Detroit Tigers News & Early NFL Awards Predictions! | Saturday Mornings With Crunch Time Sports
[Music] Oh, I mean I Cla I just totally forgot to do the intro. Right into it. Plots, I just totally forgot to do the intro. Look. Hey, we’re we are live. We are live. Wow. Hey, look. We’re I’m learning the ropes here still. I mean I mean that’s just uh that was crazy. Very unprofessional of of Caleb right there. We move. We move. And we move. And we move. Well, I guess I guess welcome to Saturday Mornings with Crunch Time. Um I’m joined here by special guest Lucas Clots. Come on. Um Michael Gentry had a had a had somewhere to be today. Um so I mean I have the pleasure of sharing a mic w with the ball knower clotsy. How we feeling today? You know I’m feeling better than I did last night. I don’t know if uh you or people tuning in tuned into the the regularly scheduled programming or um what does Rich Eisen always call it when he’s doing his show? the um I can’t think of the word but either way 8 to 10 show I was MIA for two Fridays again bro getting off jiujitsu and sitting on the couch might be my kryptonite because I was like it was probably like 8 and I told the boys like hey I’m going to join around like 8:15 probably I got jiu-jitsu from 7 to 8 and I got off jiu-jitsu around like 7:55 it’s right down the street and I got home I was like dude I just need to close my eyes for 10 minutes I just got choked out I just got my ass kicked for an hours straight. I was like, I just need to Well, in the meantime, in that 10 minutes, my phone dies, and I wake up and it’s now 2:03 a.m. And I was like, oh, this is this is great. This is this is great. I wake up. I’ve missed calls from Boone. Jiu-Jitsu coach called me. Didn’t answer that one either. So, it was an interesting night. I’ve been up since about 3. Went to bed for like another half hour after I woke up, but I’ve been up since three. So, it is the most it is the most uncomfortable feeling waking up around 2:00 a.m. after going to bed at maybe seven. Hey, I’ve had those nights. But let me ask you this, Clots. Uhhuh. Jiu-Jitsu, I think it’s a I think it’s a I mean, how how did how did that kind of just come about? Like, how how did you decide just to start doing that? I mean, that’s a [ __ ] cool thing to get into. I I I feel like I mean, I I played football in college, right? So for a long time in my life, I had like that like I don’t know. I’m a very high tense guy. So like I had outlet where I could go hit somebody, do this, do that. Been working out, been running, but it’s still like I need like something extra. And I don’t I I don’t want to do boxing because like at the end of the day, I do like in a year or two want to compete, you know? So like I I don’t want to be getting the [ __ ] kicked out of me and my brain more than it already has. But jiu-jitsu, I feel like there’s a couple guys in the gym that go that are like 50 years old and they’re still moving really well. So, it’s something I could do constantly. I like it. It’s more of like a mental thing. And like I have woken up over the last two weeks and been sore in spots that I didn’t even realize you could be sore. I woke up Tuesday feeling like I tore both my rotator cuffs. And I like genuinely I was like, “Dude, like I don’t I I was at work and I I work on tires and I was like, I I don’t think I can do this anymore.” I was like, “Something’s wrong.” And the next day I felt fine. But it’s a challenge. Mental challenge. I like it. Are you like are you going up against people every day like that have done it for a long time? Like are you every every session? But like Okay, so for an example like my coach is obviously a black belt and so I’ll spar with him and he’s not just like being a black belt the whole time. You know what I mean? Like he could and I’m not being he could legitimately kill me in 10 seconds. Like I’m not saying like oh really like he could kill me if he wanted to. But he’s like he’ll let me get the move that we’re training and he’ll let me do it a couple times and next thing you know I’m in a choke hold and I’m flopped on the ground and then so it’s like okay this is what happens and you spar for like five six minutes and it’s hell but it’s like a when you’re done it’s like like that was good like I needed that stress. Well I’ll tell you what people in the chat um I don’t think I mean I think it’s start to I think we have to start being really nice to clatsy now because if any of you are mean now we know that he could put you in a chokeold and put you in some serious danger. So, I mean, clown George loading. Seriously. I mean, you’re a you’re a different beast. I mean, come on. Like, that that’s a Get you in there, Caleb. You see the my my way of And again, fat guy. I My way of kind of, you know, getting active a little bit isn’t by way of violence. I guess jiu-jitsu wouldn’t be for me. It wouldn’t be for me. It’s not violent, though. It’s not like when you It’s calm. It’s like uh like you’re not getting like you’re not getting punched in the face. You know what I mean? Like you like I would I sparred a guy against a guy Monday and like he was a bigger guy, but it’s not like he’s throwing me around. Like you have to like you use your momentum, dude. He popped my shoulder. That’s why I say, “Bro, you’re light on your feet. You’re nimble. You you you get in a good you’re you’re you’re killing somebody if you want to, Caleb.” Well, I appreciate the kind words, but I don’t I don’t think so. I don’t think I have faith. I think maybe I’ll maybe I’ll give it a shot. Maybe maybe one of these days. It’d be a good video seeing me seeing me get in there. But um yeah, I don’t know. I think it’s really cool that you’re doing it. But Clots, we have some catching up to do in the comments, too. Boon, shout out. This is fair. Accountability does need to be held for the last night and the Friday before. That is a fair statement. Well, you do have some catching up to do. Um because like I said, I mean, when you when you’re going to bed, you know, that early, waking up, you don’t really know what’s going on in the world. you feel like you’re on a different universe. But if you didn’t see Kate Cunningham made all NBA 13 and let me start by saying this, Claus, I said this yesterday on the show. I mean, that’s so [ __ ] awesome. I mean, we haven’t had a Piston making AllNBA team in what feels like a million years and representing the Detroit Pistons and kind of their turnaround. It’s huge for the franchise. However, and Claus, I want to hear I want to hear your thoughts on this. I don’t know if you looked at the at the second team. That’s what I was about to go look at right now because I haven’t. There’s going to be a guy on there, Clots, that that you see who’s it’s Steph Curry, one of the best point guards ever to play the game of basketball, right? Mhm. When you look at his numbers comparatively to to Kate Cunningham, it is blasphemy that Curry made second team over Kate Cunningham. I mean, Klots, let me ask you this. What number is bigger, 26 or 24? I would say the 26es. What’s higher, six or four and a half? I would go on a I’m going on a limb here and say six. Nine or six? Nine. Again, going up on a limb. Going to make a guess. Probably nine. Yeah. So, that’s Cade stats compared to Curry’s. That just doesn’t make any sense to me how this happened. You talk about if you want to make it like an impact thing what they do for the basketball team. Kade brought a 14- win team and and to a 44 win team. Doesn’t make any sense to me. How do you feel about that? I don’t I honestly I’m going to be honest with you, Caleb. I don’t hate it that much as far as Steph Curry getting second team. And here’s why. Okay. I And I’m going to given I think that all between Kade and Steph, both of them should have made an allNBA team. Whether it’s first or second or third, both of them should be on there. One, narrative is obviously going to be there with Steph. But two, I think if you and obviously not you, but the general public like watching Steph Curry this season, especially after they got Jimmy, the man was elite. He was elite. Like it wasn’t Steph Curry from 2016, but I would say especially with no Clay, Draymond’s not Draymond anymore. Steph Curry was carrying that team. I understand that Cade was as well, but you can use the arguments for both. And Steph is in the West. And Steph, when they did get Jimmy, they shot right back up. And then when they lost Steph in that in the playoffs, it wasn’t even like the the Warriors weren’t even a playoff team. Like they they would have been probably a bottom 10 team in the roster. Same with the Pistons, like to your point. But I do think one narrative and two like Steph did ball out like he did. I I don’t think this is a year where it’s like, “Oh, Steph Curry.” Like when you told me that I was like, “Okay, yeah, Cade the Young Gun probably did have the better season, but I don’t think it’s by a mile by any means.” Like I’m not mad at looking at it. I think it too like Cade could very well be first team AllNBA next year. So, and you see the Pistons time and time again just not getting the respect, not getting the respect, not getting the respect. If Kade’s getting third team AllNBA, to your point, we haven’t had a player, a Pistons player be allNBA in ions, eons if you like, whichever word supposed to be placed there. They We haven’t had one. So, for Kade to get third team AllNBA, I’m not moaning and groaning about it. But I understand you’re very passionate. Pistons are your team. You love the Lions. You love the Tigers. But I’ve heard you say many times, Pistons numero uno. So, I get the passion behind it. But from an outside perspective, as a less passionate Pistons fan, I’m not I’m not too upset with it. Well, here’s the thing. When it caught like when you bring up narrative, I get it. Yes, Curry. They they again, one of the best one of the best basketball players ever to touch a court, but and I think Jeff made a really good point yesterday on the show. When is the torch going to be passed? And it kind of starts, not it doesn’t really start, but a big part of that is the people that vote for these awards. True. Like Kate Cunningham is going to be top two, top three point guard in the NBA for for the rest of his career. I I’d say in his prime, I guess. So when is that torch going to be passed? Like if you want the game to grow, you have to let it grow. Kid Cunningham had a better season. out of the plan still. That’s true. Yes. Kate Cunningham had a better season than Steph Curry. So I I guess I guess just make it make sense to me. Like I I get it. Curry again. I think a big part of it will be when for example like I’m just going to use Dirk as an example. Obviously him and Curry two different players, but there was that time when you could see like oh Durk isn’t Durk anymore. You know what I mean? So we’re that’s when you start having those conversations. I think SJ, I’m assuming he was cuz he plays like a two, but he was v voted first team, I’m assuming. SJ MVP first team. So, you’re going to have SJ undoubtedly the the as the one, but we still haven’t seen Curry fall off yet. You know what I mean? Like it’s Steph Curry to your point that you said earlier is still that elite player. Now, he’s not that number one where SGA is anymore. You’re going to see him start falling down slowly, slowly. I think like as as soon as next year once the Pistons like are officially legitimatized legitimized in in front of other people’s faces. I know that in Detroit you can see this is a real basketball team now. We’ve been seeing absolute dog poop as you would say basketball for the last 10 to 15 years and maybe not 15 but at least last 10. And when we finally see, okay, this is good basketball. It’s going to take another year for it to reach the general public, especially in the West, man. Like, they have pretty much outside of JT Giannis, who’s probably going to be going to the West, and a couple other guys, all the allstars, all the faces of the league are in the West right now. So, it’s going to take a little time, but I still think same thing with the Lions, man. Like, you could see like that team when they went nine and eight, that was a legitimate football team, but it still took another year. So, I just think Detroit’s Detroit sports, the fact that they have been so bad for so long, it’s going to add even a longer growing process when it comes to accolades like these with Kate Cunningham. Yeah, you’re right. But again, above all else, congrats to Kade. That’s huge for the Pistons. I mean, the trajectory that of the Pistons team, I mean, we’re we’re on we’re on a good pace here. and Kate Cunningham, the face of everything, face of the franchise for I mean, this this was really his first healthy season, gets an all-star nod, all NBA third team. Guys can’t really be mad about it. But thank you everybody for tuning in. We got we got a packed show for you guys today. In a second here, we’re going to get into our most anticipated games on the Lion schedule. Then we got Raj Join at 10:30 to talk some Detroit Tigers. A lot of interesting things about the Tigers right now. Lost two straight, not really sweating it, but we’ll get back. We’ll get into that with Raj then. Clots, we talked about it before the show. I am so excited for the segment we have later in the show. We’re kind of gonna do our dark horse um award. That’s like right up my alley. Those are my favorite conversations to have. I mean I I mean when I when I because I just wanted to do, you know, award predictions, but I’m like come on. Like we could just pick, you know, Josh Alen, but let’s get a little fancy here. Clots. It’s Saturday morning. Let’s get a little fancy. wake up. But I want to get into the our most anticipated games on the line schedule because I think there’s a lot of interesting ones. We know it’s a very tough schedule. They got a couple stretches in this schedule where it’s like, oh [ __ ] like how is this going to play out? Um, like I said, a lot of interesting games. So, Clots, what we’re going to do, I’ll say my I’ll say five. I’ll say my number five, you say your number five. I’ll say my number four. You say your number four. Um, sprinkle away up there. I’ll let you go first, brother. All right. What’s your number What’s your fifth most anticipated game? My fifth most the game that I can just not wait to watch. Again, it’s not number one, two, three, or four, but it’s number five for a reason. That’s the Dallas Cowboys. Okay. And they, you know, they were probably would have been on the bubble, but Boon’s watching. We had a conversation and he le leaned towards Booner as well. These fellas think the Cowboys are going to be like a verge of a playoff team. Okay. They think that this team’s going to be right back to where they were, winning 10 to 12 games, being second seed in the NFC East, maybe even third. They were saying that three teams in the NFC East could win 10 games. Well, that’s blasphemy, okay? Cuz the Cowboys are going to be the Cowboys of Tony Romo age when they were winning seven, eight games. They are going to come on a a decline. And I cannot wait because besides Packers fans, Cowboys fans and organization are my least favorite. The Lions absolutely embarrassed the Cowboys last year. Now I understand Cooper rushes at quarterback or no it was Dak that’s when Hut broke his leg. But the George Pickins narrative, the Pickins that they got Donovan Earaku. I’m going to tell you right now that nothing will warm my heart more than seeing Ben Johnson leave, Aaron Glenn leave, but this Detroit Lions team just impose their will on the Dallas Cowboys yet again. yet again to just let everybody know like, hey, America’s team doesn’t it doesn’t align in Dallas anymore. It aligns in Detroit. We’ll see Dak Prescott get paid the most money in the NFL out of a quarterback position. Somehow someway he’s number one. Two or three sacks, two or three picks. Maybe Terion Arnold, I said he gets his first interception against the Cleveland Browns. He’ll get his second, maybe even third against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. They’re not going to be able to run the ball. Javvante Williams, please. Rico Dott, love him. Rico, that’s my guy. CL Rico D’s my guy. So, I’m I’m a Rico D fan. Okay, I don’t think he’s an RB1, but he’s a really good check like a James White James White kind of option. But they’re going to be asking Dak to throw 50 times that game, and that’s just going to be fun to watch. Watching Hutch get after him, his redemption game coming off the injury obviously against the Cowboys. Kirby Joseph, Brian Branch, DJ Reid, Terry, that whole defense just going to work. I think that’ll be a great game for the Lions as a team. Just go in and pumble Dallas. I Is that game on the road or at home? It’s at home and it’s the game after Thanksgiving, Thursday Night Football. We finally get to play Dallas at home. Finally get to play Dallas at home. But I’ll say this, Clout, I haven’t heard tons of hoopla about Dallas this offseason, honestly, because you know, you go into every year it’s like, yeah, Dallas could be the darkhorse team. They can go out and win 10, 11 games. I haven’t heard that much of that this offseason. Corrected, by the And that that might that kind of scares me a little bit when it comes to Dallas. And we got Miles Sanders instead of Rico D. Did I just see that? Yeah, sure. Yeah, it’s uh it’s always I’m excited to I’m excited to see Dallas at home finally. Finally. But my number five, and honestly, this could have been higher, but there’s four games ahead of it in my opinion that just intrigued me more. Mhm. Number five, I got week 15 on the road against the Rams. Oh, you’re coming off you’re coming off two nationally televised games, the the Packers and the Cowboys games and you have to face a really good Rams team on the road. A team that I think a lot of a lot of people are underrating this defensive line that the Rams have is elite. That offense, man, even even with an older Matthew Stafford, they’re going to be a really really good team. And I just think coming off two games, Packers, Dallas, then you have to go on the road against the Rams in week 15, we’re really going to see what this with this football team is all about. And who knows, it could have t I mean, it probably will have a ton of in I can’t think of the word again. Let me I mean, what’s going on with Hey, break it down into syllables. Early morning um implications. A ton of implications in the NFC. I mean this this could decide who because I think I think the Rams are this good. Clots I think it could decide like or or have a good I mean the one seed honestly I think the Rams are that good. So I have I have went on record multiple times during our show and I’ve gotten push back but I said at the end of the 2025 regular season the Los Angeles Rams will be the one seed. Their schedule dude I understand like because Booner brought up and I think it’s a good point that Boon brings up. I don’t want to make it seem like it’s bad there like just that whole NFC West the division or the schedules are weak. The 49ers force plate they have an easy schedule but to your point when I look at the defensive line that secondary like especially with Cam I love I [ __ ] love Cam Kens. Okay, they drafted him last year. I think he’s going to be a monster. But you just look at this Rams team. They’ve been in a rebuild for the past three years after they won that Super Bowl and you haven’t been able to tell. And there’s going to be that last run that they make with Stafford and I think that’s this year. They’re kind of what I think this is like their all-in year. I think that staff get out. They can move off of them if they want to. I think they go and draft a quarterback next year in the draft and that’s telling you, hey, we’re now in another rebuild, but they’re making one last push to the uh Super Bowl. And you saw what happened last time that they did. They went they acquired Von Miller, Jaylen Ramsey, all these boys and they won one. So, I think the Rams are going to be top of the the class of the NFC at least through the regular season. Yeah. I mean, that like like I said and someone said in the chat, it will probably have seating implications 100%. And Boon says here, “Rams lose division, 49ers win that division.” The 49ers, I I I I did a deep dive on them yesterday because that’s such an interesting team because in our in our segment later we’re going to do about our Darkhorse Award winners, I I took a look at Brock Perie a little bit, man, he’s got I mean, outside of Christian McCaffrey