The Lions wrap up Week 2 of OTAs on Thursday at Allen Park, and honestly, it feels like we’re still playing detective with this roster. Sure, we got some answers last week. Dan Campbell gave us his usual vague injury updates, we saw who was actually on the field, and we got a glimpse of what the depth chart might look like. But Campbell himself told everyone not to read too much into it.
Fair enough. It’s OTAs. The real work hasn’t started yet.
The Real Question: What Are These Coordinators Actually Thinking?
Here’s what I want to know heading into Thursday’s practice. What exactly are Kelvin Sheppard and Drew Petzing planning to do differently? Because let’s be honest here, last year was disappointing. The team needs to improve beyond just personnel changes.
Sheppard has already dropped some hints about changes coming to the defense. That’s encouraging. The defensive coordinator has to prove he can take this unit to the next level.
But Petzing? We’re still in the dark. The new offensive coordinator has been quiet about what his vision looks like for this offense. That’s the biggest question mark hanging over Allen Park right now.
Don’t Expect Answers, But Look for Clues
Will we get detailed breakdowns of new schemes during these OTA sessions? Hell no. The playbook is vanilla ice cream right now, and these coaches aren’t about to show their hand. But any hints about their process, what they’ve learned about their personnel, and where they’re at with installing new concepts would be gold.
Both coordinators are expected to speak over the next couple weeks. Don’t expect them to spill their guts about strategy, but even the smallest insights into their thinking could tell us a lot about where this team is headed.
The truth is, schematic and philosophical changes might matter more than any single player addition this offseason. This roster has talent. We’ve seen it. But talent without the right system is just another missed opportunity, and Lions fans have seen enough of those to last several lifetimes.
Think these coordinators are going to give us anything useful, or are we stuck playing guessing games until September? Drop your take below.
I’m actually really interested to see what Petzing has cooking for this offense. The fact that he’s been quiet doesn’t worry me at all, it honestly feels like the right move to keep things under wraps. Campbell and Holmes know what they’re doing so I’m trusting the process here.
I get the optimism but let’s pump the brakes a little. We’ve heard “trust the process” before and I want to see actual results on the field when it matters. OTAs are vanilla for a reason, so we’re basically just speculating about what these coordinators might do anyway.
Man, the difference between now and the old days is night and day. We used to have coordinators that couldn’t even get out of their own way. At least these guys are thinking about real schematic changes instead of just running the same old tired stuff. That’s progress right there.
The article nailed it – talent without the right system is pointless. Sheppard dropping hints about defensive changes is what I want to hear more about. If the defense gets better scheme-wise, this team could legit take a step up.