Detroit Lions fans anxiously wait for the second year of Dan Campbell’s head coaching tenure in the Motor City. Year one went the way many expected, with the team trying to survive the mess left from the disaster known as the Matt Patricia era.
Expectations are growing as the calendar turns closer and closer to the beginning of the season. Here are three things fans anticipate seeing in year two of the Dan Campbell era.
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The Detroit Lions Need To Maintain Offensive Stability
It’s no question that the Lions struggled mightily in the first half of the season on the offensive side of the ball. The team finished the year 22nd in overall offensive efficiency, and coach Campbell relieved first-year offensive coordinator, Anthony Lynn of his duties before the season ended. Jared Goff seemed to be handcuffed for most of the season until Campbell took over the offensive play calling in Week 10 last season.
Ben Johnson, the tight ends coach last season for the Lions, will now have control of the offensive play-calling duties this season. With Goff more familiar with the schemes Campbell has installed, the offense should see a big jump in efficiency this season.
The Detroit Lions Need To See Continued Success From Aaron Glenn’s Defense
The biggest surprise of the 2021 season was the Lions’ defense. Coach Campbell found a diamond that many folks in the league thought was still a piece of coal when he brought Aaron Glenn on to lead the defensive unit. Glenn brought a vicious tenacity and made the most of what the team had on the depth chart.
The defense was decimated by injuries, including season-ending injuries from Jeff Okudah and a blossoming star in the secondary, Amani Oruwariye. Still, the team ended the year as one of the more efficient defenses in the league, coming in at 7th overall in efficiency per ESPN’s season statistics.
The Detroit Lions Need To See More Total Wins At Season’s End
This is a given but not necessarily something Lions fans have seen in previous coaching tenures. Dan Campbell has brought the fire and desire that the fan base has been searching for from a leader. However, rah, rah coach talk can only go so far in keeping a fanbase invested. Winning cures every terrible problem that could be plaguing a franchise. Just ask the Cleveland Browns and their latest off-season acquisition.
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The franchise hasn’t seen a winning record since 2017, under the helm of Jim Caldwell. While, for the most part, fans seem to be patient with Campbell, another three-win season wouldn’t be ideal for Campbell’s reputation in Detroit.
The Lions can see considerable gains in every aspect of the game in the 2022 season. The team must continue to build on what worked for them last season in their winning performances over the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals last season.
The passing game taking more shots downfield will be something fans will see more of this season. While on the other side of the ball, with another season in Glenn’s system, and the addition of Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions’ defense should be one of the better pass-rushing units in the league.
