The Grit-Iron Report | Dan Campbell's Staff Taking Form | Pistons Reviving NBA Rivalries

Join Kiel and Tyler this week for some Detroit coney dog talk, Dan Campbell's new staff beginning to take form with Johnny Morton, Kelvin Sheppard and Hank Fraley, and then wrapping up with some Pistons rivalries talk.

Throughout each episode, Kiel and Tyler play and discuss listener voicemails, and then wrap up with the rest of Detroit sports, including the Pistons, Tigers and Redwings!

Join next week's discussion by calling in and leaving the guys a listener voicemail! [phone]

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
On this week's grit iron report we have Dan Campbell's new staff beginning to take form

(00:06):
the Pistons are doing something we haven't seen in the NBA in quite some time and we
have a new listener voicemail so let's get into it.

(00:37):
Alright welcome to the grit iron report your Lions first all Detroit sports podcast today

(00:58):
is Tuesday January 28th and before we get into any sports whatsoever I have two quick
things that we need to touch on the first one's a good thing the second one is just
an absolute terrible thing so let's start with these two the first a good thing I start
with a good first we have to shout out if you listen this far you know we have a new
theme song shout out to Aaron who just put it together for us makes us feel like we actually

(01:19):
know what we're doing a little bit here on this sports podcast.
Aaron you're the man and Tyler sent me this theme song a couple of days ago and like my
jaw hit the floor man so yeah we just want to thank you so much and we're so pumped
to have a sick theme song.
And so the other thing that being the good the other thing being the bad it's just an
absolute travesty I don't know if you saw this I don't know if you heard about this

(01:42):
you've heard about this Lafayette Coney Island has once again been shut down for rats if
you are a Detroiter you obviously are either Lafayette Coney Island or American Coney
Island I'm an a Lafayette boy this is not the second time and you know six months or
so that they've been shut down for rats a lot of beef going on between Lafayette Coney

(02:03):
Island and American Coney Island but I asked the health inspector which restaurant down
in Detroit doesn't have rats open it up Lafayette is from the place everyone can go down you
know it's going to be overcrowded you know you can get beer in the can you know that
it's going to be busy people are going to be yelling somehow there's always inexplicably
just like an AAU basketball team packed in there all squeezing to a table I just it's

(02:27):
an absolute travesty that once again they're shut down just let them be give us our Coney
dogs this is probably the worst thing to happen to Detroit in weeks I mean this is much worse
than any any sports loss or anything like that I mean yeah I say again city health inspector
what's going on here I mean it's what one rat couple of rats what are we doing here this

(02:50):
is Lafayette Coney Island we're talking about I know we're both pretty big on Lafayette I
know American Coney Island which is right next door has you know launched a complete you
know hate campaign against Lafayette I mean what is it going to end let's let's just open
the boys back up because you know the people the people need their Coney dogs the people
need the Coney dogs now more than ever it's a terrible thing pitting these two and they've

(03:11):
been going against each other for quite some time and they've been friends every now and
again but this morning American or yesterday morning American Coney Island came out and
said that they're all pissed off at Lafayette Lafayette came back out today and said that
they're actually closed for renovations which is a great spin job on their part but let's
just pray and hope that Lafayette gets open once again after these quote unquote this

(03:32):
quote unquote remodeling they get back better than ever but those are the two things I wanted
to start with shout out Aaron for this fantastic theme song and no shout out to the health
inspector that shut down Lafayette Coney Island for the rats supposedly supposedly rats shame
okay let's get into some actual sports we we know a little bit about sports we like to
talk about sports let's get into it we'll start with the Detroit Lions we talked at

(03:57):
nauseam last week about the loss the devastating loss before we actually jump into the coaching
carousel who's going where who's been promoted all that stuff cow we saw the Eagles absolutely
dismantle the commanders I want to ask you real quick if the Lions are in that game do
do they beat the Eagles or do they stand a chance at least a better chance than Washington
did man it's I don't even know because that was that was an absolute ass kicking and yeah

(04:24):
the Eagles I mean they what seven touchdowns on the ground say quads first run was a seven
hard bomb touchdown yeah I just don't know I think we we saw a lot of flaws in the Detroit
Lions team when they played the commanders last weekend I if the Eagles play like that
ah man I would love to say that yeah the Lions you know best team in the world they just had

(04:45):
an off day they could beat anyone I don't know man I think if if the Eagles are playing
like that granted the game would have been in Ford Field but I would have to give the
edge to the Eagles and that that sucks to say I'm just trying to be real I guess yeah
there are a few different edges that the Lions would have like I said it would have been at
Ford Field you're right in say Kwan just ran all over the commanders the Lions defense

(05:06):
rush defense this season was pretty good you know they obviously the secondary got toasted
time and time again but the run defense was pretty decent at times it was actually elite
so it maybe would have stood we would have stood a better chance against a quan there
I did see a stat that said and I have no idea if this is true I saw it on Twitter didn't
do any fact-checking that the the Eagles had more rushing touchdowns in the NSC championship

(05:28):
game than the Dallas Cowboys had all season which is just fantastic that makes me so happy
I'm actually a big stay quan fan obviously if Detroit would be playing him it'd be a
whole different story but I thought that was just hilarious stat yeah woof yeah shout out
shout out the Cowboys man y'all y'all had a season okay yeah I don't know it would be

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interesting to at least see what the line would have been being at Ford Field I you think
the Lions had to have been favored but we'll get into the coaching carousel stuff so we
went last week in last week's episode talking about Ben Johnson had officially taken the
Bears job we talked a little bit about what that means for Detroit what that means for
Ben if you recall or you know if you can go back and listen to last week's episode I was

(06:11):
a little bit frustrated everyone knows Ben Johnson was destined to go out and get the
head coaching job if you if you didn't think so if you're mad at him going to take a head
coaching job it's not really realistic this guy's deserve to be you know to get that promotion
get their chance at being a coach I was just frustrated that he went to an inter division
team in the Bears Kyle was a little bit more level headed we were both kind of a little

