Advertise on podcast: The Detroit Lions Podcast

Senior Bowl standouts for Detroit Russell Brown and Jeff Risdon turned Senior Bowl week into an NFL reality check on the Detroit Lions Podcast. Mobile is hard to reach. This year it was worse. Flights through Atlanta and Charlotte snarled schedules. Players spent extra hours in airports, then dove straight into meetings and practices. Every prospect met with all 32 teams. Some chats lasted five minutes. Others stretched to forty five. Minds raced. Bodies adjusted to new time zones. Then came the field work. Wide receivers faced corners they had never seen. Quarterbacks threw to targets they had never met. Timing lagged. Some passes sailed high. The context mattered. It was not a polished team practice. It was a showcase under unfamiliar circumstances, with coaches installing concepts on the fly and players trying to absorb it all. Practice winners with a Detroit lens One offensive winner stood out. Wyoming tight end John Michael Gillenborg flashed real juice. He is a former basketball player who played only three high school football games after COVID wiped out his senior year. Athlete first, growing football player second. In one on one drills he was a problem. He separated cleanly. He was uncoverable for stretches. Safeties and linebackers struggled to mirror him in space. His game performance did not match the practices. The hosts said it plainly. The week still helped him. Movement skills at that size are hard to teach. A slot tight end who wins on timing and leverage translates. One linebacker did hold up well in coverage during those periods, a note that sharpened the evaluation of the tight end work. Even with the natural advantage for tight ends in those drills, Gillenborg’s get off and pace changes carried weight. Installs and scheme shifts test prospects The install meetings mattered as much as the reps. Players jumped into systems that did not mirror their college playbooks. Think of a running back used to inside and outside zone suddenly asked to run duo. That changes everything. An offensive lineman who rarely worked a deuce block now has to climb to a linebacker on a different track. In zone you lean on the drag hand and cross the face of the nearest defender to pin and create a lane. Duo shifts the aiming points and the communication. Those are real stressors on short notice. What it means for Detroit The Detroit Lions value how players handle chaos. One bad Tuesday does not define a prospect in the NFL. Meetings, installs, and adaptability do. Gillenborg’s week offered a profile worth tracking for a Detroit offense that prizes matchups in the middle of the field. The linebacker who showed coverage chops added another data point on the defensive side. For the Lions, the smart move is weighing practice tape, mental processing, and the ability to translate coaching quickly. Senior Bowl week delivered all three. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvW-U57A_nc #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #seniorbowl #johnmichaelgyllenborg #one-on-onedrills #linebackercoverage #safetiesandlinebackers #insidezone #outsidezone #duoblocking #interviewswithall32teams #timezoneadjustment #flightdelaysinatlantaandcharlotte Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NFL salary cap is set to clear $301 million. That surge changes the Detroit Lions math. Default figures still place the Lions a few million over, as with the rest of the NFC North, but routine moves and rollover can flip the ledger fast. The Detroit Lions Podcast drills into who and what unlocks space, and how it shapes spring decisions. Cap Surge Reshapes Detroit’s Options League guidance pegs the 2026 cap north of $301 million, with projections ranging from about $301.2 million to $305.7 million. Five seasons ago it sat near $208 million. Revenue is up. So are choices. On default calculations, the Lions sit roughly $7.65 million over. There is a straightforward release or restructure lever at guard. Moving on from Graham Glasgow would free about $5.56 million. If he returns, it should be in a supporting role, not at a starter’s rate. Restructure pathways also exist, including converting portions of Jared Goff’s money into guarantees to smooth the hit. The menu is familiar. The new cap ceiling makes each option more palatable. David Montgomery remains a core piece. The expectation here is that he stays. The bigger picture is flexibility. Detroit can clear room without gutting its identity. Roster Decisions: Glasgow, Anzalone, Raymond The higher cap improves odds for continuity on defense. Bringing back linebacker Alex Anzalone is more feasible now. He handled the defensive calls, played well last season, and stayed on the field. Keeping the ringleader in the middle adds stability as the Lions push for more in the NFL postseason. Kalif Raymond is a pending free agent. He has been the No. 4 wide receiver and a trusted returner. Detroit drafted Dominic Lovett as a projected successor, but Lovett did not see the field on offense. If Raymond is open to returning as a primary return specialist, that path aligns with an offense that leans into two wide receivers and two tight ends. Glasgow remains the cleanest cap lever. If not released, a pay cut or restructure fits. Either way, the cap jump gives