SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome back, everyone, to the Beyond the Game podcast. I'm Owen Reynolds alongside my partners for today, Noah Petros and Tyler Ryan. Today we're going to be talking about the Lions and their offseason so far. Then we're going to shift gears over and wrap it up with Catholic Central with their state championships in wrestling and hockey. Let's start talking Lions, who headed into the offseason off a very disappointing 9-8 season. They still have a lot of work to do with a few holes still on the roster, but they made another big signing today with Isaiah Pacheco added to the roster. Noah, how have you felt so far this offseason about what Brad Holmes has done to try to improve this Lions team?

SPEAKER_01 0:41

What's up, Owen? I think the Lions were in sort of like a more terrible spot, tough spot entering this offseason, and they were over to cap, and they had to try and trade a lot of guys like Alex Anzalone, he, David Montgomery, Taylor Decker, and Talif Raymond. Those guys were just like basically too expensive. Tiv and Brad Holmes thought that they weren't worth the contract. We did fit the position of Needville by signing Pan First Center, Cade Maze, but I thought they just curved on a little bit more in free agency to improve their O-line.

SPEAKER_00 1:11

Yeah, Ty, what do you got for I myself am not a big fan of the Amique Robertson uh let go because I felt like we had a very disappointing corner room and he was kinda the most reliable out of them. But I do like that they show consistent uh trust in Arnold and Reed, which means they gotta be doing something right in practice. And Montgomery, uh, I like that I feel like they definitely were not gonna pay him. And Isaiah Pacheco, I like that he can definitely take more of a backseat to Gibbs than Montgomery could have. And Anzalone, he he probably just wanted more of a contract than the Lions were gonna get him. And, you know, it's only been a day, so you don't know what's in the works yet, and I'm kinda excited to see you what Brad is cooking up in the office.

SPEAKER_02 2:17

Yeah, I love what you talked about with the cornerbacks because especially since the Terrian Arnold incident and now letting go of Amique, it's gonna be sort of a question, the big question I'd say, even more than the O-line potentially now with the cornerback room, because besides DJ Reed, who last year was even a little iffy, you can't really trust any of those guys like in a big way without Amique Robertson. So I really feel like their attention might shift to the cornerbacks more even in the NFL draft coming up soon. And I wouldn't even be surprised if maybe they went for one at pick 17 instead of an offensive lineman now, which is definitely different than what we had seen coming into free agency for sure. And then I also Pacheco, I also love that signing by Brad. I feel like it shows that he's kind of like gonna be in a similar role as Montgomery, just younger. And I know he's been injury prone, but if he can get back to like even a shadow of what he was his rookie year and his first couple years in the league, then I feel like the two-headed running back room with Montgomery Pacheco could be very lethal. What do you guys got on that?

SPEAKER_00 3:26

Uh yeah, you know, with his injury status, that's probably what they're going for is taking even more of a back seat role than Montgomery had. You know, less third down, a little less power back formations that they had with Montgomery. And he was proved that he could be an efficient running back one at a pr decently high level on the Chiefs. So but then he got hurt. So now bringing him in as an RB2 feels like a perfect signing. Yeah, completely agree, Noah.

SPEAKER_01 4:01

I mean, I just felt felt like Montgomery was sort of holding Gibbs back of what he can really be because we still had to give Montgomery a lot of carries. So having Pacheco as like an RB2 who I feel like we're not gonna give Pacheco as many carries, but he can still like hold the fort down for us.

SPEAKER_02 4:19

Yeah, I feel like Drew Petzing is really just gonna use him as more of like a goal line, like third and short type of plays, and just getting Pacheco a blow, like rotating him in a couple plays each possession. I mean, I don't really feel like he's gonna even have as much touches as Montgomery did. And I feel like he's just gonna work him in slowly into the offense, and we'll keep seeing him get more and more carries as the season goes on. So now we talked about it a little bit, but the Lions, they decided to let go of Montgomery, Anzalone, Amique Robertson, and today they also let go of Khalif Raymond as well. So how do you guys think they're gonna have to fill these gaps?

SPEAKER_01 5:05

I mean, they did get what I feel like is a good trade for Montgomery. They sent him to the Texans for a fourth rounder, seventh rounder, turn in offensive lineman, which um they desperately needed, but I just feel like they sort of tried to hold on to uh guys like Amik Robinson because their corner room, like you said earlier, is really bad and they just need somebody to hold the road for now.

SPEAKER_00 5:32

Uh yeah, uh the I thought the Montgomery trade was pretty good, a fourth and a seventh, you know, bringing in younger dudes to get rid of a 29-year-old running back who, you know, running backs do start to get worn down after really the rookie deal. And, you know, getting a lineman, you know, does he's not probably gonna start at all, but at least if we get injuries, there is somebody that could step up.

SPEAKER_02 6:04

Yeah, for sure. And what I saw when the biggest one that stood out to me would be the Khalif Raymond letting go, and I feel like this is the Lions um signifying that they're gonna be giving Isaac Tesla a lot more focus in this offense next season, now with him basically being their only wide receiver three besides Amon beside Amon Ra and J-Mo. So I feel like we're gonna see a lot more of Tesla next year. I know he had a lot of a couple touchdowns this year, but not a lot of targets. I feel like we're gonna see his targets increase a lot next season with letting go of Khalif Raymond.

SPEAKER_00 6:40

Yeah, the only big question with Khalif Raymond was who's gonna be our returner now. But they picked up Love It last year in the eighth round, I think. And I think that's probably what they'll do with him.

