RedRamage

Shhhh.... let me live in my world where all 2nd round picks are failures.

I have a Bears fan co-worker (he's native from Chicago). He mentioned that the scuttlebutt is that the Bears are looking trying to acquire players on the last year of their deal and use the remainder of this season to sign them to longer term deal because they have a lot of cap space going into 2024. I mean, yeah, this gives them a certain period of time to exclusively negotiate. But if, as a bad team, you were going to throw enough money at the player to lure them to Chicago anyway, why not do that in the off season? Why give up draft capital to do it now?

I don't know if I would have done that deal... I guess it depends on if Sweat seemed interested in an extension. I'd hate to pick up a high(ish) pick for half a season. On the other hand if it was a 2nd round pick... we know our history of those.

How about our 2nd round pick for the next 5 years? I mean, it's not like we're doing anything with them, right?

Bears trade a 2nd for a half-a-season rental on Montez Sweat‽‽ I don't understand that move. Do they think this move will give them a shot at the playoffs? Or is this hoping they'll be able to resign Sweat before he hit free agency? https://www.profootballrumors.com/2023/10/bears-to-acquire-de-montez-sweat-from-commanders

Will LaPorta need to change his name if we draft Mahomes?

Yeah, I'd agree with that terminology... They settled for WAY too many FG attempts instead of punching it in for a TD. They could have played a better, cleaner game. But injuries were stacking up a bit on them and they still dominated the stats line so it was a solid performance, just not a great one. I think the defense deserves an A grade... they only gave up one TD after all. The offense gets a B-.

I gotta say... part of me REALLY wants Maxx Crosby and Hutch together. Two Michigan (the state) products bookending the DL? That would be pretty cool.

What's a Sports Equinox? I guess I should have looked it up first... it means there's at least one game in 4 major leagues on this day.

Add to this that they got this butts whooped last week and are probably pretty upset about that.

Fixed that for the Lions...

This is kinda what I worried about with the Seahawks... they got embarrassed against the Rams and I'm sure everyone on the team was NOT happy about that and eager to prove that it was a fluke. The Lions are gonna be that team on Monday night.

One positive from the game: Gibbs had 68 yards on 11 carries (6.18 ypc) and 58 yards on 9 receptions (6.44 ypr). Now maybe that's padded stats due to the game situation, but it seemed like Gibbs was at least decent. One negative from the game (beyond the obvious): Yikes. I didn't watch all of the game so I don't know how much of those missed passes where Jamo's fault. I did see one where Goff's throw was low and outside to Jamo, so at least one I wouldn't blame on him. Goff did seem to be off for much of the day too.

It's hard not to overreact after such a pounding the team look and not look at all the "weaknesses" on the team. Off the top of my head I guess I'd say these issues are the biggest: Offense: Play calling. Look, I know Ben Johnson is supposed to be this OC god and he certainly seemed that last year. But this year? It just seems like "meh." He doesn't seem to be using Gibbs the way I'd like to see him used. Is that because Gibbs can't do it or because BJ isn't figuring out how to use him? Maybe injuries? I dunno. Between Monty, LaPorta, ahd ARSB I think we have a very good foundation of weapons coupled with very nice supporting cast. Maybe add some more depth to OL? (On a purely side note: I think BJ might regret not taking a HC job last year... I don't know that he gets the same offers this year.) Defense: DL upgrades, Secondary depth. Hutch has been disruptive and other players have shown up occasionally, but they aren't getting consistent pressure on the QB without Blitzing. As for the secondary? I mean, I can't fault Holmes... three new starters in the backfield plus a high draft pick should have improved that position mightily, but two season ending injuries and then your rookie phenom is out injured as well? I suppose more depth here would help.

The argument would probably be that removing the QB removes the deception that the team might pass or have a QB sneak or play action. Of course you could always do like the Lions did and direct snap to the RB through the legs of the QB.

All the signs point to LaPorta being an absolute stud. I love that he's on the Lions and I think he will be a great player for us. I'm just saying that I'm not (quite) ready to pencil him in as a surefire, multiseason pro-bowl caliber player based on just 6 games. If you want to use that small of a sample size to judge a player, then you need to label Jameson Williams a bust right now. In 8 games Jamo has 5 catches for less than 100 yards. Now, I'm certainly worried about Jamo and if he'll eventually develop, but it's WAY too soon to call him a bust. In the same way I certainly am thrilled with LaPorta's production and I think he'll continue to be (at least) a good player, but it's too soon to call him a boom.

I totally agree... but I want to be wary and reluctant to label Jamo a bust, for example, just because he hasn't been fantastic in the games he's been in... or Gibbs for that matter. So if I'm holding off throwing a bust label based on a small sample size, then I'm also going to hold off throwing a "boom" label on a guy who's looked very good but on a small sample size.

Yes. It's simply too early to say. I mean around this time last year we were all pretty much thinking Rodrigo was the next great Lions linebacker, didn't we?

Two problems with selling: 1. The pictures that I'm using (except for some of the really old ones) are copyrighted 2. My license for the software I'm using to generate the 3D file is just for hobby use. I'd have to bump it up to be able to sell stuff I print.

Showing off my new hobby. I posted in the Lions forum some "statues" I make of Lions and I wanted to show off my Tigers too.

Actually... if I found the right picture that wouldn't be too hard to do!😄

I used to collect Bobbleheads, but these days prices are getting outrageous for them. Then I discovered some software that essentially lets you to "paint" with 3D filament and so I started creating these instead! The fun thing is that as long as I can find a picture I can create one of any player I want instead of having to settle for whomever "they" create bobbleheads for. Suggestions for who I should do next?

It's hard not to rely on history. The Chiefs have a proven track record and it's easy to dismiss a week one game without two of their star players. I can't fault anyone for ranking the Chiefs ahead of the Lions right now. You have five teams at 5-1... Two of them were in the SB last year, another was in the NFC Championship game. Of the remaining two one has a super high powered offense that's putting up 37+ pts per game on average and probably would have done better last year if it weren't for QB injury issues. The last team had a great finish to last year and has looked good, but (playing devil's advocate here): Game 1: Beat a great team missing two star players Game 2: Lost to the Seahawks Game 3: Beat the 3-3 Falcons Game 4: Beat the 2-3 Packers Game 5: Beat the 0-6 Panthers Game 6: Beat the 3-2 Bucs Other than the first game there's no big statement wins and we all know that that game has that asterisk on it, so...

Well, ya know... if, uh... you're every looking for someone to give them too...

That's a lot of BLUE right there...