Detroit Lions decision-makers a buffer to keep preferred pieces together. QB2 and Coaching Notes The cap rise also eases a practical question at quarterback. Retaining Kyle Allen as the backup in the $3 million range makes sense. He was solid last summer and looked better than his prior tape suggested. Coaching movement around the NFL has settled at the top, but Detroit still needs a tight ends coach. Dan Skipper is a sensible in-house option. He logged more than 400 snaps as an extra offensive lineman in heavy packages and knows the operation. He could also slot as an offensive assistant if that’s the better fit. There is talk out of Chicago that JT Barrett could become offensive coordinator under Ben Johnson. Chicago moved on from its OC and is surveying options. For the Lions, the immediate task is simple. Leverage the cap windfall, lock in key voices, and keep the program’s rhythm intact. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #detroitlionssalarycap #nflcap301million #grahamglasgowsalary #zionyoung #danskipper #jtbarrett #tannerengstrand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit locks in OT at 17 Mock Draft 1.0 on the Detroit Lions Podcast set the board with a clear priority. Offensive tackle at No. 17. The choice is Utah’s Caleb Lomu. The approach mirrors the current reality. Taylor Decker played through a shoulder injury and a potential retirement hovers. Operate as if Decker will not be back. If he returns, that is preferred. A rookie develops behind veterans and the line stays stout. This is about protecting Jared Goff and sustaining a top NFL front five. Caleb Lomu scouting snapshot Lomu brings outstanding athleticism and smooth movement in space. His footwork on the edge is clean. He rarely opens the gate and gives up the corner to bend rushers. He uses length well. If he is beaten initially, he shows quick reaction and recovers. That recovery mirrors what the Lions need on the left side. It also covers for breakdowns that happen on long downs. The cons are real. He will be 24 as a rookie, almost as old as Penei Sewell. He does not move people in the run game. Power rushers can get into his pads and walk him back. Functional strength must improve. Add eight to ten pounds and those issues tighten up. Among the two Utah tackles, Spencer Fano looks better right now. In two years, Lomu’s ceiling could be higher. Less mileage. More room to grow. The fit in Detroit works. The profile matches the offense and the locker room. Derek Moore's Senior Bowl surge Day two brings a Senior Bowl riser. Michigan edge Derek Moore flashed an upper tier week. His Michigan tape had peaks and long quiet stretches. Splash or invisible. In Mobile he stacked more consistent reps. One stood out. Aligned on the edge, he collapsed the blocker inside and forced the run into the A gap. That is assignment sound football. That translates to the Lions front. It shows he can anchor, set an edge, and still chase. He is a little smaller for the role, but the technique win matters. The arrow is up. What changes before the draft This is an early guess. Only one mock each year reflects personal board. The rest project what the Detroit Lions will do. The NFL combine hits at the end of the month. Pro days follow. Those trips produce fresh data from scouts and coaches. Notes from the road sharpen the board and the next iteration gets tighter. For now, tackle at 17 with Lomu, then Moore as the front seven boost. Needs met. Upside secured. The plan holds until new information moves it. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #caleblomu #utahutestackle #taylordeckershoulder #taylordeckerpotentialretirement #peneisewell #detroitlionsoffensiveline #lefttacklerecovery #bullrushpower #rungamemovement #spencerfano #derekmoore #michiganpassrusher #seniorbowlweek #agapspill #combineatendofmonth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Tackle Tops the Lions’ Offseason List Senior Bowl week set the tone in Mobile. The Shrine Bowl wrapped the other night. Scott Bischoff and Russell Brown are deep in practice tape on the Detroit Lions Podcast. The conversation zeroed in on offensive tackle and how it drives every Detroit Lions decision. Offensive tackle is the biggest need for this roster. Outside of Penei Sewell, the future at left or right tackle is unclear. Decker’s status is not defined. That uncertainty elevates tackle above every other position. You can patch the interior with a veteran and a younger center. Graham Glasgow remains in place. That worst case is manageable. The priority is tackle. Sewell at Left or Right: Where the Value Lives In a perfect world, you would not move what might be the best right tackle in football. Sewell fits that bill. Disrupting that matters. Yet it is easier to find a right tackle than a premium left tackle in the NFL. Sewell can be a strong left tackle. The best team-first move could be shifting him left if the rookie fits better on the right. Conversely, if pick 17 yields a true college left tackle, keep Sewell at right tackle. Let the rookie learn and possibly sit behind Decker for a half season. The player dictates the plan. The larger question remains whether you should move a foundational piece at all. Draft Board at 17 and Beyond At pick 17, a few intriguing tackles could reach Detroit. One