maybe and George KD, I mean, dude, his wide receiver one and two are are Jawan Jennings and Ricky Pearl, who I think Ricky Pear could be a great player. I just don’t No, no, no. I’m a Ricky Pierce guy. I’m a Ricky Pieraw guy, but can he be that that reliant until Brandon IU comes back mid-season, you know, even if he does play? So, I don’t know. I think the Rams are going to be a really good team and that’s a big test for the Lions in week 15 on the road coming off two prime time games. So, Cloudy, what you got for number four? Number four, we’re we’re going in the division here because the three this is my only division game on here. Okay. Okay. It’s early. the Bears at home at home because honestly I’m not I’m not excited at all to go to Chicago week 18. We’ve seen enough of those stories where the Lions have come out with wins. I’m not excited for those games. Those you those games are usually just stressful. They’re annoying. The Bears are hanging around at home. Ben Johnson, Antoine Randall, all those traders that left the 313 to go to Shy Town, they’re about to get their ass whooped. Okay. Because I think week one against the Packers, that’ll be a good game. I think the Lions come out victorious. They just got punched in the mouth a little bit to open the season. You know what I mean? That’s no walk over. That’s no breeze over. You go against the Bears with all that with all that momentum of, hey, you hear the noise about the Bears. I believe the Bears play the Viking week one, they could very well win that game. It’s going to be the hype train. Ben Johnson, Dan Campbell, who’s going to win it? And I think in that game that’s where Ben Johnson truly gets welcomed to the NFL as an NFL head coach because Matt Lafleur solid head co not Matt Lafleur Kevin Oonnell very very good head coach but I don’t think he coaches in a way yet where it’s like contending coach because we’ve seen this man with really good rosters and I know he hasn’t had Patrick Mahomes Josh Allen he’s been very good with that quarterback play but those team get bounced every time in that first round. Dan Campbell, I think he knows and just how to equip a team to play through four quarters relentlessly, get into the opposing quarterback’s head, and just create problems. And I think that’s what he’s going to do to Ben Johnson. I think Ben Johnson just going to get punched in the mouth by a very physical football team. The Bears are always talked about like, oh, the 85 Bears, the Windy City, like there’s some physical football team. It’s like, man, you have Caleb Williams as your quarterback. You have DeAndre Swift as your running back. You have Coulson Lovelin and um uh Cole KTD as your tight ends. I don’t see much physicality around that Bears offense. Okay. I don’t Maybe on the defensive side of the ball, their defense is very solid, but I don’t think the offense is going to be phased by the Bears defense in a way that they kind of fall out of their shells. I just think that’s a game where the Lions physically impose the Chicago Bears, and that’s just going to warm my heart. So, Bears at home, week two, number four. Clott, I I have that on my list. I have it a little bit higher, though. Um, I think you’ll be surprised where I have it. But I mean that I mean that game is going to be and again like you said like the Packers week one that’s going to be a fun one and then going I think backtoback divisional opponents to start the year is crazy in my opinion. But it’s fun. But it’s fun. Especially week two with that with the storyline behind that. It’s going to be a fun game. But number four, this is honestly I could have number four through one are very interchangeable to me cuz this game right here, this is the first game I saw on the schedule where I’m like, “Okay, like this is I love I love this spot for the Lions. I got week seven at home against Tampa Bay Monday Night Football.” I I would miss the Cowboys game. You’re This game is just so intriguing to me. You’re coming off two games against the Bengals and the Chiefs, and then you go right back and play Monday Night Football before your by-week against Tampa Bay, a team that beat you last year in your own crib. Like I And again, you beat them in the playoffs two years ago, but I mean, the last time we played that, like I said, beat us at our own crib. And I just think it’s so interesting like yes, this team has had the bright lights on them last year at least. I mean, they’re a very popular football team, the Detroit Lions. They’re America’s team, but I mean, you get a spot where you play the Bengals, the Chiefs, then you go right back and play Monday Night Football. Mhm. I mean, that’s a big spot right there right before you by week. Right before your by-week, you want to get a dub before you have to go play Minnesota after your by-week. So, I number four, I’m going week seven at Tampa Bay. And again, these are all these are all interchangeable, honestly. Yeah, because I I that that week that that week seven game is I know I said this about the Rams game, but that week seven game is really going to be like, okay, what is this Lions team all about? You just played arguably top, you know, two teams in the top five in the AFC in the Bengals and the Chiefs. Now you play Tampa Bay at home, Monday Night Football. That’s by week four. I’m excited for I’ve been saying it’s not a I don’t think it’s a must-win game because I don’t I don’t think they’re going to be off to a bad start. But let’s say the Lions drop the game before that where you didn’t expect them to. You lose that Tampa Bay game. I think again it’s not you’re packing up the season and moving on. But that is a huge game to your point. That’s a game where doesn’t matter Todd Ples is Dave Canales and Liam Cohen backtoback OC’s and that offense is still find a way to be explosive dynamic. They got Bucky Irving going into year two. And then you look at the draft they just had on the defense side of the football. I think Tampa is going to be very good. I think Tampa I have to look at their schedule more, but I think they’ll be another 11 12 win season with Tampa Bay. I agree. I agree. It’s going to be a fun one. So, we move. All right. I’m I’ll take I I won’t have to waste too much time because we already touched on it. My number three, the Rams. The Rams. You had them, I believe, at five. And for all the reasons that you were saying, one, I just think because I think the Rams are going to be incredibly dangerous this year. I think they’re going to be number one seed in the NFC. But that game, I think that is going to mark where it’s like, okay, have the Rams overtaken the Lions yet in the NFC, at least for 2025, because we’ve seen the Lions beat the Rams three straight times now at some point, there’s going to be something that just snaps snaps the camel back, the camel’s back. And I think if the Lions are able to win that game, that’s huge momentum to carry in the playoffs because then you’re going to go in two divisional games. But I just think because of the implications that are going to be on the line, the fact that you’re going into LA, this is the best Rams team we’ve seen in a while. That Rams game is absolutely enormous, but it’s not my number one because I think there’s a couple more that matter a little bit more, but the Rams I think are huge games to watch out for. There’s a huge game to watch out for. I believe week 15, isn’t it? Yeah, week 15. Week 15. And again, that’s coming off two back-to-back prime time games. Cowboys and Packers. That’s going to be a fun one. Number three, I mean, I think a lot of people might have this at number one. Number three, I got the Commanders week 10 on the road. They bounced you in the playoffs last year. They got a lot to prove. Uh secondyear quarterback who might be in the MVP race by week 10 when this game is going to be a big test for this Lions football team coming I think this is two games after the by-week. So so you should be you know a little bit fresh ready to go coming off a division a divisional game um in Minnesota and you’re on the road in Washington. I got the commanders at at the commanders game week 10 at you have met three. I have met two. I I think especially because you’re going to see defensively what this team really is because you weren’t able to see what they were able to do at full strength against them in the playoffs, but I think the commanders both as a team are very important to watch. But you’re going to see quarterbacks like that, whether it’s Jaylen Herz, whether it’s Caleb Williams, whether it’s somebody else in the playoffs where these mobile quarterbacks are able to RPO you to death. And that’s been just the crutch in the Lions defense where that game for Aiden Hutchinson, all Dan Quinn, all um blanking on the OC right now. Uh, but all that offense is going to Cliff Kingsberry. All they’re going to do is look at Aiden Hutchinson and say, “Let Aiden Hutchinson do whatever the hell he wants to do. We’re going to go off of that.” So, that game’s going to be huge because Aane Hudson will pro probably still have some plays, but they’re just going to be going off Aiden Hudson. A Hudson, Aiden Hutchinson, pull it. Here’s Debo Samuel. Pull it. Here’s uh Terry McLaren. Or they can just keep with Jane Daniels or Brian Robinson. So, I think these mobile quarterback games are huge because those regardless of who the team is, you even look back last year against Kyler Murray, the Arizona Cardinals, like Lions didn’t blow them out. They like it was a closer game than a lot of people would have thought going into Glendale both because their defense was good, but they just struggled containing mobile quarterbacks even with Aiden Husinson. So, the Durs, the Commanders, that’s going to be a big game. Yeah, that’s going to be a big one. But, I’m going to rattle off my number two and my number one right now real quick. I number two, I got the Philadelphia Eagles week 11. This is the team we all wanted last year in the playoffs. This is a team where a lot of the fan base is like, if we face this team, we have we have a chance to beat them. Just their just the Lions ability to stop the run and that’s what the that’s what Philly uh leans on is the run game with Saquon Barkley. That game is going to be really exciting because again, they’re the best team in