Detroit Pistons, Red Wings winning, Lions lose to Rams, Tigers deciding what to do with Tarik Skubal
>> OH GOOD EVENING. >> WELCOME TO SPORTS. >> SUNDAY NIGHT. >> ARE WE LIVE? YEAH. WOW. LET’S DO IT LIVE. [LAUGHTER] >> I’M SO EXCITED. ALONGSIDE THESE TWO FINE GENTLEMEN, I AM JENNIFER HAMMOND. DAN MILLER IS OUT IN LOS ANGELES WITH THE RAMS. WE’RE GOING TO GET ALL OF HIS POSTGAME COVERAGE. POOR DAN PLENTY TO GET TO TONIGHT, INCLUDING THE RED HOT WINGS WHO WENT ON THE ROAD TO PROVE THEIR WORTH. AND THEY DID JUST THAT. AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN THAT HAS A BASKETBALL TEAM CURRENTLY ON THE RISE IN A FOOTBALL PROGRAM IN A FREE FALL. BUT WE BEGIN WITH THE LIONS, WHO TRAVELED 2296 MILES IN WEEK 15 HOPING TO FIND THEY GAVE. >> UP IN THE SECOND HALF. >> PRETTY MUCH. >> HEY NOW. >> AND ON THE PLUS SIDE OF THE PLAYOFF PERCENTAGES BY THE END OF THE DAY, TAKING ON MATTHEW STAFFORD AND THE RAMS IN A CRITICAL NFC BATTLE THAT MANY PREDICTED TO BE AN OFFENSIVE SHOOTOUT. AND GUESS WHAT? IT WAS. IT WAS IT WAS PICK IT UP HERE. AFTER THE LIONS MISSED A FIELD GOAL IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. IN THE FIRST QUARTER, THE RAMS WENT TO WORK. BUT THE DEFENSE CAME UP HUGE. MATTHEW STAFFORD INTERCEPTED BY AIDAN HUTCHINSON WHO TAKES OFF THE OTHER WAY. HE GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE RAMS 17 YARD LINE. HE NEEDED SOME OXYGEN AFTER THAT. ON THE NEXT PLAY JARED GOFF FIRES ONE TO AMON-RA SAINT BROWN 17 YARD SCORE. AND LIONS JUMP ON TOP, SEVEN ZERO. MOVE TO THE SECOND QUARTER DETROIT UP TEN SEVEN, BUT THE RAMS OFFENSE DRIVES RIGHT DOWN THE FIELD. KYREN WILLIAMS IN FROM A YARD OUT TO GIVE L.A. THE 1410 LEAD, BUT THE LIONS ANSWERED RIGHT AWAY. A 52 YARD CATCH BY SAINT BROWN SETS UP THIS INTO THE END ZONE. EIGHT YARD TOUCHDOWN TO SAINT, HIS SECOND OF THE DAY PUT THE LIONS ON TOP 1714. THEN LATE IN THE HALF, LIONS WENT FOR IT ON FOURTH AND ONE FROM THEIR OWN 29. AND GUESS WHO SAINT BROWN AGAIN. GAIN OF 14 TO NUMBER 14. THEN FIVE PLAYS LATER GOFF GOES DEEP AND THERE’S NUMBER ONE IN THE BACK OF THE END ZONE. HAULS IT IN FROM 31 YARDS OUT. DETROIT LED 2417 AT THE BREAK. THIRD QUARTER RAMS GOT WITHIN FOUR, THEN CASHED IN AGAIN ON OFFENSE. WHEN STAFFORD GOES DEEP, COLBY PARKINSON HAULS IT IN FOR A 26 YARD TD THAT PUT THE RAMS BACK IN FRONT, 2724. LIONS LOOK TO ANSWER AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME THE RAMS DEFENSE COMES UP BIG COLBY TURNER WITH A HUGE SACK ON GOFF. AND THE LIONS WENT THREE AND OUT. MEANWHILE L.A. ADDING TO THEIR LEAD AS BLAKE CORUM TAKES IT FROM OUTSIDE GOES IN FROM 11 YARDS OUT L.A. UP TEN. THEN TO THE FOURTH QUARTER. LIONS FINALLY GET SOME OFFENSE GOING. CUT THE LEAD TO SEVEN. BUT WHEN THEY NEEDED A STOP, THE DEFENSE JUST COULDN’T GET ONE. STAFFORD HOOKS UP WITH PARKINSON, THIS TIME FOR ANOTHER 11 YARD SCORE THAT PUT THE RAMS ON TOP. 14 LIONS STILL HAD A CHANCE, THOUGH. DAVID MONTGOMERY FIGHTING HIS WAY IN FROM ONE YARD OUT WITH 242 LEFT, CUTTING THE LEAD TO SEVEN, BUT THE DEFENSE COULD NOT GET THEM BACK THE BALL. WITH AS MUCH TIME AS THE RAMS WERE ABLE TO RUN OFF THE CLOCK, AND THEY WIN IT 4134, DETROIT FALLING TO EIGHT AND SIX ON THE YEAR. DAN MILLER HAS THE POSTGAME STORY FROM LOS ANGELES. >> IT WAS A FAST START FOR THE LIONS, BUT A SLOW START TO THE SECOND HALF ULTIMATELY SPELLED THE DIFFERENCE AS THE RAMS GOT THE VICTORY AND PUT THE LIONS IN A TOUGH SPOT HEADING FORWARD. >> STAFFORD PLAYED PLAYED A REALLY HIGH LEVEL, WHICH WE KNEW WE WOULD IF WE WE COULDN’T DISRUPT HER AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, STOP THE RUN. WE WEREN’T ABLE TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, THEY THEY WERE ABLE TO BREAK THROUGH THERE AND GRIND IT OUT, WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT ON US. AND THIRD QUARTER, WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE BLEEDING OFFENSIVELY. AND WE WEREN’T. WE NEVER GOT OUR RUN GAME GOING. YOU KNOW I THOUGHT GOFF I THOUGHT SHAPE AND JAMAL PLAYED THE TAILS OFF MAN I THOUGHT THEY WERE PLAYED A REALLY HIGH LEVEL. GAVE US A CHANCE. BUT WE JUST WEREN’T ABLE TO OVERCOME. >> WE GOT TO DO BETTER. YOU KNOW WE GOT TO FINISH. THAT’S THAT’S THE MAIN THING. JUST GET THE WIN. YOU KNOW IT WAS A TOUGH ONE. LIKE YOU SAID. WE JUST GOT TO COME OUT WITH THE WIN. >> FIRST HALF WE MADE YOU KNOW WE MADE BIG PLAYS PLAYS WHEN WE NEEDED HIM. AND LIKE I SAID WE PLAYED A TEAM LIKE THAT. YOU JUST GOT TO MAKE MORE PLAYS. YOU THINK YOU MADE ENOUGH UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THEY START MAKING EVEN MORE. SO YOU JUST GOT TO WE JUST GOT TO BE BETTER. I GOT TO BE BETTER. >> THIS GAME TURNED EARLY IN THE THIRD QUARTER WHEN THE LIONS HAD THREE CONSECUTIVE THREE AND OUTS, AND THE RAMS OFFENSE GOT HOT, ALLOWING THEM TO COME