or two at the very top likely will not. The board will decide how aggressive the Lions must be. This offensive line class looks deeper than expected. There may be fewer elite names at the top, but there is quality through the first two rounds. Options exist at 17 and again around pick 50. The further down the list you go, the more developmental tackles you can target. Interior paths also exist. The mix could include Chris Mahogany, Kate Ratlitsch, and Mills Frazier, with Graham Glasgow in the room. That flexibility allows a rookie tackle to grow while the line holds together opposite Sewell. Senior Bowl practices are on day three, technically day four of the week. Shrine Bowl work is in the books. Those sessions shape the board and the fit at tackle. A fuller recap of both events comes next week. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #seniorbowl #shrinebowl #pick17 #peneisewell #decker #righttackle #lefttackle #interioroffensiveline #grahamglasgow #offensivelineclass #offensivetackle #practicetape Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Risdon welcomed Tyler Brown of Best Available after a long, weather-chopped week inside The Star in Frisco. The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on access, evaluation, and Detroit Lions offensive line priorities. All 32 NFL teams showed up. The vantage points were elite. The stories were close to the grass. The Star Delivers Rare Access and Angles Brown’s first trip to the facility impressed him. He called The Star absurd in the best way. The complex felt brand new. Frisco is its own scene, and it shows. He understood why they host state championships there. Weather shut down much of what surrounded the event, but the on-field work kept rolling. Media access stood out. Credentialed reporters could walk up and talk to people without stigma. Brown even spent about twenty minutes chatting with Dante Corleone during practice while the defensive tackle was hurt. The week ended with a brutal exit from Dallas for Brown. Two days. Twenty-seven hours. One flight day. He still called it worth it. Scouts Pack the Sideline as All 32 Evaluate Scouts were everywhere. The setup allowed personnel and media to stand right on the sideline, only a couple feet from one-on-one drills. You could slide into the stands and jump to the end zone for a different look in seconds. That flexibility mattered when team periods started. Both Brown and Risdon prefer the end zone view for team work. Risdon even noted he leaves the press box at Western Michigan to watch from the end zone front row. The Star let them simulate that angle for NFL-caliber talent. It felt like the same sightline scouts used. Lions Notes: OL Search and Dan Skipper’s Next Step The Detroit Lions need offensive line help. Everyone does, but this roster needs both tackles and guards. The conversation was set to start inside. Interior linemen drew attention during the week. The proximity to drills made it simple to focus on hand placement, anchor, and recovery in live reps. One Detroit note stood out. Dan Skipper was on the field as one of the Lions coaches just days after he retired. Brown caught up with him on the sideline. Skipper sounded energized about coaching and eager to get started. That is a notable development for a locker room that values continuity and voice in the trenches. The week at The Star offered uncommon clarity. Sideline access. End zone angles. Scouts elbow to elbow. A quick chat with Dante Corleone. And a sharpened picture of the Detroit Lions’ offensive line priorities as the NFL calendar turns to team-building. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #thestarinfrisco #all32teams #sidelineaccess #one-on-onedrills #endzoneview #offensivelinehelp #interioroffensiveline #danskipper #dantecorleone #credentialedmedia #westernmichiganendzone #scoutseverywhere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior Bowl film, defensive front focus Jeff Risdon is not in Mobile, but he is deep in the Panini Senior Bowl practice film. The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on five defensive players who stood out on the first day. The lens stayed on the defensive front. Think day two or day three targets, with one possible first-rounder in the mix. The Senior Bowl staff set up on-demand practice cutups for those not on site. That access matters. The tape shows pace, drills, and assignments without the noise. The Detroit Lions need disruption and discipline up front. Day 1 offered both, and the film backed it up. TJ Parker’s measurements and Lions fit at 17 TJ Parker of Clemson checked in at 6-foot-3 and three-quarters, 263 pounds, with 33.25-inch arms. That falls within the Detroit Lions’ edge profile, even if it is smaller than Josh Paschal and lighter than Hutch by 10 to 15 pounds. The game is power to speed. He does not flash the same speed to power you see from Hutch or Micah Parsons, but he carries force through contact. Parker plays the run on the way to the pass. On Day 1, the team drills told the story. He stacked and shed on the edge. He got into the backfield and stayed assignment-sound. No freelancing. No lost contain. That backside contain matters in the Kelvin Sheppard defense. He must improve his get-off and block deconstruction, but the traits align with what Detroit wants. If the board falls a certain way, Parker fits the conversation at number 17 overall. The measurements are close enough. The role is clear. The tape shows a defender who can set an edge, disrupt, and finish within structure. Senior Bowl meeting reality check Every single player in Mobile meets with every NFL team. It is scheduled. It runs 10 to 15 minutes per club. Do not get swept up in “met with” posts. That is the format. Informal chats still happen after practice, like when Ray Agnew once spoke with Hendon Hooker, but those are not the only touchpoints. The universal meetings keep players engaged in the process and give teams baseline exposure. Derek Moore brings a big Day 1 Michigan edge Derek Moore delivered a whopper of a first day. The clip made the rounds on social media. The key is that it was not a one-off flash. The first look showed power, urgency, and finish from a Big Ten frame. As the week continues, the team periods will confirm whether that surge holds when the offense hits back. For a Detroit Lions front seeking reliable force and clean edges, Day 1 put Moore firmly on the radar. The Detroit Lions Podcast will keep grinding the cutups as the practices roll. Day 1 gave Detroit clear defensive front options. The tape will decide who sticks. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #seniorbowl #paniniseniorbowl #tjparker #clemson #derekmoore #michigan #kelvinshepparddefense #teamdrills #backsidecontain #number17overall #joshpaschal #hutch #micahparsons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kafka's Arrival and Why It Matters Detroit moved on offense. Yesterday the Detroit Lions hired Mike Kafka to an unspecified but prominent role. He is the former Giants interim head coach and offensive coordinator. He also coached quarterbacks in Kansas City under Andy Reid with Patrick Mahomes. His calling card is aggressive creativity and adaptability. He has shown he can build an attack around the talent on hand, not just the playbook. With backups at key spots, no Malik Nabers, and a battered line, his offense still put up points. The concepts were fresh. The execution fit the personnel. Petzing's OC Role and the Scheme Blend Drew Petzing is the offensive coordinator. He is most notable for work with tight ends in Cleveland. In Arizona, his plans were limited by personnel, but the structure was sound. Petzing comes from the Kevin Stefanski tree. Kafka arrives from a different West Coast branch. The Detroit Lions are rooted in West Coast principles. Timing and spacing in the passing game matter. So do route combinations, gap and duo runs, and a little zone. Kafka is experienced in aggressive play calls. Petzing can marry that with tight end usage and practicality. The staff must correct a 2024 problem. After injuries, the offense often ran like Sam LaPorta and Frank Ragnow were still in the huddle. Brock Wright is not Sam LaPorta. Anthony Firkser is not Brock Wright. Yet the calls asked them to be. Dan Campbell eventually took over play calling, and the buck landed on him. Now the buck will be shared. Two proven offensive coordinators sit on staff. That should drive faster adjustments and better fits when injuries hit. How Kafka Could Be Deployed if Roles Shift One reason Kafka's title is not set yet: Scotty Montgomery, the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach, is in Baltimore interviewing for the Ravens OC job under Jesse Minter. There is a real chance he gets it. If he leaves, Kafka can step into a senior offensive assistant role that leans into the passing game and receivers. Quarterbacks are covered with Mark Brunell. Another option is passing game coordinator. David Shaw holds that post as of this recording. He came to Detroit through his connection with John Morton after working together in Denver. Shaw's son just transferred to Stanford from UCLA. That could pull him west. It would not be a surprise if the title board changes again before the combine. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it plainly. The Lions added two sharp minds who value fit, spacing, and flexibility. That should raise the floor on Sundays in the NFL and sharpen the ceiling when everyone is healthy. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #mikekafka #drewpetzing #dancampbell #westcoastoffense #gapandduo #samlaporta #brockwright #anthonyfirkser #frankragnow #markbrunell #scottymontgomery #jesseminter #davidshaw #patrickmahomes #passinggamecoordinator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview with Shrine Bowl's Owen Riese The Daily DLP from the Detroit Lions Podcast features Jeff Risdon interviewing Shrine Bowl assistant scouting director Owen Riese. The two break down former Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper's quick change into coaching at the Shrine Bowl this week after retiring from Detroit last week. Skipper and the other coaches in Frisco have some interesting potential NFL Draft prospects to work with during the practices and Tuesday night's game at The Star. Among the players Riese provides excellent insider information on is Penn State offensive tackle Nolan Rucci, which leads into a good conversation about the point of diminishing returns for height on the offensive line. Some of the other prospects at the Shrine Bowl practices covered