Tim Twentyman: Lions Insider

Lions and Brandon Pettigrew want more

Allen Park

Brandon Pettigrew concedes he hasn't lived up to the expectations that come with being the 20th selection in the draft -- not yet.

"I know the expectations and the role I need to play, especially with Calvin (Johnson) down," he said. "I'm sure people expect a lot more than what they're getting out of me in terms of catches and stuff. I've missed a couple passes I could have caught.

"I'm sure I can do more."

The Lions could use more.

Pettigrew has 14 catches for 169 yards with no touchdowns through seven games. Those aren't terrible numbers, but surely not the numbers expected from the first tight end taken in the draft and a player who has started every game this season.

Those numbers look a bit shoddier considering the tight end position has become more involved in the passing game.

In 2009, tight ends are on pace to set the season record for the most receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches for the position. Through Week 8, tight ends have totaled 1,018 receptions, 11,280 receiving yards and 87 touchdown receptions.

"Guys like (Tony) Gonzalez and (Antonio) Gates were the start of that evolution," Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "(Tight end) has really become more of a hybrid.

"We have what I call a three-down tight end in Pettigrew and (Will) Heller, where the guy is as big as a lot of teams' tackles. They are all evolved."

Coach Jim Schwartz has been happy with Pettigrew's progression, but thought he took a step back with a zero-catch performance against Green Bay that included a few missed blocks.

"His blocking has improved significantly over the last couple weeks," Schwartz said.

Redding set for old team

Defensive lineman Cory Redding couldn't get out of Detroit quick enough.

Redding admitted during a Wednesday conference call he asked for the trade that sent him and a fifth-round pick to Seattle for linebacker Julian Peterson .

"I felt like I gave Detroit six years of all that Cory can give, the best that I could," he said. "I just felt like it was time for me to move on. I felt like I did it the right way. I went through the proper channels. I didn't try to leave on bad terms. I wanted to do things professional because this is a business.

"I don't think there is one thing you can pinpoint and say this is why everything went sour in Detroit. It was a collection of things. Ultimately, it was tough that we went down that road and that's something I have to carry the rest of my life, 0-16."

Redding, a reserve, has 10 tackles and no sacks for Seattle.

Shell-shocked

Rams kick returner Danny Amendola has no recollection of walking off the field after being blasted by Lions linebacker Zach Follett during a kickoff return last Sunday.

Follett's hit came in the fourth quarter after Matthew Stafford scored and added a two-point conversion to tie the score at 10.

"When I came down on kickoff, the front-line guy tried to block me," Follett said. "I take that guy on with, like, a full rage, because you've got to hit him to get to the ball carrier. Once I dumped him, I tried to fill the lane, and they're running a return that I know. He opened up right in the lane, and the rest was history."

ttwentyman@detnews.com

By the numbers

24.5 Sacks recorded by Detroit LB Julian Peterson in three seasons (2006-08) in Seattle

102.4 Average passer rating for Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck in two career starts against Detroit

Tight end progression

Tight end is increasingly becoming a key cog in the NFL. Here's a look at season-best numbers compared to this season's pace:

* through week 8

A pack of 6s

Players to lead the NFL in rushing with an average of 6.0 yards or better per carry:

* leads NFL in rushing entering Week 9

Millennium's best

Teams with the most victories since the start of the 2000 season:

Detroit has won 41 games since the 2000 season