00:00I'm starting to think.
00:02What are you starting to think about the 2026 Detroit Lions?
00:06Now that you've seen them in a couple of preseason games,
00:08we are deep into what is fall camp, deep into practices, plenty to read.
00:14Some of you have been out there and have seen.
00:16Of course, highlights become available.
00:18What are you starting to think about the Lions?
00:20Champ and Chump every Monday.
00:22We'll have our Champ and Chump nominations today at 1035.
00:25Gator and I have both written down things that we're starting to think about the Lions.
00:27What about you?
00:28Maybe you agree with us.
00:29Maybe you don't.
00:31Let's get to some ideas as they come in on this Monday.
00:34Matt leads us off here on 97.1.
00:35Hello, Matt.
00:37Hey, good morning, guys.
00:38Champ and Chump.
00:39Champ will be the Lions' D-line.
00:41I think they played pretty good.
00:45Chump is going to be the Tigers.
00:47I talked to you guys on Friday, and I said if they don't sweep this series,
00:52I'm done checking out.
00:54They didn't even win a game.
00:56So, baseball, I'm flushing it.
01:00And then for the Lions, what I'm starting to think, the O-line, I think, has some concerns.
01:08So, I think that Campbell needs to address that.
01:12Because I'm glad Goff didn't play.
01:15But if you substitute Dobbs for Goff, he would have got sacked four times.
01:20You cannot let the quarterback get sacked four times in a game.
01:24You have to be better than that.
01:26You've got to protect him.
01:28Otherwise, it's going to be a bad game.
01:30Well, I mean, keep in mind that...
01:32Oh.
01:33Oh.
01:34That's the sounder?
01:36Oh, my God?
01:37Keep this in mind.
01:39Wow.
01:40Penesol was the lone guy who didn't start, and the first sack was a direct result of miscommunication
01:47or just bad play from the left tackle to start the game.
01:52I'm...
01:52One of the things I'm starting to think...
01:56That sounder is just ridiculous enough?
01:58Yeah.
01:58I am starting to think that there is problems with depth on the offensive line.
02:03And it's...
02:04You know, the starters...
02:06What's that?
02:07Do you not recognize it?
02:09I bet somebody does.
02:11Somebody will recognize it.
02:13We'll see if any of the texters...
02:15Yes, I'm starting to think sounder.
02:16That's what I recognize it.
02:17Yeah.
02:18Completely ripped off from something else.
02:21Yeah, I'm starting to worry about the backups.
02:23I don't think Seth MacLachlan looks like he's ready.
02:25He was constantly getting pushed into the backfield.
02:28Juice Scruggs, he might be okay.
02:30Okay, but that story has yet to be told.
02:33Like, he...
02:34You know, I think that at this point, he's got to have the leg up on starting while Cade
02:39Mays is coming back.
02:40I'm not as worried about mahogany, and I'm not...
02:43I'm liking Blake Miller.
02:46But when they get the full first unit out there, I've got a new rule.
02:52Nobody else is allowed to get hurt.
02:54Nobody's allowed to get hurt.
02:56Cade Mays got hurt.
02:57But from here moving forward, I've made a rule.
03:00I'm calling it.
03:01I'm calling it.
03:02Nobody else is allowed to get hurt.
03:03I called it.
03:04Okay.
03:05If you called it, then that makes all the sense in the world.
03:09I'm not as concerned about the offensive line you talk about.
03:12You're starting to worry about the backups?
03:14Yeah.
03:14McLaughlin's third straight.
03:16Yeah, I know.
03:16So, Scruggs, I thought, looked actually pretty good at center, and he just...
03:20Is he going to be better than Glasgow was last year?
03:24I'll defer to the big fellow that sits in the seat before you.
03:27He says yes.
03:28So, that's good news.
03:30He's fine.
03:31We know Sewell is fine.
03:33Rattledge at right guard looks fine.
03:35Blake Miller looks pretty solid at right tackle.
03:38I like what I've seen out of Blake Miller.
03:39So, then he got the left guard position, and I would imagine it's not going to be any worse than
03:45it was last year.
03:45The question is, can they get better?
03:47Is Mahogany going to improve over what he did last year?
03:50Are they going to have to shift to other people?
03:52I mean, they had two guys that they brought in last week, in Lincoln Tomlinson and Will Hernandez, working out
03:59at guard for the Lions.
04:01Neither was signed.
04:03So, are they still looking to upgrade that position or what?
04:05You know, it's kind of telling, isn't it, though?
04:08I mean, we thought the Barch injury probably had something to do with it.
04:11I think that those guys are brought in over concerns with depth.
04:15You want to feel comfortable that if a starter goes down, you have somebody that can come in and, at
04:21the very least, be average, serviceable,
04:23that can not completely implode a game plan because they're out there.
04:28And I think they're probably still looking for those guys in that second five.
04:33248-539-9797.
04:36What are you starting to think about the Detroit Lions?
04:38Tim in Sterling Heights.
04:39You're on 97.1.
04:40Hello, Tim.
04:42Good morning, guys.
04:43What's up?