FROM BEHIND, TAKE THE LEAD, WHICH THEY DID NOT GIVE UP. >> WE WERE BEATING OURSELVES. HONESTLY. IT WAS A GOOD GAME. BUT THEN THEY DID THEIR THING, THEY EXECUTED. BUT THERE’S A LOT OF STUFF WE BEAT OURSELVES ON. >> SO YOU’RE STILL ALIVE, BUT THIS CERTAINLY PUTS YOU IN A TOUGH SPOT WITH THREE GAMES TO GO. HOW DO YOU APPROACH THOSE FINAL THREE WEEKS? >> JUST GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW THAT’S THE ONLY GOAL WENT OUT. >> WE GOT A GREAT MAN. WE BOUNCE BACK AFTER THINGS LIKE THIS AND GOT A HOME GAME IN FRONT OF OUR FANS. EXPECT THEM TO BRING IT FOR US AND FIND A WAY TO WIN THAT ONE AND GO TO THE NEXT. AND YOU KNOW, IT’D BE NOTHING BETTER THAN ENTERING THE PLAYOFFS OFF A THREE GAME WIN STREAK. AND THAT’S GOT TO BE THE GOAL. BUT AGAIN, IN ORDER TO WIN THREE, YOU GOTTA WIN ONE. AND SO WE GOTTA FOCUS ON THAT. I BELIEVE IN THE GUYS ON THIS TEAM, THE CHARACTER OF THE PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM, OUR CAPTAINS, THE CORE OF IT. AND THERE AGAIN, WE WE WE NEEDED TO PLAY A CLOSE TO PERFECT GAME. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PLAY PERFECT ENOUGH. ALL RIGHT. WE MADE TOO MANY ERRORS AGAINST THAT TEAM WHICH SOME OTHER TEAMS WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH. IT’S NOT AGAINST THAT TEAM. SO I KNOW WE CAN DO IT. I MEAN THESE PLAYERS KNOW WE CAN DO IT. YOU GO BACK TO WORK, MAN. YOU KNOW, I DON’T BELIEVE FOR ONE SECOND ANYBODY’S LOST CONFIDENCE. SO WE GOT THREE TO GO HERE. AND YOU KNOW WE DON’T CONTROL OUR OWN DESTINY. BUT BUT WE NEED TO WIN THESE THREE. AND IT STARTS WITH PITTSBURGH AT HOME. >> IT’S PRETTY SIMPLE WHERE THE LIONS HAVE TO GO FROM HERE. IT SEEMS LIKE 11 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. THAT MEANS WINNING THEIR FINAL THREE GAMES. ASK ANYBODY IN THE LOCKER ROOM WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO FROM HERE. THEY SIMPLY SAY WIN WITH THE LIONS AT SOFI STADIUM. I’M DAN MILLER. WE’LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO. >> ALL RIGHT. WE NEED TO GET DAN AN ANTIFRAGILE SWEATSHIRT I THINK, HERE PRETTY SOON. SO HERE’S A LOOK AT THE UPDATED NFC NORTH STANDINGS AFTER TODAY’S GAME. THE CHICAGO BEARS IN FIRST PLACE IN THE DIVISION AT TEN AND FOUR. AFTER THE PACKERS LOST TO THE BRONCOS, THEY FALL TO SECOND AT NINE FOUR AND ONE IN YOUR LIONS ARE CURRENTLY OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS WITH A RECORD OF EIGHT AND SIX. THE VIKINGS PLAYING RIGHT NOW AGAINST THE COWBOYS AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION. LET’S GET TO OUR FORMAL INTRODUCTIONS. WILL BURCHFIELD FROM 97 ONE THE TICKET AND BOB WYNORSKI FROM 97 ONE THE TICKET, AS WELL. >> AS. >> JOJO AS WELL AS THE DETROIT NEWS. LET’S JUST CUT TO THE CHASE HERE. THE THIRD QUARTER REALLY WAS THE UNDOING FOR THIS LIONS TEAM. THEIR OFFENSE, WE KNEW THEY’D HAVE TO CARRY THEM WELL. IT FELT LIKE A GAME GOING IN LIKE THE BALTIMORE RAVENS, ONE WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO OUTSCORE THEM, SCORE ON EVERY SINGLE POSSESSION. THEY WEREN’T ABLE TO DO THAT AGAINST THE RAMS. HOW WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF CONCERN RIGHT NOW FOR THIS TEAM? >> I MEAN, I THINK WE LEARNED TODAY THAT THIS TEAM IS WHO WE THOUGHT IT WAS. AND WE’VE KIND OF KNOWN THAT THEY’RE POSSIBLY A FATALLY FLAWED TEAM. NOW FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO MONTHS. THIS IS NOW A FOUR AND FIVE STRETCH SINCE THEY’RE FOUR AND ONE START AND THEIR FLAWS ON OFFENSE IN THE TRENCHES AND ON DEFENSE IN THE TRENCHES AND NOW IN THE BACK END ARE REAL. AND THEY GET EXPOSED AGAINST BIG TIME OPPONENTS LIKE THE RAMS. AND IT WASN’T JUST THE THIRD QUARTER. IT WAS THE BULK OF THE SECOND HALF DEFENSIVELY AND OFFENSIVELY FOR THE RAMS. FIRST FIVE DRIVES 254 YARDS, 8.2 YARDS PER PLAY. LIONS FIRST FIVE DRIVES. THIS IS IN THE SECOND HALF 97 YARDS 3.3 YARDS PER PLAY. THEY WERE JUST OUTCLASSED UP AND DOWN THE FIELD FOR THE FINAL 30 MINUTES OF THAT GAME. >> YEAH, AND YOU WANT TO JUST LOOK AT THAT GAME AND SAY OH THEIR DEFENSE IS SO BIG. THEY CAN’T STOP ANYBODY. THEY CAN’T KEEP UP. BUT IT REALLY WAS THE OFFENSE IN THE THIRD QUARTER THAT REALLY LOST IT FOR THEM. I MEAN THEY WERE GOING TOE TO TOE AND THEY HAD HOW MANY CONSECUTIVE THREE AND OUTS. AND THEY WERE OUTGAINED IN THE THIRD QUARTER 179 YARDS TO FIVE. AND GARY, OBVIOUSLY THE DEFENSE DIDN’T DO WELL EITHER. BUT YOU KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A SHOOTOUT IN THE OFFENSE JUST. AND RIGHT THERE YOU SEE GOFF THE OFFENSIVE LINE HE WAS UNDER EARLY ON, HE WAS UNDER PRESSURE ON 67% OF HIS DROPBACKS EARLY ON. >> IT REALLY FEELS LIKE SO OFTEN WHEN WE’VE LOOKED AT A LOSS, IS THERE A PLAY THERE WILL THAT CATCHES YOUR EYE? >> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT PLAY THAT WE JUST WATCHED ON