(06:33):
frustrated I was obviously frustrated about him interviewing during the playoffs and stuff
like that but we have a few more in more updates as it relates to coaching the first I guess
just staying with Ben Johnson the Bears so Ben Johnson after he did come out and say
he will not be rating Dan Campbell's coaching staff he came out and stole Antoine Randall

(06:53):
L who was formerly the Lions receiving coach he stole him he is now going to be joining
Ben Johnson on the Bears staff I think that's quietly a pretty big blow you look at the
receiving staff that the Lions have had you turn Amun Ra same brown into an absolute steal
you know Amun Ra is a fantastic player he's got an insane work ethic so like maybe he

(07:14):
would have still turned into the player he was or he is if it was if we didn't have
rent Antoine Randall L but he's done a fantastic job kind of honing in Jameson Williams skills
getting him in the right positions doing a great job with guys who are kind of the third
and fourth receivers on a lot of teams bringing him here and putting him in great positions
you know the Cleef Ramonds the Tim Patricks the Josh Reynolds being like just kind of

(07:39):
those guys that randomly show up in different games and be who we need them to be so kind
of kind of a sneaky loss for Detroit and you know like I said shame on Ben Johnson a little
bit for for saying he's not going to raid Dan Campbell's staff and then immediately
takes you know one of his go-to guys I I did not see where Ben Johnson said he wasn't going
to raid the cupboard so yeah definitely definitely not calling here but I do think it's something

(08:03):
that it's it happens pretty often and we'll talk about you know the Lions passing coordinator
that who also you know could be poached by the Jets we'll talk about that a little bit
later but yeah I mean I do think Antoine Randall L he's a good coach we know he's a good coach
we know what he's done you know with our you know receiving room I'm not super worried

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I think that I don't know why wide receiver coaches would receive a coach at the end of
the day and you know we have studs at the wide receiver position and there's no reason
I think that any of those guys will take a step back now that a different coach is in
there if any more worried about the you know offensive coordinator and the impact that you
know he could have on this receiving core but yeah I mean we'll talk about that I'm

(08:49):
not I'm not super worried I'm not raising the red flag about losing Antoine Randall
L he's you know it's it is what it is yeah so going into some of the coaches that we
were we were able to hire we had a lot of holes to fill obviously the first one that
came out we'll kind of do this in a little chronological order as they kind of came out
of over the across the last week the first one was a huge hiring and that was the hiring

(09:12):
of the defensive line coach so we lost our original defensive line coach who obviously
we just mentioned you know the Lions run defense the defensive line for as many injuries injuries
as we've had the defensive line was actually pretty good they were great against the rush
when we had a healthy hutch they were pretty good with pressure against the pass it was
a kind of a point of strength and then as we kind of got more and more injured they

(09:36):
did a great job trying to stay afloat so losing our defensive line coach was a pretty big deal
but they went out and got one of the best defensive line coaches in the NFL I think in
Casey Rogers so Casey Rogers was the Buccaneers co defensive coordinator and defensive line
coach since 2019 hey cow tell me if this is good this is the Buccaneers defensive line
rankings since he joined them in 2019 in 2020 or she was starting in 2019 they were the first

(10:02):
overall defensive line in the NFL in 2020 they were the first overall defensive line in the
NFL 2021 they were the third overall defensive line in the NFL 2022 they were a fifth overall
2023 they were fourth overall and then this past year 2024 they were once again fifth
overall that's pretty good right I I'm gonna say that being top five in the NFL for yeah

(10:24):
six straight years I think that's pretty good I think I'm gonna go with good for that one
he a lot of people were talking about him being leaving the Buccaneers but to go take an actual
defensive coordinator job getting that natural promotion just because of the job that he's
done there in Tampa Bay so to get him on this on this staff and not as a DC as his staying

(10:44):
position I think is an absolute win for us I mean just a home run higher yeah love it
I absolutely love it yeah defensive line coach I mean it's a very important position coach
art like you said our defensive line they struggled down the stretch in 2024 and yeah some of
it was injury led but I do think that this I mean it's gotta help man I mean Casey Casey

(11:06):
Rogers his resume speaks for itself that is what what he's been able to do for the Tampa
Bay Bucks Tampa Bucks have had an awesome run defense for as long as I can remember so yeah
hats off on that hire it definitely helps that they have the big boy out front Vita
Vaya who's literally probably the best rush defend rushing defender in the NFL at like
six five three hundred and fifty pounds I mean just a literal mountain there and so it definitely

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helps that the personnel that Casey Rogers had on his defensive line maybe he brings some
of those guys over the next few you know free agency classes with them either way you look
at it it's just an absolute absolutely fantastic hire on the defensive line and again people
thought he was gonna be a defensive coordinator somewhere this offseason so to get him as
defensive line coach was fantastic and that kind of moves us into our defensive coordinator

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so if you recall last week we talked about it the pretty much everyone in the NFL assumed
that the case in the situation for the Lions Wars that they were going to obviously we
had an OC in a DC positions to fill I don't recall if we had actually lost Aaron Glenn
as of this time last week but the expectation was he was all but gone so we had two positions
to fill the expectation I think for most people was that they were gonna fill one internally

(12:18):
and fill one externally and that the internal position that we're feeling was gonna be somewhat
of a new hire someone an up-and-coming someone who doesn't have that experience but they
were gonna pair that with an exterior proven coordinator and I think the expectation originally
was that the offensive side was gonna be the internal hire someone who is not yet proven

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but it's up-and-coming someone like Tanner Eggstrand who will get to in a few in a little
bit some of like like Hank Fraley or someone that hasn't been an OC yet and the exterior
or the defensive coordinator was gonna be the exterior hire someone who's proven they
kind of went out and flipped that on his head by doing the interior promotion on the defensive
side with Calvin Shepard.
Yeah, yeah, I didn't see it coming.

