Welcome to the dead zone Detroit Lions fans. OTA's and Mandatory mini camp are over and for the next few weeks, things are going to be quiet in Lions land as we prepare for the start of training camp.

As we make our way towards camp, we're going to do a deep dive into the Lions entire roster. We'll be doing it section by section and player by player and go over the expectations for each player going into camp.

So far we've already covered interior defensive linemen and edge rushers. Today we'll be covering linebackers.

Alex Anzalone

Anzalone will shock everyone at camp when he shows up without his long blonde hair. That's his expectation. Maybe that's just my bald jealousy peaking through again.

Ok, in all seriousness, Anzalone is coming off the best year of his career and he really established himself as a leader in the linebacker room. The expectation is that he builds off of that year. Time is ultimately an issue for him. There are a lor of young linebackers in this room and they're coming for his spot. 

Jack Campbell

The first rounder may not be fully ready to take on a full time starting spot just yet. The Lions are in the perfect spot for that right now. Good teams don't have to rush their rookies into it. 

With that in mind, the expectation for Campbell is that he takes this opportunity to soak in everything that he can and try to get himself into a position to start. Even if the Lions can go without that. Campbell has the size and athleticism to do big things for this team. Why not try to do them this year? I expect to see some big things for him during camp.

Malcolm Rodriguez

Rodriguez was a big surprise in 2022. The sixth round pick won everyone over during Hard Knocks. The guy he really won over was Lions linebacker coach Kelvin Shepperd. 

The issue for Rodriguez is that at the end of the day, there's just better guys in front of him now. Rodriguez is still going to be a part of this team, but his role will probably shrink down a bit in 2023. He'll be a guy that flexes in and out instead of being one of the primary linebackers. His camp expectation is that he takes on that role in stride and keeps being the player he's been since he got here. Just a hard working guy that occasionally dresses like John Travolta in Urban Cowboy. 

Derrick Barnes

It's time for a break out from Barnes. Everyone loved this guy his rookie year because he was showing some real flashes of what he could be. Since then its just been flashes. It's time to make those flashes the norm. 

Barnes already has a head start on all this. He worked with the first team at OTA's and mini camp and looked pretty good doing it. If Barnes can bring that into training camp, he could see a much larger role going into the 2023 season. 

Jalen Reeves-Maybin

I'm surprised that Reeves-Maybin ever left the team. I know he went to get back by the Houston Texans and be home, but the Lions should have been the team that gave him that pay day. It wasn't a whole lot. 

The thing I like about Reeves-Maybin is that he has a nose for the ball. Whether its on special teams or on defense, Reeves-Maybin always seems to be right where the ball is. The expectation is that he comes in with that same play. Reeve-Maybin is a guy that can work his way into being a special teams captain this summer. He's right where he needs to be. 

Anthony Pittman

Pittman has done all he can to stick around after being an undrafted rookie in 2019. The former Wayne State product has been great on special teams when he's been able to be a part of the active roster. 

The expectation for Pittman is that he finds himself on the active roster on day one this year. He's just too good of a special teams player to be hanging around the practice squad at all. Judging by the fact that he had 358 special teams snaps last year, I'd say the Lions coaching staff feels the same way. Don't be shocked if Pittman enters the chat on the whole special teams captain thing.

Feature image by Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK