As always man thanks for your postings, it’s appreciated.
Lacy might be a backup but I’m pretty sure Wonnum is going to be starting opposite Hutch. He plays the run very well and has 30 career sacks. I’m hoping Moore is unleashed on 3rd downs and passing situations.
I think they went back to the idea that they have to have a complimentary strategy between their offense and their defense.
What I mean is they have to feel like they have the offensive line fixed and are going to score a shitload of points. Gibbs gets Unleashed they have a second receiving tight end weapon and I think a guy like Dortch is going to be sneaky good , let alone Tesla being real trouble in matchups . Thusly, teams will not be able to pound the ground game on them.
If you believe that thesis, then how do you structure your defense? More defensive backs and more defensive lineman that get pressure and that can move and trying to get the advantage of quarterbacks that can move in the pocket and create time throw. They dump out the fat Lane clogger defensive tackles and they add edges that are both designated rushers and somebody that can hold the edge in Rush at the same time, while signaling they’re going to move Branch down into a box safety situation instead of running three linebackers. Coverage and pressure, rinse and repeat.
Complimentary football. If somebody wants to try and control the clock on them and if they can do it good for them we’re just going to come back and put up a touchdown in three or four minutes and see at the end of the game who ends up on top.
I think this tracks with the Strategic blunder on the defense over the last season or two relying way too much on base defense and nowhere near enough pressure that got home in a decent time. You can’t control injuries but you can control having better depth and I feel like they ended up addressing that this year too.
Last place schedule actually the easiest schedule in the league, and a whole bunch of really pissed off guys that to be honest they played nowhere near their ability last year and got bounced by Washington the season before cuz they were overconfident from the players to the coaches. They’ve had two disappointing ends to Seasons and if they somehow end up not advancing deep this year homes and Campbell are going to be looked at very closely by the ownership.
There are plenty of examples across all sports of front offices and head coaches or team managers that were more of the Build It Up from nothing style guys but couldn’t put it over the top and good organizations realize that if it ain’t happening make a change. I’m not saying it’s now or never in 26 but it probably is in 27 if it doesn’t happen in 26.
Thus the urgency I think we see across the organization. Improvement is no longer a goal, winning is the only goal
I’m hoping Moore earns the starting job, that’s pretty good draft capital invested in him
If he does end up starting it’ll be because he earned it and is the best Edge 2 on the team. I’m expecting Wonnum to be the starter on early downs, but it would be something if Moore flat beat him out. Need foundational pieces out of round one and round two picks. Hopefully Moore has upside to be a big producer of heat off the edge in his first few seasons. That would be a big get for Brad and Dan.
Eventually for sure. We will have to see how he sets edges at the nfl level.
It’s no secret they want a Big End starting opposite Hutch. Moore to fill the Al Quada role.
If Moore doesn’t “start” but still racks up some sacks, I’ll be more than happy with that pick.
It was sooooo obvious they were going to love this guy. He’s got the ■■■■em up and make em feel like shit Levi vibe to him. At least when he’s rushing the passer. Hopefully Wonnum can mentor him on high end Edge setting without the monster base end frame. 
Edit: whoops. Thought I was on the Derrick Moore thread.
Would be a nice surprise. Sounds a little like John Cominsky to me and the coaches loved him. Still think Wonnom is the starter but nice to see competition.
These complimentary pieces you talk about being sneaky good I really hope doesn’t come to fruition…
Ra/Jamo =2300 yds
Laporta =700 yds
Gibbs =500 yds
Teslaa = 500 yds
That’s 4,000 yards right there and I think all those numbers are pretty conservative. So unless Goff throws for 5000+ or one or more of these guys miss significant time, everyone else will be putting up peanuts.
I do like the depth guys like Dortch, Pacheco, Wright/Conkin…but I’m really hoping they are playing minimal snaps.
This is good news. We have a few players that are up and coming, but, Lacy having NFL and Shep’s defense experience could be huge in the early going.
“Surprising Riser”
Sounds like I’ve been unexpectedly asked to stand up in class in 7th grade
I wasn’t impressed with Lacy last season… Hoping he doesn’t play much unless it’s to stop the run or in a 5 man front
fixed it for ya!
more seriously…hell of a post!
I hear you. I think Goff throws for 4700+ on a career high 630 attempts with a lot of high % posession throws
44,46,46,46 last 4 years.
Would like to see Gibbs get a 1000 yards rushing and receiving.
I highly expect Wonnum to be the starter on day one too.
Moore will be heavy in the rotation and Lacy fills that sub package roll. The Lions love to have a versatile DT who can play 5T and 3T. Lacy fills that roll and will hopefully fill the spot the Lions had hoped Paschal would.