Tag: mailbag

Lions Mailbag: Rookie roles and available free agents

Lions Mailbag: Rookie roles and available free agents

The Detroit Lions have had an eventful offseason.

Free agency and the draft are over, which leaves us all speculating over what the roster will look like come September.

Lions fans submitted their questions about roles rookies will hold, depth chart predictions, and available free agents. Here’s what I had to say:

“Can Huntley and Ty Johnson both stick on the Lions? Who will go if they both do? Or could either one of them survive to be put on the practice squad without being picked up?” -@SFHCommish_1

The Lions’ front office will have a lot of tough choices to make when it comes to the running back position.

2020 fifth-round pick Jason Huntley is in direct competition with Ty Johnson, who was selected in the sixth round last year. Both are speedy options in the backfield, capable receivers, and dynamic kick returners.

Both are young players with plenty of upside and athletic ability, so it’s likely, but not certain, that Detroit opts to keep both on the active roster. What would that mean for the other running backs on the team?

Detroit generally decides to run with four running backs on their active roster, and Kerryon Johnson and D’Andre Swift appear to have the top two running back spots locked down. That would most likely leave Huntley and Ty Johnson to fight it out for one of those spots, while Bo Scarborough and Wes Hills duke it out for the backup power running back role.

If the Lions waive either Huntley or Johnson, I can’t say with full certainty that either will clear waivers, but generally, most players that are let go at the deadline for roster cutdowns don’t get picked up from the waiver wire. If they make it through, expect them back on the practice squad.

”I’m wondering how you think the Lions backfield will operate this season?  Do you see Swift coming in and taking over as the lead back?” -@TheFootballPot

I see the 2020 season opening up with Kerryon Johnson and D’Andre Swift sharing snaps evenly, and hopefully pairing well as a tandem. The Lions have favored the committee approach to their backfield, so these two players will both get their fair share of snaps.

As I stated in my previous answer, it is safe to say that the Lions will operate with four running backs on their roster. We know that Johnson and Swift have pretty defined roles as of now, but I can see Swift overtaking Johnson on the depth chart mid-season.

While Johnson has played fairly well for the Lions in his first two seasons, injuries have kept him sidelined for a good fraction of his career. Swift, who has stayed relatively healthy throughout college, could prove to be the more reliable option.

Johnson was also drafted to fit the scheme of former offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, while Swift was drafted with Darrell Bevell’s gameplan in mind. This could lead to Swift taking that lead spot away from Johnson quickly.

The remaining competitions, as stated earlier, will be Ty Johnson versus Jason Huntley for the speedy receiving option and Bo Scarborough versus Wes Hills for the power and goal-line option.

“What potential DL FA’s could the Lions potentially target to bolster the line, if any are better than what’s on the roster?” -@IGRifffinsports

The Lions’ interior defensive line seems set with Danny Shelton at nose tackle and Da’Shawn Hand playing the three-technique role. Behind them is Nick Williams, who will serve as a rotational lineman.

Behind them, it’s an open competition for the final spots. The Lions did just draft two interior linemen, John Penisini and Jashon Cornell, and have several other young players in Olive Sagapolu, Kevin Strong, John Atkins, and Frank Herron to consider.

If they decide to find an experienced free agent, the best player available at the position is Mike Daniels, who played for the Lions last season. Daniels would be an instant upgrade over any of the aforementioned players in the hunt for a roster spot, and he knows the defensive system already. Especially now, when many teams will go into the season with less time for team activities, an experienced player who knows the scheme is a luxury.

Other than Daniels, the defensive tackle market is pretty bare. Still on the market are Marcel Darius, Damion Square, Domata Peko, and Corey Liuget.

“It’s the first defensive snap of the season. Is Okudah lining up across from Allen Robinson?” -@DunnGuitar

You don’t draft a player with the third overall pick unless you plan to use them immediately.

That being said, the Lions have not seen what Jeffrey Okudah can do at a professional level. So when it comes time to cover a dominant receiver like Allen Robinson, Detroit’s coaching staff might want to use a more experienced and proven player like Desmond Trufant.