THIRD AND SEVEN ENCAPSULATES EVERYTHING THAT WENT WRONG FOR THE OFFENSE TODAY, AND THAT HAS HELD THEM BACK FOR MOST OF THIS SEASON. GOFF DROPS BACK AND HE’S TRYING TO GET THROUGH HIS PROGRESSIONS. AND THE INTERIOR PROTECTION BREAKS DOWN. AND HE TRIES FORCING TO THROW TO SAINT BROWN WHO WAS DOUBLE COVERAGE. AND EVEN IF THAT BALL MAKES IT THROUGH TO HIM, IT’S PROBABLY BEING KNOCKED DOWN OR PICKED OFF. AND IN THE PROCESS, HE MISSES ZYLSTRA, WHO IS WIDE OPEN BECAUSE HE DOESN’T HAVE TIME TO GET TO THAT PROGRESSION. AND IT WAS REMINISCENT OF ONE OF THE MOST COSTLY PLAYS AGAINST THE EAGLES ON FOURTH AND GOAL FROM THE 3 OR 4 YARD LINE, WHERE GOFF HAD BROCK WRIGHT WIDE OPEN COMING ACROSS THE GOAL LINE, COULDN’T FIND HIM IN HIS PROGRESSION BECAUSE THE PROTECTION BROKE DOWN UP THE MIDDLE AND FORCED AN INCOMPLETE PASS TO SAINT BROWN, AND UNTIL OR UNLESS THEY CAN SOLVE THE LEAKY INTERIOR OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE, THEY JUST ARE WHO THEY ARE OFFENSIVELY. >> AND IT ALSO GOES BEYOND THAT TOO, BECAUSE WE KEEP TALKING AGAIN ABOUT ALL THE PIECES MISSING ON DEFENSE. AND YOU LOOK AT THAT GAME. OH THE LIONS IS WIDE OPEN OFFENSE. THEY REALLY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH OFFENSIVE WEAPONS RIGHT NOW. TWO RECEIVERS CAUGHT 20 OF THE PASSES RIGHT I’M ON ROSS BROWN AND JAMISON WILLIAMS WHO WERE. >> GREAT TERRIFIC. >> GREAT KALIF RAYMOND WAS THE ONLY OTHER ONE WHO CAUGHT ONE BESIDES JAHMYR GIBBS. AND THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT. LAPORTA OUT AND AND BROCK WRIGHT OUT. BUT THEY COULDN’T RUN THE BALL. AND THAT’S WHERE IT FELL APART WHEN THEY RAN IT A LITTLE BIT EARLY ON. BUT THEY COULD NOT SUSTAIN IT. AND ONCE THAT HAPPENED THEY WERE COOKED. >> AND THOSE ARE REALLY THE THINGS I MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A DAN CAMPBELL TEAM, WHAT WE’VE SEEN THESE PAST FEW YEARS HAS THE BREAD AND BUTTER HAS BEEN RUN THE BALL AND STOP THE RUN. AND ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE TODAY, THEY JUST HAD NO ANSWER FOR I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY STAFFORD IS A MAGICIAN AT TIMES, MANY TIMES. BUT THEY RAN THE BALL FOR 159 YARDS AGAINST THE INTERIOR OF A DEFENSIVE LINE. THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SO GOOD. TOP FIVE AT STOPPING THE RUN. WHERE HAVE THE BREAKDOWNS COME FROM IN YOUR OPINION? >> YEAH, I DON’T THINK WE HEARD FROM MCNEIL ENOUGH. NO. AND LOOK, THAT’S A GUY WHO SIGNED A $97 MILLION CONTRACT LAST YEAR. AND WHEN YOU’RE PAID LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE TO PRODUCE WEEK IN, WEEK OUT. I KNOW IT WAS HARD TO NOTICE HIM TODAY, AND I WOULD SAY THE SAME THING FOR THEIR FIRST ROUND PICK, TYLER WILLIAMS. AND PROBABLY THE SAME THING FOR D.J. READER. AND LOOK, IT’S TOUGH LIVING THERE IN THE TRENCHES. D.J. READER IS FACING DOUBLE TEAMS ON ALMOST EVERY SNAP, BUT BETWEEN THE THREE OF THOSE GUYS, THEY HAVE TO MAKE MORE OF AN IMPACT AND FORM MORE OF A WALL AGAINST THE RUN. AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALL, STAYING IN THE TRENCHES. MAYBE MAHOGANY IS BACK NEXT WEEK AND MAYBE, MAYBE THAT HELPS PLUG ONE HOLE ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE. I THOUGHT THEY LEANED A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH ON TRISTAN COLOGNE TODAY. I WOULD HAVE GIVEN MILES FRAZIER MORE OF A RUN. I THOUGHT HE ACTUALLY RUN BLOCKED PRETTY WELL LAST WEEK WHEN HE HAD THE CHANCE. I THOUGHT COLOGNE WAS GUILTY OF A NUMBER OF BREAKDOWNS TODAY, ESPECIALLY IN THE SECOND HALF. THERE IN THOSE THREE AND OUTS, HE GOT BEAT BY KOBIE TURNER ON BACK TO BACK PLAYS ON ONE OF THOSE THREE AND OUTS THAT KILLED ONE DRIVE. AND I THOUGHT AT THAT POINT MAYBE GIVE THE ROOKIE WHO HAS A HIGHER CEILING MORE OF A CHANCE. >> AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT’S WHERE IT ALL STARTS WITH THAT OFFENSIVE LINE. AND THEY DON’T HAVE THE KIND OF TIME THEY NEED PER A CAMP TO GET THESE GUYS ON THE SAME PAGE. BOB, CAN THEY DO IT WITH JUST THREE GAMES LEFT? DO YOU SEE AN ANSWER? >> WHAT THEY ARE NOW IS WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO BE, BECAUSE I DON’T THINK ANYBODY ELSE IS COMING BACK ON DEFENSE OR ON OFFENSE. THE LIONS AVERAGED 3.5 YARDS PER CARRY, THE RAMS 5.5 YARDS PER CARRY. THAT IS THE COMPLETE AND TOTAL DIFFERENCE. AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS WHO LIKE YOU CAN SAY OH NOW THEY’RE REALLY URGENT. NOW THE YOU CAN’T LOSE ANOTHER GAME. NOW THEY’RE REALLY IN. THERE’S NOT ANY MORE LEVEL OF URGENCY THEY CAN REACH. THIS I THINK IS I THOUGHT THEY PLAYED HARD. I THOUGHT THEY THEY TOOK SOME CHANCES. CAMPBELL WITH THE FOURTH AND ONE FROM THE 29, I LIKED THAT ULTIMATELY. AND THEY JUST DON’T HAVE ENOUGH PIECES RIGHT NOW. AND YOU CALLED IT A FATAL FLAW. IT IS A FATAL FLAW. >> I THINK TODAY