include the interior offensive line duo from Kentucky, Jager Burton and Josh Brown. Burton is a particularly good scheme fit for the Lions as a center. Duke's Brian Parker is transitioning from tackle to center and is off to a good start this week. Notre Dame's Aamil Wagner and Wyoming guard Caden Barnett also get their skills broken down, among some other NFL Draft prospects who have stood out. It's a lively conversation that goes into scouting talk and what teams might be looking for in different positions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMtuGNnPK-o #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #eastwestshrinebowl #danskipper #offensiveline #specialteams #swingtackle #uw-platteville #assistantdirectorofcollegiatescouting #ericgalco #turnersanger #arizonacardinalsassistantquarterbackscoach #pennstatetackle #nolanruchi #passprotection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Five Years After a Franchise Pivot Five years on, the Detroit Lions trade that sent Matthew Stafford to the Rams and brought Jared Goff and draft capital to Detroit still defines the arc of both franchises. The timing mattered. Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes had just arrived. Candidates for those jobs were warned that Stafford might not be a Detroit Lion for long. Stafford had back concerns at the time and no interest in grooming a successor. Detroit’s roster had been stripped by the end of the Quinntricia era. The team needed a reset. Stafford wanted to win right away. The deal marked the end of an era and a clean break. Los Angeles sought a quarterback who could maximize Sean McVay’s offense. Goff’s run there had crested. Detroit accepted Goff and the picks and turned the page. It was bold. It was necessary. It was an NFL trade that changed two locker rooms overnight. Winners on Both Sides, Different Paths Both sides got what they needed. The Rams won a Super Bowl. In year five after the trade, Stafford just won the MVP. The Rams are still playing, with an NFC championship game ahead and a chance at another Super Bowl. That is validation. The Detroit Lions gained, too. Goff’s trajectory in Detroit has risen. The offense stabilized. The team culture grew under Campbell and Holmes. The trade created space to build and compete without clinging to a fading timeline. It was not about declaring a single winner. It was about fit and timing, and both teams found theirs. Goff’s Detroit Arc by the Numbers The numbers tell the Detroit Lions story. Goff’s overall winning percentage dipped slightly from 60% to 58%, but removing the first seasons in each stop makes the rates nearly identical. His first year in Los Angeles included only seven starts. His first Detroit season ended 3-13-1. Since then, the results track closely. Accuracy improved. His completion rate in Detroit is up 4.4 percentage points, from 63.4 to 67.9. The touchdown-to-interception ratio is better. Average yards per attempt is higher. Yards per completion is slightly lower. Yards per game is almost unchanged. The passer rating jump is stark: 91.5 across five Los Angeles seasons to 101.3 across five in Detroit. Goff has authored 15 game-winning drives and 12 fourth quarter comebacks with the Lions. He has made two Pro Bowls in Detroit. He finished sixth in Comeback Player of the Year voting in 2022. In 2024, he received MVP consideration and finished ninth for Offensive Player of the Year. These are concrete gains, not vibes. Five years later, the Detroit Lions are stronger for the reset, and the Rams achieved the immediate payoff they pursued. That is the lasting impact of a blockbuster that reshaped the NFL and still reverberates on the Detroit Lions Podcast. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #matthewstafford #jaredgoff #losangelesrams #dancampbell #bradholmes #seanmcvay #nfcchampionship #game-winningdrives #fourthquartercomebacks #completionpercentage #qbrating #comebackplayeroftheyear #offensiveplayeroftheyear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OC hire and the trust question The Detroit Lions Podcast rolled into Episode 601 with Chris, Michael Grey, Scott Bischoff, and Jeff Risdon. The talk centered on the Detroit Lions choosing their new offensive coordinator. He stayed put. He did not chase other interviews. He is in the building. He is working. That matters. The room tackled a harder topic next. Trust. Fans feel burned over the last year and a game. Campbell and Holmes have spent some of that trust capital. The hosts heard the backlash and did not dismiss it. People can feel how they want. The decision to hire the OC landed in that climate, which colors every reaction. What the offense will look like Play calling is the big unknown. No one on the show pretended otherwise. We will find out what it looks like when the games arrive. The panel did outline fit. The run concepts mesh with what the Lions do. Under center looks, play action, and the timing of the pass game align with the current build. That continuity matters for the quarterback room and the line. It also tracks with how Detroit wants to win inside the NFL calendar. The hosts kept the focus tight. No sweeping promises. No grand projections. Just a clear statement of the pieces on hand and how they fit the current identity. The new OC aligns with that