Detroit Lions: Death and taxes are the only ‘musts’ in this world
By Robert Jones
The Detroit Lions are certainly experiencing growing pains under Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia, but is it really as dire as the media would have us believe?
The Detroit Lions have plenty on their plate this offseason but have they already reached the critical stage?
For any Lions fan who has run his eyes through the headlines, every day has one media outlet or pundit saying the Lions ‘must’ do something or another or all hope is lost. I suppose that’s just part of being a Lions fan; the sky is always falling.
After 60 years of futility there really isn’t much middle ground to work from.
Now the reality of this offseason is that there are several areas that need to improve before this franchise will be ready to legitimately challenge for any kind of title, but the belief that no progress was made during their disappointing 2018 campaign is simply not true.
Just like the notion that one or two players, regardless of however productive they have been on any level, are the difference between the Lions being winners or losers.
There are a number of names that have popped up in association with the Lions that could certainly help give them an opportunity to win games, but they also don’t guarantee any titles.
Let’s be honest, the Lions have been also-rans for decades because of failed regimes and poor personnel decisions. The lifeblood of any championship contender is the talent on their roster, but of even more importance is the tone and direction set by their coaching staff and front office.
Wayne Fontes and Jim Caldwell are easily the Lions two most successful coaches during the long drought this franchise and its fans have suffered through since its last world championship in 1957.
Both had a certain amount of talent on their rosters and both connected with their players to a degree that brought out the best in those players. But between Fontes and Caldwell, they won only one playoff game. So there has to be more to it then just popularity with their players and talent.