Stinger226

Of course there are questions, the biggest question is at QB. Caleb had some moments last year but held the ball to long, rarely threw to checkdown option and took sacks. Many times bailed on a pocket and run into a sack. 1/3 of his sacks was on him last year. Threw into a crowd instead of hitting open players. We have players to fill every position, yes it still has to be proven but just look at last year in comparison. Dalman or Shelton, Thuney or Jenkins, Jackson or Nate Davis. LT is still a question but at least we have 3 options to project, last year it was just Braxton. You liked Banks but had we drafted him, he would still be a question mark> 50% of all first round picks fail. So he would still be a question mark. We have Dayo, Sweat at DE starters, we have a draft pick last year that is promising (Booker) and BJ mentioned Dom Rob. We have 8 bodies that still need to prove itself but at least Its not the same group we rolled out last year. Pass rush can come from the DT also, Jarrett, Shemar Turner, Dexter has gotten better every year, Billings is healthy,Cris Williams had some flashes. RB does not have an all pro back there but Swift is better than people think, Kyle has some game, Roschon can play better. With a better OL, every position will be upgraded. Thuney will make who ever plays LT better. Better play calling, getting the ball out quicker all contributes to better play from our LT, RB. Had we drafted Banks, you would say that position is good, or drafted Trevon Henderson at RB but the truth is they are rookies that still would have to prove themselfves. From this point in time, this is the players we are going to war with, there is nobody coming to make a position look better. If we acquired Nick Chubb, he is a huge question mark. Why Im optimisic , better coaching, hope that Caleb takes a big step forward, an improved OL, new bodies on the DL, and a wealth of new weapons for Caleb.

Not your normal interview

I go by what the coaches say. BJ doesnt seem to be the type that blows smoke up your dress. I believe he is making honest statements. PLUS, they arent going out and adding people at those posistions. The pads will be the truth but I think things are looking up by the positive coaching statements.

So what did we learn from the preseason? BJ is a leader and hard ass, both good traits for a coach. I think that the worries at LT, RB, and DE appear to not be as needy as original thought to be. We have yet to see Burden and Loveland on the field, so there may be a slow start to their NFL stat line. I think the team is buying in to the new culture that BJ has instilled in this team. I think our depth is going to be solid. 3 players that could play LT will leave us in good shape for backups. I think players like Tyler Scott, Zach Pickens and Ryan Bates could be cut and add to our cap space. If Burden has nagging injuries to start the year, I think we are good hands with Zaccheaus and Duvernay.

I think we have the personal to do what this tape show us on BJs offensive scheme. What Caleb needs to do is stay in the pocket and dont hold the ball. Goff is good at getting rid of the ball quickly. Caleb is the key to making this work well. Cant hold the ball like last year.

When Nagy came here he was made out to be an offensive mind, coming from a winning program and changed the culture to a more positive outlook. He went 12-4 and was coach of the year. The truth was we were winning due to defense and led the league in TOs. The next 3 yrs Pace gave away 2 first round picks, a second and drafted Justin Fields. He screwed up our ability to add talent for a team that had a lot of old players and Tribusky as their QB. Pace failed our team and Nagy had to rely on offense that wasnt very good when Fangio left. BJ comes with more fan fare than Nagy had and Poles actually has built a good roster. We have much excitement because we have a potential top rate QB. If you watch the tape on Caleb last year , he has a lot to learn. I think we have the right combination of talent and coaching to succeed this time but that still has to show up on the field. Of course I think it all ends well, but I understand anyone that is still skeptical.

BJ was talking about 4 players that stuck out during OTAs. Surprized seeing Dom on that list. Maybe we do have 4 DEs on the field. Dom Robinson/DE Ruben Hyppolite/TE Joel Wilson/TE Kyle Monangai/RB

I think Trapilo is the future but Braxton having 3 yrs of starter experience at least give him the spot until Kiran or Ozzy take it away. BJ says all spots are open but a rookie still has a lot ot learn , he has to prove himself having been a RT for the last two yrs.

Braxton cant practice yet but he is attending. I think because of 3 yrs of starting at LT, he will be running with the first team when ready. As much as he has to improve, he will get to show if he has progressed. I suspect why Trapilo looks good because he is learning the playbook and moves well. When the pads go on the truth starts. I hope he does well. It seems obvious that Kiran has a long way to go , essentially this is his rookie year as far as practicing. I think when its said and done, whoever plays LT, we will be fine there. Playing next to Thuney has to help all of them. Monangai gets rave reviews by whoever you talk to. I think he has taken away the cry (we need to add a RB). I think he will shine once we start hitting, he has a great YAC stat and is physical. Plus, has never fumbled. Ben stated that it will probably be our biweek before we get the offense running smooth. That does not mean we cant win a couple of our first 4 games. We will run the ball and play good defense that will give us a chance.

Im not positive on this statement but I think rookie QBs have a tendency to lean on TEs in thier first years. Shorter throws, quicker release. I think the problem with Waldron was to dump all the offense on Caleb all at once and let him choose downfield routes that take longer to develop when we had a shakey OL. That resulted in so many sacks. In turn in Washington, they had more quit reads that amounted in first reads or run type of scheme. Proved to me more successful for the rookie,

Spot on CJ Stroud was ranked 10, Caleb 19 and Daniels was 27. Bo Nix didnt even make the top 32.

Both are true, I think maybe it will take one year but we could be a top 5 offense in the league. Of course that solely rests on Caleb's shoulders, if he is the projected franchise QB, oh boy will this be fun.

True, the only reason I posted it is because PFF just put their ranking out

i get that but Penix only played 5 games, McCarthy never played last year and rank higher. Cam Ward hasnt played one snap and is only one spot behind Caleb. He at least deserves to be ranked ahead of the top of tier 4 right behind Bo Nix.

He has two more yrs on a contract that pays him a totaal of 30 mil but none of it was guaranteed and was trying to get the brass to rework the deal to give him some guaraanteed money. He was going to hold out but choose retirement to force their hand. The Lions GM is nortorious for letting good players l go instead of paying big money. J Jackson and D Swift were a part of the GMs history. They drafted Ratledge and now have him listed as the starting OC. Lions back loaded Franks contract to have 30 mil left that he could cut him once he reached that. He saves 23 mil by letting him go now. The situation is actually worse than just Ragnow being gone. Mahongany is now playing LG , a 6th round pick last year and at RG is Graham Glasgow, a 10 vet is now playing RG. That is 3 new starters in the IOL.

This is the great website PFF QB rankings for 2025. Caleb is ranked 24th under the heading Tier 4 (young players with range of potential outcome) Ahead of him are #6 Jaydon Daniels ( tier 2: high end starters) a one year of play has him in elite status? CJ Stroud #14 (tier 3b. solid starters that need more help) this is probably fair with both yrs of tape figured in In the same tier 4 as Caleb 19) Bo Nix 20) Byrce Young 21) JJ McCarthy 22) Drake Maye 23) Michael Penix They have at 25, one back of Caleb, a rookie that hasnt had a NFL snap Cameron Ward Caleb had a respectful year, not great but much better than several names ahead of them. They have added more weapons, an OL and an offensive genius in BJ. Yet Caleb is listed behind them, WTF

I understand when you say Loveland is a better recieving TE than Kmet, but you keep saying he hasnt proven himself. He did that in 2023 which prompted his contract. 73/719/6 that was good for the 9th ranked TE that year. Last year his stats regressed when he had 35 less targets. He doesnt have good hands, he has great hands. Literally led TEs the last two years in catch rate. No one is saying he is Kelce, Kittle or even Bowers but is a high end TE in the league.

Has anyone verified this player is well liked by DA?