Obviously, things can change over the course of a season, but Okudah is a rookie in a position where players often struggle in their first year. He’ll be a definite starter, but won’t be shadowing any team’s top receiver in his first few games.

”Jonah Jackson has a lot of praise but at the surface his draft measurable strong are similar to last year’s UDFA Benzschawel. What’s the difference between the two and why is Jonah viewed as a possible starter over Beau?” -@TheRealShobear

The biggest difference between the two players is that the Detroit Lions organization valued one as a third-round pick just a season after signing the other as an undrafted free agent.

Benzschawel has the size advantage over Jackson and had better Combine numbers in several events, but on tape, Jackson appears to be the superior player.

The Lions liked Benzschawel to keep him around on the active roster for the entirety of the 2019 season, but his snap counts during the season prove that the team is not ready for him to hold a starting role. He only was active for two games throughout a season riddled with interior offensive line injuries, and only played two snaps on special teams.

Jackson seems to be the clear starter at right guard, and Joe Dahl holds the left guard role for now. Benzschawel could fight for that spot, but he’d be in competition with fourth-round pick Logan Stenberg, as well as veteran former starters Kenny Wiggins, Russell Bodine, Joshua Garnett, and Oday Aboushi. I’d put my money on any of those players earning the starting role over Benzschawel.

Mailbag: On Michigan QBs, transfers and coaching

Answering all your Michigan football questions about how the Wolverines get past the Buckeyes, if U-M will pursue JT Daniels and the QBs.

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While we reserve the mailbag primarily for the Locked On Wolverines Podcast, it’s been a long while since we answered your questions in writing.

With both a lot going on in recruiting with next to nothing happening otherwise, it felt like a good time to dig in and see what’s on Michigan fans’ minds.

Without further ado…

I don’t know that there’s an obvious answer here, but it’s certainly possible. It’s become something of the norm that quarterbacks in college football transfer if they aren’t getting the opportunity they want with their first choice.

And it makes sense. There’s only one position with several suitors. Certainly that’s why Brandon Peters left. The writing was on the wall once Shea Patterson won the job, and then with his injury and Dylan McCaffrey’s emergence, he wasn’t going to have the opportunity he looked to have before Patterson’s arrival.

That said, there’s plenty of examples where that can be a beneficial situation — but also not as great of one. Alabama contended for a national title — but lost to Clemson — with Jalen Hurts on the bench as Tua Tagovailoa led the charge. Likewise, Clemson lost Kelly Bryant because Trevor Lawrence proved to be elite, even as a college football freshman. While that still helped the Tigers the following year get to the national championship game, Alabama wasn’t so fortunate. Without Tagovailoa, and already having one loss on the books, though Mac Jones put up some pretty significant numbers, it wasn’t able to get past rival Auburn.

But still — of the four programs in the College Football Playoff last year, three had transfers leading the charge — LSU, Ohio State and Oklahoma. It’s easy to see where there’s success for quarterbacks seeking a different situation. Just because it doesn’t work out in one place doesn’t mean they can’t thrive in another.

Now, naturally, it wouldn’t be ideal for Michigan to lose he who doesn’t win the quarterback job in 2020. However, the room continues to be deep, with Cade McNamara also waiting in the wings. People are excited about J.J. McCarthy, but with another four-star — who’s no slouch himself — waiting in the wings, it’s something we’d call a quality problem.

Speaking of quarterbacks…

Now, I just explained why a team would take a high-end transfer, but would Michigan do it again? After all, under Jim Harbaugh, it took Jake Rudock, John O’Korn and then Shea Patterson. Why not another?

Yes, Michigan has three capable quarterbacks on the roster right now, but if Daniels could live up to his five-star hype, and considering that he already has experience, wouldn’t you be willing to disrupt that? If he’s the answer, then the answer is an astounding yes.