ESPECIALLY, YOU FELT THE ABSENCES OF KIRBY JOSEPH AND BRIAN BRANCH ACUTELY IN THE BACK END, LIKE THERE WAS ONE PLAY, FOURTH AND ONE IN THE THIRD QUARTER WHERE BLAKE CORUM TAKES THE BALL AND ERIC HOWLETT IS UNBLOCKED INTO THE BACKFIELD, HAS A CHANCE TO STOP CORUM FOR A LOSS. AND BRIAN BRANCH, I PROMISE YOU, MAKES THAT PLAY. TEN TIMES OUT OF NINE. CORUM BOUNCES OFF. HOWLETT GETS THE FIRST DOWN THE CONTROVERSIAL TOUCHDOWN TO PARKINSON, WHICH LET’S BE HONEST, WAS NOT A TOUCHDOWN. >> THAT WAS BIZARRE. >> DANIEL THOMAS HAS PRETTY GOOD COVERAGE. BUT IF THAT’S KIRBY JOSEPH DOES HE MAKE THAT PLAY. HE MIGHT. AND SO IT’S THOSE MARGINS. THOSE INCHES THE LIONS ARE MISSING RIGHT NOW I WILL SAY THIS. THE OUTLOOK FOR THIS TEAM FROM A PLAYOFF PERSPECTIVE REALLY HASN’T CHANGED. >> BASED ON RIGHT. IT WENT FROM 55 TO 41. >> YEAH. AND REALISTICALLY THEY WERE ALWAYS GOING TO NEED HELP FROM THE PACKERS OR THE NINERS TO BEAT THE BROWNS OR THE BEARS. AND THEY WERE ALWAYS GOING TO NEED TO GO THREE ZERO DOWN THE STRETCH. SO IF THEY CAN GO THREE AND ZERO AND THEY CAN GET A LOSS FROM THE BEARS, THEY’RE PROBABLY STILL IN. I JUST DON’T KNOW IF THEIR CEILING, ONCE THEY GET THERE, IS WHAT IT HAS BEEN IN. >> YEARS PAST. >> THIS WAS LIKE A LUXURY GAME. IF THEY WON THIS, NOBODY SEEMED TO EXPECT IT. IF THEY WON THIS, THEY’D BE IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT THEY’D STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. YEAH, AND THEY’RE NOT ELIMINATED. I MEAN, WHAT DID YOU SAY? 40%. I’VE SEEN IT ANYWHERE. >> IT’S AROUND. >> 40, RIGHT? >> AROUND 41% RIGHT NOW. WENT FROM 55 TO 41. >> THAT MEANS GOING THREE AND OH THE REST OF THE WAY. >> STEELERS AT VIKINGS AND THEN AT CHICAGO. >> THEY’RE ALL WINNABLE. THEY ARE WINNABLE. >> THAT ONE AGAINST CHICAGO LOOMS VERY. >> IT WON’T BE COLD THERE AT ALL THOUGH. DON’T WORRY ABOUT THAT. >> NO NO. [LAUGHTER] >> WE’RE TAKING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD. >> NO WE’RE NOT. >> PACK YOUR GLOVES. OH YEAH WE’RE GOING TO BE OUTSIDE. YOU’RE GOING TO BE SHIVERING. ALL RIGHT. WE’RE GOING TO SHIFT GEARS RIGHT NOW TO MICHIGAN FOOTBALL, WHICH IT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY A BIZARRE A TRAGIC. >> TAKE IT AWAY. YEAH. >> YEAH I’LL TAKE IT FROM HERE. >> CRAZY CRAZY WEEK. FROM A FOOTBALL PERSPECTIVE. IT’S THE WHAT COMES NEXT. NOW I GUESS THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON THE LEGAL PROCESS. WILL WILL PLAY ITSELF OUT WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THESE COACHES HERE. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A FAVORITE AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST. AND THE GUY OUT AT ASU, KENNY DILLINGHAM. WELL, THE FRONTRUNNER PERHAPS? >> WELL, NO, I THINK THE FRONTRUNNER IS STILL KALEN DEBOER FOR ALABAMA. AND HE IS. IF THEY CAN DO IT, THE SAFEST PICK, A VETERAN COACH WHO HAS MADE IT TO A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IS AT ALABAMA. AND TRUTHFULLY, ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, HE WOULD BE THE GUY I WOULD GET. THERE IS SOME QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN GET YOU. MICHIGAN FANS NEED TO ROOT FOR ALABAMA TO LOSE TO OKLAHOMA FRIDAY NIGHT IF THIS IS STILL OPEN THEM. >> BECAUSE THEY WANT. >> TO BORE, AND IF THEY AND I DO THINK THEY WANT TO BORE. BUT I DO THINK DILLINGHAM DILLY DILLY IS. >> DILLY DILLY. >> IS A IS A IS A VERY INTERESTING I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S OPTION TWO OR WHOEVER’S AVAILABLE. YOUNG 35 YEARS OLD, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT TOO YOUNG. THIS MICHIGAN FOOTBALL PROGRAM RIGHT NOW. AND IT’S A TRAGEDY WITH SHARON MOORE AND IT WENT ASTRAY AND, YOU KNOW, GET HIS LIFE TOGETHER. WE’LL REMOVE THAT FROM THE FOOTBALL ASPECT. FROM THE FOOTBALL ASPECT. THEY STILL HAVE A LOT GOING FOR THEM. AND IT IS STILL AN ATTRACTIVE JOB FOR SOMEBODY. NOW THERE’S GOING TO BE SOME TIME THAT HAS YOU HAVE TO DELAY A BIT TO SEE. DILLINGHAM SAID HE’S NOT LOOKING AT ANYTHING ELSE, BUT THEY HAVE A BALL GAME, BOWL GAME COMING UP. AND JUDD FISH FROM WASHINGTON JUST PLAYED THEIR BOWL GAME. AND THEY ALL KEEP RELEASING THE SAME SORT OF STATEMENT. I’M NOT LOOKING FOR ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITY OUTSIDE. I LOVE IT HERE. FILL IN THE BLANK. >> WE’VE HEARD THAT BEFORE. >> BUT YOU HAVE TO SAY THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH SAYING THAT. >> ALL RIGHT, LET’S JUST END ALSO AS WELL. WE GET ONE FROM TUSCALOOSA AS WELL. THAT CAME FROM DEBOER SAYING THAT HE IS VERY HAPPY WITH HIS SITUATION IN ALABAMA. YOU SEE THE FULL STATEMENT THERE. LONG OF LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS, IS THAT HE’S GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT HE IS GOING TO FOCUS ON HIS OTHER ON HIS OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AT THIS POINT IN TIME. HE’S GOT AN INCREDIBLE TEAM THERE. THEY’VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY COMING UP IN THE BOWL GAME, ALL OF THAT. SO WE’RE KIND OF GETTING LIKE YOU SAID, BOB, THAT THAT WHOLE SITUATION FROM ALL OF THESE COACHES SAYING, WE’VE GOT OTHER THINGS TO FOCUS ON. LET ME ASK YOU THIS, THOUGH. LET’S KIND OF FINE TUNE THIS DOWN TO WARDE MANUEL AND SOME NOW OF THE THINGS THAT ARE FALLING AT HIS FEET, ALL OF THE THINGS, I SUPPOSE, THAT HAVE FALLEN AT HIS FEET. DOES HE DESERVE TO BE THE GUY TO MAKE THIS DECISION? >> NO. >> WELL GO AHEAD. >> NO. HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY JUSTIFY WARDE MANUEL MAKING THIS DECISION, GIVEN THE COMPLETE LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL THAT HAS COVERED THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT UNDER HIS WATCH? AND I WOULD JUST ADD THIS, HE LEFT UCONN IN A SIMILAR STATE THAT MICHIGAN FINDS ITSELF IN NOW, HE LEFT UCONN WITH A BASKETBALL COACH AND KEVIN OLLIE, WHO LEFT THAT PROGRAM AND THAT SCHOOL IN DISARRAY AND IN DISGRACE AND SUNK THAT TEAM WITH ALL SORTS OF RECRUITING VIOLATIONS. AND IF I’M A HEAD COACH RIGHT NOW AT A SCHOOL THAT IS PAYING ME WELL WITH A TEAM THAT IS WINNING AND WITH A JOB THAT IS STABLE, I WOULDN’T WANT TO WALK INTO THIS MESS. I GET THE CACHET AND I GET THE SALARY, AND I GET THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRESTIGE THAT WOJ IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT AND THE BLOCK. AND IT ALSO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BLOW UP IN YOUR FACE AND SHORT CIRCUIT YOUR CAREER. AND I JUST THINK THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW, BEGINNING WITH WARDE MANUEL AS THE AD. THAT IS, TURN OFF A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FROM EVEN STEPPING INTO OR CONSIDERING THAT. >> I MEAN, THAT IS AN ISSUE, BUT YOU’RE STEPPING INTO A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN DO NOTHING BUT BE BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS REGIME. AND TO ME, I ACTUALLY, IF I WAS A COACH WHO THERE’S ACTUALLY NOT THAT MUCH PRESSURE ON YOU. YOU’RE NOT TAKING OVER FOR JIM HARBAUGH. YES. AND PEOPLE WILL LISTEN TO EVERYTHING YOU SAY BECAUSE THEY WANT IT BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY. AND WE NEED TO SEE SOME ADULTS IN THE ROOM. AND WARDE MANUEL IS NOT HANDLED A LOT OF THIS WELL AT ALL. SO IF HE’S NOT THE AD, THEN REMOVE HIM AND SOMEBODY ELSE AND FIGURE OUT WHO’S GOING TO MAKE THE NEXT HIRE. BUT THERE’S OTHER PEOPLE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS THERE TOO. AND I, I LOOK AT THE REGIONS AND I LOOK AT OTHER PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION THAT ARE NOT MAKING IT EASY, BUT I STILL THINK THEY WILL PROBABLY GET A PRETTY A VERY GOOD COACH. >> FOR NOW. IT’S A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. >> THERE YOU GO. >> WHO’S THERE? >> WHO’S THERE? DUSTY MAY, WHO’S THERE? I THINK KENNY DILLINGHAM COULD BE THERE. DUSTY. MAY WE. RIGHT. >> ALL RIGHT. >> WE’VE GOT. >> YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO STAY A LITTLE BIT. >> NOPE NOPE, NOPE. >> I’M GONE. WE’RE DONE. >> YOU DON’T KNOW. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO TO YOUR HAPPY HOUR. YOU’RE 1130. [LAUGHTER] >> HAPPY HOUR. HAPPY HOUR. [LAUGHTER] 1130. >> WE’VE GOT SOME BILLS TO PAY. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME OUT. COMING BACK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BREAK, WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE RED WINGS. I KNOW WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS. >> TUESDAY NIGHT BABY. >> WE’VE GOT A BIG GAME. THE FOX TWO JINX IS BACK. >> YOU KNOW. >> >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A POINTS PERSPECTIVE, IT’S IT’S A REALLY GOOD TRIP FOR US. HAD TO WIN IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO FINISH SIX GAMES IN I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS TEN NIGHTS WITH A SHUTOUT. THAT’S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF. STARTED TRAINING CAMP THREE MONTHS AGO AND WE TALKED ABOUT BEING MENTALLY STRONGER, PHYSICALLY STRONGER AND IMPROVING IN GAME MANAGEMENT. I THOUGHT WE SAW ALL THREE OF THOSE ELEMENTS. >> AND WELCOME BACK TO THE ROUND TABLE ON THIS SUNDAY NIGHT WITH WOJO AND BIRCH. AND WE’VE SEEN THE RED WINGS PLAYING SOME PRETTY DARN GOOD HOCKEY AS OF LATE FOR ONE ON ONE ON THAT TRIP. >> FIRST PLACE RED WING, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> AND I THINK A LOT OF. >> PEOPLE. >> BEFORE THEY WENT OUT, WEST SAID, THIS IS GOING TO BE A TRIP THAT’S GOING TO TELL US SOMETHING. WHAT DID IT TELL YOU WILL? >> LOOK, IT TOLD ME THAT ALEX DEBRINCAT DESERVES MORE SHINE THAN HE’S RECEIVED SO