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Detroit Lions: Everyone’s competing for their jobs in 2018

By Steven Mullenax

ALLEN PARK, MI - MAY 10: First round draft pick Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions joint his teammates in the warmups prior to the start of the afternoon drills during the first day of Rookie Camp on May 10, 2013 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ALLEN PARK, MI - MAY 10: First round draft pick Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions joint his teammates in the warmups prior to the start of the afternoon drills during the first day of Rookie Camp on May 10, 2013 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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After implementing massive changes to their coaching staff, the Detroit Lions are fostering more player competition across their roster than ever before.

Football is supposed to be a meritocracy. The best players should always win the starting roles. As we all know, things don’t always work that way in the NFL. Factors like salary, experience, attitude and the trust of the coaching staff all play a part in the decision of who wins that starting job.

But following a recent coaching change, the Detroit Lions are likely closer to a meritocracy now than they have been in years. Unless your name is Matthew Stafford, you are probably looking over your shoulder a bit, wondering if someone is going to make a play for your job.

And that’s a good thing for the Motor City. Competition opens the door for relatively unknown players to earn their place on the roster … and possibly become superstars.

In January, the Lions parted ways with head coach Jim Caldwell after four years. His departure led Detroit to eventually hiring Matt Patricia to take his place. The former New England Patroits’ defensive coordinator then went about the business of bringing in a new coaching staff.

Although Patricia elected to keep offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and the passing game pretty much intact, new coaches were hired to fill positions overseeing the offensive line, the tight ends, the defensive line and the defensive backs. Paul Pasqualoni was also brought on to become the Lions’ new defensive coordinator.

Other changes included in-house adjustments like defensive assistant George Godsey being named the Lions’ new quarterback coach. And Detroit’s former tight end coach, Al Golden, becoming the defense’s new linebacker coach.

The point being here that there are many new faces along the Lions’ coaching staff. And each with their own set of standards, values and opinions. That fact should have many of Detroit’s players on edge and competing to keep their jobs in 2018.

"“I think everybody is threatened by everybody else,” Lions running backs coach David Walker told The Detroit News. “That’s the nature of the business. They’re all mature enough to understand there’s 90 guys on our team now, and in August there won’t be. I don’t say that lightly. Everybody’s competing for their jobs.”"

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At the end of the day, competition across the roster is a great thing for the Detroit Lions. It’s the sense of needing to earn your place that keeps players motivated, especially any veterans who feel at all comfortable about their status on the team. Football is supposed to be a meritocracy. Playing the best players gives the Lions their best chance of ball winning games. That’s the way it should be.

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