football. You can’t deny that. And if you want to be the best, you got to beat the best. So week 11 in Philly, it’s going to be a cold one. Could be snow clots, could be some snow. When is week 11? Week 11, I believe that’s like November. November, late October, possibly. That’s football weather. That’s football weather. That’s football weather. That’s a perfect time to put Philly and Detroit. And then number one, I’m going with I’m going week two Chicago Bears. I just think the storyline I just I just think it’s a huge test for not only the Lions, but I’m excited to see how the Bear the Ben Johnson and the Bears handle this as handle this as well in Fordfield. place is going to be rocking in Ben Johnson’s return. Yeah. To to Detroit. Um I mean, I just want to see us beat the piss out of the Bears in week two, man. And if you start 2 and 0 in the division, that’s big time stuff right there. So, I got the Chicago game week two as my number one most anticipated game of the 2025 season. I’ll keep this one short just because I know we got Raj hanging. Can’t wait to get to him. Talk some Tigers. Number one quite easily. Don’t have to think twice about it. is the Philadelphia Eagles for pretty much the same reasons you said, Super Bowl contenders or Super Bowl winners, number one team in the NFL heading into the season. But and then two, the same reasons I just listed off for the Commanders. They’re going to RPO you to death, but they got a better defense. So, the Eagles, Lions, that’s the class of the NFC going into this year. That’s who I’m taking from a number one matchup. Love it. Love it. Well, no, Dominic. See what I did there? See, Dominic, I like it. Come on. Come on. Well, we got the GOAT in the building. I’m not going to keep waiting any longer. We got the co owner co-owner of Tigers ML Report and host of Motor City Metrics Pod Raj. How we doing today, man? Thank you for joining on a Saturday morning. I say this to all my guests. I know it can be a little inconvenient on Saturday morning, but I mean you’re here. You’re the goat. How we feeling? You know, I used to do a podcast on Saturday morning. So, totally and utterly cool. I just appreciate you guys being uh patient with me as I’m in Eerie, Pennsylvania right now. was uh watched the uh Seaw Wolves last night uh come back and win five of four while watching the Tigers single-handedly offense just just disappeared. Hey, you got boots on the ground though, Raj. You got boots on the ground though. It’s all we care about. Yeah. Well, I you know, I’ll start with this question too. Since you are in Erie, there’s a lot of interesting prospects in the in the Tiger system. Obviously, outside of the top four, which is probably Clark, McGonagal, Loronzo, and you know, whoever else you want to say, who are some who are some prospects that are on your radar that not many people are talking about in in the Tiger system? You know, I I think Max Anderson started to make a case now, like last year defensively at West Michigan, he just didn’t he can always hit. I mean, he led the Big 10 in hitting when he was at Nebraska, but his defense has been it was kind of weird. I don’t want to say bad was maybe evolving, but he has become a better defender. He’s on 15game hitting streak right now. He’s hitting with power and for average, and he’s continuing to just put the ball wherever he wants to essentially at this point. Another prospect to that’s been kind of going under the radar a little bit as far as like just uh pitching goes too is uh Gary Burran who I think has been off to a really good start in DoubleA. That’s another guy that um I’ve been watching quite closely. He has one of the best sliders in the system but he’s not really talked about very often. Uh Jose Bono I think would go in that top four. You know he can be like he’s interchangeable. The fact he’s also calling his own games, which is something that I don’t think it’s talked about often enough is a great thing because when he gets a double A, he’ll be ready to go when it gets to advanced pitching. And and I think that the fact that he is catching after serious knee injury is a good thing. And so I think Bringing should be also I don’t think he gets enough attention because you know Clark McGonic will take all the headlines and that’s that’s fine. Those guys totally 100% get it. But um those are some of the few names that I could take off the top of my head. There’s also some pitchers right now in in HA. Uh Andrew Sears too, a lefty that Chris and I have been talking about quite a bit. That’s another guy who’s been uh really just kind of has a mad attitude. He’s just he goes out there and he’s off to a really good start too for the White Caps. And switching from Erie back to Detroit here now. Raj, I I’m looking at this Tigers team in my opinion clearly playing like the best team in the AL right now. But a lot of people are going to tell you, well, the New York Yankees are there. They’re going to be really good for a long time. They spent a lot of money. When you look at this Tigers team in a playoff series, how do you think as of right now, because there’s still a long series or a long season to go, how do you think as of right now this Tigers team would stack up to the New York Yankees? Well, I think the Tigers still need another swing and miss guy out of the bullpen. I think that that’s one thing if you’re going to look at uh I guess a weakness right now is the the bullpen. And another thing too is like I know that people were wondering why Riley Green didn’t start yesterday. You know it is a long season and then the Cadu look we all know what a Kubanu is. He’s a guy who’s going to contribute when he can. Is he a everyday regular? No. But at the same time Riley Green makes a lot of plays. He’s been banged up the last couple seasons. You want to keep him healthy when if you know when to get to the postseason. But as far as like a swing and miss guy out of the bullpen, you know, you look at Will Vest is the only guy that has a K per nine over 10. Meanwhile, Cleveland has almost three of them. And so that’s going to be the big difference of how far the Tigers can get over this Cleveland current Cleveland hex, if you will, is they really need to get the the bullpen. I think there’s some pieces in there. It’s not saying the bullpen’s complete and other garbage or anything like that. I’m not saying that at all, but they really are. I really think that they have to leverage what prospects they do have either. They’re going to first look eternal. They’re always going to look eternal, see what they have eternally, but if this is the year where Harris is going to, you know, put his chips in, maybe make a trade, I think it’s the trade for a highend reliever. Yeah. You talk about the bullpen and there was a guy yesterday that threw and he’s been throwing. He’s been throwing fantastic and I saw you tweet about him a couple times, Chase Lee. I had a guy uh Noah being a shout out. um big college baseball guy. He told me out of Alabama, you guys are getting you guys are the Tigers are getting a stud in and and Chase Lee and this felt like a heat check from AJ Hinch and Chris Federer just getting another guy that not many people heard of that are that is throwing very important innings for the Detroit Tigers. So, how sustainable do you how sustainable of an arm do you think Chase Lee is in this bullpen kind of going later into the season? It’s a good question, Caleb, because I think it’s also if you notice how Hinch manages and he manages his players for success. And what I mean by that is essentially he puts them in good positions to succeed no matter what it is and based off their strengths. And I think with Chase Lee because he offers that three, you know, that kind of sidearm funkiness to him. I think that’s going to be sustainable. The question is as those scouting reports come out, will he continue to adjust? I think that Federer and the and the staff and and Juan Ye and Dr. Robert Lung are going to continue to work with him and get better because he’s not a guy who’s going to not throw philosophy. He does throw strikes, but that angle, the funkiness to him, that’s going to continue to be a a strain for him. It’s just a matter of when they’re going to put him in a situation like that. And I rather have him than per se something along the lines of like uh Brennan Hanfey who’s more of a singer guy, but Hanny’s been struggling as of late. And so I I think this is another example and I said this yesterday because somebody was saying, “Oh, there’s numbers in Toledo. Who cares? To it doesn’t matter in Toledo. You’re basically doing what you have. You have to your experimentation. It’s like learning. You’re learning pitches and all that. It’s the Tigers have metrics to look at that. And I think with Lee, it’s the same thing. They looked at him and was able to see where can he get the outs most effectiveness, where he can be most effective. And I think for Tiger fans right now, it’s just they any guy that can get anybody out right now is is good. I mean, I know it sounds like a simple basic request, but you look at the bullpen right now, Tyler Holton can always save the day, you know, and so I think that I think this is something that if they continue to adjust as he makes adjustments as his teams get more advanced count reports, I think he’s going to be a guy that’s a really good seventh inning seventh or eighth inning option. And we we look at this Tigers team too, Raj, and we see all these guys coming back from injuries. Obviously, we we we’ve heard all week about Parker Meadows. Matt Burling’s been making his way up, but I think something that’s going to be interesting with somebody who’s already activated for the Tigers as the season goes on is the Jake Rogers situation. Just because obviously Rogers, very good catcher, but you look at what Dingler’s been doing as well. How do you think they’re going to balance that out? What do you think we’re going to see with the the Rogers compared to a a Dingler situation? I think you’re going to see Rogers is going to probably be more like, you know, the this getable personal catcher kind of personalization catching situation. And I know a lot of people like Thomas Neato and it was it was weird for him people to see him get designated for assignment, but he’s a