FAR THIS SEASON. HE LEADS THIS TEAM IN GOALS. HE LEADS HIS TEAM IN POINTS. HE IS EIGHTH IN THE NHL IN GOALS SO FAR. AND HE’S TIED WITH GUYS LIKE MCDAVID AND BRANDON HAGEL AND SETH JARVIS AND MATT BOLDY. LIKE, THESE ARE GUYS WHO WILL PLAY FOR TEAM CANADA AND TEAM USA AT THE OLYMPICS, AND DEBRINCAT IS NOW MAKING A CASE FOR HIMSELF TO BE ON TEAM USA. I THOUGHT YESTERDAY IN HIS RETURN TO CHICAGO ALONG WITH PATRICK KANE. HE WAS GREAT. >> TERRIFIC. THAT WAS A TERRIFIC. >> TERRIFIC WIN. >> IT REALLY WAS. AND KANE WAS AS WELL. AND I THOUGHT DEBRINCAT FIRST GOAL ON THE OPENING SHIFT WAS A GREAT ILLUSTRATION OF EVERYTHING HE DOES WELL. HE WAS BUZZING AROUND THE ZONE THAT ENTIRE SHIFT. HE HAD A DEFT LITTLE BACKHAND DEFLECTION TO PUT THE WINGS UP ONE NOTHING. AND THEN LATER ON IN THE GAME, HE HAS A GREAT LITTLE SAUCER FEED TO KANE TO SET. >> UP SAUCER. >> FEED FOR 98. >> YEAH, TO SET UP KANE’S BACKHAND GOAL. AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF ATTENTION IS PAID TO RAYMOND AND TO LARKIN AND TO KANE. BUT DEBRINCAT IS PLAYING AS WELL AS ANYONE RIGHT NOW FOR THE WINGS. >> AND I’M GOING TO TELL YOU, I THOUGHT GOING INTO THAT GAME MAYBE A LETDOWN. IT JUST KIND OF HAD THAT FEEL. AND LITTLE END OF THE ROAD. THEY’RE GETTING CLOSE TO HOME. THEY COULD SMELL THE BARN AND THEY DIDN’T. AND KUDOS TO JOHN GIBSON. >> I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THAT’S WHAT I TOOK OUT OF THE ROAD TRIP FOR ONE AND ONE ON THE ROAD TRIP, AND HE’S WON FIVE GAMES IN A ROW, SHUTOUTS, TWO SHUTOUTS IN HIS LAST THREE GAMES. AND WE WERE STARTING TO WONDER, OKAY, DOES HE HAVE ANYTHING LEFT? AND TALBOT WAS PLAYING AND NOW GIBSON HAS TAKEN COMMAND OF IT. AND THAT’S WHY I GOT HIM AND AND I DO. I FELT ALL ALONG IT WAS AN UPGRADE. I STILL THINK IT’S AN UPGRADE, BUT IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT A WHILE TO SHOW UP. BUT IF THAT’S WHO HE IS AND THEIR DEFENSE HAS IMPROVED DEFENSIVE DEFENSEMAN WISE, THEN I’LL STAND BY IT. THEY’RE A PLAYOFF TEAM. >> WILL SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT PERFORMANCE WE JUST SAW THE NUMBERS THERE FIVE ZERO. >> LOOK AT THAT. >> POINT ZERO GOALS AGAINST IN THIS LAST STRETCH IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SOMETHING THAT WILL EARN HIM MORE TIME IN. NET OR DO YOU HOW LONG DO YOU SEE MCLELLAN GOING WITH THIS TO TWO GOALIE THING? >> I MEAN I WOULD EXPECT GIBSON TO START ON TUESDAY. OBVIOUSLY HE’S A HOT HAND. THEY’RE GOING TO RIDE HIM. THAT’LL BE A FOX TWO GAME. AND THE WINGS FIRST HOME GAME. AND I THINK IN TWO WEEKS I THOUGHT GIBSON YESTERDAY THAT WAS PROBABLY HIS BEST SAVE EARLY IN THE THIRD. AND THAT’S A BIG SAVE TO MAKE WHEN IT’S THREE NOTHING. IF THE BLACKHAWKS SCORE THERE IT MIGHT SHIFT THE MOMENTUM OF THE GAME. I DIDN’T THINK HE HAD TO MAKE MANY SPECTACULAR SAVES, BUT HE MADE THE ONES HE HAD TO MAKE AND THAT SPEAKS TO THE WINGS PLAYING BETTER IN FRONT OF HIM AND HIM PLAYING BETTER BEHIND THE WINGS. THOSE TWO THINGS HAVE TO CONTINUE. >> AND PROTECTING LEADS, RIGHT? I THINK WHEN MCLELLAN TALKS ABOUT THE TOUGHNESS THAT THEY’VE LACKED AND THEY’VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR BOB, IT’S ALL ABOUT PROTECTING A LEAD. WHEN WE’RE IN FRONT AND NOT RESTING AND FALLING BACK. >> THEY HAD THAT HICCUP AGAINST, WAS IT CALGARY UP FOUR. NOTHING BECAME FOUR THREE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? PROTECTING THE LEAD A LOT OF IT IS DEFENSEMEN. BUT IT’S THE SAME THING. WHAT’S THE BEST PENALTY KILL THE GOALIE. AND I’M NOT SAYING GIBSON IS THE THE THE BEST GOALIE IN THE LEAGUE, BUT I THINK HE DOES MAKE TIMELY TWEETS. YEAH. SHOULD I DO THAT. >> IN THE LEAGUE? YEAH. START A FIGHT ON TWITTER. >> HE’S GOING TO WIN THAT VEZINA TROPHY RIGHT. VEZINA. >> CAREFUL NOW. >> OH WAIT A MINUTE. >> VEZINA TROPHY. >> WE’RE LIVE BOB WE CAN’T CUT THAT OUT. >> VEZINA. >> YEAH THE VEZINA. THAT’S WHAT I SAID I WAS HAVING. >> BY THE WAY PATRICK. >> KANE IS TWO GOALS AWAY FROM 500 WHICH YOU MIGHT JUST SEE ON THESE AIRWAVES ON. >> TUESDAY NIGHT AGAINST. >> THE ISLANDERS. PUT UP THE FULL SCREEN. JAMES, WE ARE THRILLED ONCE AGAIN. I DON’T KNOW IF THE WINGS ARE THRILLED, BUT WE ARE THRILLED TO BRING YOU A FUTURE, A FEATURE OF SELECT RED WINGS GAMES RIGHT HERE ON FOX TWO. THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE FOR YOU IS WILL ALLUDED TO IS GOING TO BE THIS TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN THE WINGS RETURN HOME AFTER THAT ROAD TRIP TO FACE THE ISLANDERS. THE GAME STARTED WITH OUR PREGAME SHOW LIVE FROM LCA AT 6 P.M. WITH BIRCH. AND DAN MILLER IS GOING TO BE THERE. HE’S COMING OUT OF ALLEN PARK AND OUT OF THIS BUILDING, AND HE’S. GOING TO BE LCA, AND I’M GOING TO BE THERE AS WELL. SO THAT’S. >> GOING TO BE HE PROMISED TO. >> BUY US ALL DINNER IN THAT. >> GREAT. I THINK. >> IT’S $14 A PERSON. >> YEAH, WELL THAT’S OKAY. >> BUT IT’S VERY IMPORTANT. I MEAN, JUST BACK TO THE WINGS AND THE WAY THEY’VE BEEN PLAYING, IT’S REALLY CRITICAL FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON IT. IT FEELS LIKE THEY HIT THESE LITTLE STRETCHES SOMETIMES IN DECEMBER, SOMETIMES IN FEBRUARY, WHERE THEY’VE JUST GOT TO KEEP IT SOMEWHAT. >> IT’S CRITICAL FOR THEM TO BREAK THE FOX TWO JINX. I GUARANTEE YOU THEY’RE GOING TO BREAK IT. >> THAT’LL BE MCLELLAN’S. >> MESSAGE TO THE TEAM ON. >> TUESDAY NIGHT. I THINK THE YOUNG DEFENSEMEN HAVE STABILIZED A LITTLE BIT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS ANOTHER KEY DEVELOPMENT ON THIS ROAD TRIP. I THINK AXEL SANDIN IS FINDING HIMSELF NOW IN THE NHL. >> DOES THAT RHYME WITH ANYTHING? >> WELL, I DON’T DO RHYMES FOR THE WINGS. THAT’S JUST LIONS GAME DAY LIVE. JUST. NO. I THINK WE SEE PLAYING MORE CONFIDENTLY NOW. LIKE HE HAD AN ASSIST YESTERDAY WHERE HE WALKED THE BLUELINE. HE SHOWED SOME COMPOSURE WITH THE PUCK AND HE SET UP FINISH FOR HIS GOAL. THAT MADE IT THREE NOTHING. THAT’S THAT’S THE PLAYER THE WINGS THINK HE CAN BE. AND IF HE KEEPS PUSHING HIS OWN CEILING HIGHER THAN HE DOES, THE SAME FOR THE TEAM. >> I’M NOT YOU IF STEVIE IS ACQUITTED HIMSELF AFTER THEY COULDN’T. GET TRADE DONE. >> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE QUINN HUGHES TRADE. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A COST. A LOT FOR A GUY THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, BUT AT LEAST NOW HAS HIS GOALIE IN GIBSON, WHO COULD WIN THE VEZINA TROPHY. >> YOU BETTER SPELL THAT RIGHT. >> I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT. >> IN AGAIN. >> QUINN HUGHES, FOR THE RECORD, PROBABLY WOULD HAVE COST THE WINGS. SIMON EDVINSSON, MARKO KASPAR, MICHAEL BRANDTZAEG NYGAARD AND A FIRST. >> ROUND MINNESOTA GAVE AWAY FOUR FIRST ROUNDERS, RIGHT? >> YEAH. I MEAN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE PRICE TO PAY. >> ALL RIGHT, LET’S SHIFT GEARS. YEAH, RIGHT. LET’S SHIFT GEARS. LET’S SHIFT GEARS TO ANOTHER TEAM THAT PLAYS DOWN AT LCA. THE DETROIT PISTONS MAN. >> GOOD. >> TEAM IS A TEAM THAT IS ON A AS WE LIKE TO SAY ON A WAGON. 142 THE OTHER NIGHT, DO YOU SEE ANY SIGNS OF THEM SLOWING DOWN? I KNOW OBVIOUSLY THEY’VE GOT TO GO OUT WEST AND THEY’VE GOT TO BE TESTED BY THE BEST TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE RIGHT NOW, AND MOST OF THE TOP TEN TEAMS IN THIS LEAGUE, THE WING, THE PISTONS, AREN’T EVEN IN THE TOP FIVE BY ALL ACCOUNTS AND METRICS. BUT OUT WEST IS GOING TO BE TOUGH. BUT WHERE THEY SIT IN THE EAST, DO YOU SEE THEM AS BEING LEGIT? >> YES. WELL, IN THE EAST FOR SURE. THE LEGIT EAST. YEAH THEY ARE, BUT I MEAN THEY WILL FACE SOME TOUGHER TEAMS WHEN THEY FACE WESTERN CONFERENCE. BUT THEY’RE 20 AND FIVE. RECORD IS SECOND BEST BEST START IN THEIR HISTORY. AND YOU HIT UPON THE KEY. CAN THEY. WELL I THINK THEY CAN KEEP IT UP BECAUSE THEY USE SO MANY PLAYERS. THEY’RE SO DEEP AND THEY’RE NOT DOING THAT. CADE CUNNINGHAM HAS BEEN GREAT. BUT THIS ISN’T JUST CADE CUNNINGHAM PUTTING EVERYBODY ON HIS BACK AND CARRYING IT. AND IT’S NOT LIKE INCREDIBLE THREE POINT SHOOTING IS DOING. THEY’RE DOING IT WITH TEAM PLAY WITH A DEEP BENCH AND WITH DEFENSE. AND WITH BEEF STEW BECOMING A PREMIER DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN IN THE NBA. THEY’RE DOING IT IN THE WAYS THAT THAT IT IS SUSTAINABLE. >> YEAH YOU MENTIONED THE DEFENSE. THEY’RE GETTING BIG LEAPS FROM TWO OF THEIR YOUNG ATHLETIC WINGS AND RON HOLLAND AND ASHER THOMPSON. AND WE’VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ASAR ALREADY THIS SEASON. I THINK RON HOLLAND IS BEGINNING TO FIND HIMSELF IN THE NBA 12 POINTS ON FRIDAY, BUT MORE NOTABLY WAS PLUS 20 WHEN HE WAS ON THE FLOOR. HIS IMPACT WAS HUGE AND I BELIEVE IT’S THE CELTICS NEXT RIGHT. SO A BIT OF A GRUDGE MATCH AGAINST THE TEAM THAT ENDED THEIR WINNING STREAK LAST MONTH. >> AND I THINK THE THING ABOUT THAT WIN ON FRIDAY NIGHT THAT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE WAS THE WAY THAT EVERYBODY HAD A HAND ON IT, RIGHT? THEIR FINGERPRINTS WERE ALL OVER IT. BUT JB BICKERSTAFF, WHAT HE HAS DONE TO I THINK THE CULTURE, THE MENTALITY, THE FIGHT OF THIS TEAM, THERE ARE SO MANY GAMES WE SIT AND WATCH THIS SEASON THAT I THINK LAST YEAR WE WERE ALL THINKING THAT’S A GAME THEY’RE NOT GOING TO WIN. AND THEY JUST CONTINUE TO REEL THEM OFF AND AS THEY GO DEEPER AND DEEPER, SKY REALLY IS THE LIMIT. >> HE’S DONE SOMETHING BICKERSTAFF HAS THAT’S REALLY REMARKABLE. HE’S TAKEN A YOUNG TEAM AND INSTILLED A DEFENSIVE MINDSET IN THEM CALLED A CULTURE. WHATEVER YOU WANT TO YEAH THAT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO I MEAN WE’VE WATCHED ALL THOSE PISTONS TEAMS STRUGGLE OVER THE YEARS AND THEY DIDN’T PLAY A