(13:00):
I don't think anyone really saw it coming but yeah, Calvin Shepard come on you're promoted
I do love it.
I mean he's you know young guy he's been with this team for I think only three years maybe
this is his fourth year as you know with the Lions but yeah he's 37 years old he has high
energy high passion I think he's a you know a no BS type of coach and he really seems

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like he's just a great leader of men loved by his teammates I've heard you know testimony
was from teammates when he played in the NFL just you know this week after it was announced
that he was hired as the defensive coordinator seems like he's he's loved by them he's certainly
loved by his own players that he coached for the with the Lions and I think we probably
all remember that hard knocks clip or at least I remember the hard knocks clip from when the

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Lions were on hard knocks and I think 2022 or 2023 when you know Shepard was chewing
out the Detroit Lions linebacker room while also plays brazing Rodrigo who was a rookie
at the time and he was completely out playing all of the starters and I just I really liked
that you know it's it's obviously just a small clip it's hard knocks so take it with a great

(14:08):
assault but I think it does kind of show that he can hold his players accountable and you
know his players do really care about him.
Yeah I was I was surprised I mean they brought in going back to Tampa Bay they brought in
Larry Foote or at least they were talking about bringing in Larry Foote to be interviewed
he was the Buccaneers passing game coordinator and current linebackers coach kind of going

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all in on Tampa Bay Larry Foote a Michigan man kind of everyone thought at least as soon
as that name was floated out there that like oh he makes a lot of sense that they would
bring him in again pair him with the first time OC and have that experience first non-experience
kind of working together to create the offense and defense.
I lied to Calvin Shepard it was interesting because very beginning of the season even

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before AG went out and took this position or really was being tossed around Aaron Glenn
came out and said that that Calvin Shepard is someone that it will will be not even like
if but when will be a defensive coordinator so this whole season he was training him and
teaching him you know the the processes of being a defensive coordinator and all that

(15:10):
jazz so it's kind of nice to know that we do kind of reward that we did have a guy who
was kind of in training hopefully you know whether you like Aaron Glenn you like the
defense at times I was in love with the defense at times I hated the defense it seems like
maybe it'll be more of the same just keeping the same guys in there so it'll be it'll be
interesting with Calvin Shepard I'm here for a young energetic guy like you said all the

(15:34):
players love him but I did put together a blind resume so I put this together before
Shepard was actually named as the DC but I thought it's gonna be fun so I'm gonna give
you these stats and you tell me if you would take this again before Shepard you know take
Shepard out of the equation let me know if you would take this as our defensive coordinator
he has ties to Detroit during his time of coaching he averaged his seventh best scoring

(15:56):
defense that so that was over I think it was over seven seasons he averaged the seventh
best scoring defense two Super Bowls two conference champions and is currently coaching
in the Super Bowl once again so if that guy is available are you taking him as your DC
it almost seems too good to be true like yeah I mean that guy's he's coaching the Super
Bowl right now I don't know he'd be available yeah I mean just looking at those stats I

(16:20):
would love to have the seventh best scoring defense and a guy who has two Super Bowls
and of course two conference championships who is that like yeah like who yeah I have
no idea who that is so that was at yeah average the seventh best and he had a few first best
defensive in there congratulations cow your new defensive coordinator is Matt Patricia
all right I take back everything I said I saw people legitimately talking and they were

(16:45):
probably being tongue-in-cheek and people were talking about bringing back a few different
guys Jim Collwell and stuff but Patricia's name was was floated out there by a few different
guys and you look back at his stats like and that's why I was putting together this blind
resume he his defense was good if you to go back and listen to his what when he was getting
basically roasted as a coach here in Detroit he mentioned he has probably the best defensive

(17:08):
play in Super Bowl history against the Seahawks so I don't know man dude no give that guy the
furthest away from Detroit that he could possibly be I don't I don't care I don't care about
anything he's done any accolades he has if he ever stepped foot and four field again it
be an absolute travesty no no no yeah I'm taking Calvin Shepard I'm taking the the the player

(17:28):
loved unproven guy who's been with Detroit before and Calvin Shepard as DC I thought
like I said I was putting that together and I was kind of surprised by his numbers but
there's no way he would ever be welcome back I know he's made some amends with some players
and stuff but the fans just would never bring him back so yeah so outside of DC we got Calvin
Shepard filling that hole a few of the other holes that were to be filled both were internally

(17:50):
guys we were able to keep around we talked last week about Hank Fraley being interviewed
for the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator position and then Tanner Eggstrand who was
in consideration for our own offensive coordinator position and some other positions as well
both of those guys as of now are remaining with Detroit now Hank Fraley is 100% being

(18:11):
retained he is being promoted from the offensive line coach to the run game coordinator and
offensive line coach so he's getting a promotion he will be staying in Detroit he was someone
that I mean a lot of these different coaches are super important to retain I think Tanner
is super will be super important to retain but I think Hank Fraley was like the one I

(18:31):
was just absolutely dreading on seeing leave we went to last week we talked about it how
Frank Ragnar that he was asked about it and Frank was saying he will he will sabotage
any interview that Frank that Hank Fraley has he hasn't he hasn't not played with him his
entire career and he wasn't willing to play to not play with him moving forward Hank is
absolutely fantastic going back to the hard knocks episodes that you mentioned Hank was

(18:56):
kind of a mainstay in those those episodes and it's just put together an absolutely elite
offensive line here in Detroit for years now and he was someone that I did not want to
see go to see him stay and to get a promotion I think was just just so important for this
team Hank Fraley is he's an awesome coach and yeah yeah love that love that he's getting

(19:17):
a promotion it's a well deserved promotion I think anytime that you can have continuity
in your offensive line room that's that's that's gigantic it's huge I mean this this
league is is big man up front so being able to retain him love that I know I kind of alluded
to it but you know you just mentioned tenor tenor extra as well it's the current passing

(19:38):
game coordinator for the Lions there has been rumors today that he's going to actually be
poached by the New York Jets and yeah go over with Aaron Glenn and because offense of coordinator
and and really I would love to hear your thoughts on a Tyler I don't think I could hold him
accountable at all it'd be it'd be a promotion you'd be offensive coordinator he'd be you know