SPEAKER_02 6:55

Yeah, for sure. I think they'll definitely find a guy to at least fill in for what Khalif Raymond did on the return side of things. So last question for the Lions how are you guys feeling about this O-line? I know you we talked about the trade for Montgomery for Juice Scruggs, but signing Caden Mays, um, what do you think?

SPEAKER_01 7:14

I mean, the Lions do have um 10 draft hits this year to go through, so I expect them to go more heavy on the O-line and defense because honestly, if they can get their O-line fits and they can get get good corners in the draft, then they are again a Super Bowl contender, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_00 7:34

Yeah, I think just getting more dudes to fill gaps is perfectly fine.

SPEAKER_02 7:40

Yeah, I feel like what they did with Mays was and Scrugs, and they're brought in a couple veteran guys, free agents. I feel like that also kind of signals that they're probably gonna bring in a few young guys with the draft too, and they can be more of mentors and fill in until those younger guys will eventually take over their roles, hopefully. All right, let's switch it now over to Catholic Central, talking about two state champion teams, hockey and wrestling. Hockey won 6-0 over Northville this past Saturday to secure their seventh, yes, you heard that right, seventh straight state championship. And wrestling secured the win 43-16 over Heartland for their fourth straight state championship as well. Also, they had several individual state champions, including Wyatt Lees, who's the first Detroit Catholic Central Shamrock to be a four-time team and four-time individual state champion. Noah, first of all, how electric and dominant was that hockey team?

SPEAKER_01 8:44

I mean, that CC performance against Northville was just outstanding. I mean, they went like 29-1-1 on the year, one of the best records in CC history. And they wrapped up their seven P with a 6-0 shutout. And honestly, they probably will have won an eight P if um COVID ain't cancel their one season. So this is like officially like a great dynasty by Dama.

SPEAKER_02 9:09

Yeah, for sure, Ty.

SPEAKER_00 9:11

Uh, yeah, I mean, 29-1-1, one of the greatest records ever in CC hockey history. Uh, and I got to call the game where they went eight over, eight uh to oh over D La Salle, and now winning six oh over Northville. I mean, they've just been dominant game in, game out, for their entire season, and it it was truly special to watch.

SPEAKER_02 9:43

Yeah, for sure. And you could tell how how much the game truly meant to them, especially you could tell with the physicality and with the shots. I think they probably had at one point like 30 more shots on a goal than Northville did, which is just completely insane. I mean, it's so hard to beat a team when you get outshot like that, and it just shows how disciplined and how hard they work, truly. And and the first three goals, I think, were all scored by juniors, too, which showed that this team is not gonna go away. They're gonna still be here for a long time, and this is like Noah said, a true dynasty. Next up, uh, we're gonna have to give our flowers to the wrestling team who ended up ranking as high as 26 in the nation. What do you guys think about the wrestling team in their season?

SPEAKER_01 10:35

I mean, that wrestling team led by Coach Hancock was was just amazing. In 15 years, they won twelve state championships, and anyone would be amazed by by that. And it just seems like whoever has team in like year after year has led them to state championships, and you heard him say it at the assembly, winning just never gets old for them.

SPEAKER_02 10:56

Yep, that's a great line from Coach Hancock. Ty, do you got anything on wrestling?

SPEAKER_00 11:01

Yeah, and uh, like you said, winning never gets old. That was an awesome speech by uh Coach Hancock at the assembly. And I'm also excited for this wrestling team in these next couple years, as I know a couple freshmen who were on that wrestling team and were placing top ten in their respective state individuals. So I think this team could go 7-0, win seven straight uh state titles in the next couple years.

SPEAKER_02 11:38

Yeah, I mean, you could tell I had the privilege of calling um my first ever wrestling match this year, and what Coach Hancock, what he talks about truly, I got to talk to Dylan Gilcher, who was used to be a wrestler here at CC. And what he talks about, what Coach Hancock tells the team, is just they're trying to schedule these tougher teams. When I was there, they had like four of the top 25 teams in the nation there, and I don't think they won a match, but Coach Hancock, he's trying to get his guys playing the best competition. So then when they come into facing teams in the state level, then they could feel like they're just way better because they've played better competition like before. And you could truly see that when they just dominated every team in the state of Michigan in the playoffs because they're used to playing the top teams in the nation, and then when you play the top teams in the state, there's a lot, there's a big difference there, like vast difference, which is crazy. And then we're gonna go last question of the day, Ty. How truly dominant are these two programs? And like we said, do you think they're true dynasties in Michigan high school sports?

SPEAKER_00 12:52

Uh, I think they stay dominant for so long with their faith. You know, they just they leave it out on there for God and Jesus. And another thing is the brotherhood. There's no in there's no guy on these teams that is miles better ahead of everybody else. They all lift each other up, they're all great in their own respective ways, and I think that's how they stay dominant for forever.

SPEAKER_01 13:21

No, you got anything on that? Or I mean I think their dominance in sedent comes through faith, but also oh, hard work and dedication. And I mean, I hear that there's players that come to the gym at school as early as like 6 a.m. on a Monday morning. I mean, they strive to become the best because they put in the work as if they are the best.

SPEAKER_02 13:42

Well said, Noah. Thank you guys for listening to another episode of the Beyond the Game podcast. I'm Owen Reynolds alongside Tyler Ryan, Noah Petros. We'll see you guys in the next one.