro Bowl talent when he was healthy.Marvin Gaye. And some of the Lions did backing vocals on one of his albums.
3 of your top 4 all wore #20.Who are the top 30 Lions since you became a fan?
My list (since 1967):
1. Barry Sanders
2. Calvin Johnson
3. Lem Barney
4. Billy Sims
5. Herman Moore
6. Matthew Stafford
7. Alex Karras
8. **** LeBeau
9. Charlie Sanders
10. Lomas Brown
11. Kevin Glover
12. Doug English
13. Robert Porcher
14. Ndamukong Suh
15. Jason Hanson
16. Jerry Ball
17. Greg Landry
18. Bubba Baker
19. Wayne Walker
20. Mike Lucci
21. Chris Spielman
22. Darius Slay
23. Johnnie Morton
24. Bennie Blades
25. Brett Perriman
26. DeAndre Levy
27. Ziggy Ansah
28. Golden Tate
29. Mel Farr
30. Mel Gray
Honorable Mention: Cliff Avril, Jeff Backus, Stephen Boyd, Dre Bly, Dexter Bussey, Mike Cofer, Gary Danielson, Keith Dorsey, Luther Elliss, Ken Fantetti, Ed Flanagan, Jack Fox, Rocky Freitas, William Gay, Larry Hand, Eric Hipple, James Hunter, Ron Jessie, James Jones, Bob Kowalkski, Errol Mann, Scott Mitchell, Don Muhlbach, Bill Munson, Eddie Murray, Paul Naumoff, Steve Owens, Matt Prater, Dominic Raiola, Shaun Rogers, Cory Schlesinger, Tracey Scroggins, Altie Taylor, Leonard Thompson, Chuck Walton, Larry Walton, Charlie Weaver, Herman Weaver, Mike Weger, Jim Yarbrough
Other notable Lions to wear #20 include: Ox Emerson, Frosty Peters, and Stud Stennett.3 of your top 4 all wore #20.![]()
I’m not a jersey guy either but I’ve owned 4 in my life: #88 & #9 in honolulu blue, #23 in alternate gray color rush, and a red Kaepernick for Juneteenth & BLM marches.Leroy Hoard said:Speaking of 20, I've never bought a jersey because I've never been big on wearing someone else's name on my back. But a no name #20 Lions jersey might be the answer x 3.
Is this supposed to be 'Best players' or 'Favorite players'?BobbyLayne said:Who are the top 30 Lions since you became a fan?
My list (since 1967):
1. Barry Sanders
2. Calvin Johnson
3. Lem Barney
4. Billy Sims
5. Herman Moore
6. Matthew Stafford
7. Alex Karras
8. **** LeBeau
9. Charlie Sanders
10. Lomas Brown
11. Kevin Glover
12. Doug English
13. Robert Porcher
14. Ndamukong Suh
15. Jason Hanson
16. Jerry Ball
17. Greg Landry
18. Bubba Baker
19. Wayne Walker
20. Mike Lucci
21. Chris Spielman
22. Darius Slay
23. Johnnie Morton
24. Bennie Blades
25. Brett Perriman
26. DeAndre Levy
27. Ziggy Ansah
28. Golden Tate
29. Mel Farr
30. Mel Gray
Honorable Mention: Cliff Avril, Jeff Backus, Stephen Boyd, Dre Bly, Dexter Bussey, Mike Cofer, Gary Danielson, Keith Dorsey, Luther Elliss, Ken Fantetti, Ed Flanagan, Jack Fox, Rocky Freitas, William Gay, Larry Hand, Eric Hipple, James Hunter, Ron Jessie, James Jones, Bob Kowalkski, Errol Mann, Scott Mitchell, Don Muhlbach, Bill Munson, Eddie Murray, Paul Naumoff, Steve Owens, Matt Prater, Dominic Raiola, Shaun Rogers, Cory Schlesinger, Tracey Scroggins, Altie Taylor, Leonard Thompson, Chuck Walton, Larry Walton, Charlie Weaver, Herman Weaver, Mike Weger, Jim Yarbrough
greatestIs this supposed to be 'Best players' or 'Favorite players'?
Either way, I think Spielman is too low.
Looks like Walter is starting to smoke the hard stuff.Walter Football projects Lions to finish 11-6 (WC)
![]()
+7.5 G improvement
Biggest one season turnarounds since the AFL-NFL merger:
Honorable Mention:
1982 Los Angeles Raiders +4.5 (7-9 to 8-1)
2001 New England Patriots +6 (5-11 to 11-5)
1970 Miami Dolphins +6.5 G (3-10-1 to 10-4)
1991 Denver Broncos +7 (5-11 to 12-4)
2006 New Orleans Saints +7 (3-13 to 10-6)
2017 Jacksonville Jaguars +7 (3-13 to 10-6)
1981 San Francisco 49ers +7 (6-10 to 13-3)
1988 Cincinnati Bengals +7.5 (4-11 to 12-4)
2015 Carolina Panthers (+7.5 (7-8-1 to 15-1)
1975 Baltimore Colts +8 (2-12 to 10-4)
1976 New England Patriots +8 (3-11 to 11-3)
2001 Chicago Bears +8 (5-11 to 13-3)
2004 San Diego Chargers +8 (4-12 to 12-4)
2012 Indianapolis Colts +9 (2-14 to 11-5)
2013 Kansas City Chiefs +9 (2-14 to 11-5)
2016 Dallas Cowboys +9 (4-12 to 13-3)
2004 Pittsburgh Steelers +9 (6-10 to 15-1)
2019 San Francisco 49ers +9 (4-12 to 13-3)
1999 St. Louis Rams +9 (4-12 to 13-3)
2008 Miami Dolphins +10 (1-15 to 11-5)
1999 Indianapolis Colts +10 (3-13 to 13-3)
Looks like Walter is starting to smoke the hard stuff.
