Detroit Lions’ reason for 2022 pessimism has light at the end of the tunnel

One position is an easy reason for pessimism for the 2022 Detroit Lions, but better days can only be ahead.

A couple bad games skew the numbers some, but the Detroit Lions‘ run defense was undoubtably bad in 2021 (28th in the league, 135.1 yards per game). Some of that can be chalked up to a linebacking corps that didn’t make a lot of impact plays.

As reflected by NFL Inside Edge (courtesy of Lions Wire), the Lions’ linebackers were prominent offenders last season when it came to missed tackles and broken tackles. Alex Anzalone, who was nearly an every-snap player for the first 12 games last season before injuries hit, was credited with 21 missed tackles by Pro Football Focus and 15 missed tackles by Pro Football Reference.

The Lions linebacking corps looks a little different now, with Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Jamie Collins (who was released early last season) gone. Chris Board and Jarrad Davis were added for depth in free agency, and sixth-round pick Malcolm Rodriguez was added in the draft.

Detroit Lions’ reason for pessimism in 2022 at least has brighter days ahead

It might have been nice to see the Lions draft a linebacker before the sixth round. But it is what is, and there’s nothing really to quarrel with in regard to the picks that preceeded Rodriguez.

The 33rd Team chose one reason for each NFL to be pessimistic heading into the 2022 season, and the reason for the Lions was almost too easy.

"Detroit Lions: Linebacker TalentThe Lions have attempted to rebuild their defense under second-year head coach Dan Campbell, but it is still far from perfect, particularly in the linebacker group. Last season, the Lions gave up 135.1 rushing yards per game, which was the 5th-most in the league. Part of this huge issue stemmed from the linebacker group, and it appears that Detroit still hasn’t found clear solutions in this area. Detroit re-signed veteran Alex Anzalone and drafted Oklahoma State standout Malcolm Rodriguez, but these two players are certainly far from being some of the better linebackers in the NFC North. Moreover, Detroit is also depending on second-year LB Derrick Barnes to shoulder some of the load, yet it has not been determined if he will be a mainstay in this group of players."

The prevailing angle here has been the fewer defensive snaps Anzalone plays in 2022, if at all possible, the better. He remains an unquestioned starter right now, but Rodriguez could easily push him for that job between now and Week 1.

The competition for jobs and roles in the Lions’ linebacking corps should be wide open, with Barnes, Board, Davis and others also somewhere in the conversation until proven otherwise.

So a reason for concern, pessimism or what have you for Detroit looking to the 2022 season at least appears to have better days ahead–based on what should be a full meritocracy at linebacker. Even if the Lions’ coaches like Anzalone.