However, I’m not too sure that will happen. After speaking to one person familiar with Michigan’s side of things, I don’t believe that the Wolverines have made any strong consideration of bringing Daniels into the fold. There’s a belief that he’ll end up down south for a team looking for a quarterback. That’s probably a better situation for him, even though Michigan did finish second to USC for his services.

The way I see it, the ship has sailed on that matter, and the Wolverines are in a better situation than they were back in 2017 when they were in high pursuit for him — also keeping in mind that he was a 2019 guy at the time, but re-classified to 2018.

Taking these one at a time, naturally.

The fact that Shea Patterson continued to play actually makes a ton of sense. It was a brand new system, and one where he finished atop the depth chart. And, the depth chart went Patterson, McCaffrey, then Milton at the time — so it would have made more sense that McCaffrey got the nod, no?

And while Shea wasn’t exactly lights out in the opening month-plus of the season, he wasn’t exactly a slouch, either. Michigan’s offensive issues had less to do with his injury and more to do with the constant fumbles. Yes, some of that is also on Shea, but the pass protection — especially with Runyan out of the lineup — wasn’t as good as it was the previous year or as it was as the season went on. In a case like that, where the quarterback is injured, but can still play, it’s the right call to have the more experienced guy, who you trust more to run your new system, than someone who might not quite be there yet. There’s a lot more to the quarterback position than simply dropping back and winging it. No, Shea wasn’t a magician, per se, in his read progression, but he deserves more credit there than he gets, as well. And there were plenty of times — just look at the season opener against MTSU — where his receivers did him no favors, dropping passes.

Ultimately, it was all a mess. You also had two new running backs leading the charge. Having someone you can trust under center that did a solid job of leading the team under a different offense, and one not particularly in his wheelhouse I might add, is sometimes a great stabilizing force.

As for your second question, I’m not much of a sports memorabilia guy anymore, ever since my baseball cards were ruined in a basement flood — a couple thousand of them.

For Michigan merchandise, I don’t have anything too wild. The pair of Jordans that the brand sent me shortly after the basketball team uniform reveal. Though they got a little scuffed up in a minor motorcycling accident…

It’s entirely possible, but I have no idea if or what Harbaugh would do with Brown with yet another drubbing at the hands of the Buckeyes.

I’ve been on record on the podcast that it’s been more of an execution issue than a talent issue in The Game, and I know that’s the mindset inside Schembechler Hall. However, Shoop has overseen some great defenses, including the No. 1 defense in 2018 to Brown’s No. 2. He comes from the Brown philosophy per his own admission, having spent time with him at multiple stops.

However, what I’m looking for more so is how Shoop informs what Michigan does. If there’s a fatal flaw that the Wolverines have had schematically against Ohio State that Shoop can diagnose, giving fresh eyes to the situation. Brown was solid his first two years coaching against the Buckeyes, but certainly that hasn’t been the case in either 2018-19.

I know Harbaugh is quite loyal to Brown, saying he’s the finest coach he’s ever been around. If he were to depart — or as Brown says, ‘go up to the Cape Cod’ — there would be a few options. Shoop would already be on staff. Chris Partridge just left for a co-defensive coordinator position at Ole Miss, but certainly could be in the running were that to happen.

But, I wouldn’t count on that. Harbaugh kept Brown around after two drubbings, I’m not entirely sure that a third would make a difference. Keep in mind, Brown’s defenses have been, at worst, in the top eleven of college football. You can say that it’s beating up on bad teams, but Penn State and OSU and MSU have all had to face similar competition. The Buckeyes have outpaced the Wolverines just once since Brown has been in Ann Arbor — last season.

If anything, I think it would be more likely to see a resurgence back into the top five with Shoop on board. And if the season plays out well, save for the Ohio State game? It might have to do with more issues than just the defense.

I would fully expect that, yes.

From what was said earlier this offseason, Ross will be moving back to WILL now that Jordan Glasgow is gone and since McGrone has entrenched himself at MIKE.

I don’t have much more of an answer than that, but yes, that should be the situation Michigan finds itself in, with either Anthony Solomon or Michael Barrett at the VIPER position. I mention Barrett last because he could also play SAM linebacker, not because that’s the pecking order.

