Anthony Mantha playing the way the Detroit Red Wings believed he could

Embed from Getty Images 5 goals, 7 points in two games. The Detroit Red Wings, Anthony Mantha has come out of the gate swinging. Mantha has started playing like teammates, coach’s and the Red Wings front office always believed he could, using his 6′ 5″, 234-pound body to bulldoze opponents.

Anthony Mantha’s teammate and line mate Dylan Larkin said this about the Detroit forward, “He’s skating right now, he’s moving his feet, He’s flying. When he’s doing that, he’s fun to play with. He’s dynamic. When he’s hot, he can be one of the best in the world. You’re seeing that right now.”

Mantha credits former Detroit Red Wing Thomas Vanek with his improved play. “Vannie saw a lot of a players, had a lot of years behind him,” Mantha said. “He’s been a great mentor, just telling me to cut to the net, that’s one example, that not a lot of people can stop me. It was just little details that he told me that I brought to my game this year.”

Mantha, 25, says this is the most confident he has felt since his junior days. That speaks volumes to the start Mantha has had. The Detroit Red Wings home opener was on Sunday night. A night in which Anthony Mantha put on a show for the home crowd. 4 goals. Using speed, quickness and his physical ability the Dallas Stars defense had no answers for Mantha. Few team do and will have an answer.

There is one additional note to be made. Anthony Mantha has had a successful start due in large part by his other line mate Tyler Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi, has been great on the forecheck as well as boxing out opposing players allowing Mantha to spring open.

Anthony Mantha, credits his teammates and understands hockey is the ultimate team sport. “Playing with Bert and Larks, I can’t praise them enough. They’re playing unreal hockey right now.

The rest of the NHL has been put on notice, Anthony Mantha is locked-in.

The Detroit Pistons need Bruce Brown to be locked-in

Embed from Getty Images In a rookie season that saw Detroit Pistons, Bruce Brown take on James Harden, Steph Curry and Damian Lillard, Brown was asked to do a lot in the defensive end. More than other NBA rookies. Now fresh off a rookie year in which Bruce Brown played 55 games. The game has slowed down. That is the good news.

The Detroit Pistons are currently in the midst of training camp. One of the questions heading into camp was weather Bruce Brown would earn the starting guard job, or if Luke Kennard would wrestle it away from him.

Recently Brown said “The game has slowed down a lot and I know what to expect and what is expected of me.” On who Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey will pick to start, “I’m going to control what I can control and play hard every day. I’m not worried about if I come off the bench or start.” Brown continued.

Bruce Brown worked hard on his offensive game over the summer. Defense has always come easy to Brown. Brown said he worked on fine-tuning his jump shot mechanics, as well as setting up the pick-and-roll. As if Brown’s defense could not get better, it did.

Pistons coach Casey said ‘his anticipation has gotten better in that he knows what’s about to come and the next play.” Casey and the Pistons coaching staff are pleased with the second year guard.

In my opinion, Bruce Brown should remain in the starting lineup, while Luke Kennard should come off the bench. This would give the Detroit Pistons both better depth and better balance.

This season the Pistons are looking for Bruce Brown to take the next step in his game. Brown is looking to build upon last seasons success, especially offensively. If he is able to elevate his game the Detroit Pistons will be closer to becoming a more complete team.

 

The Detroit Red Wings are counting on top players development with the Griffins

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Red Wings have five first round draft picks assigned to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Griffins head coach Ben Simon has been charged with developing the talented group. Grand Rapids will be a fun yet dangerous team to watch this season.

Michael Rasmussen, Evgeny Svechnikov, Filip Zadina, Moritz Seider and Joe Veleno, widely viewed as five players who will help the Detroit Red Wings get back to the NHL Playoffs.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman resisted temptation to bring one, two or all five prized players to Detroit. Yzerman, instead opted for ice time which is critical to a prospects development. The general manager was wise to not let his emotions dictate decisions.

Each player has been asked to work on certain aspects of their game. For Filip Zadina, who  looked tentative making plays and hesitant to go to his shot this training camp and preseason, the ultra talented Zadina needs to trust his shot more. That comes with ice time.

Joe Veleno, is looking to become a player that coaches trust, at all times. 5-on-5, power play, in the final moments of games. Yzerman believes he can become that and has challenged Veleno to take that step. It is a fast way to the NHL.

Moritz Seider, 18, was Steve Yzerman’s first draft pick. He was one of the last prospects to be assigned to the Griffins. Seider, had a very good prospect tournament and it carried over to training camp and preseason games. He will fine tune his game and is not long for the minors.