veteran that will probably surely catch on with another team, but it makes sense. I mean, Rogers has been with the team longer. He has got a good rapport. Um, but I think what’s going to happen is is that if Dylan Dler continue to same thing with adjustments, if he can continue to hit and continue to be, I mean, he’s got two walks, 39 strikeouts. It’s impressive what he’s been able to do. He’s only hitting one ground double play, too, which is another thing that stands out to me. A guy that could put the ball in the air like that. I think what’s going to happen is Rogers is going to be used when they need to, and Dingler’s kind of slowly but surely taking over the number one spot. Um he’s a guy he’s already got a 1.1 war already. And so I I think the fact that he’s been able Dingler’s always been able to call a good game. They’re both you have two strong defensive catchers, not one that can hit. That’s a that’s a rarity if you guys as you guys know. So it’s I think that I think they’re just going to pick and choose when Hinch being a former catcher himself is going to understand that where Rogers strength is going to be because he’s such a veteran catcher. You’re going to need that down the stretch. And I think that’s just going to be a matter of time where if maybe Dingler struggles a little bit, Rogers goes back Rogers gets some more playing time and they go from there. Yeah, I agree. And one thing too, like with with Dingler, he caught some really good games for school. And that that’s encouraging to see because I mean I I think Dingler is the catcher of the future. Obviously, you got a lot of catchers in the farm system with with Loronzo and and those guys, but I mean I I was very encouraged by what how Dingler was able to catch those games for Scuba while Rogers was down. But I want to ask you about the job start yesterday. Um I mean it’s been obviously he was handed his first loss. Um didn’t get much run support. Went five innings, four hits, two earned three Ks. He had 11 swings and misses. What are some things you really like from the job start yesterday? And what are some things that you know there that that you could very much tell that he still needs to work on? I think the one thing that is encouraging about the job start yesterday is the fact that I think that the one thing that’s been consistent, he’s kind of like a bulldog. Like he there’s times where I don’t think he makes the same mistake twice. What I mean by that is essentially I mean it sounds like what I’m saying is but it’s just every start for him in the last three or four starts is where he’s not leaving pitches over the plate cuz sometimes him and Monttero have that like just leave a meatball and you’re like oh come on man. Um, especially with Cleveland, this is a team that you can’t make a lot of mistakes against. And I think Cleveland did work the count a little bit for him, but I think he was able to bounce back and not give in to where I think some of the swings and misses have been better using locating that was it the sinker or the ridiculous. It’s just something where it’s just like he’s been able to use that pitch more effectively and I’ve been seeing more confidence of him using that and I think that’s been growing each start. And I I watched the recap last night when I got back to my hotel and I was sitting there looking at what what can he do better, you know, in terms of just I just think it’s just experience, guys. I mean, I think that Job is a guy who he’s smart. He uses the metrics. He will look at his stuff and and I think that yesterday was a prime example of things could have gone wrong and he and he held his own. And I think that that’s something to be said for a rookie who is starting to kind of figure things out a little bit. And I think what Tiger fans are not seeing. I mean, I know sometimes people wonder like, why is he not going six or seven innings? Folks, it’s middle of May. I understand this is a long season and I and I think that that yesterday’s start was encouraging especially for a team like Cleveland who you guys know their hitting discipline is uncanny and I think that that’s saying something that I think if he made the same start last year Cleveland scored a lot more runs and I think he’s making less mistake pitches and that was one that was I think that’s been a learning lesson going forward is that he’s just not putting everything over the plate allowing them to just clobber And I know that we’ve seen a tough kind of back-to-back nights against Cleveland, especially considering I would say pretty like a AL rival. And when you look at that, yes, it’s tough to watch, but throughout this season, we’ve seen a lot of good plays by a lot of good players. Raj, who do you think when the All-Star break comes out will be representing Detroit during that time? I think it should be Riley Green. I mean, Riley Green is the C, you know, between him and Torqulson. You can make a case for Torlson too based off his 13 home runs. He is some nights the only source of offense. I mean what was the other night he had all the RBI’s. So it you can make a case for either one of those. But I think without Riley Green out in the outfield outside of Jav Bayz in center field, this Tiger team would be under I dare I say almost under 500 because Riley Green is that good of a hitter. I guess I know he struggles against lefties and in order for him to become that quoteunquote next, you know, elite or whatever you want to whatever buzzword term you want to use. I think that that he has to shake that off a little bit. But I the fact that he is punishing the ball when he does he plays really good defense again scares the living you know what out of me. Every time he dies for a ball in the off [ __ ] like you know um but I think it that kind of play puts him in the Allstar game. I mean, of course, when we talk about Terk Scooel being there, obviously, but position player-wise, I even think Jav Bayz makes a case, too. I mean, Bayz is going to have his lulls and everything, but he’s such a better hitter and it’s such a good story, such a feel-ood story. Um, that’s more of like a long shot for me, but I I think Riley Green will be another rep. They’ll make a second time representing the Tigers. Now, I want to ask you this, Raj, because you you did bring up the AJ Hinch comments, and you just talked about Riley Green. I I usually I can, but it was a little bit difficult for me to look past those comments yesterday. Basically, AJ Hinn said Riley Green always feels like he’s on he’s right on that edge of dealing with something. Does this concern you at all? Even when it comes to like maybe a potential Rally Green extension? I mean, he’s 24 years old and and it’s it almost feels like like you said, like every time he’s in the outfield and there’s a ball in the gap, you’re kind of clenching up. You’re like, “Oh, don’t don’t die for that. We need you on the field.” How do you feel about these comments AJ Hinch made? I I you know, Hinch is a guy who’s very he knows what he’s doing. I mean, he knows like he’s basically let he’s not going to he he is a very good poker player. He doesn’t show his poker face is probably the best out there. And I I think that for him he especially when people start complaining about like you know you always have those Twitter warriors or whomever out there like stop okay knock it off like it you know for example when you’re down in locker room and hearing Carrie Carpenter talk about how he’s been treating his hamstrings and everything. guys are a world class athletes and I think with Hinch is like he knows that they these guys are going to need a break. I mean with Matt Verling coming back Parker Meadows and then Windal Perez is coming back soon too. That is a big help for a Hinch right now because you’re basically giving yourself some of that depth. And I think what Hinch is just trying to basically say is look guys, we know you’re just as scary about Green. And as far as like extension, like I always think of Chris and I have talked to us numerous times. I always think of like Brian Buckston. You know, Brian Buckton is one of the most phenomenal players I’ve seen in a long time just because of pure speed. Like you every time he hits a ball in the infield, it’s a chance for infield single. That’s how fast he is. He hits with power. He’s a really good outfielder. And then you know right now you have to worry and then you worry for example the Twins sometimes can’t play him on backtoback days in the outfield because he’s got knee on bone or bone on bone in his knees. It’s like holy crap. And so I think the Tigers are looking at that maybe not looking at Bucks in particular but maybe Hinch has seen that and goes look I don’t want the same thing to happen to him and so it’s just being precautionary and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I mean, Green is a franchise player to me and I think that ultimately Hinch has got to make sure these guys are it’s not just, you know, having the best record in May. Who gives a crap? You know, it’s about at the end of the at the end of the year, what happens in October now apparently November when what the end results are now the Tigers reaching the postseason last year have all of a sudden fans are like we want more and rightfully so. I mean, they have the best record in baseball as of right now or as of Saturday, whatever this is. But I think Hing is just worrying. He’s just letting people know like, “Hey, we’re we we see what you’re saying. Chill out.” But we know like it’s like it’s an internal worry, but he’s never going to let you know. He’s not going to tell you how freaked out he is. No way. No effing way. Yeah. And about Go ahead, G. I was going to say and that too is is so like Verling and Parker Meadows coming back is so important for guys like Carrie Carpenter and Rally Green Giving them the ability to DH you know once or twice a week. Raj I I I don’t know what it actually I know what it is. He’s a fantastic he’s shown that he could play a fantastic outfield. I have fallen in love with the idea of Jav Bayas playing a corner outfield spot with Parker Meadows playing center field. Do you think do you think Jav Bayz is going to turn into one of those super utility guys for the Tigers getting all these reinforcements back or do you think he’s