identity. The trust conversation sits beside it. Senior Bowl coverage adjustment Listeners asked about Senior Bowl plans. The crew addressed it head on. They will not be on the ground this year. Chris flies out to the snow tomorrow. Riz has a family affair. It is regrettable, and they owned it. Still, coverage is not going dark. Daily DLPs are coming. Virtual interviews are on the table. One daily show will go live from Mobile with a draftnik most fans will recognize, with a clear Detroit Lions lens. Riz noted this is only his second missed Senior Bowl since 2008. He missed 2018 and will miss this year. It stings, but the plan keeps listeners informed through the week. There was some early banter and laughs, but the core was football. Episode 601 put the OC decision, the trust conversation, and the Senior Bowl plan in plain view. It is a clear snapshot of where the Detroit Lions Podcast stands today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwZq3SyuUlk #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #offensivecoordinator #playcalling #undercenter #playaction #rungame #seniorbowl #mobile #draftnik #campbell #holmes #goff #lionsfans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 22, the Detroit Lions Podcast paused to salute Dan Skipper. The veteran offensive lineman hung up his cleats today. A remote episode, a rough travel day, and a clear purpose. Honor a singular NFL story. Dan Skipper Calls It a Career Skipper retires after battling health problems. Back issues. Knee issues. Foot issues. He fought through all of it and kept showing up for the Detroit Lions. His transaction log tells the tale. Sixty-six official NFL transactions. Fifty-seven with the Lions since 2019. He had a brief stint in Houston and an earlier dalliance with the Cowboys, but Detroit was home. He was the tallest player in the NFL at a legit 6-9 and around 330. Not quite athletic enough to lock down tackle. Too upright to be a full-time guard. Yet he stayed valuable. Practice squad, elevations, special teams, spot duty. He bridged some bad Lions teams to the best Lions teams in recent memory. He maximized his career and never lost the room. Sixth Lineman, Third Tight End, Fan Favorite Skipper carved out a niche as the sixth lineman and extra tackle. In 2025, he logged 228 offensive snaps. Eighty of those came as a third tight end in heavy packages. The Lions led the NFL in using a sixth lineman in three of the last four seasons, and Skipper was almost always that piece. He was eligible. They even threw him the ball. It worked. The appeal went beyond snaps. Training camp showed the person. A giant who signed for kids. Jovial and patient. His own kids ran around and tackled dad after practice. Fans noticed. Teammates noticed. That energy made him a Detroit Lions favorite. The 2017 Wright Game Punt Moment The origin story includes the 2017 Wright game in Saint Pete. Practice moved outside on a grass field. Skipper dominated drills that day. Coaches set a challenge to juice the session. The other side picked a player to field a punt. If he caught it clean, practice ended and the offense won. They chose Skipper. The punt was not easy. He secured it. Practice over. Offense got the win. It was a perfect snapshot of focus under pressure and why people gravitated to him. What Comes Next Skipper retires for medical reasons and moves straight into coaching. He will coach tight ends and the offensive line at the Wright game this week. That fits his path. Detroit Lions fans will miss him at camp, but his influence carries on. Sixty-six moves. One city that kept calling. A career that mattered. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #danskipper #nfltransactions #sixthlineman #extratackle #thirdtightend #fieldedapunt #2017wrightgame #specialteams #backissue #kneeissue #footissues #cowboys #houston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A surprising hire, a clear philosophy The Detroit Lions have their new offensive coordinator. Drew Petzing is in. On the Detroit Lions Podcast, Russell Brown and Scott Bischoff sifted through first impressions and got to the substance. Initial reactions felt muted. The shiny name wasn’t coming. But the more they worked through scheme and personnel, the more the hire fit what the Lions want to be in the NFL. They pushed back on the noise. Fans cherry-picked stats. Few considered what Petzing had to work with. The conversation stayed on the grand picture: what this offense needs to do on Sundays and how Petzing can get it there. Lessons from Arizona that matter in Detroit Petzing’s Arizona run offered useful clues. In 2023 he split the year between Kyler Murray for eight games and Josh Dobbs for eight. Dobbs looked good in that structure. In 2024 Murray played the full season. The offense was fine, not great, but functional. In the most recent season, Murray played about four or five games. Context mattered across all three years. Usage stood out. James Conner was highly productive despite not being a super explosive athlete. Arizona created touches for him as a runner and receiver. That detail resonated with Detroit. Think Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Creative throws to backs. Turn easy completions into first downs. That is bankable offense when games tighten. The fit: second-and-4 