(19:59):
coaching alongside Aaron Glenn who he knows very well obviously they both they both coached on the
Lions last year I I couldn't fault I mean if the Lions aren't going to elevate him to offensive
coordinator and obviously they're not because you know we'll talk about the reports of John
Burton I can't hold Tanner extra and accountable for you know if if he leaves I think you know
more power to him no I agree going into the situation you had you had Hank Fraley and you had

(20:25):
Tanner extra and you even had Scotty McComery three absolutely elite offensive coaches you assumed
one of them would be getting the promotion to OC just because they're so all three of them are so
worthy and deserving of that position and then the other two it was kind of like would you be able
to retain maybe one of them you assume at least one of them would leave and go be an OC somewhere

(20:48):
else because they deserve that you you thought maybe maybe you can keep one around but there was a
real real chance that you you kind of promote one of them and then you lose the other two the
Lions kind of like we said we thought that they were going to hire internally with the
awesome offensive coordinator and you just alluded to it we'll get to Johnny Morton in a minute
but they went external for the offensive coordinator so there was a chance you could lose all three
of these guys and Hank and Tanner and Scotty McComery it's you cannot blame Tanner for for

(21:14):
going out and getting that promotion that he is deserving I'm honestly a little surprised that
it didn't go to Tanner Tanner seemed just as much Calvin was being groomed to be the defensive
coordinator Tanner was being groomed to the off to be the offensive coordinator so I was surprised
to see this um to see you know him not get that position I'm surprised in a good way to see that
we were able to retain Hank on you know a small promotion there um but yeah Tanner as of now he

(21:38):
is still in Detroit um both the news of Hank and Tanner being in Detroit you know for the for the
foreseeable future was actually broke on the internet by their wives on Facebook which was
absolutely hilarious everyone was suddenly the biggest uh you know Mrs. Fraley and Mrs. Engstrand
fans as they were breaking that they're staying in Detroit um then obviously Hank got the promotion

(21:59):
it was it was announced so he actually is staying um like you said Tanner might be leaving I can't
blame him it's it's a natural progression he's a young guy who I would assume eventually will
work his way out to a head coaching position so I it would hate to to see him go but I can't I
can't blame him either yeah yeah so we'll see and and again these are just rumors right now

(22:20):
that he might be going to the Jets I think nothing is official yet but yeah should we um should we
move on to probably the biggest news and um that is that yeah Adam Schefter is reporting that Johnny
Morton is expected to receive the offensive coordinator position for the Detroit Lions so I
don't know is it did official yet or is it still just a just a report right now yeah so when we
was putting together show notes it was just a report uh since then since we put the notes together

(22:43):
it has been uh confirmed so Johnny Morton is the new offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions
um Johnny just a quick in quick information on uh Johnny Morton um so he is a former player
has really bounced around the league for quite some time since uh 2002 honestly he started it as a
coach in the league at 33 he's been under a number of different head coaches that are really a really

(23:06):
good resume in that regard he's worked with John Gruden he's worked with some of the Harbaugh's
he's worked with uh Sean Payton a number of different elite level head coaches most recently
he was the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2017 under Todd Bowles um he was
eventually fired from that position we'll get into that in a second um then he actually was here in
Detroit in 2022 under Dan Campbell so there was a little bit of familiarity with that he understands

(23:31):
Jared he understands um that process and and how the offense was set up I know it's it's very different
now than it was in 2022 even um but he has some information or you know some familiarity there
he was with Detroit as a senior offensive assistant uh he left Detroit in 2023 to go to the Denver
Broncos to be the passing game coordinator where he's been for the past two years um and we all saw

(23:51):
I know like we said we can get into the his time with the Jets but before we do so I just want to
point out like his time with the Broncos we saw how good of a player um Bonix was this year how
Bonix was able to uh take the you know the his first year in the NFL and really run with it and I
think he was just the offense or the passing game coordinator um for the Broncos so uh he wasn't fully
in in charge of the offense but I thought the Broncos passed about really well this year so in

(24:14):
that regard I'm kind of excited yeah I think the Broncos are you know they were ranked like maybe
the 20th um passing offense in the league this year but yeah I agree I mean they had a rookie
quarterback right so I mean I'd say I think all things considered the way that the way that Bonix
played this season and you know he was pretty good and it's it's hard to know how much of that you

(24:35):
know goes on the the you know offensive passing coordinator John Morton at the time in in Denver
but it's it can't be a bad thing um I think just maybe a couple more things on Johnny Morton's
background um he's he's an Auburn Hills kid through and through so yeah you know grew up right
down the street from where uh Tyler and I grew up in Lake Ori and Michigan uh went to Hedale High
School you know Metro Detroit but yeah yeah you alluded to it Tyler he's a career offensive assistant

(25:00):
he's held just a slew of jobs in the NFL and in college football he he um he did coach at
college football for USC he was the offensive coordinator wide receiver wide receiver's coordinator
for a couple years there so he's he's really bounced around a lot so I don't know if that's a good
thing if that's a bad thing he's you know held position all the way up to offensive coordinator
briefly for the Jets and all the way down to you know receiver's coach and you know offensive

(25:24):
assistant so tight ends coach he's done a little bit of everything so to you know to say that he
doesn't have experience the NFL would would be a flat out lie it's just that he really doesn't have
a ton of experience you know as an offensive coordinator so there's there's probably a lot of
of unknown yeah I'm not going to sit here and pretend you know that yet you and I know the
ins and outs of John Morton and you know how he works and what he likes to do I will say all

(25:47):
the number as soon as he got released we we already mentioned it I was surprised by this by the
hiring I was surprised by uh by him himself and that it wasn't I was also surprised that it wasn't
an internal candidate but looking back at his numbers as soon as it was announced you know I
went I went and did a quick deep dive on him so like I said he was a Jets offensive coordinator in
2017 he was fired by Todd Bowles um they were a number of different reasons we talked about this

