Hats off to you detroit lions. They accomplished something many never believed would happen, turning one of the NFL's star-studded franchises into one of the best teams in the league. The Lions will lock out the NFC North for the first time ever and host a playoff game as the NFC's No. 3 seed.
What are the biggest reasons for the Lions' turnaround? I wrote about the three main reasons why Detroit has emerged as a favorite to win in 2023.
Brad Holmes Draft
When general manager Brad Holmes took over from Bob Quinn in 2021, the Lions were in big trouble with the draft. The 2019 and 2020 drafts were a disaster, with the exception of TJ Hockenson and Jonah Jackson. In fact, of the four drafts prior to Holmes' arrival, only two players had a positive impact on the Lions this season: Jackson and Frank Ragnow. Holmes inherited almost nothing to work with and launched one of the best three-year draft runs we've seen in a long time.
In 2021, Holmes drafted Penei Sewell with the second pick. He finished No. 7 overall and is now one of the best right tackles in the NFL. Sewell was the vocal and emotional leader of the offense and the face of the aggression and physicality that define the current Detroit Lions. Second-round pick Levi Onwuzurike has battled injuries, but the rest of his draft was notable. Defensive tackle Alim McNeil has had a breakout season this season, safety Ifeetu Melifonwu has been the talk of the second half of the season after being promoted to the starting lineup, and Amon-Ra St. Brown is second in the NFL in catches. They are tied for first place. while earning an All-Pro spot. Derrick Barnes, the team's other fourth-round pick, became one of the league's most consistent off-ball linebackers in an impressive third season.
The 2022 class isn't as impactful, but it still feels like a winning draft. Aidan Hutchinson is not a tier 1 edge defender, but he has improved in his second year and is clearly the Lions' best pass rusher. Without him, the front would have been in a really difficult situation. His athleticism and physicality are hallmarks of Aaron Glenn's defense. There are few players who embody the team's aspirations more than Hutchinson. Third-round pick Kirby Joseph led the team with four interceptions. After some midseason setbacks, his increasingly consistent play has been a savior for a Lions defense without Chauncey, Gardner, and Johnson.
Jameson Williams' quiet rise in December was great to watch, but was derailed by injury. His attitude is different than many of the players Detroit drafted during Holmes' tenure, but he ultimately seems more accepted and is paying off as a result. He makes tough catches in the middle of the field, he blocks, and perhaps most importantly, he looks like a real threat after the catch.
It's highly unlikely that this year's rookie class will outperform the other two classes. Three of the team's first four picks are already among the best players in the league at their respective positions. As a rookie, Sam LaPorta was an absolute mess in contested catches, nearly setting NFL records for a rookie tight end in multiple categories. Brian Branch is dominant as a slot cornerback, elite against the run, and has the ability to play any coverage scheme at a high level when it comes to passing downs. Oh, he's also a great blitzer. He's a playmaker in a league with too few defenders.
And what about top pick Jahmil Gibbs? He captured the soul of a man in Week 16 with one of the highlights of the entire NFL season.. Gibbs totaled 945 yards and 10 touchdowns for the season. He averages over 5.2 yards per carry. I think he's already one of the most dangerous players in the league with the ball in his hands.
Even Jack Campbell, the team's second first-rounder this year, was pretty solid when he was called up this season. No GM has ever hit 1.000 in the draft, but Holmes is as close as you can get. His great foresight, eye for talent, and roster construction quickly made the Lions his one of the best rosters in the NFL. That is absolutely the most important part to their success.
Dan Campbell's influence
Batting averages like that don't happen unless coaches develop players like Holmes drafted them like crazy. Almost every player who has settled into or joined the Lions culture has developed under Dan Campbell. The evidence is absolutely everywhere. Campbell has assembled a coaching staff of great teachers, and the results are visible all over the roster.
It's not just player development that makes Campbell a great coach. It's also his in-game decision making. Who would have thought that a player who is not a play-caller would be such a good situational decision-maker as a head coach? By being proactive in fourth-down situations, especially inside the opponent's 40, Campbell has He always found an advantage for his team during the match. He hates shooting field goals, believes his offense can execute in fourth-down situations and manageable situations, and his defense believes in his defense. He gets stops when the offense can't convert. So far this season, it has paid off in a big way.
During the season, the Lions had the second-most fourth-down attempts behind the Panthers, who trailed them all season. They're only converting around league average, but Campbell trusts the process anyway because he knows the analytics are aggressive. Good processes often lead to good results. And few teams have done better than the Lions this season.
Jared Goff
One of the craziest things about the Lions' rebuild is that they did it without an elite quarterback. But admitting that Goff isn't elite isn't the same as calling him trash. The Lions' signal man was a former No. 1 overall pick who many believed couldn't play without Sean McVay, who was ousted by the Rams in relative infamy.
However, Goff flipped that narrative and is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career in 2023. The 29-year-old easily proved to be one of the top quarterbacks in the league at 15-20, especially considering his improvement over three games. Several years in Detroit. Goff has the lowest turnover-worthy play rate, highest adjusted completion rate, and second-fastest time to throw of his career.
Perhaps most importantly, Goff is almost never fired. Detroit has taken quarterbacks down so infrequently this season that only four other teams have taken them down. Obviously, Goff is not elusive, so he avoids these negative plays by being mentally sharp and always making quick decisions from the pocket. Also, His offensive mastery and proper protection settings also help..
Can Goff do enough to get his team to the Super Bowl? Will you win the Super Bowl? That remains to be seen. He's still more limited than the Pat Mahomes and Josh Allens of the world, but few quarterbacks are better at playing structure than him.