football The hosts kept returning to down-and-distance. This is the point of the Detroit Lions offense. Get to second and four. Open the playbook. Run play action. Move the chains. Control the clock. Petzing aligns with that identity. The expectation is a coherent ground attack that puts Jared Goff and the passing game in favorable spots. They contrasted that with the allure of Mike McDaniel. Fun idea, but not a clean fit. Shotgun-heavy. Wide zone as a base. That would force major changes to what Detroit does. Petzing’s approach blends easier with the current core and the way the Lions want to play in the NFL. Framing the 2026 NFL Draft The discussion acknowledged uncertainty around how this hire touches the 2026 NFL Draft. The lens is clearer than the board. Build an offense that lives in manageable downs. Lean on play action. Feature backs in the passing game when the coverage picture invites it. Those are guideposts for roster planning, not predictions. It was cold outside. Snow piled up. Inside the Detroit Lions Podcast, the thesis warmed up fast: the name might not sparkle, but the fit makes sense. That is what matters for Detroit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp037jHNnn0 #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #drewpetzing #arizonacardinals #offensivecoordinator #kylermurray #joshdobbs #jamesconner #jahmyrgibbs #davidmontgomery #rungame #playaction #shotgunoffense #widezone #bradholmes #2026nfldraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new OC with familiar roots The Detroit Lions hired Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator. The hire ties Detroit to the Kevin Stefanski tree and a system built on timing and detail. Petzing coached tight ends in Cleveland in 2020 and 2021. Those Browns made the playoffs and won a playoff game for the first time in more than thirty years. His Cleveland work stands out. Petzing helped turn David Njoku from a talented but inconsistent former first rounder into a much better pro. The improvement started with focus. Route depths got precise. A nine-yard out was nine yards, not seven or ten. The blocking jumped too. Njoku became a Pro Bowl caliber tight end. Harrison Bryant arrived as a glorified big wideout and improved as a blocker and in the finer points of spacing. The common thread was attention to detail. Scheme overlap that fits Detroit Petzing comes from the Stefanski offense that traces back through Minnesota and the Norv Turner and Shanahan Kubiak family of ideas. It is a timing and precision attack. It aims for yards after the catch and hits weak points. It mixes in deep shots from base looks. That is also the foundation Ben Johnson used in Detroit. The language changes, but the structure aligns. In Cleveland, the core pieces were Nick Chubb at running back, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry at wide receiver, and Njoku with Bryant at tight end. Baker Mayfield ran the show. The line was strong aside from a sore spot at left tackle. The results were a middle-of-the-pack offense, about fourteenth, that strung together long drives. It was not an all-or-nothing unit. It generated explosives out of its core formations. Landry was a draft comp for Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown is the better athlete now, but the play style echoes. If you frame J-Mo as the OBJ role from that one good Cleveland year before injuries, the parallels are easy to see. Tight ends and 12 personnel on deck The Lions need more help at tight end. The head coach played tight end in the NFL and is a former tight ends coach. He likes 12 personnel, with one back and two tight ends. Petzing’s track record with Njoku and Bryant pairs with that preference. Coincidentally, Njoku is a free agent this offseason. Petzing also served as quarterbacks coach in Cleveland in 2022. That matters for Detroit. Jared Goff is different from Baker Mayfield. Goff is more careful, less mobile, and a better decision maker. That profile fits the Stefanski-style approach. Within a familiar NFL framework, the Detroit Lions can carry over what already works and sharpen the edges under their new offensive coordinator. This is a continuity bet with clear intent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTkpjtwbT84 #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #drewpetzing #detroitlionsoffensivecoordinator #kevinstefanskioffense #tightendscoach #davidnjoku #harrisonbryant #12personnel #benjohnson #shanahankubiakstyle #jarvislandry #odellbeckham #nickchubb #bakermayfield #amon-rast.brown #jaredgoff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A surprise hire and a locked-down search The Detroit Lions named Drew Petzing their offensive coordinator, and almost no one saw it coming. Allen Park kept airtight operational security. No leaks. No whispers about interviews. Then the news hit. Reaction came fast. Arizona corners of Reddit and Twitter called it a mistake that could cost Dan Campbell his job. Hot takes piled up. The Detroit Lions Podcast pushed back on the rush to judgment. Skepticism is fair. Certainty is not. Why Petzing, and why now Michael Grey laid out the tension. After the John Morton experience and what went down with Anthony Lynn, a healthy dose of skepticism is earned. Petzing’s resume does not blow you away. That is