(26:10):
last week when we um we touched on Aaron Glennon and the Jets and stuff uh and we talked about it
even you know if you're a long time listener with back when we were talking about the trade
deadline about Hassan Reddick and you know a few different things about the Jets in general the Jets
have a coming from a Lions fan the Jets have a very tumultuous past they are um you know a team
that franchise that is kind of um long story it is a little bit upside down and just struggles

(26:34):
really so take it with a grain of salt all the quote-unquote issues that he had with the Jets
but apparently he butted heads a lot with Todd Bowles um he uh supposedly is he not supposedly he
is a past first offensive coordinator but he supposedly has a hard time putting together
the run game you know run game scheme especially when he was with the Jets there um but I want

(26:56):
to say a few things so first and foremost we had just talked about the Lions offensive staff
they were able to retain as of this as of this recordings they were able to retain Scott Montgomery
um and then obviously Hank Fraley I think it's really going to be uh kind of an offensive
coaching by committee and I kind of hope it's an offensive coaching by committee there's so

(27:17):
many bright minds in this you know in that uh that offensive staff room that I hope that
you kind of just bounce and work together as a team if if if John Morton is a passing first
offensive coordinator and struggles to put together a rushing scheme he's got one of the
best running back coaches and Scott Montgomery and best offensive line coaches and Hank Fraley so
they can kind of work together all three of them in tandem to put together the best offensive scheme

(27:41):
that you know really fits the offense and fits here with the Lions um looking back at that Jets
offense in 2017 so they were the 15th ranked offense 54 red zone success rate 400 and you know
and like I said he was really past heavy as opposed to rush running heavy 427 rushing yard rushing
attempts um for about 1700 rushing yards uh and then he had 510 passing attempts for about 3100

(28:05):
passing passing yards so you know a little bit under 100 more passing attempts and rushing
attempts which makes sense um but numbers aside you look at the uh he was kind of scapegoated a
little bit his time with the Jets because you look at the staff and the players that he was working
with his quarterback was a 38 year old Josh McCown um his running back was Bilal Powell
and and and get his other running back was Matt Forte and if that didn't take you back to you know

(28:29):
the early 2000 early to late 2000s 2010s I don't know what does I mean his staff was his
player personnel was was less than than par so I think he was scapegoated a little bit
look at just comparing those numbers to what the Lions did last year so again he had uh 510
passing attempts for 3100 yards last year the Lions had uh 551 passing attempts um and 400 or 400

(28:59):
4474 yards so um honestly we we passed the ball even more than he did um during his time there
but we the other thing we did we just ran more plays overall um we rushed the ball 534 times
last season obviously like I said when he was 2017 with the Jets he rushed it 427 now offenses
have evolved um you know since 2017 but um we were much more level offense last year we'll see

(29:24):
if that kind of continues if we do start to to lean towards passing maybe having the running
back duo that we have in in Montgomery in in Gibbs will kind of force his hand to run the ball more
it's it's a little bit interesting for sure there's a lot a lot to unpack there with Johnny
Morton I think I think the good thing is silver lining that and look at a lot of times when

(29:44):
offensive coordinators or you know coaches come in they bring their own coordinators in a lot of
times it's because the team is in disarray they fire their last coach you know there's things
that are going that that are not going well that's not the case here um where obviously you just
alluded to it Tyler but you know Johnny Morton is coming into you know one of if not the best
offensive rooms in all of the national football league so I mean it's almost like I don't want

(30:08):
to jish it that you know you can't you can't mess it up but like you can't really mess it up you
you have awesome coaches under you that you know are proven and they know how this offense works so
yeah you can put your own spins on it your own wrinkles on it but at the end of the day like
we know what works in the Detroit Lions offense so yeah just you know if it's not broke like don't

(30:28):
even try fixing it yeah and we know how much Dan Campbell is involved in the coaching and offensive
play calling we know all the the four down times he goes for it and even you know when Dan Campbell
first took over for Anthony Lynn as OC like Dan Campbell is so heavily involved in the offensive
play calling so you're right it is even if it was just John Morton being the OC and calling the plays
and stuff it would probably be pretty difficult to fail but knowing that Dan Campbell is also

(30:52):
going to have a heavy say in that um you know what kind of should alleviate of any of the concerns about
you know is getting fired when he was with the Jets and stuff um I saw a few different quotes
though that I thought were important um so Dan Campbell in 2023 when when John Morton left to go
to be the Broncos passing game coordinator uh said of John Morton what John Morton did for us on an
offense this year was pivotal and it was all behind the scenes I'm not sure how I'm not sure how

(31:16):
everybody understands just how important he was John is a superstar now and there's a number of
things that he did for us last year that are things that we kept so he kind of was laying helping lay
the groundwork for this offense uh you know the offense that we've come to know and love um and
then one final stat I saw uh that again should hopefully just alleviate any sort of Jets firing

(31:37):
concerns or anything Johnny Morton's 2017 Jets team had more opening drive touchdowns than Ben
Johnson's 2024 Lions and we talked about a lot how for some reason offenses are supposed to be
do well and their first drive because it's so scripted and they go down they run their plays
and then if the wheels are going to come off they're going to come off because it's not scripted
and stuff how the Lions were absolutely backward somehow that they the first drive they always

(32:00):
struggled and then they kind of kick it in the gear after that John Morton didn't do that he scored
more opening drive touchdowns than Ben Johnson last year so I don't know all right um so let's
keep it moving we do have a listener uh voicemail um coming in from Greg touching on the Lions so
let's listen to that here and then we can go ahead and discuss that hey guys this is Greg

(32:23):
first time listener long time caller calling about your podcast last week about the Lions and how
some people are saying that you're not too lion's fans you're angry with the Lions results because
it was a great season and I think it's going to be a very good point that you can be full and I would

