Information Sourced From: Lions Assistant Coaches Press Conference, PFF
The Lions open their season at home this year, and I can’t think of a more fun place to be. Since the Lions began winning under Dan Campbell, Ford Field has had an amazing atmosphere. However, the atmosphere alone will not guide the Lions to victory. In a recent video I went over the keys to victory, today I will review three players who may make or break the Lions season opener against the Saints. Let’s dig in!
I Wouldn’t Call Him Washed Up
A lot of people might call Avante Maddox “washed up” or a “ok backup” but I wouldn’t use either of those terms and neither would Lions’ assistant head coach and safeties coach Jim O’Neal. To quote O’Neal directly Maddox is “a pretty damn good safety”, and I would agree with him wholeheartedly. He certainly isn’t Kirby Joseph or Brian Branch, but he is a quality starter in this league. Maddox will have to answer the call, and play without rust in the Lions season opener to help ensure victory. I, for one, expect that he will do so.
Don’t take my word for it. Swing on over to Pro Football Focus (linked above) and check out his grading for last year. Pressed into service, Maddox ended the year with a 79.1 overall PFF grade, good for 10th out of all safeties. He was also credited with 1 interception and 3 pass breakups. Sure, he wasn’t a full time starter for all of last year. However, those stats are nothing to sneeze at.
Juice Scruggs, the Center of the Universe (or Offensive Line)
Now, I don’t have a lot of stats to throw around with Scruggs. However, I have read from multiple good sources (including Detroit Lions Podcast) that some of Scruggs best time in the NFL has been played at center, and without a lot of help around him. I’m not saying he has the best guards in the league. Ratledge is great, but hasn’t reached the elite tier yet. Given that there is still uncertainty on who will play at left guard (Mahogany, Bartch… or both), it’s not the perfect situation. However, he does have two book end tackles, and a great offensive line coach to help him. Scruggs is yet another player that will have to answer the call, and play well, for the Lions to lock in a victory.
Isaac TeSlaa - Leaping and Learning
Hear me out on this one. I know that we have two top tier, premier wide receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. That is a fact that can’t be denied. However, during camp this summer TeSlaa seemed less productive than normal. Sure, he made his big plays, but something was missing. Coach Campbell did state midway through camp that they had “put a lot on his plate” and referenced areas of growth they were challenging TeSlaa in. Perhaps he was settling into this. Nonetheless, TeSlaa’s ability to jump and high point the ball as well as box out opposing defensive backs with his big frame is a piece this offense relies on. The offense will need to continue to rely on to land a victory in their first game.
There’s No Guarantees
I often get very optimistic with my writing. I love the Lions, and have for nearly 20 years now. However there are no guarantees in the NFL. The Saints are coming off of a losing season, but they had momentum at the end of their season. Things are starting to come together. The Lions can’t afford to be caught off guard by this team. Dropping game one would be a bad look not only for the team, but for many of the changes that Campbell has implemented this offseason. We can hope though, and cheer, and sing “Forward Down the Field”. With any luck, our Lions will march off victorious and begin the season on the right foot.
What might need to happen for a victory dance is that the mistakes of the few can be overcome by the better play of the many. I don't believe that much inertia one way or another carries over from the end of one year to the beginning of the next season.