Drew Petzing Better Hit the Ground Running
Look, we all loved Ben Johnson. But even our beloved former offensive coordinator took half a season to find his groove in his first year calling plays. That’s the reality with new coordinators, and Drew Petzing is walking into some massive shoes.
The hope is that Petzing is similar enough to Johnson that this transition feels seamless. Dan Campbell clearly believes he fits the culture and the system. But hoping and knowing are two different things, and we won’t know until the bullets start flying.
How long will it take for Petzing to get comfortable? Will the timing be off early? These are fair questions for a Lions offense that needs to hit the ground running if we want to make another playoff run.
That Late Season Schedule Looks Brutal
Sure, we don’t know what these teams will look like come December. But on paper right now? Yikes.
Two games in the cold. And I mean cold cold. Chicago and Green Bay in late season, where the wind cuts through you like a rusty knife. Then we’ve got to go into Minnesota’s house, plus a Giants team at Ford Field that could be playing spoiler.
That’s a lot of potential chaos when every game matters most. The schedule makers didn’t do us any favors here.
This Offensive Line Has Never Played Together
This is essentially a brand new offensive line, and that should make everyone a little nervous. Yes, there are reasons to feel good about the talent. But talent and chemistry are different animals.
Mays and Miller are new to Allen Park. Sewell is moving to a new position. We still don’t know who wins the left guard job. These guys have never played together like this before, and offensive line chemistry doesn’t just happen overnight.
You have to prepare for the possibility that they don’t gel immediately. Early season growing pains with pass protection or run blocking could derail things fast.
Brian Branch Might Not Be Ready for Week 1
Here’s the big one that should keep Lions fans up at night. Brian Branch may not be on the field for the season opener, and that’s a massive problem for a defense that relies heavily on what he brings to the table.
History tells us that his type of injury usually leans toward a longer recovery timeline. We can’t say it for certain, but the signs aren’t encouraging right now.
There are also questions about Kerby Joseph and Sam LaPorta. I feel better about those two being ready for camp and Week 1, but like Branch, there’s no certainty here. That’s three key players with question marks, and that’s concerning as hell.
Are we overreacting to some bumps in the road or should Lions fans be genuinely worried about these disadvantages? Let me know what’s keeping you up at night in the comments.
I get the concerns but Campbell and Holmes have earned enough trust that I’m not sweating most of this yet. Petzing was in the system already, so he knows what we’re building here – I think that matters more than people realize.
The O-line thing is what gets me the most. Yeah we have talent but you can’t just plug new guys in and expect them to work together right away. That’s how you get Jared hurt again and I’m not trying to see that.
You know what though? I’ve seen this team go through way worse with way less talent. Campbell’s got a different vibe with these guys and they actually believe in each other. That counts for something when things get tough late in the year.
Branch potentially missing Week 1 is legit scary, not gonna lie. Defense was clicking last year and losing a guy like that early would mess with everything we’ve got going.