You're thinking right now, "Wait, is this guy joking?" No......it should be coming. The Detroit Lions are a franchise that needs an uprising. Entering the 2021 season, the Lions came in with a new regime overseeing the team. GM Brad Holmes, Head Coach Dan Campbell and really, team owner Sheila Ford Hamp start the transition of making Detroit's NFL team from a laughingstock to a very capable contender. Once again, I'm not joking.
Holmes came in and honesty, has his work cut out for him. Bob Quinn tried to emulate the New England Patriots and it didn't work out. Holmes will definitely try a different approach. Coming from the Rams organization, Holmes knows about a high octane offense. The Jared Goff trade gives him an opportunity to revitalize his career in Detroit. However, Brad Holmes needs to add more weapons to help Goff. Go to Wikipedia and look at the Lions' receiver depth chart. Not pleasant, right? Once Holmes does that, Goff and the Lions' offense can be respectable.
Dan Campbell was a Lions player once upon a time ago. In fact, he was a member of the 2008 team that went winless. Campbell also was an interim head coach with the Miami Dolphins in 2015, a squad reeling from the aftermath of the Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin bullying scandal. (Side note: How the (bleep) is Richie Incognito still in the league?). When it comes to adversity, Dan Campbell can steer a ship. After being named the head coach of the Lions, he wanted his team to "bite a kneecap off". Got to love his attitude. It seems that Campbell is the anti-Matt Patricia. He's full of intensity, but unlike Patricia, he is tolerable with his players.....so far. During the post-game presser after a close loss to the Vikings, Campbell was emotional because his team played hard against Minnesota, but couldn't deliver the victory. He showing tears after that effort didn't make him a sissy, he cried because he cares. Despite the Lions' awful record, Campbell has the squad playing their hearts out. Detroit is short on talent and he is trying to keep them competitive. Dan Campbell could be the right coach to lead the Lions to respectability.
After taking over the Lions from her parents last year, Sheila Ford Hamp is trying to get this thing in the right direction. She had a moment during this season that could have been glorious, but wasn't. Hamp wanted to mend fences with Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson and inviting him to a halftime celebration of his career. While hosting the ceremony, fans booed Ford Hamp. Stay classy, Detroit. Ok, that was harsh. I get it, the team has struggled to make them frustrated. But seriously, booing one of the greatest players in franchise history was not justified. Also, can we cancel halftime celebrations and ceremonies till next season? With this and the Sean Taylor fiasco, it has become nonsensical at this point. Anyways, the point is that Sheila Ford Hamp is trying. She is also trying to mend fences with Barry Sanders and did a good thing, surprising Chris Spielman by having him do a promo on his own induction into the Detroit Lions Ring of Honor. It is clear that Ford Hamp is going in a direction where the Lions can give the Detroit community a reason to be on the bandwagon to success......one day. It may take a while.
They are 0-8 and probably headed towards the #1 pick, but one thing is for sure, the Detroit Lions have a base that looks confident and positive that brighter days are ahead.
I give them about three years.
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