By George Eichorn
What’s not to like about the enthusiasm surrounding the 2022 edition of the Detroit Lions?
As the club prepares for its season opener on Sunday, September 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles at
Ford Field (1 p.m. on Fox/Channel 2 & 97.1 FM), coach Dan Campbell has shown off his team to the
football world courtesy of HBO’s popular “Hard Knocks” program.
Everyone is getting a good look inside the Lions camp and headquarters through the HBO lenses.
Coaches barking out challenges and instructions to the offense and defense, rookie rituals including
singing contests involving No. 1 draft pick Aidan Hutchinson and others, film and game reviews and much
more. While the Lions resisted the HBO efforts to feature them in years past it was a great idea opening
the locker rooms and training facilities this time around.
Coming off a miserable 3-13-1 inaugural season, Campbell and GM Brad Holmes are looking to instill
more confidence in a suspect defense and more consistent play offensively. The roster was tweated as
Chris Board (linebacker), DJ Clark (wide receiver), Mike Hughes (cornerback), Jarrad Davis (linebacker),
Garrett Griffin (tight end), DeShon Elliott (safety), Justin Jackson (running back), Benito Jones (D-line)
joined the ranks.
The Lions drafted Hutchinson (defensive end), Jameson Williams (wide receiver), Josh Paschal
(defensive end), Kerby Joseph (safety), James Mitchell (TE), Malcom Rodriguez (linebacker), James
Houston IV (linebacker) and Chase Lucas (cornerback).
On offense, the Lions moved Ben Johnson to offensive coordinator. Starting quarterback Jarod Goff is not
the explosive guy like Matthew Stafford. Clearly the club wants a solid one-two punch of rushing and
receiving for the veteran Goff. Rusher D’Andre Swift needs to stay healthy, he starts along with Jamaal
Williams, a veteran leader, with Craig Reynolds and Godwin Igwebuike in reserve. Fullback Jason
Cabinda is injured.
The wide outs include Clark, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, Quintez Cephus, Tom Kennedy and
others. TJ Hockenson is the starting tight end with Mitchell, Funchess and Brock Wright. The O-line is
anchored by center Frank Ragnow with tackles Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell and guards Tommy Kraemer
and Jonah Jackson. Halapoulivaati Vaitai is injured.
On special teams the Lions start place-kicker Austin Seibert, punter Jack Fox, long snapper Scott Daly
and returners St. Brown and Kalif Raymond.
The defense is led by coordinator Aaron Glenn. Drafting Hutchinson bolstered the D-line. He joins
Michael Brockers, Alim McNeill and Charles Harris. The much-scorned linebacking corps includes Board,
rookie Rodriguez, Alex Anzalone, and reserves Derrick Barnes and Josh Woods. The backfield has
safeties Elliott, Tracy Walker III, Joseph and JuJu Hughes with corners Amani Oruwariye, Jeff Okudah
and reserves Lucas, Will Harris, Mike Hughes and Bobby Price.
The Lions have two quarterbacks behind Goff: they added Nate Sudfeld and brought back Tim Boyle to
their practice squad after cutting Boyle along with David Blough on August 31. Blough is now on
Minnesota’s practice squad.
Look for the Lions to improve by doubling their three wins to six with an outside chance at seven wins in
the 17 game NFL season. Progress needs to be made at all levels on the field as owner Sheila Ford
Hamp is watching closely as Campbell and Holmes mold a hoped-for winning product.
The schedule is a favorable one for the Lions with many of their opponents failing to make the 2021 post-
season. The Buffalo Bills provide Thanksgiving Day opposition with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff on CBS-TV,
Detroit’s only scheduled national telecast.
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com or @Sandgsports99 on Twitter.
Detroit’s Sports Broadcasters: On the Air by George B. Eichorn with an Introduction by Ernie Harwell | Arcadia Publishing Books