Michael Rasmussen, who played in Detroit much of last season is being asked to learn to better use his 6′ 6″ frame. To box players out as well as put himself in better position to take shots on goal.

Evgeny Svechnikov, who looked very good leading up to the season was assigned to Grand Rapids in order to make sure he does not suffer a set back from the torn knee ligament he suffered last season. Svechnikov should be one of the first call-ups for the Detroit Red Wings.

Last season Griffins head coach Ben Simon helped Dennis Cholowski overcome holes in his game. Cholowski is on the Red Wings opening night roster. That is good news. Simon is now in charge of getting five dynamic prospects NHL ready.

The Detroit Tigers are shuffling coach’s

Embed from Getty Images 47-114, with a .292 winning percentage. Yet no one in the Detroit Tigers coaching department lost a job. That alone is baffling and somewhat disappointing. Detroit Tigers  manager Ron Gardenhire said  on Sunday  when you lose 114 games in a season, there’s going to be changes made. No changes, only a shift in existing coach’s.

In what the Detroit Tigers organization and fans hope is the bottoming out phase of a much needed rebuild, the team had a nightmare season. 114 losses is significantly more than Tiger management had envisioned back in spring training.

“We lost one hundred and, I can’t even say the number, and that’s not been fun. And we all take a little of it on ourselves.” Gardenhire told Detroit media after the teams last game of the season.

Of the so-called changes, there will only be one new face on the staff. Steve Liddle, who served as Gardenhire’s bench coach for 10 years in Minnesota with the Twins, will retire after two years in the same role in Detroit.

The Detroit Tigers finished the 2019 season on Sunday with a record of 47-114, second-most losses in franchise history behind only the 2003 team that lost 119 games. Yet all coach’s are coming back.

Even in a rebuild, lines must be drawn. Hard line stances on what is acceptable and what is not need to be outlined. The fact is the Tigers were never a threat to be good, nor should they have been 114 losses bad.

Detroit is set to continue to get younger in the next two seasons. One can hope there will be sweeping changes made. It is not right to hope a person loses their job. In sports there is a need for more than reshuffling needed to get players, young players up to major league standards of play.

By bringing the same coach’s back after a demoralizing season does not make fans want to spend hard earned money on the current product. Better days are coming again to Comerica Park and the city of Detroit. Right now if feels as if that is light years away.

The Detroit Red Wings send top prospects to the Grand Rapids Griffins

Embed from Getty Images Detroit Red Wings franchise icon Steve Yzerman built a juggernaut in Tampa Bay. Yzerman has preached patience since replacing Ken Holland, refusing to put a timeline on Detroit’s rebuild. So what does this mean for the organization this season?

While the Detroit Red Wings have some established young players led by Dylan LarkinAnthony ManthaAndreas Athanasiou and Tyler Bertuzzi, with Joe VelenoMichael RasmussenEvgeny SvechnikovFilip Zadina and Moritz Seider leading the next wave they’re surrounded by some high-priced holdovers and veteran placeholders from the Holland era.

Ken Holland stuck Yzerman with seven players holding no trade clauses.  Yzerman and the Red Wings will have a bit more roster flexibility next summer, with six restricted free agents and three unrestricted ones.

Before training camp opened Steve Yzerman met the media and announced there was open roster spots. In my opinion, If a couple prospects showed enough to earn a roster spot, Yzerman would have eaten one or two of the team bad contracts.

No top prospect showed the teams general manager enough. Yzerman made the right move and assigned Filip Zadina, Evgeny Svechnikov, Joe Veleno, Oliwer Kaski and 2019 first round draft pick Moritz Seider along with 2017 first round draft pick Michael Rasmussen to the AHL and the Grand Rapids Griffins.

There are a couple things to read into this. First and foremost Yzerman like Ken Holland believes wholeheartedly in prospect development. Something he learned under Ken Holland before his Tampa Bay days.

The other factor could be Yzerman, understand the state of the Detroit Red Wings. The team is strapped by underperforming over paid veterans. While players like Zadina and Seider (who was the final prospect to be assigned) could have played in Detroit. It is best to allow them to play and find chemistry together and possibly make the AHL playoffs, while letting bad contracts expire.

Yzerman is still in the getting to know phase with the entire Red Wings organization. But, this is a smart move. By allowing prospects the chance to fail and succeed in Grand Rapids, it gives him time to map out his vision for call-ups as well as what veterans could be bought out after the season.

It was a solid move by Steve Yzerman.