(32:44):
have to say being an older person is that I've been with the Lions the second then I was at the
Silver Dome when there was the smallest attendance on record I've been at the Silver Dome when there
was more Green Bay fans or Chicago Bear fans and they were Lions fans and I just want to say that

(33:07):
your point was very good you can be both and I think you have a right to be able to be angry
for Campbell to go on and say how you know we're going to chew up people's kneecaps and we're going
to fight till the end and and then delay an egg like they did on that game is it just the fans

(33:29):
have been just disillusioned by all this they've been promised so much and nothing to show for
the Lions didn't come to the game prepared they look flat and I think we have a right to be angry
and to say you know you guys are feeding us bullshit it's you say you're going to do this and

(33:52):
the results show differently so I think it was a very good point that you brought up it is fair
and we're not measuring people's fandom by you know just celebrating over the Lions saying oh
they did so great they had a great season they did have a good season but now they need to
go further they need to prove themselves more and bring us home and again we deserve

(34:18):
a Super Bowl you know we do that's all I want to say thanks awesome hey Greg first of all man
voicemail I know first time long time dude awesome voicemail and and I love I love what you said
you know we're you know a lot of people saying that we're not true Lions fans because we're angry
at you know how the season ended and I completely agree with you man that's that's bullshit part

(34:43):
of my french um that's absolute bullshit like you know both things can be true we can celebrate
a fantastic season but we can also be pissed off by the ending of it and yeah laying that it ag
against the commanders when you're the home team you know I do think that we had a ton of expectations
and those expectations you know to win a Super Bowl and I love how you Greg you um you know mentioned

(35:09):
the Silver Dome days in the dark days I mean you know Tyler he Tyler 28 I just turned 29
I know you're turning 29 in a couple weeks tie we've seen some just absolutely shitty football
for the AIDS and you can go back dick it's further before and before you know either of us were alive
and you see some more shitty football so yeah it is easy to celebrate that we had a good season

(35:32):
but I think that's BS and you know when when you become you know a top tier when you when you
are in that echelon of being a top tier team in the NFL you should be pissed off when your team lays
an egg in the most important game of the season at home when all roads lead to the Super Bowl
are leading through Detroit you can be pissed so yeah if anyone if anyone is calling out you know

(35:53):
my fandom or Tyler's fandom because we're pissed off you know I'm gonna I tell them to f off because
you know this is if we expect Super Bowls then we have to then we have to act like you know it's
all hell is breaking loose when when we don't get there because because you lay that egg and you
didn't do what you're supposed to do you didn't do your job and and we expect a lot from this team so

(36:13):
Greg just want to say love the voicemail and we're with you man we expect more and and I think next
year it's it's it's definitely Super Bowl or bust again because this is your window it's important
to to to know where we're going you can move the you could and you have to move the goalpost which
we have to remember that we are not the the Lions of old we're not the Lions you know like Greg

(36:37):
mentioned that we're at the Silver Dome being vastly outnumbered we're now a team and a franchise
that travels extremely well we're a team that we're the most watched team in the NFL this season
we are a team that expects to be in the Super Bowl we're at a level where that is the expectation
and like like like I said like Greg said like Kyle has said you can you can kind of play both sides

(36:59):
you can be happy with the season we talked last week about how much fun we had watching all those
games watching Ben Johnson work a perfect offensive play call watching Aaron Glenn
absolutely perfect defensive scheme against the Vikings like we can have fun about that but then
when they fall flat we need to realize that we are not this oh well you know we're playing with
house money we made it into the playoffs again like that's not where we're at anymore that's in my

(37:22):
opinion that's a loser loser you know thinking we are at a point where it's Super Bowl or bus and I
think that's a great point kind of tying into what we're just talking about with all these new
coaches that we're bringing in that this is not the coaching staff that we brought in you know
what in 2022 in which we were still trying to write this ship and just really all about trying to get
that culture going and we had three wins last season let's make it to six and then let's try and

(37:45):
get a play and make the playoffs and then playoff when this staff needs to be coming in and hitting
the ground running understanding that this is not a sorry franchise anymore this is a Super Bowl or
bus franchise and the fans know that the fans also need to kind of get on board with that as well
that that goalpost has been moved it no longer is getting to the playoffs it no longer is
winning a playoff game it's to get to the Super Bowl and to win a Super Bowl so these guys need to

(38:07):
to kind of come in and be ready to take on that that mentality and the fans need to take on the
mentality with them you know and I think they will I don't it's not all stormy skies ahead I think
these guys that they brought in like we said the guys in the coaches that we were able to retain
were huge I think the guys that we brought in are going to be super important so I really
liked the voicemail thanks Greg for calling in again we'll leave the number at the end of the

(38:32):
show so you guys can call in give us your thoughts on the Lions any sort of other Detroit sports
anything in Detroit in general we open the show with Lafayette Coney Island you want to tell us
about Lafayette vs. American I'll tell you that you're wrong if you're choosing American over
Lafayette but you want to talk about that leave a voicemail and do so we'll bring that up so
thank you for the call Greg let's keep moving we've talked enough about the Lions we you know we've

(38:57):
kind of spent what the last six months really talking about the Lions and rightfully so throughout
their season but I want to take a moment to talk about the Pistons as well just because the Pistons
are doing something that we really haven't seen in the NBA and and I would say at least 15 10
15 20 years maybe even and that's that so many times in today's NBA you see these players that

(39:19):
in the all season they're going on vacations with each other and they're you know after they play in
you know a different team they're going on a losing players podcast and they're talking about
the game and talking about playing against each other and this and that and you know the different
states of the league and that never would have happened back in the 80s and 90s you go back to
the bad boy Pistons versus you know Michael's bowls but they actually hated each other you know you go

(39:41):
back to any of the other teams back then and there was so much bad blood and hatred true hatred for
other teams it was my I got my teams back all my boys and if you come into our plays and we're playing
you we're probably looking for blood and that just is kind of loss in today's NBA and the Pistons
are doing what they're doing what teams haven't done in quite some time and that's like going out

