Detroit Lions Mailbag: The Lions biggest weakness right now and the one position that’s not deep enough
We’re in the final week of Detroit Lions training camp, and then it’s full steam ahead with cutdowns and getting ready for the 2025 season opener against the Green Bay Packers. Let’s answer some questions: Yes, that is the way the Lions’ defense is operating. Campbell will be the quarterback of the defense to start […]
We’re in the final week of Detroit Lions training camp, and then it’s full steam ahead with cutdowns and getting ready for the 2025 season opener against the Green Bay Packers. Let’s answer some questions:
Yes, that is the way the Lions’ defense is operating. Campbell will be the quarterback of the defense to start the season. He’s the guy in the middle with that green dot, and he’s shown he’s definitely ready for that responsibility. Campbell doesn’t seem like a young player out there. He plays like a vet who’s had the dot for years. This should be a big breakout year for him.
In terms of the second team, there’s a lot of alternating going on. But in terms of who’s getting chances with the first team on defense, Rock Ya-Sin has been getting reps at cornerback, and Ian Kennelly has been getting first-team reps at safety with Kerby Joseph out. Then on the defensive line, you’re seeing Isaac Ukwu, Keith Cooper Jr., and Nate Lynn getting reps.
As for Jackson Meeks, his outlook looks better every day. He’s been balling at practice and in the preseason. With special teams coordinator Dave Fipp saying that he’s been good on special teams this week, that’s kind of the final straw you need to break right there. It’s going to come down to how many receivers they want to carry at the end of the day.
There will be some obvious differences. Goff spent three years with Johnson as his offensive coordinator, and they once described themselves as extensions of each other. Goff and Morton have been together for just a few months. What I can tell you is that they’re on the same page, and the relationship appears to be growing. The trust is there, and Morton has included Goff in just about every portion of the install. So, it’s going good, but we’re a ways off from Goff-Johnson levels of just knowing every move that each other wants to make.
This is one of the best linebacker corps in the NFL. Campbell, Derrick Barnes, and Alex Anzalone are three good starters, and then you have Trevor Nowaske, Zach Cunningham, and Grant Stuard off the bench. What more could you ask for? Every one of these guys could start somewhere in the NFL tomorrow if a team needed them to. When Malcolm Rodriguez comes back, it’s even deeper.
Cornerback is where I have some concerns, though. Even before Ennis Rakestraw’s injury, there were concerns. Yes, there are bodies past Ya-sin at CB4, but I don’t know if I’d trust any of them if they needed to take over a starting spot or play meaningful snaps beyond helping out on special teams. It’s a bit surprising that the Lions haven’t gone out and grabbed another veteran guy to take Rakestraw’s place for the season.
No. Lions coach Dan Campbell had this to say about Joseph on Monday.
“Yeah, it’s something he’s been dealing with a little bit. So, he won’t be out there today. We’re hoping to get him back late in the week; that’s the hope right now. We don’t feel like it’s a major problem; it’s just something we’re trying to manage right now and get it calmed down.”
Going into training camp, the thing the Lions wanted to do the most was cause turnovers. They talked about it the whole first week. Remember when practices were getting too aggressive during the acclimation period, and Campbell had to pause a few times? That was a result of the aggressiveness in trying to force turnovers.
They’re just not coming. Whether it’s in camp or in preseason games, they’re not happening. Sure, there have been a few here and there. Anzlone picked off Goff a few weeks ago on a batted ball, Kennelly picked off Zach Wilson during joint practices, and Dominic Lovet picked up that muffed punt on Saturday. There have been some others in there, but not what this team was hoping for.
The good news is that Campbell left the Lions game against the Dolphins encouraged by the four to six near turnovers that happened in that game. He says they should start bouncing their way soon.
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