Freethinker
Hall of Famer
If Caste Football was giving an award for Most Improved (from a demographics point of view), then the Lions might be the front runners for it. It also appears that the roster improvement is leading to better outcomes, as they were competitive in each game, going 1-1 into a pivotal division game against Minnesota. Let's see how the roster and starters breakdown.
Total White Athletes on Roster (Starters in bold)
18 Whites total, with 8 starters. Grade: C-
QB - Jared Goff, Nate Sudfeld
WR - Tom Kennedy
TE - Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra
T - Taylor Decker, Matt Nelson
G - Evan Brown, Logan Stenberg, Dan Skipper
C - Frank Ragnow
DL - Aidan Hutchinson, John Cominsky
LB - Alex Anzalone, Malcolm Rodriguez
K - Michael Badgley
P - Jack Fox
LS - Scott Daly
IR - Tommy Kraemer (OL)
PS - Tim Boyle (QB), Garrett Griffin (TE), Ross Pierschbacher (OL), Sam Ficken (K), Brandon Zylstra (WR), Brady Breeze (S)
Wow, what a shocker! 9 White starters for a squad that has perennially been one of the darkest and least competitive. The offense is lead by former #1 overall pick Jared Goff. Goff has been really struggling the last couple of years and is in a make or break season if he wants to remain a starter. Playing like he did in week 2 more often than not, would give the Lions good reason to invest in him as their long term starter. Another bad year and they'll be drafting one of those nifty black quarterbacks in next years draft. If Jared wants to revive his career, he better utilize TE TJ Hockenson alot more than he's been doing. TJ is a great 2 way TE that really should be more involved in the passing attack. 723 yards should not be his high water mark after this season is complete. The offensive line is 4/5th White and appears to be pretty good. They've protected Goff adequately well and allowed the runners to average 185 yards per game so far. Taylor Decker is the standout player.
On defense, its really been a huge improvement, especially considering the narrow parameters set up by the Caste NFL. Anzalone returns as the only White starter hold over from last year. An above average player, injuries have derailed his early years but he's stayed healthy of late and hopes to build on a pretty good year. Since the Lions operate out of the Nickle in their base defense, the other starting LB is also White. WTM Malcolm Rodriguez, who starred at Oklahoma State for years, yet fell to the 6th round in what was a steal for the Lions. Don't be fooled by the surname, this blue eyed beast should be a great linebacker for many years to come. Speaking of future stars, the #2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson is off to a good start with a 3 sack game in week 2! The local legend, who is from Michigan and starred at Michigan University could be the next great White pass rusher (Bosa brothers, Watt brothers, Jared Allen, et all). If he keeps it up, he'll easily be the biggest star and fan favorite in the city of Detroit. Rounding out the defense is rotational lineman John Cominsky. After being caste aside by the Falcons, who used him to warm the bench, it looks like he's finally getting meaningful snaps and has performed well so far as a Lion.
Dan Campbell (and probably the GM) should be given credit for Whitening up the roster. However they are not without criticism. WR Tom Kennedy was a preseason star yet again (did the same last year too) and yet again finds himself on the practice squad. Clearly Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond and Quintez Cephus are just too talented to displace? In the words of "our" mush-brained president, "c'mon man!"
Edit to add 10/20/22: Tom Kennedy has been up for a few weeks! Also, some offensive lineman shuffling. Now both Zylstra brothers are on the PS. Good for Brandon but bad for Shane who was demoted from the active roster.
Edit to add 11/3/22: Hockenson traded and Wright assuming the starting spot. I'm also taking the liberty of putting Shane Zylstra on the active roster as everything I read assumes he'll get the TE3 call for this Sunday. Brady Breeze was resigned to the PS after being cut with a preseason injury. Yay for another White safety.
Total White Athletes on Roster (Starters in bold)
18 Whites total, with 8 starters. Grade: C-
QB - Jared Goff, Nate Sudfeld
WR - Tom Kennedy
TE - Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra
T - Taylor Decker, Matt Nelson
G - Evan Brown, Logan Stenberg, Dan Skipper
C - Frank Ragnow
DL - Aidan Hutchinson, John Cominsky
LB - Alex Anzalone, Malcolm Rodriguez
K - Michael Badgley
P - Jack Fox
LS - Scott Daly
IR - Tommy Kraemer (OL)
PS - Tim Boyle (QB), Garrett Griffin (TE), Ross Pierschbacher (OL), Sam Ficken (K), Brandon Zylstra (WR), Brady Breeze (S)
Wow, what a shocker! 9 White starters for a squad that has perennially been one of the darkest and least competitive. The offense is lead by former #1 overall pick Jared Goff. Goff has been really struggling the last couple of years and is in a make or break season if he wants to remain a starter. Playing like he did in week 2 more often than not, would give the Lions good reason to invest in him as their long term starter. Another bad year and they'll be drafting one of those nifty black quarterbacks in next years draft. If Jared wants to revive his career, he better utilize TE TJ Hockenson alot more than he's been doing. TJ is a great 2 way TE that really should be more involved in the passing attack. 723 yards should not be his high water mark after this season is complete. The offensive line is 4/5th White and appears to be pretty good. They've protected Goff adequately well and allowed the runners to average 185 yards per game so far. Taylor Decker is the standout player.
On defense, its really been a huge improvement, especially considering the narrow parameters set up by the Caste NFL. Anzalone returns as the only White starter hold over from last year. An above average player, injuries have derailed his early years but he's stayed healthy of late and hopes to build on a pretty good year. Since the Lions operate out of the Nickle in their base defense, the other starting LB is also White. WTM Malcolm Rodriguez, who starred at Oklahoma State for years, yet fell to the 6th round in what was a steal for the Lions. Don't be fooled by the surname, this blue eyed beast should be a great linebacker for many years to come. Speaking of future stars, the #2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson is off to a good start with a 3 sack game in week 2! The local legend, who is from Michigan and starred at Michigan University could be the next great White pass rusher (Bosa brothers, Watt brothers, Jared Allen, et all). If he keeps it up, he'll easily be the biggest star and fan favorite in the city of Detroit. Rounding out the defense is rotational lineman John Cominsky. After being caste aside by the Falcons, who used him to warm the bench, it looks like he's finally getting meaningful snaps and has performed well so far as a Lion.
Dan Campbell (and probably the GM) should be given credit for Whitening up the roster. However they are not without criticism. WR Tom Kennedy was a preseason star yet again (did the same last year too) and yet again finds himself on the practice squad. Clearly Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond and Quintez Cephus are just too talented to displace? In the words of "our" mush-brained president, "c'mon man!"
Edit to add 10/20/22: Tom Kennedy has been up for a few weeks! Also, some offensive lineman shuffling. Now both Zylstra brothers are on the PS. Good for Brandon but bad for Shane who was demoted from the active roster.
Edit to add 11/3/22: Hockenson traded and Wright assuming the starting spot. I'm also taking the liberty of putting Shane Zylstra on the active roster as everything I read assumes he'll get the TE3 call for this Sunday. Brady Breeze was resigned to the PS after being cut with a preseason injury. Yay for another White safety.
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