LICK OF DEFENSE. AND BUT THEY’RE MORE THAN THAT. BUT THEY ARE VERY SKILLED OFFENSIVELY AS WELL. AND THEY LOOK LIKE A VERY WELL-ROUNDED TEAM THAT JUST MAYBE NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE SEASONING IN THE PLAYOFFS. >> SKILLED OFFENSIVELY BUT NOT OVERRELIANT ON THE THREE. >> NO. >> RIGHT. THAT’S ANOTHER. THING THAT DIFFERENTIATES THEM FROM MOST NBA TEAMS. NOW THEY DOMINATE THE PAINT. THEY SCORE AROUND THE RIM AS BETTER, IF NOT BETTER THAN EVERY TEAM IN THE NBA. THAT’S A THROWBACK. AND IT HARKENS BACK TO THOSE THOSE GOING TO WORK TEAMS AND EVEN SOME OF THOSE TEAMS. THIS TEAM WILL OUT PHYSICAL YOU NIGHT IN NIGHT. >> OUT AND THEY SHARE THE BASKETBALL I THINK SOMETHING LIKE 25 ASSISTS ON 32 OR 35 FIELD GOALS ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY UNHEARD OF. ALL RIGHT. LET’S JUST SHIFT GEARS BRIEFLY HERE. THE HOT STOVE LEAGUE. ALL OVER THE PLACE TONIGHT. [LAUGHTER] YEAH WE GOT A LOT TO COVER. KIND OF COOLING DOWN. TIGERS GO DOWN TO ORLANDO. OF COURSE THE DOORS THE EARS ARE OPEN FOR TARIK SKUBAL. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT. >> SURE IT IS. >> LET’S LET’S LET’S START WITH THAT. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THEY, THEY THEY GOT HENLEY OR. JANSEN KENLEY JANSEN AND THEY GOT KYLE FINNEGAN SIGNED BACK UP. I DON’T THINK ANYBODY IN DETROIT IS SATISFIED WITH THOSE JUST BEING THE TWO MOVES THAT THEY MAKE. DO YOU EXPECT MORE AND WHEN WILL THIS TARIK SKUBAL THING HAVE TO UNFOLD. NOW DOES IT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE DEADLINE? >> I DON’T KNOW IF IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE DEADLINE, BUT IT’S IT’S GOT TO GO MUCH FURTHER. AND I DIDN’T THINK THEY WOULD DO IT BECAUSE I DON’T THINK THEY’RE COMPELLED TO DO IT YET. THEY’RE JUST NOT. AND I DON’T BUY ALL THE, THE SCOTT BORAS CLOWNISH KIND OF. YEAH, BLUSTER. [LAUGHTER] >> THAT’S A BOB WORD. >> YEAH, EXACTLY. BUT AT SOME POINT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEY HAVEN’T, MAYBE THEY’VE ALREADY DECIDED TO KEEP THEM THROUGH THE YEAR AND TRY TO CONTEND ONE YEAR WITH THEM. AND AND IF THERE’S NO OFFERS, IF HE DOESN’T WANT TO STAY HERE, THEN LET HIM GO. I, I DON’T THINK THERE’S A TRADE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE MAKING, OBVIOUSLY. OR THEY WOULD HAVE MADE IT. >> YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK EVERY TEAM THAT WOULD BE ACQUIRING HIM LOOKS AT HIM AS POTENTIALLY A ONE YEAR RENTAL. RIGHT. TIGERS LOOK AT HIM AS MAYBE THE BEST ASSET AND THE BEST PITCHER IN BASEBALL. SO THOSE ARE TWO VERY EXTREME PERSPECTIVES. AND IT’S HARD FOR THOSE TWO TEAMS TO MEET ON VALUE. AND SO IT JUST DOESN’T SEEM LIKE A TRADE IS ALL THAT LIKELY. I DO LIKE THE KENLEY JANSEN MOVE I DO TOO, BETWEEN WILL FINNEGAN AND KENLEY JANSEN, YOU HAVE THE MAKINGS OF A REALLY STURDY TRIO IN THE BACK OF THE BULLPEN, AND MAYBE JANSEN CAN FILL THE VOID THAT TOMMY KENLEY’S SECOND HALF UNDOING KIND OF CREATED. AND AND GIVE A.J. HINCH SOME STURDY OPTIONS IN THE BACK OF THE BULLPEN. BUT LOOK, I THINK TO ME, IF THEY DO INDEED KEEP SKUBAL, THEY NEED TO FURTHER INVEST IN THE ROTATION AROUND HIM. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU’RE ENTERING NEXT SEASON WITH A NUMBER TWO STARTER. THAT IS WHO REESE OLSEN, WHO IS INJURY PRONE, THAT IS, WHO IS COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT. WHO IS CASEY MIZE, WHO IS BOTH INJURY PRONE AND INCONSISTENT? I DON’T THINK RIGHT NOW THAT ROTATION IS PLAYOFF. >> YEAH, THERE’S STILL A WHOLE LOT OF TBD WITH THESE TIGERS. RIGHT. AND WE’LL BE TALKING ABOUT IT ALL THE WAY. >> AND I DON’T WANT THEM JUST TO PAT. THEY’VE THEY’VE. >> TRIED TO SIGN A COUPLE OF RELIEVERS UNDER THE GUISE OF TURNING THEM INTO STARTERS. AND THE RELIEVERS DIDN’T WANT TO DO THAT AND I DON’T THAT’S NOT A COMFORT. THAT DOESN’T GIVE YOU MUCH COMFORT. JUST GO OUT AND GET ONE OF THE BETTER. >> ROTATIONAL FLEXIBILITY THAT THEY HAVE IN THE BACK END THERE. >> I’D LIKE SOME STUDS IN THE STARTING ROTATION. >> RIGHT ROTATION. >> HOW ABOUT JUST KEEP TARIK SKUBAL. >> HOW ABOUT THAT. >> LET’S DO THAT. ALL RIGHT I’M GOING TO SAY GOODBYE TO MY FRIENDS. YOU GUYS YOU’RE LEAVING. >> GO OH. >> OH HAPPY HOUR. GET A GIN. >> OH IT IS HAPPY. >> HOUR. THE SECOND HALF OF WHERE YOU CAN GO IN THE SPORTS OFFICE. CRACK A COLD ONE AND WATCH THE. >> DO YOU HAVE GIN AND TONICS. >> IN THE BACK TO THESE TWO DUDES? BUT WE’VE GOT MUCH MORE TO COME IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR. >> FRESH LIMES. >> WEEK 15 WRAP
Will Burtchfield and Bob Wojnowski join the FOX 2 Sportsworks to talk Detroit Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons, along with recapping the Lions loss to the Rams and discussing the situation with Michigan Football and who they should try to hire as their next coach.