going to kind of stick to that to that outfield position like center field almost platoon with Parker Meadows? It’s a it’s a good question because I think that he could also play third and be okay. I mean short stopwise sometimes it’s just a matter of throws but he still has that defensive range. I think personally he’s better in the outfield, but I think I also can see the Tigers are all about Hinches loves guys that can play multiple positions. It’s going on in the farm system too as well. So that philosophy being said, I think that you’re going to see him being a super utility player. Something that you, ironically enough, you see with former Tiger Willie Castro in Minnesota, but a much better version of it. And I think that that’s going to continue because it allows Hinch to have exploit any opportunities he has against other teams. And that’s one one thing about Hinch that if you notice he does a really good job of platooning and and you know the Tigers like you know Jim Leman platoon too but he didn’t have this kind of caliber I don’t think he has this kind of caliber of talent that the Tigers do now and so I think the one thing that with Bayas is that I’d be curious to see how he plays in right field. I mean, I know Carpenter had that play yesterday and and people were worried about him a little bit, but Carpenter has improved greatly, but at the same time, if you can give him a night off and you can have or for that matter have bias take over and right or Verling and right or whatever you want to do, I think Parker Meadows being the keystone of playing center field, Meadows plays to me out of all everybody the best center field. I think he just because he looks like a gazelle out there. I mean, like just one stride. The catch in Seattle last year was one of the greatest catches I’ve seen player make. Yeah, that was some a poster that was something you’ve never like just was just like like especially some of the fans were like in the mirror fans were like like the reaction was priceless but I think I think Bayz can offer you that versatility that you know and Vinez can’t. And no offense to Andy Benz or anything, but like you can put Bayz at third and be in know full well. Maybe he could play. He’s also played second before if that if that if something happens to Colt Keith or whatever the case is or Torres’s injury right now with his lower legs. We’ll see what happens, but I I think they’re going to use him as a utility player. Well, Raj, you’re the man. Thank you so much for joining this Saturday morning. Make sure you go follow Raj on Twitter and check out Tigers on Motorport and Motor City Metrics. Raj, have a great long weekend, man. Actually, you I mean, I guess you’re working Tigers. All the all these teams are playing. So, man, you’re one of the best in the business. Thank you. Thank you for the baby. Thanks on Caleb. Like I said, man, meaning to have you on the show, man. Hopefully, we’ll have you on soon, my friend. Yes, sir. Sounds good. As always, now Raj, we’ll see you soon. We’ll see you soon. Raj, he’s the goat, man. He’s the goat. The man. the man the goat knows his stuff. Castillo knows his stuff. Um, Clotsy, we got six minutes left here. We’re gonna I mean I I’m ready to fire through these. I’m not going to lie. We can go a little over. So, here’s the deal, chat. Here’s what we’re going to do. So, the odds are out for all the awards, right, for the NFL. Me and Claus decided to get in our bags a little bit, dig a little deep into these awards. We’re going to give our dark horses for each NFL award. MVP, offensive rookie of the year, defensive player of the year, offensive player of the year, and defensive rookie of the year. But we can’t pick a guy in the top five of best odds in the NFL. So, for example, it’s important to remember that it’s darkhorse. It’s darkhorse. So, if we get clipped here me saying, you know, one of these guys is going to is going to win this award, this is our dark horse. So, for example, if if we’re picking MVP, and we’ll start with this, Claus, let’s do our MVP. We can’t pick Lamar, Josh Alen, Mahomes, Joe Burrow, or Jaden Daniels because those were the top five in odds on FanDuel. So, Cla, I’ll start with mine. And this one makes me sick to my stomach because I hate this [ __ ] team. I hate this [ __ ] fan base. Yeah, honestly. No, he doesn’t even know who I’m going to say, chat. I mean, he has no clue. I think I know. I think I know. It makes me sick to my [ __ ] stomach, but I’m just going to I’m just going to They’re going to be probably the best team in football and he’s going to score a [ __ ] ton of touchdowns, man. And I just I was wrong. Thought you were going to say Caleb Williams. Are you Get the [ __ ] out of here, Clots. I forgot I forgot I forgot the nar I forgot the [ __ ] narrative with Jaylen Herz. Okay. I forgot about it. Disgusting that you would put that on me. That’s disgusting. However, listening to he I’m going with Jaylen Herz, man. He has the ability Oh, I guess the tush push is gone, but I guess it really doesn’t matter. He is still there. It’s still there. Oh, it’s still there. It’s still there. It’s still there. He has the ability to score to score 15 plus rushing touchdowns. clo close to I mean he the the numbers he’s going to put up it’s gonna be really good and they’re going to be the best team in football and it sadden means it saddens me to say because again I’ve had my run in with these fans I’ve had my run in with with the with this team I [ __ ] hate Philly man the fans suck the the team’s annoying even though they’re really good I’m going Jaylen Herz was number seven for best odds I’m going with Jayen Herz I think it’s good value there makes me sick to my stomach to do it. All right, that’s cute. And I I can appreciate the narrative of a lot of touchdowns, good team, because that applies to one of my top five, but here’s one who’s not going to be on a good team, okay? But he’s going to put himself on the map and he’s going to do it in a big way. And I don’t think that, again, we’re talking Darkhorse, okay, here’s a name, you’re going to hear it a lot, and you’re going to start hearing in top five quarterback conversations going into 2026 in that air. Drake mfing May. Drake May is going to have a season entering year two. Okay. He’s gonna be protected a little bit better than he was last year. Mike Ves is in the building and you still saw Drake May put on a show in some games in what was that [ __ ] hole of New England last year. Okay, I’m telling you Drake May to Stefon Diggs is going to be nicey nicy. This is the one that I really like. Okay, get to know the name. Love the name because Stefon Digs is going to be putting up numbers. Deario Douglas. Okay, Deario Douglas is going to be his guy. And then they got Trayvon coming out of the back field. They got a good defense going on there. I think the Patriots are going to be like a eight to 10 win team this year. Okay. I think they f they could easily be a wild card team. And the reason and the narrative will be because of Drake May. He was gonna be doing it with his feet. I think he could probably throw somewhere to like 3,800 to 4,000 yards, pick up uh touchdowns on the ground. But Drake May, that’s my first one. Number five. Number five, we were working our way up, but number five is Drake May. Well, here’s the thing, Clots, can I offer you this name right here. All right. Maybe potentially. Before Before we move on to We’ll move on to offensive player of the year next, but how do you feel about Matthew Stafford at plus 4,000? Oh, he’s he was my second. I’ll tell you my first. You want to know my first? Oh, yeah. Are we are we do I thought we were doing I I did just in case, but Okay. All right. Tell you guy Drake May was a good one. But CJ Stout CJ Stout I think goes nuclear this year. I think people are forgetting about him. I think when you look at there was that PFF ranking. Had him all the way at 14th overall. Let’s not forget this man plays in the AFC South. Okay. And they just got Jaden Higgins and Jaylen Nowell to go with Nico Collins. They got Joe Mixon who balled out last year, Brevin Jordan’s coming off injury. I know there’s concern with that offensive line, but they brought a new offensive line coach. Got my favorite offensive tackle in the draft and Arante Ursery. I think CJ Strad goes off this year. So Drake May would be the ultimate dark horse, but I think CJ Stra finishes in the top five. Like I’m I I bet on that just for the value of being like I’ll cash out, but I profited here. I like that one. That was that that that was CJ Stout was it was going to be Straoud, Herbert or Herz. And I know those aren’t technically dark horses, but in the criteria of this of this, you know, it they are. But offensive player of the year and Clots, I can’t believe this guy was this far down. I mean, it’s it’s it’s actually bananas to me that you can get Amanra St. Brown at plus 3,000. And for, you know, the people we couldn’t pick for offensive player of the year were Saquon, Jamar Chase, Jamar, uh, Jir Gibbs, Derrick Henry, and Nico Collins. So, anybody outside of that, Aman Rosbr at plus 3,000, which is the 11th best odds. This guy said three straight years with 100 catches in 1,000 yards. I mean, he is the ultimate ultimate safety blanket for Jared G. He’s going to put those numbers up again. He’s those touchdown numbers are going to be there. I honestly I I wouldn’t even call that a dark horse truly. I I for not just a homer pick. I think anybody that watches football and sees a Monra St. Brown 11th on this list is saying wow there’s some there’s some real value there. Like he has legitimate potential to win this award. So I guess you could call it my darkh horse offensive player of the year. Aman RA St. Brown. Can I give can I give like my Alman Raw but then also give like my Dark Horse too kind of like how do break you’ll like it. You’ll I know for a fact you’ll like it. Okay. My my Aman Raw he was number two on my list. Number one Puka Nakua. Puka Nakua I think is going to take that Cooper Cup role that they’ve had. Volume’s going to be there. Talent’s going to be there. Very simply well put. I don’t think you really have to argue that. Pretty much same thing Aman Rah. But Darkhor Caleb and me and you align on this and I know for a fact that we