Michigan should be in a good spot when it comes to its linebacker rotation as there is plenty of unproven talent who has been waiting in the wings for some time — as unfortunate as it might be that both Jordan Anthony and Drew Singleton chose to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

My biggest takeaway is that there’s more parity in the Big Ten than maybe he perhaps thought.

Ten wins is a solid benchmark, and one that Michigan had plenty of opportunities to get to this past season. Despite being flat-footed against Wisconsin and Ohio State, it almost got the comeback at Penn State and Alabama was the toughest possible draw not named LSU this past offseason, in my opinion.

Additionally, I hold to that rebuilding Michigan — and yes, it was in need of a rebuild — was tougher than envisioned. I know that the Wolverines managed 10 wins in both 2015-16, Harbaugh’s first two years, but 2015 felt like more of a mirage. And it wasn’t like Brady Hoke was getting that type of production out of the same players. For the first time in years, the Wolverines were humming, and that carried them into 2016 — a year where they would have been College Football Playoff contenders if it weren’t for Wilton Speight’s broken collarbone. Call that unfortunate timing.

Also, Michigan could have gotten to 11 wins three times in Harbaugh’s tenure, but failed in the bowl game. I chalk that up twice to the maize and blue feeling like it was in something of a consolation prize situation. Michigan did not want to be in the Capital One Orange Bowl playing Florida State nor the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl playing Florida for the umpteenth time. Both years, it had higher aspirations it failed to achieve, thanks to Ohio State.

Ultimately, what Michigan has is an Ohio State problem. I don’t think the narrative would change much if Harbaugh had it going 12-1 every year if that loss was to the Buckeyes. And it’s not like we’ve seen many 1-2 loss teams in Ann Arbor in the modern era. You have to go all the way back to 1971-74 in the beginning of the Bo Schembechler era to find a time when Michigan was regularly losing just 1-2 games a year. Actually, the Wolverines have achieved seasons with more than 10 wins just five times…ever. Now, yes, there are more games, and the Big Ten didn’t send more than one team to bowl games for years. So, to look at it differently, when Michigan has played in 13 games, it’s lost two games or less just twice. In the 12 game era, it finished with 10 or more wins 11 times going back to 1969. In 11 game seasons (no bowl game) going back to 1969, it had 10 wins just three more times.

Under Harbaugh, Michigan has been very good, but not yet elite. Perfect just once since the 1940s. And now, it’s quite rare for a team to be perfect anyway. It’s not an indictment on Harbaugh that Michigan hasn’t gotten over the hump it’s been in since, well, well before he arrived. If anything, he got the team out of the doldrums and back to a Carr-era level. The hardest part is still ahead: getting Michigan past that and into the realm of the truly great teams in college football. And with Ohio State on the schedule every year, a team that hasn’t had any significant lulls save for 1-3 bad-to-mediocre seasons in the past, well, since FDR was president, it’s a bigger hill to climb than I think most people thought.

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#OnePride Q/A: Exploring RB additions the Lions could consider

Check out and see how fans felt about the Detroit Lions RB corps. Can Devonta Freeman or Antonio Gibson help the Detroit Lions running back corps?

Throughout the week, we at Lions Wire presented the #OnePride Twitter fan base several questions, hoping to hear their voice on various topics concerning the Detroit Lions.

Through the use of Twitter polls, we were able to gauge the fan’s thoughts on a variety of topics, including what they believe the Lions are poised to do in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft.

Confidence with Lions’ RB corps?

Zack’s take: Fans were split on how confident they felt with the current Lions’ running back corps, ranging from reasonably confident to not so sure. Kerryon Johnson is the Lions’ primary weapon, but he hasn’t played a full season since he was drafted. Bo Scarbrough saw a career rejuvenation with the Lions but was it a fluke or things to come? As a sixth-round rookie, Ty Johnson saw an increase in touches when the injury bug hit Detroit but is his roster spot guaranteed?