Yeah if everything goes well I could see 9. But if something happens to Goff I could also see 5. Zero depth at QB.I see 9 or 10 wins. Last year's team started with a truly terrible offensive scheme, was devastated with injuries, and had a tougher schedule. An addition of three or four very good key pieces and an easy schedule, and it is almost a perfect storm for a big improvement.
Interesting that Williams is on the NFI list.Lions announce the following transactions:
Placed Jerry Jacobs, Romeo Okwara and Josh Paschal on Active/PUP
Placed Jameson Williams and Natrez Patrick on Active/Non-Football Injury
https://twitter.com/lions/status/1551267798059458562?s=21&t=xNYBSMBzeeOjCJRbWFfscw
Of note, Jeff Okudah did not receive a designation today.
Yeah if everything goes well I could see 9. But if something happens to Goff I could also see 5. Zero depth at QB.
The NFI list is designated for injuries suffered away from football or a pre-existing injury prior to being drafted to the NFL. If Williams is not activated from the NFI list before the end of training camp and has to be placed on the regular-season NFI, he will be forced to miss at least four weeks of the 2022 NFL season.Interesting that Williams is on the NFI list.
I just wonder why make that distinction and not just PUP. I thought the NFI list was a way for teams to get out of paying players who got hurt doing something stupid. I know the Lions aren't going to try to get out of paying Williams his money, wonder if there is another angle to it that benefits the Lions in someway.The NFI list is designated for injuries suffered away from football or a pre-existing injury prior to being drafted to the NFL. If Williams is not activated from the NFI list before the end of training camp and has to be placed on the regular-season NFI, he will be forced to miss at least four weeks of the 2022 NFL season.
I agree, I think you should draft an arm at least every other year for how valuable they are. I was hoping they would take Skylar Thompson late just because he seems to be a Waldman favorite.Boggles my mind that the Lions have never addressed the backup QB spot for 7-8 years. Shaun Hill was the last backup capable of winning a game.
Goff goes down and season is over again. But maybe that is the plan.
It’s procedural.I just wonder why make that distinction and not just PUP. I thought the NFI list was a way for teams to get out of paying players who got hurt doing something stupid. I know the Lions aren't going to try to get out of paying Williams his money, wonder if there is another angle to it that benefits the Lions in someway.
It’s procedural.
Paschal (drafted in the 2nd) was hurt in OTAs. He went on the PUP even though he aggravated/re-injured a college injury.
Jameson didn’t participate in minicamp or OTAs. He’s not eligible for the PUP. He has a pre-existing injury from prior to being drafted.
Its moot as NFI or PUP now has little impact. NFI or PUP after PS means 4 weeks before any of them can play (used to be 6.)
Regardless if it’s NFI or it’s PUP, it’s 4 weeks. Much ado about nothing.
On another note I saw Hutch`s mom and dad yesterday at the gym. Dad was right next to me a few times and I just said "congrats and good luck to your son" Chris is very nice and said "Thank you it is exciting times for our family"
Hutch and Dylan Larkin after a workout.
no doubt - end of minicamp until TC is absolute dead zone news wiseIt is painful reading articles and discussions when nothing is really going on. Articles getting spun up over nothing to get clicks and then people commenting on it like it is the end of the world.
It's been awhile since I have rooted so hard Lions players as I am for Sewell, Amon Ra and Hutch. I love their mentalities.The Lions are assembling not only a lot of great athletes, but athletes with a lot of class and with extreme dedication and motivation. Which is why I am extremely confident in the Lions future and having success much sooner than many are expecting.
Look at what Amon-Ra and Penei did last year. You see similalar characteristics in Pascal, Hutch and Jameson.
Romeo Okwara is the one. Not looking promising as his rehab from a torn achilles has been very slow. Almost surely will start the year on the PUP.Dan Campbell says every player made weigh-in this week, and only one player (who just returned from injury a week ago) failed the conditioning test. He's pleased with the work that was obviously put in over the summer.
Benson has been getting positive buzz throughout the summer. Assuming Williams starts on the nfi, he likely makes it.
There's no way they keep 6 rbs. Reynolds/Iggy/Jefferson/the rookie are prob fighting for 2 slots, with one more to the practice squad.
Teams will be able to keep up to 16 players on the practice squad in 2022. That includes up to six veterans with no accrued seasons limits.
In addition, the league is increasing the number of times players can be elevated from the practice squad – an option that was originally put in place for the 2020 season. For the last two years, each practice squad player could be added to the gameday roster twice a year without being added to the 53-man roster or subjected to waivers. That number will increase to three this season, with up to two players allowed to be elevated per game. As was the case in the past, those limits will not apply to the postseason.
I'm optimistic too, but everyone jumping on the bandwagon nationally is starting to bother me. They did the same with the Tigers and they proceeded to take a giant dump.When you read the Lions FB page all the writers are on the Lions payroll. They rarely ever say anything negative.
"Goff looked great in practice yesterday. Perfect reads and tight red zone throws"
I do think Goff will be better than average this year as he played very good the last 6-7 games and should be way more comfortable this year.
Sounds like Hutch is looking good today.
The back 7 of the D could be bad enough to undo any good from the front 4.Key to the season IMO is 2nd year guys development & getting a bit luckier WRT injuries. Last year it was absurd seeing 3rd/4th stringers starting all over the field.
O line is first rate and if the DL gets pressure we should have a defense that isn’t a back marker for the first time in a good long while.
Disagree lumping in the DBs who graded out well last year (& have a couple more able bodied now.)The back 7 of the D could be bad enough to undo any good from the front 4.