Picking Apart Pettigrew: Questions For the Lions' Rookie TE

Many Lion fans were surprised and upset when the Lions took tight end Brandon Pettigrew out of Oklahoma State University with the 20th overall pick in April's NFL Draft. Given the opportunity to speak with Brandon, here are a few things I'd like to know.

Being the first tight end drafted by the Lions in the first round since David Lewis in 1984 (coincidentally also the 20th overall selection), what do you feel is your biggest asset that you bring to a team in need of so much help?

Many of your critics are quick to point out that you went without a touchdown reception in 2008, although you missed some time with an ankle injury. Talk about your ability in terms of being a red-zone target, and how do you feel you would compliment WR Calvin Johnson?

Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan is known around the league as a guy who will drastically improve a running game that ranked 30th in the league in 2008. The Lions are catching a lot of flack for not addressing the offensive line in the draft. How do you personally feel you will help contribute to the betterment of the running game?

With the addition of yourself and rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Lion offense is set to look drastically different. How do you feel the two of you will help each other prepare for the upcoming season and how important is it that the two of you get on the same page in terms of learning and knowing the playbook?

After the struggles the organization had last year, how special is it that your name could be associated with turning this team around?

It's a typical question to be asked what the biggest difference between the college and pro game are, but having experienced a few NFL workouts, what have you found yourself struggling with the most?

Pairing up with a guy like Calvin Johnson has to have you excited about the explosiveness in the passing game. What does having a guy like Calvin being the go-to guy do for your game?

In the same vein, you've said that Jason Witten is your favorite NFL tight end. How much of that is the way he plays the game, and how much of it is your hometown roots?

Witten had 35 catches for 347 yards and a touchdown in his rookie campaign. Do you think you can beat that? Give me a realistic stat line for your rookie season, receptions/yards/TD.