Based on the current group of running backs on the roster, I fall under the 50-60-percent confidence range. On the surface, it has the potential to be a solid rotation of backs, but the depth and injury questions surrounding this group are hard to ignore.

Free-agent to the rescue?

Zack’s take: Devonta Freeman was unable to live up to his contract with the Atlanta Falcons and he was released after averaging a career-low 3.6 yards per carry last season. With his impressive receiving skills, Freeman has the potential to still be an effective back, with his biggest obstacle being the cost to sign him. With how quiet his free agency market has been, I suspect the cost to acquire him wouldn’t be too high. If the Lions’ strikeout in the draft, Freeman would offer them solid depth and a veteran presence for the young runners.

I included Prosise in this poll because he played under Bevell in Seattle and would fit in the Lions’ offensive scheme. He has terrific receiving skills but has been injury-prone, only playing in 25 games since 2016. If he can prove healthy, Prosise could be an option in a similar way J.D. McKissic was last year.

Suitable round for a running back?

Zack’s take: I agree with the fans here, feeling the most comfortable taking a running back in the third or fourth rounds. There have been plenty of mock drafts projecting the Lions to draft a running back in the second round, but I can’t see them using another second-round selection on a running back.

Don’t get me wrong, it would be fun to see either J.K Dobbins or Jonathon Taylor in Honolulu blue, but the Lions have more pressing needs early in the draft. The mid rounds feel like the perfect range for the Lions to get a complement back like A.J. Dillion or Darrynton Evans, both who have been talked about extensively as potential targets.

Speaking of potential targets.

Potential draft prospects to help?

Zack’s take: Gibson ran away with this one and it’s easy to see why. He is a versatile playmaker with his beautiful blend of speed, size, and vision that make him an effective running back even though he was primarily used as a slot receiver at Memphis. Gibson was one criterion away — burst score — from being a full QIB qualifier. However, he was close enough that he should still be in the conversation as a potential running back option on the Lions’ draft board.

Utah’s Zack Moss was not in the poll but had quite a few comments within the post. He is a player to keep your eye on, considering the Lions have had multiple meetings with Moss and could be an option for them in the third or fourth round.

Keep your eyes open for future questions. We would love to hear your thoughts. If you have any questions you’d like to see answered, send a message, or leave a comment with your question. Thank you to all Lions fans and the #OnePride nation.

Detroit Lions Breakdown podcast, episode 141: Addressing trade rumors

Detroit Lions Breakdown podcast, episode 141: “Addressing trade rumors”, is now available to download and listen.

This week on the Detroit Lions Breakdown podcast the guys dive headfirst into all the trade rumors surrounding the team. Once they get their head above water, the guys address which ones to believe and which ones you should dismiss.

Listener’s questions tie into the trade talk but aren’t limited to just that. Other topics discussed are coaching staff openings, prospects in the upcoming draft, potential free agency moves, and potential roster construction during the offseason.

The DLB podcast is a weekly conversation with Lions Wire’s own Erik Schlitt and his co-host Joe Kania.

This week, the guys discuss:

Be sure to follow the Detroit Lions Breakdown Podcast (@LionsBreakdown) and it’s hosts Schlitt (@Erikschlitt) and Kania (@JoeKania_DLB) on Twitter, with a Facebook page on the way.

The podcast is available to listen at the DetroitLionsBreakdown.com website and is also available to download and subscribe to on multiple podcast platforms, including Itunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, among others.

Mailbag: Are Matt Patricia, Bob Quinn on thin ice?

Mailbag: Are Matt Patricia, Bob Quinn on thin ice, and other questions about all things Detroit Lions

With the Detroit Lions sitting at the bottom of their division at 3-6-1 and less than a one percent chance of making the playoffs, fans are ready to declare this season over.

Let’s see what fans want to know about the Lions’ future in this week’s mailbag:

Would drafting Ed Oliver have made much of a difference in the Lions’ record this year? — @5xs_the_destiny

Detroit’s on-field issues go beyond the defensive line’s poor performance thus far. Yes, Oliver is quite the player for Buffalo, but it’s hard to see him be as successful on this team.