(40:02):
and making enemies they're not going out making friends they're actually like kind of reviving
these rivalries and I think it's absolutely fantastic you look at them going against
like the Orlando Magic this week the Indiana Pacers you know over the last few weeks the
Knicks generally the New York Knicks we've had a lot of shit talking going on the Rockets I mean I
absolutely love that they're they're going back to that hard mentality of the NBA of years past

(40:26):
yeah yeah it's sick man it's awesome it kind of reminds me a little bit of like you know the
grittiness and the smash mouth of you know the the Pistons of old right you know the bad boys
even going to work Pistons like they weren't they weren't in this business to make friends
yeah I really like it you know especially Kade Kade you know versus versus Jay Lincoln I love that
one I think I think Kade is easily the better player there but I mean they're both they're both

(40:50):
phenomenal right so yeah just you know any kind of little rivalry can there yeah you mentioned the
Pacers obviously there's some bad blood between the Pistons and the Pacers you know all the way
back to the mouths of the Palace like yeah I just I really like it and I think you know it's an
identity that can work for you know a young team that you know maybe needs that kind of grit and
that little extra push to win games because you know they've had a great season right you know I'm

(41:15):
just looking at the rankings right now they're you know the standings they're you know right up
523 and 23 they have lost a couple games in a row but you know overall good season and I just I
like I love seeing the fight out of them because we've watched this Pistons team even like you
know the Blake Griffin teams that you know limped into the playoffs I feel like they just they

(41:35):
didn't have any fight we haven't really seen fights since you could probably go all the way back to
you know the 2005 2006 2007 seasons when you know we were at just just off that 2004 championship but
I haven't seen a lot of fight out of the Pistons in decades so I'm loving this even going back you
mentioned the Blake the Blake Griffin Pistons that I agree with you in that like there was no real

(41:59):
identity that season was Blake going absolutely nuclear and putting an entire franchise on his
back and carrying us to the playoffs and then obviously getting swept but coming off a season
last year that was so historically bad and like numbers wise bad but also Monty Williams himself
literally had no identity last year you look back at games and he literally was just standing there
on the sideline you know arms crossed Stoic no no expression on his face and you saw times in

(42:23):
in in timeouts and in after games that like Cade was visibly just frustrated with the lack of
emotion and direction for this team JB Bickerstaff has brought that that grittiness like you said that
that sort of toughness and fighting mentality to this team you look back I mean I just meant you
mentioned the Pacers and going back to the the Malice of the Palace but I mean Benedict

(42:44):
Mathur and Vershaden Ivy that started what last year two years ago just because they were drafted
around the same time that suddenly they have this this beef and it's it's it's you know Benedict
Mathur and Vershaden Ivy and naturally each time we go up against them it's kind of must-see TV I
want to see how Ben Mather and Matherin does against Jadon Ivy and who kind of gets the better
of who you look at Orlando like we said or they Orlando beat the Pistons earlier this week but

(43:07):
going back to even last year of all guys Killian Hayes got in a fight with Mo Wagner and bodies
end up being thrown over the bench I mean it was a dirty play that the magic were running and
and Killian wasn't taking any of it and Killian's obviously no longer with the franchise you can
think whatever you want about Killian a bust whatever but he still was trying to give us that
fighting mentality look now this year you had Jalen Suggs diving for a loose ball in a meaningless

(43:31):
game as you know in the fourth quarter that end up breaking Jaden Ivy's leg just when we played
earlier this week Tobias Harris and a Sar Thompson both caught like an elbow to the head Tobias had
to come out of the game for a concussion he's ruled questionable I mean and then later in the game
you had Jalen Suggs again diving for a loose ball that ended up taking Kate out at the knees and
thank god Kade was able to kind of come across it and be okay but they at the Isaiah Stewart's

(43:54):
going back and forth with these guys you know we're fighting with them it teams you hear the
the old heads talking you know on their their podcast they're all retired so they can have
podcasts and bring other guys on I don't care but guys like Kevin Garnett who was you know the
masters of shit talking and they you did not want to go up against Kevin Garnett because he was gonna
he was gonna elbow you he was gonna when you got into the paint he was gonna punish you he's gonna

(44:14):
bully you he's gonna talk shit and you hear guys like them talking on their podcast that this
Detroit team is for real you don't want to go play in Detroit because they're gonna hit you in the
mouth they're gonna hit your mouth by their play but they're also gonna hit you in the mouth probably
physically and and then literally because they're gonna play you physical they're gonna basically
be out for blood and it's us versus you and I absolutely love that it's something that we've
we've missed in the NBA you got you know Steph Curry and the Braun James that are you know talking

(44:39):
about creating mega teams and wanting to go play with each other and going back to the banana boat
boys you know LeBron James Kevin or Carmelo Anthony Chris Paul they're going on vacations together
it's like going back Kobe never went on vacation with any other guys he was it when he was in the
NBA season he hated everyone that wasn't on his team and it was when it was the off season

(45:00):
he was only by himself working I mean that's the kind of mentality this Pistons team has taken on
and I absolutely love it dude hell yeah I'm ready to like run through a brick wall right now just
talking about this Pistons team and I mean this is a team that you know it's a 500 team it's not
like it's a championship team right now but I mean this is something that the fans can get behind
and and I love I love your point about yeah we're gonna go in and we're gonna you know we're gonna

(45:21):
hit you in the mouth and I do want to point out you know we're not talking about playing dirty
there's a difference between you know playing dirty and just playing physical and tough you know so
we're talking about you know playing obviously within the rules but you know still still having
that you know grittiness and you know just playing playing tough and like you said like you don't
you don't want to you know back down in the pain against you know our big man or you know if you're

(45:43):
the opposing team it's like wow shit now we got to play the Pistons and we might get beat up a little
bit like you know certainly not talking about playing dirty but certainly talking about playing
physical and I love it I love what I'm seeing out of these Pistons it's very similar we do
have the whole entire NFL season we talked about the Honolulu flu and how teams that literally
you could follow the team that played Detroit last week they were gonna come out sluggish and

