00:00Did you add the Ennis Raikstraw news?
00:02No, the latest from today?
00:04No.
00:04At this hour, Dan Miller tweeting,
00:06update positive news on Lions cornerback Ennis Raikstraw
00:08after leaving practice yesterday.
00:10He has an ankle injury.
00:12Not expected to be serious.
00:14Status for tomorrow's game to be determined.
00:16So it's not a deep thigh contusion.
00:18It is not a soft tissue injury of significance.
00:21Okay, good.
00:22Probably won't see him tomorrow.
00:23No, I don't think so.
00:24No, but at least they're saying he might be.
00:31It's not a typical Ennis Raikstraw season's over injury.
00:34Right.
00:34Not our annual.
00:35For the second time this preseason,
00:37it is good Ennis Raikstraw injury news.
00:40Thanks, update kid.
00:41All right, so we had the question about
00:44what are the guys that you're going to be focused on?
00:49The player that tomorrow's game actually matters the most.
00:53And we got an insider who kind of came up with a list of players,
00:57five players to keep an eye on.
00:59The question is, does your list or your number one player
01:02that you're going to be watching align with what the insider says?
01:06I'm going to say it because, and my guy is not on the list,
01:10but I'm going to be locked in on Blake Miller.
01:13And as I stated a week ago, every breath you take,
01:18every move you make, I'll be watching you.
01:20I will be watching you, Blake Miller,
01:22because so much is riding on this guy and his development.
01:25There's a bunch of them, but for me, and I haven't seen the list,
01:28so I don't know.
01:28So the one that I'm definitely looking for is Derek Moore, edge rusher.
01:34I love what Burchie had to say.
01:37It echoes what others have said that are with Burchie out there practicing,
01:41reporting on it, that he just looks like he's had a really nice week of practice.
01:45And since he's come back from a little bit of an injury in the preseason,
01:50in training camp, that he's ready to get out there and make a name for himself.
01:55Good.
01:55I want to see it because, you know,
01:58they took him maybe a little bit higher than most people thought
02:01as a second-round pick, and everybody wants to have the edge rusher,
02:05that other guy opposite Hutch.
02:07Well, when he was healthy at Michigan, he was a stud.
02:09So I'm hoping that we're going to see some of that stud show up tomorrow.
02:14Derek Moore is on the list.
02:15Okay.
02:17And what is written is, and I will tell you who did this later,
02:20but we didn't see Derek Moore since returning and getting his feet under him.
02:24However, he's been on an absolute heater.
02:28The Lions have deployed more in a variety of ways,
02:30giving him more and more opportunities, pun intended, with the first-team defense.
02:34He'll rush off the edge.
02:36He'll kick inside to three technique.
02:38He'll run stunts and twists.
02:39He'll win with speed to power.
02:41He's a physical presence along the defensive front,
02:44particularly on third-down packages, and it's been fun to watch him settle in.
02:49You mentioned him.
02:51Birchie Kidd mentioned him.
02:52And, like, I buy, I completely buy the Aiden Hutchinson's going to take it next-level hype.
02:59I am really watching Derek Moore and Tyleek Williams in particular,
03:04because they are coming with, I think, hype that is, I think it's too early,
03:13and I just don't know if I'm buying it on either of them.
03:17That's why you want to see it.
03:18Yeah, and that's why you put them on the list.
03:20Kang, who is the player you're most going to be watching that has the most on the line tomorrow?
03:25I guess it's really two players.
03:26It's whoever playing center.
03:28The Cade Mays injury is, I know he's supposed to be back, and don't ask me again, Dave,
03:37but last year I'm still, I have, you know, I still have nightmares of last year in the offensive line.
03:42And I don't want to put it all on Graham Glasgow, but the word that they always seem to use
03:47Mondays
03:48or after Lions games was miscommunication.
03:51If something happened with the offensive line, whether it was pass blocking or run blocking,
03:55was we didn't get our assignments, we have to do this, whatever, communication,
03:58and whether to talk to Taylor Decker or Sewell or anyone on that line, they all said the same thing.