So to answer your question, no. Unless Oliver can play defensive line, inside linebacker, running back, and backup quarterback all at the same time, he wouldn’t make much of a difference for the Lions this season.

I think Patricia and Quinn have a minimum of another year. If they were to be let go, do they think about promoting Bevell? –@NJdetlionsfan

I too believe that both coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn are on thin ice within the Detroit Lions organization.

If that’s the case, the team will have quite a predicament on their hands. I’d imagine that if Patricia leaves, so do most of his staff.

Bevell would likely be a front runner for the job. He’s meshed nicely with the team and the organization, and I think he has the football smarts to be a head coach in the league. This may open the door to a guy like Kris Richard, his defensive coordinator in Seattle, to hold that position in Detroit next year.

Why are Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia still employed? –@JerryD12238647

Because mid-season firings would only make this season worse. Who would replace them right now? Whoever the Lions could scrounge up this far into the year would be infinitely worse than the current situation.

Give them one more season. If they can’t find success in 2020, they’ll surely be out of a job.

Over or under Lions winning 2.5 games rest of season. What draft pick does that get? — @NickFaberNFL

I’m taking the under. With an injury-plagued team and a struggling defense, I can’t see Detroit scraping up more than two wins to close out the season.

As far as draft status goes, it’s pretty likely that they’ll be selecting in the top-ten again. They’re sitting at tenth right now and I don’t think that will change too much after the next six games.

How much will it cost/save Detroit to cut ties with Wagner, Jesse James, and Jarrad Davis? — @larrymoreorless

If my math is correct, cutting those three would leave the Lions with $17,556,270 in dead money, and that’s not counting any cap hits that they have currently.

Given that Detroit doesn’t have capable replacements for Wagner or Davis, I can’t see them moving on from those two. As for James, he has not lived up to expectations, but neither have any of the tight ends on the roster. I’d give him another season or two.

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions this week!

Be sure to send in your questions to me on Twitter next week and give me a follow while you’re at it! I can always be found @maxgerbs.

Nick’s Notre Dame Mailbag: Should ND Still Play Navy Annually?

Is it enjoyable? Not in the moment, but at the same time it’s one of the most unique rivalries in all of sports.

Earlier this week I solicited questions for the first of the weekly mailbag series we’ll have on Fighting Irish Wire. If you missed it there are a few ways to leave questions that may end up getting used:

1. Leave a comment on this or any other post on Fighting Irish Wire

2. Leave a question on our Facebook page – either on one of our posts or on our wall

3. Tweet us @IrishWireND or me personally @Shep670

4. Leave a comment on our Instagram Page. And even if you don’t leave a question – you should go follow it as it’s going to become a lot more active soon.

5.  You can also click to e-mail me at the top of any of my posts on Fighting Irish Wire

With all of that said – here is your second Midweek Mailbag answered by yours truly.

Question 1: Should Notre Dame still play Navy annually?

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Mailbag: What lies ahead for the Detroit Lions?

This week’s Lions Wire mailbag is looking forward to 2020, talking draft, free agency, and potential coaching changes.

The Detroit Lions 2019 season appears to be over, or at least, Lions’ fans think so.

While I try to stay optimistic, I will admit that things aren’t looking pretty. The Lions are down a starting quarterback, lack any depth at running back, and the defense looks to be really struggling. They might not be able to salvage the season, but maybe there will some glimpses of hope for the future.

This week’s mailbag is looking forward to 2020, talking draft, free agency, and potential coaching changes.

What linebackers in the draft or potential free agents fit the Lions’ size and style for next season? — @RICH_K13

I’ll be honest, I’m not too studied up on this year’s draft prospects, so I’ll focus on upcoming free agents.

[Editor’s note: Keep an eye on Ohio State’s Malik Harrison]

If the Lions want to go out and spend some big money on a free agent linebacker, 2020 would be a good time to do it.