04:43You know, I'm starting to think that the starting seven is going to be top five in the league this
04:50year.
04:50I mean, they just seem to have players at all positions that have great potential to really make a difference
04:57this year.
04:57You're talking about the defensive front seven.
05:00Yes, I am.
05:01Yeah.
05:02I think it's okay to start getting encouraged about the other guys that they've brought in to compete on the
05:09defensive line.
05:12You know, well, first of all, I mean, the tackles, you know, are you going to have a Lee McNeil
05:19back to where he could be?
05:21Maybe.
05:22Will he step up?
05:23Maybe.
05:24And then on the edges, man, it looks like there's some real potential to help out Hutch.
05:30And we know what Hutch can do and what he's doing in practice is, you know, all the reports anyway.
05:36Sounds like he's back to 100% and then some.
05:39And then with Campbell.
05:41And then who's that dude?
05:42Is it White from Tampa Bay?
05:43We got Devin White.
05:45He looks legit.
05:46I mean, he's a professional linebacker.
05:48He's a professional tackler is what he is.
05:51And the fact that he was on the open market.
05:53Can't believe he finished.
05:54He finished second in the NFL last year in tackles.
05:57Right now, the Lions have the two guys that finished second and third in the NFL and tackles playing linebacker
06:02for it.
06:03It was as if every team in the National Football League, when they go and consult or do a Google
06:07search on available free agents that they just maybe the report just didn't have them on the list.
06:14Like, how do you let this guy go until training camp before he gets signed?
06:20The number two tackler in the National Football League was available for a minimal cost.
06:27So these are weighted for the preseason things that we are starting to think you're not committed to the position
06:32because it would be foolish after two preseason games.
06:36Foolish.
06:36But you're starting to wonder if maybe and that guy with the front seven.
06:40We've seen DJ want to make a play.
06:42We've seen Derek Moore.
06:43Derek Moore, who everybody said had a great week of practice, got involved with a quarterback sack.
06:49You've got Ahmed Hassanine in week one.
06:52So you're seeing the makings of a rotation there opposite of Hutch that can maybe be enough to make respectable
07:06and to make some plays.
07:07I mean, Doug, I'm starting to think that we might be done talking about the defensive end opposite of Hutch.
07:17Is that right?
07:20I don't know what that's from, and it's going to drive me nuts.
07:23I'm surprised Gator of all people, man.
07:25I am too.
07:26Is anybody texting over what it is?
07:27Oh, yeah.
07:28We got it.
07:28People know.
07:29Yeah.
07:30People know Gator.
07:31Yeah.
07:31It's a TV or a movie.
07:33Maybe you should just let it linger.
07:35Let it linger for a bit before I give you a hint.
07:37Don't give him any clues.
07:37I want him to.
07:38You want to.
07:39You like Hutch and him struggle.
07:41Yes.
07:41Look at him.
07:41The problem is he'll become preoccupied with it.
07:43He'll lose content.
07:45You know what?
07:45He will bail on content.
07:47It's either this or that, Doug, though.
07:49That's true.
07:51So you're starting to think we're not going to worry about the edge opposite of Hutch.
07:54Right.
07:57You don't know what it's from, do you?
07:58He doesn't know what it's from, so he has nothing else to add.
08:00He is going to be totally preoccupied trying to figure out what that's from.
08:03Give one more segment.
08:05All right, I will pontificate on my defensive end thing.
08:07Is that what you'd like me to do?
08:08Yes, that's exactly what I'd like you to talk on the stock show.
08:11Yes.
08:11So it's not, the whole defensive line is looking great, but specifically it's that other end position.
08:20Wanham completely looks the part.
08:23That's a guy, oh yeah, that's professional.
08:25That's a guy who started in the league.
08:26Sure, I like him.
08:28He looks good.
08:29He's big enough.
08:30And then Derek Moore gets out there.
08:33And Derek Moore did nothing to deter anybody from thinking that he is potentially special as a rush edge.
08:41I mean, I didn't love the pick in the second round.
08:44I liked the player.
08:45I didn't love the pick in the second round.
08:46I thought there were other guys that I'd rather have other positions I'd rather go for in that spot.
08:52But the way he played on Saturday and all the, what we've heard about him over the last week where
08:57he's really kind of ramped up his practicing because he was injured for a little bit, was out for a
09:02little bit.
09:02But he steps in and he absolutely looks the part of an edge rusher.
09:07I mean, he looks like a villain in a movie.
09:10He's got the frame and he gets after the quarterback.
09:13He's got the quickness, the strength.
09:15Really like what I saw out of him.
09:17And then you couple that with what Hassanin did a week ago.
09:20We didn't see a whole lot of Hassanin in the game.
09:22It didn't feel like it on Saturday against Washington.
09:252, 4, 8, 5, 3, 9, 97, 97.
09:28I've got to, I'm starting to think on the offensive side of the ball that we will get to before
09:32this hour is done.
09:33Plus, Champ and Jump, get your votes in for Champ and Jump on a weekend.
09:36We'll have our nominations today at 1035.
09:38Here on Carson Anderson on 97.1.
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