Why Detroit Lions Will Prove Pre-Season Prediction Wrong

Many of the veteran staff members are still with the team. It’s an indication of how much they believe in this team’s future. O-line coach Hank Fraley was heavily courted by Seattle. He chose to remain in Detroit. Now, he’s been promoted to the run game coordinator in addition to his other duties.

Other returning staffers include Scottie Montgomery the assistant head/running backs coach, and quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell, who has helped cement Jared Goff’s ascent into the MVP discussion. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp presides over one of the best special teams units in the league with Jack Fox, the NFL’s number 1 ranked punter, and Jake Bates, a field goal kicker with a 95.5% accuracy rate.

Campbell also sought outside recruits to replace lost staff.  Two of the most exciting new members are offensive coordinator John Morton and running backs coach Tashard Choice.  Morton, the Denver Broncos’ former passing game coordinator, was responsible for the rapid development of rookie quarterback Bo Nix last year. A finalist for the Offensive Rookie of the Year, Nix led Denver to its first postseason appearance since 2015. 

The decision to hire Choice to coach the NFL’s top running back duo, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, is a stroke of genius. Choice was the running backs coach at Georgia Tech, where one of his star recruits was Gibbs. Under his tutelage, Gibbs became a standout collegiate talent, and the two maintain a very close bond.

Why The Expert Predictions Got It Wrong

But as great as the coaching staff might be, it takes top talent to achieve NFL greatness. Fortunately, Holmes and Campbell built one of the NFL’s most talented rosters. Holmes, a true scouting genius, has an innate ability to recognize raw, undervalued talent. A few years ago, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described a prospect, stating, “There’s nothing dazzling about his athletic profile or overall game, but he’s a solid football player with a chance to become a starting slot in the future.” Fortunately, Holmes viewed Amon-Ra St. Brown quite differently and drafted him with the 112th pick in the 2021 draft.

Campbell, one of the league’s most brilliant motivators, has established a winning team culture built on gritty resilience and strength in unity while highlighting individual talents. The players believe in themselves and each other. They know this team is special. Instead of a newly drafted player shunning the idea of playing for Detroit in favor of taking a year off to play in the UFL, agents are deluged with NFL free agent clients begging to be traded to the Lions.

The Lions Roster Is Superior To Last Year

Despite losing free agent talents Carlton Davis and Kevin Zeitler, Detroit’s roster from a year ago is largely intact. The NFL’s best duo at safety, Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, are back, and fans are rejoicing over the return of a healthy Aidan Hutchinson. Several new faces will bolster Detroit’s defense, including free-agent cornerback D.J. Reed and nose tackle Roy Lopez. Holmes acquired free-agent LB Grant Stuard after his former Tampa Bay coach, Kacy Rodgers, now the Lions’ defensive line coach, recommended him. In addition, the Lions drafted talented rookies, Tyleik Williams and Ahmed Hassanein, to strengthen the defense. The next step is for the coaching staff to integrate the newly acquired veterans and rookies into the team, acquainting them with the Lions culture, their new roles, and the playbook.

New Lions Coaching Staff Bringing Energy and Insight

If the only reason for Detroit’s downgrade was losing Johnson and Glenn, then the Lions have made up for it with their new coaching staff.  The recruits bring a fresh perspective and a different set of eyes. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to spot an issue or fine-tune an individual’s game. Since Holmes and Campbell took over the team, the Lions have been on a trajectory of continuous improvement.  That journey is still ongoing.  

When Detroit was prematurely bumped from the playoffs last year, the hunger for the ultimate prize never wavered. Predicting a 9-8 record this year for the Lions does the team an injustice. But imagine how ridiculous this prediction will look if the Lions finish the season as the Super Bowl Champions.