The Retool Needs to Begin Now

Christmas brought a ton of fun in my household, excitement, gifts, and good food. However, there was one portion of the day that was, for lack of better wording, an utter disappointment. You see, I am generally a pretty optimistic Lions fan, but when I watch my favorite team lose to an offense that couldn’t muster one hundred yards passing… It doesn’t leave much room for optimism. The playoffs are in the rearview mirror and it is time to move on.

The retool needs to begin now. Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have earned at least some level of mercy. They have brought us two division championships in back to back years, and stacked the team with pro bowlers. While I acknowledge the need to get better at depth in some spots (notably interior offensive line, defensive end, safety): we have made progress. That said we need to make some changes, and it can start now.

While Dan and Brad can’t start hiring coaches, and signing free agents until the end of the year, they can take stock of what they have in house a little further. I can think of no better way to do this than by playing a number of backups and practice squad players against the Bears. Now, I hear you, it’s Ben Johnson and I want to beat him too! However, can our performance possibly be worse than the turnover ridden, lackluster performance that we were given on Christmas day? Probably not.

I thought about going position group by position group but lets make this easy. I have 5 places I would like to see our depth potentially play. (Please note I know I suggest elevating more practice squad players than is allowed, I am aware of this, these are simply thoughts).

1. Everyone’s favorite: Backup QBs

We need to take a long look at the backup QB position. If Kyle Allen really is a good stylistic backup for Goff, I’m good with it. I just need to see it against a non-preseason defense. Also elevate CJ Beathard and let Goff sit this one out and play the mentor. This sets you up to know if you should pursue a developmental or veteran QB in the offseason.

TLDR: Start Kyle Allen, Elevate CJ Beathard, Sit Jared Goff

2. For the love of all things holy, Offensive Line

Let’s get all the young guys out there. Eguakun has one more elevation by my math, so let’s start him at center. For left guard, play Christian Mahogany and give him a chance to keep knocking that rust off. For right guard, play Kayode Awosika (stay with me here), while we know largely what he is I would like to see Frazier at tackle. Next start Miles Frazier at Left Tackle so we can get more time with him, and see how he fares at tackle. Put good ‘ole Dan Skipper at right tackle, and let the vets breathe for a week. EDITED: Wasn’t thinking, put Giovanni Manu at right tackle and let the vets breathe for a week.

The offensive line has struggled. They know it, they don’t want to come out and play poorly. Let’s see what we have for the future, so we can draft well.

TLDR: LT: Miles Frazier, LG: Christian Mahogany, C: Kingsley Eguakun, RG: Kayode Awosika, RT: Dan Skipper Giovanni Manu

3. Spread it around: Wide Receivers

It’s pretty simple, sit Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. I love these guys, but again we know what they are capable of. Let’s have some more Isaac TeSlaa as WR1, Tom Kennedy as WR2, and Dominic Lovett mixed in there. Even if it’s not all the sets with these receivers (it could get messy if you played a backup QB too). All I am suggesting is we have a lot of talent, let’s see what that talent can do.

TLDR: Play TeSlaa, Kennedy, and Lovett a considerable amount of snaps.

4. Give me Hassanein, or give me death! (Well not really)

Marcus Davenport isn’t it folks. I respect his dedication to try to get himself right over the offseason. He has tried, but he’s not it. Sit him, bring in Ahmed Hassanein from the practice squad. He is brimming with rawness and athleticism. See if he and Hutch (yes play hutch) can do something together? Heck you might even cut Davenport if there’s no negative cap ramifications (I haven’t looked), and then you don’t use a practice squad elevation.

TLDR: I’m a Hassanein fanboy, and Marcus Davenport should take his millions and sail the Caribbean.

5. I would normally say Defensive Backs…

I would normally say start the backup defensive backs, but we already are. We need help at Defensive back. So maybe sign someone off the street? Find a guy sitting on his couch binging Stranger Things and bring him in. Oh and I would also like to see more of Nick Whiteside and Khalil Dorsey.

TLDR: More Nick Whiteside, Khalil Dorsey, and perhaps [insert random guy here]

Finally: Get back to fun football.

This might not make us win, but we didn’t win last week. Maybe we need some hungrier guys playing. I’m not saying cut the others, but find a spark. Last week and the weeks prior certainly didn’t have that spark. Perhaps if we get something going against the “Almighty Bears” we can find the fun in the game again, and spark a fire in this team that we arguably have been missing since the Commanders game.

Thanks for reading my first post! Let’s go Lions!