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It's not even training camp but this Lions rival could have a bust problem
Detroit Lions v Green Bay Packers Stacy Revere/GettyImages

We've got about a month before training camps start kicking off around the NFL, which is an eternity in football terms. Somehow, for the next 4-5 weeks, we're going to have to try and find things to hopelessly worry about. It's not glamorous work, but someone's gotta do it.

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But instead of worrying about the Lions – which we've all done plenty of this offseason – maybe we should all try just being gigantic haters for the next month. Spending the next few weeks poking holes in every other NFC North team's title chances sounds way more cathartic than having the same conversation about the Lions' interior offensive line for the 350th straight day. And we don't even need to look all that hard for ammunition: in a new write-up from The Athletic, Lions fans got served the perfect talking point for this final stretch of Offseason Discourse.

The Packers failed to address their pass rushing problems this offseason

"Will Lukas Van Ness play like a first-round pick? The Packers’ pass rush was too inconsistent for general manager Brian Gutekunst’s liking last season, but he has opted to trust the guys already on the team instead of making a splash offseason addition. The player who needs to take the biggest jump this season, perhaps on the entire team, is 2023 first-round defensive end Lukas Van Ness. He has yet to break out, and his emergence could be the key to a more consistent pass rush, not only because it would mean more production from him but also because it would free up Rashan Gary from double teams and chips that may have slowed him down in the past."

"The Packers' GM hated their pass-rush production last season and did absolutely nothing about it" is my kind of take. I'm honestly a little surprised we haven't talked more about this already – if this recent run of Eagles/Chiefs Super Bowls have taught us anything, it's that you definitely, totally, absolutely don't need to rush the passer. I'm sure the Packers will be just fine letting QBs sit back there for as long as they want. Why trade for Maxx Crosby, Trey Hendrickson, or Myles Garrett when you're on the verge of a Lukas Van Ness breakout season (not to be confused with all the other Lukas Van Ness breakout seasons that we heard so much about).

Maybe the Lions' line problems aren't that big of a deal after all.


This article first appeared on Side Lion Report and was syndicated with permission.

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