 

 

The Detroit Tigers secure the first pick in the draft

Embed from Getty Images Pop the champagne, light off the fireworks, the Detroit Tigers have finished first!! Well not in any way that fans would be hooting and hollering. But the Detroit Tigers are close to the end of a brutal season, in which the only good to come out of Motown is the Tigers have the first pick in the 2020 MLB draft.

For the rebuilding Detroit Tigers, having the worst record in baseball has its benefits, The most important in terms of the rebuild itself, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, the most tangible, having the most money with which to sign players.

Detroit’s distinction as the worst team in baseball seemed a locked in   heading into the All-Star break, a few weeks before two of the teams top players   right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and closer Shane Greene  were traded on the day of the trade deadline.

The good news for the Detroit Tigers who have outstanding young pitching prospects in the minor leagues, is the team can pick a badly needed generational bat.

A player like Arizona State University first basemen Spencer Torkelson. Torkelson a right-handed batter, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, but it gets better. Stats do not lie, neither do projectability.  Torkelson assaulted pitchers, .351 batting average in 57 games, 23 home runs, .446 on-base, .707 slugging, 1.153 OPS.

It widely believed all 30 MLB teams have Torkelson at the number one overall draft slot. With a pure of body and swing not too mention he won’t turn 21 until late next August.

Torkelson is an above average defender, which is why the Tigers could plug him at first base, where defense is generally overlooked,  and also where the Tigers have a huge need.

Spencer Torkelson has a scouting report of a 70 grade power on the 80 score baseball scouting charts and a 60 level bat. He struck out 45 times in 57 games and drew 41 walks.

If the Detroit Tigers are wise this is the player they will draft. Detroit can add him to a couple young bats already in the system. The Tigers got slick prep outfielder Riley Greene in the past June’s draft as well as Isaac Paredes. Which would give the Tigers a nice middle of the batting lineup group.

So while the Detroit Tigers failed in 2019, the really did not in terms of rebuilding.

The Detroit Lions defensive backs are the best in the NFL

Embed from Getty Images While the 2019-20 NFL season is just three games old, and it is true that last season, the Detroit Lions’ pass defense was among the worst in the NFL. They finished 30th in passer rating allowed and tied for 27th in yards per attempt allowed. Through three games no team is covering receivers better than the Detroit Lions.

The Detroit Lions are also doing a very solid job getting their hands on opponent’s passes. They currently rank third in the NFL in passes defended (24), just two behind the league-leading Patriots. By comparison, the so-called elite defenses of the Packers and the Bears have 18 and 16 passes defended.

During the offseason Lions general manager Bob Quinn set out to fix the Detroit secondary. Quinn added two new starters at the cornerback position in Rashaan Melvin and Justin Coleman, and also drafted safety Will Harris in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The moves made during the offseason appear to be a huge upgrade. What was the Lions biggest area of concern entering the season has turned out to be a false concern.

Quandre Diggs and Tracy Walker have a chance to be a dynamic one-two punch at the safety positions. The aforementioned  third round draft pick Will Harris out of Boston College is a versatile, hard-hitting player that has earned playing time.

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia’s defenses like to run three safety sets and they have the talent to not only run it but overcome injury as well. This season the Lions the secondary is decidedly deeper and has options. Allowing Patricia’s vision of a run stuffing, pass stopping defense to dictate what offenses can and can not do.

Last season the Detroit defense was not very good at forcing turnovers. With better play at the line of scrimmage and more consistent pressure from the defensive line and linebackers, the secondary will have every chance to get their hands on the ball. Which is what has happened three games in.

Steve Yzerman will rebuild the Detroit Red Wings in his image

Embed from Getty Images Steve Yzerman is known as a methodical, meticulous executive. Upon being name Red Wings general manager, Yzerman said he wanted to proceed somewhat slowly and get to know everyone in the organization. This explains why Detroit will not name a captain when the 2019-20 NHL season kicks off. It also explains why there was not a coaching change.

Detroit Red Wings fans and media will soon learn that Steve Yzerman will  make up his own mind about what Detroit has both on ice in Detroit as well as in the minor league pipeline. Yzerman will also determine what the organization needs before making any big decisions.

The Detroit Red Wings are not expected to make a playoff run this season. The teams primary focus will be on the young core of Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi, Andreas Athanasiou and Filip Hornek. All those players took a big step in their development last season. They all must take another step this season.

While top Detroit prospects will be called up at various time during the season. Oliwer Kaski, Dennis  Cholowski, Moritz Seider, Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno need to both develop and grow together in Grand Rapids with the Griffins.