do. Lad Manki. Lad Manki. I’m telling you guys, especially as Detroit Lions fans, you are going to appreciate the year that Lad Makanki is about to have because I truly truly truly tr and this is narratives aligning. I think the Chargers are going to win the FC West. I think it’s going to be close, but I think Chargers, Chiefs, Broncos are all in very similar tier. I’m going with the best head coach outside of Andy Reed and better talent. I think the Chiefs are going to fall back for a year, but then they’ll go back. Think the Chargers win it. But when you look at Aman Ross St. Brown and how he plays, he’s a little bit more physical than Lad. But I’m talking the route running, it’s nearly identical. And the thing that Lad has going for him in a statist statistical standpoint that Amrad doesn’t, there’s no Jir Gibbs, there’s no Sam Leaporta, there’s no Jameson Williams. He’s going to be the focal part of that offense if it’s not Amarian Hampton. And I e he’s easily going to get 100 catches. I think he clears 1,200 yards. I think he could even get 13 to,400 yards if he goes balls out there with no injuries and a 10 touchdown guy. I think and I agree with you when we said it. He’s going to be there shouldn’t be a huge gap when you talk about Malik Neighbors, Brian Thomas, and Lad Maki. I understand they’re different wide receivers and like they’re the X’s, but that’s like, okay, you have to use that same argument when you talk about I know different draft classes, but that’s basically saying Aman Ross St. Brown will never be the level of CD Lamb or a a player of that caliber. I understand that Brian Thomas and Malik Neighbors are more gifted athletes, but football players who can get you a first down, who can get you a 30-yard gain, who can get you a touchdown? Lad Manki is going to give it to you more consistently. So, I love Vlad Maki. I think he’s in for a huge year. I I love that pick and I I’ve said this a million times. I play, you know, dynasty football. It’s so fun. I have Vlad Makoni on my team and I am I I I think you could make an argument that he’s probably a top five dynasty wide receiver out of that class. I know people are in love with Malik Neighbors rightfully so. As you should be. As you should be. As you should be. He’s a great wide receiver. But at career’s end, I think we’ll have Vlad Manki at the top of that draft class. Like you said, his route run he’s a route technician. He’s he’s Herbert’s favorite target and he he’s honest you like you said Amanra is a little bit more physical but I think Lad Manki is a little more athletic. Yeah that than Amanra St. Brown like Claude said if you appreciate the game of Amanra St. Brown you need to watch Vlad Maki. You will fall in love. He is a stud. He is a stud. I made a video about this and put it on TikTok and people didn’t like it. Mak Maki is my guy out of that draft class and he’s gonna be so good for so long. Do I think and again it’s dark horsehorse. That’s a great dark horse. Do I think he has a chance to win it this year? I do. Truly, I do. Because bro, if if they if you have that narrative of the Chargers win, and I know this is the whole dark horse part of it. Chargers win the AFC West, Justin Herbert’s balling out. Who’s going to be the guy benefiting off that the most? It’s going to be Lad Maki. You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. So, Darkhorse Valley, he could be a dude. He could be in 100 He could be 110 catch guy with with 1300 yards, 10 touchdowns easily. Easily. Easily. And making dudes look stupid, too. Yeah. I mean, what a guy. What a guy. Lad Mani. But let’s go to uh You want to go deep here? Or you want to go to the rookies? Let’s go rookies. Let’s go rookies. We’ll go rookies. We’ll go offensive rookie of the year. People we can’t choose from. This is in the top five of odds. Ashton Genty, Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, Tat uh Tet, and uh Tyler Shuck, which sure I mean, okay, now Clots, this one um I when he was 16th in odds, which is crazy to me. I mean, it’s this guy was drafted in the first round for a team that has been drooling for a wide receiver one. these past couple years. I’m going I don’t even know if you could call this a dark horse. It’s similar to a Monra. Like I have no clue why this guy’s so far down. I think you can. Matthew Golden is going and I again, [ __ ] the Packers. [ __ ] the Packards till it’s back. [ __ ] the Packers till it’s backwards. Matthew Golden is going to ball out in in Green Bay. I think with Jordan Love. He’s going to be the wide receiver one there. I think I they got talent, you know. They got Romeo Dobs. Dantavian Wixs had a bad season last year, but he can come back. Christian Watson, but Matthew Golden’s going to be the dude there. And I love the value there. 16th best odds. How is that even How is that even possible? That’s probably around like plus 4,000 something. Yeah. Like I I just think that’s too tough to pass up on. So, I’m going Matthew Golden as my dark horse offensive rookie of the year. I I love Matthew Golden because he and he I was very consistent with it. He was my favorite wide receiver in the draft class because I think he reminds me a lot of Garrett Wilson. The only reason why I’m I wouldn’t put him as my number one is I think there’s going to be at least for the first part of the season a struggle to find the identity in that Packers passing game because I think when you look at Matthew Golden and you look at a guy like Jaden Reed I think Matthew Golden’s better but the roles that they’re going to be playing like I think they just have a bunch of slot guys and the Romeo Dobs and Danteon Wix on the outside. So, between Christian Watson and all those other guys we just talked about, I think it’ll be a little bit later in the season when Matthew Golden gets going, but I still think he balls out there. I love Matthew Golden. Somebody Caleb, we’re going to stay in the AFC West here. We’re not going to stay with the Chargers or damn, we’re not going to the Chiefs. Somebody that I think is going to have an absolute year that people are not talking about enough is RJ Harvey for the Denver Broncos when you won. Let’s look at that Denver Broncos offensive line. People don’t talk about that enough. That’s a top five offensive line in football. Now, let’s look at the player that RJ Harvey is. He’s a three down back. Obviously, he’s not going to be on the field every play. But Shawn Payeyton, it was considered a reach because they took him in the second round, but he is going to utilize RJ Harvey through the air and on the ground. And he is a physical physical runner. He plays a lot like Deont. And when you look at they didn’t go out and get another wide receiver, they stuck with Courtland Sutton, acquired Evan Ingram. So when I see that this is going to be a run first football team that goes off of play action because they want an athletic tight end, a jump ball guy, and they got like guys like Mims and some other melee who they can use in the slot. But I think RJ Harvey behind that offensive line in that division in the AFC West, there’s going to be a lot of eyes watching that division. I think he easily clears a thousand yards and can be a 10 touchdown guy and then get some work out of the backfield catching the ball as well. But in fantasy, I’m taking RJ Harvey. He’s going to be somebody that people are going to let fall in the draft, but he is just going to be a force as long as he stays healthy. You look at what Shawn Payeyton has been able to do as running backs. When I look at RJ Harvey, I look at Mark Ingram, I’m like, “Oh, these are the exact same players. It’s just Mark Ingram played at Alabama and RJ. Harvey played at UCF.” But I see a Mark Ingram type of player and R.J. Harvey. Now, I do think I’ve said it a couple of times like late in the season towards the trade deadline, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they bring in Elvin Chimera, which will take away from Harvey’s production going to put more eyes there, but it’s going to keep him fresh for big plays. So, I think R.J. Harvey, that’s my number one sleeper right now. I I said this last year, I you could just tell Shawn Payeyton really wants an every down back. Like, he wants a guy he could rely on. And I fell in love with the idea of the Broncos going running back in round one, whether that was like Hampton or someone or Tayvon, someone like that. And yeah, I think that’s a great pick. You get Shawn Peyton, a guy that could play all three downs, he’s going to use him. He wanted that with Javvante Williams, couldn’t get it. So then he had to use this weird, you know, get his guy. Yeah, he got his guy and I think he’s going to ball out. I think that’s a good one. Um, class, we’re going to go defensive rookie of the year here. Yeah, I got one that’s just like I again like I we can’t pick from Abdul Carter, uh, Michael Williams or Jaylen Walker, Michael Williams, Travis Hunter, and Chamar Stewart. I’m just James Pierce at nine. I think that’s the ninth uh, highest odds. I’m not even going to use that one because it seems a little bit too easy. or whatever. This is a guy Clatau was really high on going into the draft and he’s on a good team. He’s going to play in some big games. He’s not just He didn’t just get drafted for speed. I’m going Maxwell Haristen from from Buffalo. He’s a stud, man. I I I watched, believe it or not. I mean, it was a tough watch, but I watched a fair amount of Kentucky football this year just from, you know, either betting on games or betting against him, whatever. Um I mean, he’s a baller. He’s a baller. He he he’s not just a freak athlete. He is he he’s sticky in man coverage. You know, he could play a decent he could play he has decent feel for zone, but I mean, he’s going to play those games, those big games against guys like Mahomes and and all those guys. And I’m going Maxwell Harrison. He’s going to shine with the bright lights. And he’s and he’s like marketable. He’s very charismatic. True. He’s u a good dude. So that’s my dark horse. Maxwell Harrison. Good Joe. Good Joe. I like that. He’s not on my list, but I I do think that’s a good for value. Absolutely. And I think he’s a perfect scheme for Buffalo. Talk about that Drake May uh narrative we were just saying. You got Tyreek and those boys in that