Detroit Lions: Depth will be one of the biggest keys to the 2020 season

Being lucky will be just as important as being good

The Lions will open the season on September 13th against the Chicago Bears. That means they have three weeks to evaluate players, determine their final roster for the season, and get in as much contact as possible to condition the team without risking any unnecessary injuries.

If that seems like a lot to do and ask for, that’s because it is.

Every year luck plays a part in helping or hindering each team’s ability to make a run at the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Whether it’s bad luck like Matthew Stafford being lost for the second half of last season due to injury, or the good luck of a player coming out of nowhere and performing beyond what was expected of them, luck does help shape the season.

For the Lions, there will be many factors at work to determine their ability to be in the playoff chase. The offense will need to be at least close to as good as it’s expected to be. The defense will have to be much better in all phases of the game, and Matt Patricia and his staff will have to make good in-game decisions.

Yet the biggest job for Patricia will be deciding on the final roster. Injuries happen and depth could very well be at a bigger premium than other seasons, and right now as we look at the roster, depth is a concern.

The defensive line, offensive line, receiver, linebacker, and of course quarterback are all positions of concern. And let’s be honest, Matthew Stafford getting injured is pretty much the worst-case scenario regardless, while all the other positions that the Lions have unproven or little depth at are going to be under a microscope.

Bob Quinn had what was considered a good offseason helping to stock the roster. The projected starting lineups on both sides of the ball look pretty solid outside of the question mark at left guard. However, the process of molding the roster into the image Matt Patricia wants still hasn’t created as much depth as any team would like.

So Matt Patricia will need to be very judicious in formulating his practice sessions every day to help get this team indoctrinated to the system and working together, being physically prepared for the contact that is coming opening day, and most of all, praying that no gets injured.