The Detroit Red Wings have roster spots open in the middle six up front and the bottom pair on defense. So it is possible a prospect will break camp with the Red Wings.

Steve Yzerman is not making any promises about quickly being able to turn around the Red Wings. As he should not.  ”It just takes time,” Yzerman said. ”I can’t tell you in three years we’re going to be this. In five years, we’re going to be this.”

While the Red Wings appear to have a handful of promising players, Detroit still seem to be at least another year away from being talented enough to earn a spot in the NHL postseason.

The good news is Steve Yzerman is taking his time. Yzerman is not rushing into anything. The Red Wings general manager, did not make a splash in free agency, figuring a high-priced free agent would not suddenly turn the team into a contender. It is the correct path to take.

The better news, Steve Yzerman is overseeing the Detroit Red Wings rebuild.

Are the Detroit Lions turning into a resilient football team?

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Lions have started the 2019-20 NFL season 2-0-1. For decades the Lions have been a punching bag for well, everyone.  Sunday afternoon the Detroit Lions showed something that has never been associated with the franchise, resilience. No really.

Missing for decades, the Detroit Lions showed a new side in Philadelphia of all places. The Lions won a game they did not come close to playing at the teams best. That is resilience.

The Lions made enough plays and overcoming the mistakes they made along the way. Playing in front of a bunch of loud and crazy fans, against the team that won the Super Bowl two seasons ago. The Lions on a day when quarterback Matthew Stafford was not as sharp as he had been completed 18 of 32 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. Not great numbers for sure. But when the game was uncertain, Stafford did what he does best, lead the team on a touchdown drive that turned out to be the game winner.

“Just really proud of our players,” Lions coach Matt Patricia said. “It’s really hard to win on the road, especially in this place. It’s a hostile environment, it’s loud, their fans are great, they’re screaming and yelling.”

So what went right for the Detroit Lions? Let’s start with the offensive line, for the second straight week, they didn’t give up a sack.  J.D. McKissic, whom the Lions claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks,  ripped off a 44 yard run. It was the Detroit Lions, who overcame a blocked field goal late in the fourth quarter and found a way to win. While the Detroit defensive line continued to struggle to find a pass rush.

Through three games, the Lions are unbeaten. For for just the fourth time since the AFL-NFL merger. Kick returner Jamal Agnew who was benched one week ago took an Eagles kickoff to the endzone. “He was in and grinding all week,” Patricia said. “When players do that and they grind and they work and they practice, your confidence is as high as ever and you trust them. I just had a feeling that something good was going to happen with everything he did and what he does and his approach.”

Maybe, this sums up this Lions team. Grinding. And working. And getting better. Resilient.

Michigan Wolverines football and head coach Jim Harbaugh appear to be at the crossroads

Embed from Getty Images It was a Rich Rodriguez coached performance the Michigan Wolverines football team put on Saturday afternoon in Madison Wisconsin. Certainly Brady Hoke would have had his team somewhat better prepared. Not too mention, Jim Harbaugh had two weeks to get his troops ready. It looked like he took two minutes.

Out- played, out- prepared, out-coached. On offense and on defense. Why? During the offseason fans and media were told over and over, this would be a new brand of Michigan football. After all they were the Big Ten favorites, on paper.

Saturday was 60-minutes of a comprehensive failure, that has seen Jim Harbaugh hit rock bottom at the school he played at in the 1980’s. 55 games into his coaching tenure Jim Harbaugh has little to show for his efforts.

Harbaugh, brought in Josh Gattis to run the offense. Gattis promised “speed in space.” In two games Michigan’s offense had serious issues. With and extra week to get ready for the Badgers, the Wolverines offense did not improve.

Michigan was consistently blown off the ball on both sides by Wisconsin, something in Jim Harbaugh’s fifth season that simply should not happen. Harbaugh’s failure to win a marquee game is indisputable.

While Saturday’s loss will not get Harbaugh fired, he can not be trusted to build a championship team.  After the game Harbaugh said it was “gut-check” time for his team. Someone in the Michigan athletic administration needs to tell the head football coach it is gut-check time.

Jim Harbaugh has lost his fire. Slamming clipboards, throwing headsets and screaming whenever he saw on-field injustices have given way to hands on knees bent over not saying much.

What is a deathblow for any coach, Jim Harbaugh appears to be uncertain, his  team is reflecting that during games. Jim Harbaugh needs to find that inner fire again. His team is suffering and will not recover until he does.

Preseason Big Ten favorites on paper. But, paper does not play games, motivate players or wins championships. It  does however crumble.