One name that stuck out was Shaq Thompson of the Carolina Panthers. The 26-year-old linebacker will hit free agency fresh off of his rookie contract, and though he has stated that he’d like to remain with the Panthers, the appeal a big payday could lure him to a place like Detroit.

As we’ve seen, defensive players want to play for head coach Matt Patricia. Maybe Thompson will feel the same way. He fits the bill for what the Lions want in a linebacker; he can rush the passer, he can drop into coverage, he can make plays on the ball. He would thrive in Patricia’s defense.

Rank the players in order of likelihood to make the 2020 roster: Darius Slay, Sam Martin, Jarrad Davis, Taylor Decker. — @ZugIreland

Tier 1: Slay, Martin, Davis, Decker.

Slay, Martin and Decker are more than likely locked into starting roles heading into next season. Davis has struggled, but it’s far too early to give up on him.

All four will be Lions next season.

How many wins would the Lions have to get to in order for Matt Patricia to get one more year? — @rayray1222

Look, this season hasn’t been pretty, but at this point, any losses the Lions get are more reflective of them losing their starting quarterback, not the coaching.

I think next year will be Patricia’s make-or-break season. I could see a mid-season firing if his 2020 campaign has a rough start.

Chances of us drafting a QB like Jalen Hurts in this upcoming draft? Is it time to start looking at Stafford’s successor? — @TheBlackPH30N1X

I don’t think Detroit will be moving on from Stafford any time soon. But, like general manager Bob Quinn said, drafting quarterbacks is ‘good football business’.

Especially after looking at the most recent game against Chicago, I do think the Lions should invest some of their day 2 draft capital on a backup quarterback.

Grooming a quarterback behind Stafford for the next few seasons would be a smart move by Quinn. We saw how bad things are when we don’t have our starter.

I’m currently looking at Utah State’s Jordan Love. I see a lot of Stafford’s game in him, so he’d be my perfect draft prospect for Detroit.

Who are the most eligible candidates for defensive coordinator if the Lions move on from Paul Pasquiloni? — @ZugIreland

One name that I like right now is Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach Kris Richard.

Known for helping put together Seattle’s Legion of Boom, I think Richard could do a lot to help Detroit’s defense. This team has big holes at both cornerback and safety heading into next season, and a guy like Richard would be a valuable asset come draft time.

He served as Seattle’s defensive coordinator from 2015 to 2017, so he’d be reuniting with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as well.

Who do you think the Lions should draft with their number-one draft pick this coming April? — @B_Lake007

The Lions may be drafting top-ten, but definitely not number one.

I’d go linebacker or defensive end if I were Bob Quinn. As I said earlier, I’m not caught up on this year’s top prospects, so ask again in March.

Thanks to everyone who submitted their questions this week!

Be sure to get those questions in next week, and give me a follow while you’re at it, on Twitter @maxgerbs.

Midweek Mailbag – Get Your Questions In!

Your questions can be anything in regards to Notre Dame or college football for that matter.  They can be incredibly serious and big-picture or something small and funny.  I’ll pick out the best ones from the following places:

Last week we debuted the “Midweek Mailbag” and answered five of your best questions we could come up with.  They ranged from hypotheticals such as “IF Brian Kelly were to leave who would be the first three people you’d target who would be REALISTIC candidates, not dream ones?” and there was a solid one about being independent and if players prefer that or conference-life.

If you missed it, you can check out last week’s right here.  I was even asked if I even liked Notre Dame because I dared to repeat information that Paul Finebaum gave, even though his info appears to have been correct.

Your questions can be anything in regards to Notre Dame or college football for that matter.  They can be incredibly serious and big-picture or something small and funny.  I’ll pick out the best ones from the following places:

1. Leave a comment on this or any other post on Fighting Irish Wire

2. Leave a question on our Facebook page – either on one of our posts or on our wall

3. Tweet us @IrishWireND or me personally @Shep670

4. Leave a comment on our Instagram Page. And even if you don’t leave a question – you should go follow it as it’s going to become a lot more active soon.

Now get asking those questions and see if yours makes the cut.  Get-on, now!