THE DETROIT LIONS OFF-SEASON REVIEW AND CAMP

The Detroit Lions could not have been any hotter to end the 2021-22 season but yet came up short of making the playoffs. This season, they're aiming higher than just missing out, they're looking for the division title!

 

Adding key pieces to the defense was the biggest strategy this off-season by Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes. Starting with free agents CJ Gardner Johnson and Emmanuel Mosley, the Lions really focused on strengthening their secondary. And then adding Brian Branch in the draft, the emphasis on pass defense was very strong by this front office.

 

David Montgomery being added to the run game is going to be interesting to watch after watching Jamaal Williams break the Lions TD record last season and seeing him leave to the Saints hurt the fanbase for sure. Montgomery brings a bit more speed and ability to break tackles and behind this top 5 offensive line, the Lions are sure to keep defensive coordinators up at night with this run game.

 

The draft brought key rookies like Jahmyr Gibbs who will add dynamic speed to the offense and Jack Campbell who will be a steady linebacker for years to come in the Lions defense. Branch and Sam Laporta are huge additions to the team that have already shown they can add new phases to the team on their respective sides. This Lions rookie class looks to be one of the best in the Holmes era and 4 of them are starters day one.

 

 

The only thing not improved was the interior defensive line, but the Lions hope to rely on McNeill, Buggs, the returning Levi Onwuzurike and rookie Brodric Martin to help with the historically bad run defense from last season.

 

This camp, the emphasis was to show how well their offensive line can work together at establishing the run with Gibbs and Montgomery in the backfield. Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, and Penei Sewell are a unit that brings fear to defenses with their ability to overpower and to pull on blocks to create huge lanes. This is their first healthy start to a season together and the running game might be even better than ever. And that's after a historic running season last year!

 

 

Amon-Ra St Brown is the best player on this team and one of the best receivers in football today. His ability to get open and run after the catch opens the field for every other receiver on the offense for Jared Goff. St Brown was the star of camp, whether it was against his own defense or in joint practices.

Jameson Williams starts the season on a suspension for gambling on college sports despite the NFL never really giving that rule to players until after the fact but that's another discussion. The rest of the Lions receivers will have to make up for this loss for the first 6 games but OC Ben Johnson is very creative and can come up with a scheme to get anyone open at any time.

 

Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston are the pass rushing stars of this team. Both were rookies last year and had 9.5 and 8 sacks last season respectively. Hutchinson has only gotten bigger, stronger and faster since that time and looks to be ready to really breakout. Houston only played in 9 games last season and was able to produce at the pace he did. Given more snaps and more experience, he might be the best pass rush specialist in the league by the end of this year.

 

The Lions are a young and hungry football team going into this season. Not having won a playoff game since 1991, this franchise is hoping this is the year they win and take the monkey off of their backs. The NFC North might be theirs for the taking and they're going to have a lot of eyes on them this year.

Let's get ready for kickoff against the Chiefs!