(46:06):
likely I don't remember the actual numbers in front of me they came out and most of the time lost
the week after playing the Lions because the Lions were so physical and brought it every single play
and this Pistons team under JV Biggerstaff is kind of doing the exact same thing and I love it you
mentioned it's a 500 team it definitely is will we make the playoffs I'm thinking so but it will we

(46:26):
buy will we sell out the deadline who's to say but I just love that we're absolutely just at least
getting an identity and kind of going off that NBA trade deadline is next week so we haven't put our
show notes together for next week's episode but I assume a lot of it will be talking about the
Pistons talking about who we can go out and get if we need to buy sell whatever it's a week from
tomorrow so it'll be next Wednesday so hopefully we can jump into that I spent a whole episode

(46:50):
talking about that for you guys so that's what I want to talk about the Pistons I love what
they're doing let's jump to the Red Wings yeah yeah let's do it Wings yeah last night huge win
against the LA Kings Kings are in third place in the Pacific they are a you know very good team in
this league and yeah I loved what I see I love what I saw out of the Red Wings you know Cider

(47:11):
Cider had just a horrendous own goal which you know these things happen but it was it was really
really bad he'd be the first to tell you that yeah he he messed up big time with that one but after
that own goal the boys rattled off five straight goals of their own to secure the dub five to two
so yeah it was it was huge they've been a bit up and down the past like week and a half this is

(47:32):
their third straight win and you know they need to keep winning they are two points back of the
second wildcard spot right now in the east and I think it's it could go either way I would love
to hear your your view on this Tyler but you know it could go either way as if they're a buyer or a
seller at the deadline I personally I would hate to see them sell just because I do think they

(47:54):
have the pieces there they have similar pieces from last year it just seems like they're under
performing in general this season but you know what what do you think on that are are they going to
buy are they going to sell stay put I think there's been a lot of talk we talked for years about the
eyes are planned and and how it hasn't really kind of fruition obviously in the NHL there is the

(48:15):
the literal firing of a coach boom that you know you kind of rejuvenates a team and we're seeing
that with Detroit so whether it actually is that the just kind of rejuvenation from firing a coach
or the eyes are planned starting to take form it's hard to say if that is the eyes are planned
starting to take place and starting to to come to fruition I would say we're not going to sell

(48:39):
but just knowing eyes are meant I would it's a boring answer but I would also say we're not
going to buy he's not one that likes to give out term he's not one that likes to give away you
know the farm from different guys and we're starting to bring these guys up I mean you look at the
game last night against the Kings it was it was all the young it was all the young boys you make
the plays you had Lucas who had a goal and three assists Marco Casper with two goals and one assist

(49:00):
Elmer Soderblum got his first goal I mean it was it was it was the young wings that were you know
took it to the Kings which are super important that we beat them obviously the Kings were the team
that fired Todd McClendon last year Todd is obviously you know our new head coach so I think
it was important and we also went down to zero you know and so it was important to come back and
so if I were to guess and there's a lot of time yeah we'll talk about the the Pistons next week

(49:24):
because the deadline is next week there's a lot of time I think the NHL trade deadline is in March
so we have some time to kind of figure out whether this is just the coaching boom or if it actually
is the eyes are playing starting to come to fruition and the young boys are starting to play well
and play together and and kind of had something but I will say as of now I would be shocked if

(49:44):
if they're sellers even even just kind of where we're at right now with all the young boys I think
we I think we're not going to sell theirs I think the only kind of question is do we move to get one
or two more pieces without selling the farm that that kind of put us into firmly into the playoffs
and try and make a run or do we kind of just kind of continue coasting on this upward trajectory and

(50:05):
continue to coast or trust the eyes are playing for a little bit longer it'll be interesting to
tell I think we'll know more over the next month for sure yeah yeah we'll definitely know more
and just just one more thing on the right wings you mentioned Lucas Raymond I just I just want to
say I mean we've talked about a bit but how good is Lucas Raymond he's he's awesome I mean this is
you know it's his fourth season now in the NHL he's only 22 years old so he started his career

(50:30):
at a very very young age for a hockey player you know there's a lot of times you know guys don't
even get into the league until they're about his age so he's already on his fourth season
and he's just on just incredible clip right now of points you know he's doing it at all you know
goals and assesses 20 goals 36 assists for 52 points on the season last year tremendous season

(50:52):
last year last year was his best to date 72 points in 82 games so I mean he's he's already you know
approaching his points level from last season I think he's on pace for shoot it's got to be in the
mid 90s yeah I think he's 90 or something yeah yeah yeah that's his pace so I just I just wanted to
give a shout out to the young man who is you know quickly becoming a young star in this league and

(51:14):
in my opinion he's the best player under the age of 23 in the NHL yeah Luke I'm a long time listener
of the pod I know you're listening right now shout out to you my man I know for listeners from a few
weeks ago you recall you put me on probation from going to Red Wings games after we lost to the San
Jose Sharks six to three has that probation been lifted I don't have any plans to go but am I has

(51:35):
it been lifted can I go to games now that we've won three in a row you know what it's lifted yep yep
they've won three in a row you've done your time you are on a bit of a probation you know if you go
again and they lose we might have to just revoke that again but yeah right now I'm gonna say you're
okay to go back okay and they're not there they play at the oil oilers on the 30th so they got
some time until they're back in Detroit so I appreciate the lifting of that and I'll definitely

(51:58):
I swear I'll be on my best behavior try and get some wins when they do come back in town but
all right that is our show thank you guys all for tuning in to this week's episode you can find
us on twitter at Dutton underscore Tyler and Kyle underscore Barino you can join the conversation
next week by calling into the great iron report voicemail uh fresh to play and discuss on the
podcast that number is 313 306 7939 and finally if you like this episode please take a moment to rate

(52:24):
at five stars and leave a review saying so it means a lot to us um and thank you guys for joining us
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(52:49):
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