the rub. If Campbell steps to the podium and says this hire checks every box, that he wants to build an offense with this coach at the helm, then the path is clear. If you believe it, you do it. Still, the question hangs in the air: with this Detroit Lions offense built to run like a supercar, was this the driver you had to have today? The staff could have waited. The staff could have chased a coordinator with a more proven track record. Instead, they chose their guy now. What Arizona tendencies say The show pointed to a graphic on 2024 receiving yards by route. When the Arizona Cardinals offense was healthy, Marvin Harrison led the league in crossing-route yards. The screen game was also a featured piece under Petzing. That lands with a thud in Detroit after a rough year for screens. It still offers clues. Expect crossing concepts. Expect screens. Expect a clear identity when it’s rolling. There was another wrinkle. The Cardinals’ offense fell off before James Conner got hurt. The loss of offensive line coach Clayton Adams, who left for Dallas, was felt. In Detroit, that underscores how vital Hank Fraley is to everything the Lions do up front. Campbell’s bet and the personnel hints The hosts kicked around possible shifts to more 12 and 13 personnel. That would track with a physical approach and a coordinator willing to lean into tight ends. Maybe Petzing in Arizona had a tough hand. Kyler Murray’s situation. Bidwell ownership. All of it. Maybe the fit in Detroit unlocks more. Maybe not. The Detroit Lions Podcast kept it honest: no doom calls, no instant coronations. Just questions and concrete markers to watch. Campbell will have to own this hire. He will call Petzing collaborative and one of their guys. Then the work starts. Scheme must meet personnel. Crossing routes must become explosives. Screens must stop being giveaways. The NFL does not wait. Neither will Detroit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3cswm3kJBI #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #drewpetzing #dancampbell #arizonacardinals #thegreyarea #marvinharrison #crossingroutes #screengame #12personnel #13personnel #hankfraley #claytonadams #jamesconner #kylermurray #anthonylynn #johnmorton #allenparkopsec Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mailbag Mode, Straight From Slack Jeff Risdon opened a Friday Detroit Lions Podcast with a true mailbag. Questions came straight from the DLP Patreon Slack. No prep. No cue cards. Honest reactions, with the caveat he might tweak opinions later. It made for sharp talk about the Detroit Lions, the NFL draft, and one spicy coaching debate. Draft Talk: Tackle Targets and Fits Asked for a favorite offensive tackle for Detroit, Risdon spotlighted Caleb Tiernan of Northwestern. He called Tiernan solid, not spectacular, and praised how seldom he loses. That reliability matters. He drew a line to what the Lions missed at right guard when Kevin Zeitler was at his best. Rarely beaten. He thinks Tiernan is a second round target who can be a long-term capable starter rather than a headline Pro Bowler. He also likes the Utah tackles if the first round is the move. Caleb Lomu got the nod for upside. Manu, he said, looks better right now, but Lomu offers more raw clay, especially if he boosts lower-body power. Blake Miller from Clemson earned a mention too. The traits are there. The misses can be loud, reminiscent of early Taylor Decker. Miller did take a step forward this past season. Big picture, with Sewell already a star, the Lions do not need two high-priced stars at tackle. They need the right complement. Tiernan’s profile fits that lane. Coaching Watch: Kafka’s Fit in Detroit Mike Kafka came up next. Risdon pushed back on pinning the Giants’ struggles on Kafka after Brian Daboll reclaimed play-calling. He remains a Kafka fan. What impressed him most was Kafka’s ability to craft run and pass protections that a limited offensive line could actually execute. That translates to Detroit. Risdon did note a concern. When a featured weapon was healthy, the Giants leaned too hard on that player. He cautioned that in Detroit, with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, smart balance matters. Do not ride Gibbs into the ground. Still, he would welcome Kafka’s protection design and problem-solving into Allen Park. Divisional Weekend Leanings On the NFL divisional slate, he paused to confirm matchups, then zeroed on Bills versus Broncos. He likes teams without the bye against rusty top seeds, especially when the bye team lacks recent experience. Denver’s defense and home field carry real weight. The flip side is Josh Allen. Sharp quarterback play can shred rust. Risdon weighed that tension on air as he worked toward a pick. The mailbag did what the best Detroit Lions Podcast episodes do. It put clear football problems on the table. Draft fits. Scheme translation. Game-state nuance. Straight talk for a playoff push. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e18WCdCopD4 #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #calebtiernan #northwesterntackle #secondroundpick #kevinzeitler #rightguard #caleblomu #utahtackles #manu #blakemiller #taylordecker #mikekafka #runandpassprotections #jahmyrgibbs #davidmontgomery #billsvsbroncos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices