The Detroit Lions will take center stage next Tuesday when HBO's popular series Hard Knocks premieres.
HBO will be following the Lions throughout training camp, giving fans their first glimpse of the team before the start of the regular season. Here are five stories HBO should follow during their time with the Lions.
Dan Campbell, A Rising Star patrolling the sideline
After head coach Dan Campbell's introductory press conference last season, many in the national media were ready to write off Campbell's tenure as Lions coach before it even began. Yes, Campbell has a dominant, larger-than-life personality.
However, anyone who has followed this team longer than an introductory press conference will tell you this is exactly what this franchise needs. Campbell is a shot of adrenaline into a franchise desperately looking for a leader that capsulate the city of Detroit. One has to think that HBO has plenty of footage to show fans more of Dan Campbell.
A Collection Of New Talent On The Detroit Lions Roster
The coaching staff has not been shy of the talent that 2022 first-round pick Aidan Hutchinson has already shown in the early days of training camp. Getting a closer look at Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, and Josh Paschal (pending severity of injury) will be a welcoming sight to fans who feel this draft class could be one of the strongest that Detroit has hauled in recent memory.
Another new name that seems to be on the radar is sixth-round pick, Malcolm Rodriguez. Getting to know the rookie class is definitely something fans would like to see.
The Resurrection Of Jeff Okudah
Being a top-five pick can already be an insurmountable amount of pressure. Not having the best rookie season, which eventually ended prematurely due to injury, can almost become too much to overcome. Jeff Okudah was ready to prove all his doubters wrong last season before an unfortunate season-ending injury sidelined the former Buckeye from showcasing his talent to a new coaching staff.
Okudah has had a long road back and will hope to prove he is the player Detroit drafted third overall a few years back. Seeing how Okudah made his long-awaited return makes for an excellent spotlight story.
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New Year, New Jared Goff
Jared Goff is no stranger to the Hard Knocks crew on the sideline. During his rookie season with the Los Angeles Rams, Goff was the focal point of the Hard Knocks series that welcomed a team to the city of angels.
That baby face rookie is now a baby face grizzled veteran. Goff was traded to the Lions before the start of last season and saw his former team win the big one with the guy he was traded for under center. Goff has a lot to prove in his second season in Detroit. The seventh-year QB wants to show that the term “bridge QB” isn't something the Lions need to worry about.
What It Means To Be A Fan Of The Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions fans are a special breed. The fans show up year after year, not expecting much, but having our hearts tell us, “What if this is the year?” The city of Detroit isn't the same old city that has been described in the past.
This isn't the same old Detroit, and these aren't the same old Lions. It would be a great piece to share on the show to show how the city has grown and how deeply rooted the Lions' fandom is.
