Lions head coach Dan Campbell expects “a jump” from second-year players

The Lions got a lot out of their 2021 rookie class, but head coach Dan Campbell expects more from those guys in Year 2.

If somewhat by necessity for such a young team in the first year of a rebuild, the Detroit Lions played a lot of rookies in 2021 and the reviews of the class were broadly strong. Heading into a new season, those now-second year guys are lined up to be a prominent part of the core for head coach Dan Campbell.

During his first media session of camp, Campbell was asked if he was excited to see a second-year jump from a lot of players. He turned it toward noting his expectations for some of those Lions’ second-year players. Credit to Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire, who’s on-site in Allen Park, for the exact quotes.

"We’re counting on it, we’ve got to have it,” Campbell stated. “I mean, if they don’t make a jump, we’re in trouble.That’s the bottom line because those guys are kind of our core and our foundation. I mean (WR Amon-Ra) St. Brown’s got to be better, (RT Penei) Sewell’s got to be better, (DL) Levi (Onwuzurike)’s got to be better, (DL Alim McNeill) Mac’s got to be better, (LB Derrick) Barnes’s got to be better because if they’re not, we’re not going to go anywhere. So, we’re looking forward to it and we’re going to push them to be there and get there.”"

Dan Campbell expects more from his core young players

It’s hard to quibble with much of what Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell did as rookies last year. But St. Brown did start slowly, and Sewell had some hiccups in pass protection.

Beyond those guys, expectations are high (internally or otherwise) for Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill, as the Lions doubled-up on interior d-lineman with back-to-back picks in the 2021 draft after taking Sewell seventh overall.

Barnes showed some flashes, mixed with struggles, as a rookie last year. But he definitely has an opportunity in front of him, as the Lions are lined up for wide-open competition at linebacker.

Campbell has previously pointed to the biggest jump a player makes is from Year 1 to Year 2. He is backing up that sentiment by setting the bar high for those second-year guys.