Detroit Lions: Surprise depth makes the receiving corps dangerous
By Robert Jones
The Detroit Lions spent the majority of the offseason improving the ground game, but the receivers really look like the stars.
As training camp rolls along for the Detroit Lions as well as every other team in the NFL, the evaluation process is unending. Each franchise is trying to figure out their strengths and weaknesses, while also keeping their eyes open for players of interest that become available.
This is the way of professional sports. They usually say how much they like their roster until someone better becomes available. Then suddenly players they had given rave reviews about are on the next bus out of town.
The need to always improve makes professional sports a dicey business to be a part of as an athlete. Yet the days of sports being a game are long gone. Make no mistake about, professional sports are a business.
It’s like being in bed with the mob. It’s not personal that you’ve suddenly been kicked to the curb, it’s just business. And the NFL is the biggest business of them all.
A multi-billion dollar business. Therefore the pressure to win now is much more pressing than it was just five years ago. Coaches want the opportunity to have a say in player acquisitions and who can blame them? After all, the great coaches are usually great for the most part because of great players. Who wants to be stuck with a losing hand and a mandate to win?
In Detroit these days, general manager Bob Quinn has raised the level of talent on a franchise that has won only one playoff game since their last title in 1957.
Along with new head coach Matt Patricia, the molding of this roster has become more specialized this offseason. The Lions run game has been given additional talent on the offensive line and in the backfield.
The defense has added linebackers and more versatile talent to the secondary.
And even though there are still question marks at tight end and on the defensive line, the team seems to have improved overall and looks to be pointed in the right direction.
Yet there is one position group that has not received any big-name help, but seems to be among the deepest in the NFL.