[ad_1]
AP Photo Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches from the sideline during a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Friday in Detroit.
DETROIT (AP) – The Detroit Lions have made a lot of changes this offseason by hiring a new general manager, coach and quarterback.
The franchise with a playoff victory since winning the NFL title in 1957 has just experienced three consecutive seasons of double-digit losses.
Detroit could be doomed again to at least 10 losses.
General manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell could potentially overthrow the team. It’s simply hard for anyone outside of the organization to imagine that happening this season with quarterback Jared Goff and a defense that might not be better than last year’s historically bad unit.
Goff, however, refuses to believe that the lowly Lions are doomed.
“Internally, our expectations are to win matches and, above all, to win the division” said Goff.
If Detroit could pull off this mind-blowing feat, it would be the franchise’s first divisional title since the 1993 season.
Left tackle Taylor Decker, drafted 16th overall by Detroit in 2016, hopes the redesigned front office, coaching staff and roster will make a difference.
“I will welcome any change that will help us win because we have lost a lot more than I liked here” Decker said. “I want to see Detroit become a winner.”
Campbell gets his first chance to lead a team in the league at the start of a season. In 2015 in Miami, he was 5-7 as an interim coach with a team that had 1-3 when he was promoted.
Campbell knows there are people who doubt he can help Detroit become a winner and he hopes his players are motivated by those who believe they will fail on the pitch.
“If you are a real competitor it kicks you in the back.” he said. “I like it and I know the guys we brought here, they love it.
“We have something to prove and we want to prove it. “
LUMINOUS AREA
Detroit braced for some jokes when he drafted another tight end in the first round two years ago, winning TJ Hockenson with the No.8 pick overall. No one is laughing at the decision now.
Hockenson won Pro Bowl honors last season. He’s gotten in better physical condition this year, setting him up to be Goff’s go-to target and possibly considered one of the league’s best tight ends along with Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and Las Vegas’ Darren Waller. .
“He’s a great player and I think he has all the skills to be one of those guys,” said Goff.
DEFENSE SORRY
The Lions allowed 519 points – 32.4 per game – and 6,716 yards last season to break the team records set by their team without a win in 2008 and rank among the worst in NFL history.
Holmes did not want to spend a lot of money on free agency to fill the defense gap, as the team was in rebuild mode, and missed out on a defensive player in the first round.
EARTH GAME
The Lions’ best chance of appearing in games, and possibly winning games, will be to keep their defense off the field with a time-consuming running game.
Andre Swift, who had 878 yards of offense and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, and former Green Bay Packer Jamaal Williams give the team a solid pair of running backs. The offensive line appears to be relatively strong led by Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow and Decker.
SEND HELP
Detroit’s weakest position group appear to be its receivers.
The Lions let Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola walk in free agency. They missed the addition of veterans to replace them in free agency, releasing Breshad Perriman and Geronimo Allison after the preseason.
Detroit is desperate for wide receiver Tyrell Williams to stay healthy, second-year pro Quintez Cephus is developing quickly and Kalif Raymond, 27, enjoys passing after returning kicks and punts for four teams from the NFL.
The Lions are also hoping they caught a flyer by acquiring Trinity Benson from Denver as part of a trade, adding a receiver who had been on the Broncos’ practice squad for the past two years and was likely to be released.
SEWELL shaking
Detroit drafted offensive tackle Penei Sewell with the No. 7 overall selection this year and he’s been growing pains in the preseason, being beaten by saves.
“Everyone knows he has all the physical tools in the world” Decker said. “I think for him it’s just rehearsals.”
[ad_2]
Source link