The Brainsmiths

Lions Draft Picks & Michigan Football: Plug-and-Play Optimism

Alex and John run it back as a two-man crew and get deep into a surprisingly satisfying Detroit Lions draft. No flashy headlines, just a lot of “this might actually work” picks. They break down the offensive line upgrades, argue over the Derrick Moore move, and talk themselves into a defense that could be scary if it stays healthy. They also hit Michigan football, the Whittingham era, and what a young but more disciplined Wolverines team might actually look like this season. Somewhere in there: NIL “mercenaries,” rival fanbases losing their minds, and the eternal Detroit sports tradition of cautious optimism battling blind hope. Follow the hosts here:John Mahar: https://www.instagram.com/_grandjuan [https://www.instagram.com/_grandjuan]Alex Bozinovic: https://linktr.ee/alexbozinovic [https://linktr.ee/alexbozinovic]Mike Cronin: https://www.instagram.com/bonesnake3 [https://www.instagram.com/bonesnake3]Zach Martina: https://linktr.ee/ZachMartina [https://linktr.ee/ZachMartina]

Season 2.1 | Episode 1 | Spring is in the Air

Editor Note: Hi, Alex here, the sound on this one is trash because I mapped Mike's microphone wrong. So I had to make the whole thing sound like we recorded it on an iPhone to make him loud enough to hear. That was my bad. We'll have another episode next week for the NFL draft. That one will be better. The crew digs into Michigan Wolverines spring-game takeaways: Bryce’s meh afternoon, Jordan Marshall’s work-horse flashes, and why a deceptively deep D-line could still bail everyone out. Then it’s Detroit draft season, as the guys debate which right-tackle prospect best slots opposite Penei Sewell, why Brad Holmes probably stays boring (and that’s good), and how the Detroit Lions can avoid another injury-plagued year. Follow the hosts here:John Mahar: https://www.instagram.com/_grandjuan [https://www.instagram.com/_grandjuan]Alex Bozinovic: https://linktr.ee/alexbozinovic [https://linktr.ee/alexbozinovic]Mike Cronin: https://www.instagram.com/bonesnake3 [https://www.instagram.com/bonesnake3]Zach Martina: https://linktr.ee/ZachMartina [https://linktr.ee/ZachMartina]

Ready For A New Day

The Lions close out the season, the playoffs move on without us, and we settle into our most familiar mode: offseason hope. We talk Week 18 takeaways, coaching changes, defensive scheme shifts, free agency priorities, and why this team still feels built for what’s coming next. We also dig into Michigan’s portal movement, coaching hires, why people are panicking too early, and how pressure up front fixes a lot of downstream problems. Plus: college football playoff fatigue, Urban Meyer slander, Indiana catching strays, video game rage quits, and why sports radio callers should be banned from phones. Follow the hosts here:John Mahar: https://www.instagram.com/_grandjuan [https://www.instagram.com/_grandjuan]_Alex Bozinovic: https://linktr.ee/alexbozinovic [https://linktr.ee/alexbozinovic]Mike Cronin: https://www.instagram.com/bonesnake3 [https://www.instagram.com/bonesnake3]Zach Martina: https://linktr.ee/ZachMartina [https://linktr.ee/ZachMartina]

I Just Want Everyone to Stay Healthy

Michigan finally makes the grown-up move. The guys break down the hiring of Kyle Whittingham, what it says about where the program is headed, and why stability and discipline mattered more than chasing another young splash hire. They dig into recruiting momentum, staff retention, NIL realities, and why the Sherrone Moore situation likely scared off transfers long before it blew up publicly. On the Lions side, it’s a full offseason autopsy. Offensive line failures, defensive depth issues, coordinator uncertainty, and the uncomfortable Jared Goff conversation nobody wants to have. They debate draft priorities, free agency strategy, who needs to get paid now, and whether the Lions are actually built to support the quarterback they’ve invested in. Follow the hosts here: John Mahar: https://www.instagram.com/_grandjuan [https://www.instagram.com/_grandjuan]Alex Bozinovic: https://linktr.ee/alexbozinovic [https://linktr.ee/alexbozinovic]Mike Cronin: https://www.instagram.com/bonesnake3 [https://www.instagram.com/bonesnake3]Zach Martina: https://linktr.ee/ZachMartina [https://linktr.ee/ZachMartina]

The Brainsmiths

The guys hit the red light early as chaos erupts around Michigan Wolverines football. Reports of a toxic environment, Sherrone Moore losing control, and staff blowups spark a full-on purge conversation. From Wink Martindale’s calm dismissal to questions about leadership, culture, and whether Michigan needs to fully let go of the Bo-era mindset, this episode turns into a cathartic vent session about power, ego, and institutional rot. On the pro side, the focus shifts to the Detroit Lions and a brutal loss to Pittsburgh. Injuries across the defense, missing safeties, run-defense failures, and short-week fatigue dominate the breakdown. The crew debates whether this is a doomed collapse or just a retooling year, then closes with Lions-Vikings hot takes, playoff math, and cautious optimism heading into Christmas week. Follow the hosts here: John Mahar: https://www.instagram.com/_grandjuan [https://www.instagram.com/_grandjuan]Alex Bozinovic: https://linktr.ee/alexbozinovic [https://linktr.ee/alexbozinovic]Mike Cronin: https://www.instagram.com/bonesnake3 [https://www.instagram.com/bonesnake3]Zach Martina: https://linktr.ee/ZachMartina [https://linktr.ee/ZachMartina]