04:03I think it starts with the center, and they've got to get through these first six or seven weeks
04:07or whatever it is with Cade Mays out.
04:08And even when Cade Mays comes back, he's got to be able to communicate with the line and golf.
04:12So whoever's playing center, I want someone to be able to take control,
04:15know what they're doing, and be assertive with their calls.
04:18So it's Scruggs or McLaughlin.
04:20Just to clarify so people understand what Kang was talking about yesterday
04:24when Dan Campbell was speaking on the Sam Laporta injury
04:28and how he left practice with a hip, said he thinks we're going to be okay here.
04:32And Dave Burkett asked a follow-up question about,
04:35is it going to carry into the regular season?
04:38And Campbell's, I don't know, Dave.
04:42So when Kang referenced an injury, he then added the, don't ask me again, Dave.
04:48What about you, Paul?
04:50Is there a player behind it?
04:52He's kind of accusatory, man.
04:53You're like, what about you, Paul?
04:55Hey, Paul.
04:55What do you got?
04:57What are you looking for?
04:58Who do you think has got the most on the line tomorrow?
05:01Isaac Tesla.
05:02He can't do what he did the first game.
05:04He can't look like he has stone for hands.
05:08He's got to get better separation on his routes.
05:10He's a guy, I think, if Laporta's out, could fill in and do a little bit like
05:14Puka Nakua-ish stuff, where you can move him around, move him into the slot,
05:17have him crack down on blocks, do a little tight end stuff.
05:20He's just got to prove that he can do it.
05:23Here's some of the feedback that we have gotten from the people.
05:25Reno and Howell says, for me, it's Isaac Tesla.
05:27I want to see if the last preseason game was just a fluke,
05:30and he shows his ability to be a reliable three-wide receiver.
05:35RB and Ipsy, Isaac Tesla is the most on the line tomorrow.
05:38I feel like he needs to prove that he can catch the ball consistently
05:42and be a reliable option in our offense.
05:44This is interesting.
05:45I don't get the sense that Tesla has had a great camp.
05:53He's got some proving to do.
05:55I also don't get the sense that he's in trouble as far as making the roster,
06:01but they might start looking at other receivers in that role
06:06if he doesn't pick it up.
06:08Yeah, I'm not concerned about him either.
06:10We saw him last year enough where, obviously, he's got great hands.
06:13It didn't show up last week.
06:15I think the first pass that went off his hands and into the defender's hands,
06:19I mean, part of that blame goes on Altemire for throwing a fastball there.
06:23But the fourth down attempt that he dropped, that one hurts
06:27because, obviously, it means a lot in that situation.
06:30But I have confidence he's going to be fine.
06:32That being said, one of the moves that the Lions made in the offseason
06:37that I think goes way under the radar that might have a massive impact
06:40on this team in special teams is also a guy that could have an impact
06:44on this team offensively.
06:45And that's Greg Dorch, the wide receiver who's the return guy.
06:49He's a return specialist.
06:51He's worked with Petsing.
06:54And I think that maybe, just maybe, this is a guy that's going to be used
06:57as a weapon role to bring him out there on the field like Khalif Raymond was used.
07:02You know, when Khalif Raymond was on the field as wide receiver,
07:04you had to pay attention because bubble screens or end around,
07:08you know, get the ball in his hands because he's a playmaker.
07:11I think Dorch is kind of that same way.
07:13And Dorch is also, he's been in the league for a while here.
07:16He's got some experience.
07:17If he shows well, does he start to creep up to be the number three guy?
07:22It might be a bigger game for Tesla than initially thought.
07:25Cannon Redford says, it's the center position.
07:28It's the most important offensive line spot to improve.
07:32Well, this insider did not mention Tesla and did not mention the center,
07:37but there's not wrong answers here.
07:40It's what's important to you.
07:41And this particular insider has five guys.
07:43You mentioned one of them, and that was Derek Moore.
07:46Who are you watching the most?
07:48And see if your guy aligns with what this insider says.
07:51Give us a reason why you have your eyes focused on him tomorrow.
07:54And we'll tell you the whole list today at 1124.
07:57It is Carson Anderson here on 97.1.
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