By George B, Eichorn
“Built to Roar” is the call to action and the marketing theme for the Detroit Lions as they open the new NFL season on Sunday, September 13 hosting the New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. at Ford Field. A sell-out crowd is expected.
After a disappointing 9-8 record in the highly competitive NFC North last season, Coach Dan Campbell and General Manager Brad Holmes have tweaked the roster and focused on improving the team’s chance to finally make it to the Super Bowl. Not since 1957 have the Lions made the NFL Championship Game as they won it all over the Cleveland Browns.
New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing takes over the playcalling from Campbell who took over calling plays in week 10. Campbell is 48-36-1 in five seasons at the helm. His team is 2-2 in four playoff games.
Quarterback Jared Goff is back leading the offense but workhorse running back David Montgomery was traded to Houston. In his place is Isiah Pacheco, a veteran from the Kansas City Chiefs, who was hurt much of camp and will miss the first four games of the new season. Pro Bowl RB Jahmyr Gibbs is Goff’s no. 1 backfield weapon.
Detroit’s backup quarterback is Joshua Dobbs who beat out rookie free agent Luke Altmyer in training camp. Altmyer made the team’s practice squad. Also making the 53-man roster: running backs Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki
All Pro wide receiver Aman-Ra St. Brown is one of the NFL’s best and the improving Jameson Williams and slow-starter Isaac TeSlaa are also starters. Off the bench is Tay Martin as the Lions go with just four wideouts. Vet Tom Kennedy is on the practice squad and activated frequently over the past few years.
The Lions revamped offensive line has All Pro Penei Sewell moving to left tackle. First-round draft pick Blake Miller, Juice Scruggs, Tate Rutledge, Larry Borom, Christian Mahogany, Miles Frazier and Ben Bartch. New center Cade Mays is on the injured list and that hurts the Lions. Tight ends are Sam LaPorta – who needs to stay healthy – Brock Wright and Jackson Meeks who converted from wide receiver and beat out veteran Tyler Conklin who made the practice squad.
Detroit’s front-line defense looks solid. The “D Line” is led by all-everything Aidan Hutchinson. Linemen and edge guys include Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, Mekhi Wingo, Tyler Lacy, D.J. Wonnum, Derrick Moore (a U-M Wolverine), Ahmed Hassanein, Skyler Gill-Howard, Levi Onwuzurike and Eric O’Neill. Payton Turner is on IR.
Linebackers are Pro Bowler Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Devin White, Malcom Rodriguez, Trevor Nowaske and rookie Jimmy Rolder. Damone Clark is on the injured list.
Perhaps the most shaken up unit is the defensive backfield. Safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch opened camp on the physically unable to perform list. Terrion Arnold was released after allegations of his involvement in a serious crime became known. D.J. Reed, Rock Ya-Sin, Ennis Rakestraw, Roger McCreary, Khalil Dorsey, Keith Abney II, Chuck Clark, Thomas Harper, Christian Izien and Avonte Maddox comprise the secondary.
Special teams are led by kicker Jake Bates (who looked shaky in pre-season), punter Jack Fox, long-snapper Hogan Hatten and kick returners Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki.
The Lions have a softer schedule than last season. After opening at home against the Saints, Detroit shuffles off to Buffalo for a PRIME matchup against the Bills in their new stadium. The Jets visit Ford Field on September 27 followed by road games at Carolina and Arizona before a bye week.
Rivals Green Bay and Minnersota invade Ford Field on October 25 and November 1, respectively. Detroit plays at Miami on November 8 followed by a “home” game versus AFC Champion New England in Munich, Germany November 15. Tampa Bay visits the Lions November 22 followed by Chicago on Thanksgiving Day on CBS. December starts in Atlanta, home to Tennessee, at Minnesota and home to the Giants. January has roads games at Chicago and Green Bay which is a difficult way to end the season. Predicted finish: 11-6 and on to the Super Bowl to face Kansas City.
Dan Miller, Lomas Brown and T.J. Lang return for radio accounts on flagship 97.1FM The Ticket. Miller is in his 22nd season calling Lions games.
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com or X/Twitter @sandgsports99.