division. Garrett Wilson. So, he’s going to play some tough comp even just with inside his own division. My number one though, sleeper, I don’t even think you can classify it as a sleeper, but I just think it’s for the value. It’s a home run hit. Mike Green, he’s going to be in Baltimore. They run a 34. He’s built to be in a 34. He’s got guys that are going to be getting sacks all around him. He’s going to be used in one-on- ons. I think Mike Green, the value there. He’s a first round guy. Everybody knows it. The character issues what dropped in the draft. And we’ve seen Baltimore through the past. Not every year, but they they’ll roll the dice a little bit when it comes to character. Okay, they don’t need some face of the franchise. That’s typical. I think people had character issues. What possible character issues could be saying about Lamar Jackson. They took Lamar Jackson, no problem. And Lamar Jackson has been built very well. Made a great FA face for himself. been able to kind of be brought into that light of like this is one of the best dudes in the NFL. So, I think being around those type of guys like Lamar, Mike Green’s going to fall right in line and I think he’s going to be somebody that’s just a problem. Simply a problem like most Ravens edge edge rushers are, but Mike Green is definitely my biggest sleeper right now, especially playing an edge rusher. I feel like that usually like unless there’s a Patane sauce gardener. Yeah. And I if you think Maxwell Harrison can be that, all power to you. I just think it’s usually a defensive line award. Yeah, it it’s easier, you know, it’s easier to keep stats obviously for for a defensive line. So, I mean, I like that. Feel like Baltimore got a got a steal in Mike Green um in round two. I like that pick. Defensive player of the year. So, top five players or the top five players we can’t pick, Micah, Miles Garrett, Hutch, TJ Watt, Max Crosby. This one’s tough because I don’t want to stray too far down on the list for this one. I have two guys. They’re close to the top five. My first one is Trey Hendrickson. I just feel like he’s going to want to go out there and ball out like he did last year these past couple years. I mean, a very frustrating off season for him. And I think he just wants to show Cincy, hey, this is how important I am to your football team. Give me the [ __ ] bag. I’m going to go out and get you 20 half sacks and and and win defensive player of the year. Um, so he was eighth on the list. And then I I can’t remember where where this next guy was. I think he might have been nine or 10. We saw a We saw a defensive back win it last year. I think we could see one win it this year. I’m gonna go Kyle Hamilton. Oh, slash. You know what? I’ll say this. Patane. Let me say this. I want to say Kyle Hamilton slash Brian Branch because I feel like both of those guys just bring so much to a defense where it can’t go unnoticed. like they just do so many th they stop the run. They play on the line of scrimmage. They they play a fantastic safety. Like those two guys I think are going to make such a big impact for their defenses and defenses that should be pretty good next year where it won’t go unnoticed in the NFL. And I think they’re going to be in the running both of them uh Kyle Hamilton and Brian Branch for defensive player of the year. And man, Kyle Hamilton is honestly one of the best players in all of football. Like he is he he’s that good. And same with Branch. Branch is a great player. He got put in some tough situations in his career so far. Having to switch back from, you know, slot to to safety. It’s not an easy thing to do, but um yeah, so kind of three guys, Trey Hendendrickson, Brian Branch, and Kyle Hamilton. I just think the idea of a safety winning defensive player of the year is the coolest [ __ ] thing ever. Yeah. It lets you know that that dude was like Yeah. [ __ ] elite for that year. Like to go out and do that. Yeah. I mean, and I think it I think that position has the most aura in all of football. I’ll say it. Safety’s the coolest position. I think Oh my god. I I’ve always said I think safeties, especially when I was playing in college, safeties are by far the craziest dude on any football team. Safeties and running backs. Because you can look at linebackers, yes. But then when you look at just like safeties, like you got to be able to cover dudes, too. So you got to be like fast, twitchy, and then you got to be able to lower the boom on tight ends, running backs. You got to take on blocks from offensive linemen and you’re a lot smaller than linebackers. So just pound for pound the most psychotic dudes on the football field most of the time. Yeah. Scary dudes. Scary dudes. Tell you about another scary dude and he’s literally This isn’t even a dark horse by by no means, but I think this guy will lead the NFL in sacks this year. And I people know that he’s good, but I don’t think people actually realize the freak that Will Anderson is. and Will Anderson. You’re gonna see like this year why they the Texans went, “Oh, we’re gonna take CJ Strad and we’re gonna trade right back up and get Will Anderson.” Because I think between those two guys, I already said what I said about CJ Stout. I think he’s going to finish top five in MVP voting. But when you look at the fact that Will Anderson had his season cut short, he’s going to have something like he’s going to, hey, I was I was a top five pick in the NFL draft. I’m going to have to show it this year. I’m going to have to because they everybody’s looking at Aiden Hutchinson. year years that he’s happened, he wants to be in that same tier, the Michael Parsons, and he can be easily, especially when you have Denil Hunter on the other side and Demo Ryan as your head coach. I think Will Anderson leads the NFL in sacks and if you’re doing that, there’s a very good chance that you could be winning defensive player of the year or be two or three in that um selection. So, Will Anderson for me, I think he’s like plus, 1700, I think, or somewhere around that. Insane value. Insane value. Let me ask you this. I I pondered this idea um cuz I think this guy was just drafted into such a good situation. Do you think Abdul Carter can be maybe in the conversation towards the end of the year? I mean he you have a Thibido who hasn’t really turned out to be the guy we thought he would but he’s still a good player opposite of him. Then you have Dexter Lawrence getting the pressure from the inside. You’re going to get a lot of free releases if you’re Abdul Carter. That sack number can be really really high. Do you think he could sneak into that conversation like as the year goes on? because I didn’t even see his odds on there. Like he might be plus 6,000 plus 7,000. No, because I think one of the names that you said before will be if he’s having that type of performance. And I think he should have I I hate that he got hurt last year, but dude, Dexter Lawrence is the best defensive tackle in the NFL right now. Jaylen Carter will be Jaylen Carter will be, but as we sit right now, Dexter Lawrence is the best defensive tackle in the NFL. Last year, he had eight sacks. Eight sacks. And no one talks about that. His season got cut short. He needs to be talked about like how Chris Jones is talked about. Like that like absolutely. Or at least Quinton Williams and Jaylen Carter. Like I think there’s so many people that will throw Jaylen Carter right right above him. It’s like dude like there’s no denying that Jaylen Carter is good. But Dexter Lawrence is in his prime right now and he’s playing like the best defensive tackle. I think he’s honestly he’s on that Chris Jones level. I understand Chris Jones has got the Super Bowl wins, defensive player of the year type of things, but when you just watch them, there’s games where it’s like, okay, I would probably take Dexter Lawrence this week over Chris Jones. And Chris Jones career-wise, you’re taking over because the accolades, but Dexter Lawrence is not talked about enough, especially the fact, think about now they have Kavon Tib, like you said, Brian Burns and now Abdul Carter. So, that D line is [ __ ] nasty. They have the best defensive line in the NFL. And people, oh, it’s the Giants. It’s like I understand it’s the Giants, but that Giants defensive line room is absolutely loaded. So, I just think Dexter Lawrence needs more respect. And if that defensive line’s going at the pace that they were last year, because again, last year they were a good defensive line. Dexter Lawrence should be talked about every Sunday at the end of games. Yeah. I mean, what what do you think about Thibido, though? Like, you see, what’s kind of his role there? Do you see maybe a a a trade maybe coming? Yeah. Oh, yeah. I think he’ll definitely be tra I think they should trade him for like obviously you could do draft revenue, but even just another offensive weapon. Yeah. Tight end maybe. Who’s who who’s their who’s their title? They need a tight end. It’s like Gransom or whatever is it? Kyle Gransom. Kyle Branson. Something like that. Sure. Your average. It’s nobody like Yeah. Be hooting and hollering about. Hey, send him to Pittsburgh. Get Pat Fri. That’d be tough. Or send him to Chicago. Go get KT. Yeah. Come on now. Jackson Dart have himself a weapon in the future. Well, Theo Johnson, I I beg Theo Johnson, that’s Oh, nice. Nice. Well, Cly, thanks for thanks for coming on this morning. I mean, it’s always it’s always a pleasure in chat. Thank you for tuning in. Another Saturday mornings with Crunch Time. Hope everybody enjoys your long weekend, Memorial Weekend. Um, I mean, I wish I was half as brave as the people that decided to, you know, serve our country and, um, you know, just know why you’re getting these days off work, uh, for Memorial Weekend. So, thank you everybody for tuning in. Um, I I will not be here next Saturday. Um, I’m not sure if Mike’s going to have one of the boys on, but again, thank you for tuning in. Follow us on all of our socials. Follow me and clots um on our stream. Like the stream. Like the stream. Have a good weekend, everybody. Peace. Stay safe out there.
Caleb Czarnik and Lukas Klotz discuss trending Detroit Lions, Tigers and Pistons rumors, news and updates
Episode 18
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1 comment
Klotzy is alive!