The Detroit Lions offensive success starts on the line
By Robert Jones
The Detroit Lions feel confident that a successful offseason has the offense ready to bounce back, but it all starts in the trenches.
The Detroit Lions offseason activities are at about the halfway point. There will be a few mandatory practices later this week before the final voluntary practices next week. Then it’ll be summer vacation until the start of training camp.
To this point, all the feedback out of Allen Park from the coaches and players has all been positive. Almost to the point you might suspect they will stop and hold hands while singing kumbaya after one of Matt Patricia’s extra-curricular running drills.
Yes, indeed hope springs eternal during O.T.A’s. Every team thinks they have a shot at the playoffs and every team is putting forth their best face for the media.
Now all of this is not to disparage what the Lions have accomplished this offseason so far. The truth of the matter is that on paper they have been successful in free agency and the draft. And even though many key players have either not shown up for the ‘voluntary’ activities or been on the sidelines, this has simply allowed Matt Patricia and his staff to get an extra long look at some of the new faces on the roster.
All of which is a positive because, in theory, Patricia knows what to expect from his veterans who returned from last season as well as his prize free agent signee Trey Flowers who played under him in New England before Patricia came to Detroit.
So while the new faces on Matt Patricia’s defense try to assimilate his complex system, his returning stalwarts prepare to take it to the next level. Among the media and fans, there are definitely some doubters out there about how much, if at all, the Lions defense will improve, but the general feeling overall is that this unit will be better. That they will have the ability to make some plays and get big stops.
Which means that the majority of the pressure will be on the offense to bounce back from a disappointing season and be much more productive.