We’re going to change up the format here. The roster/starters are similar enough that there is no reason to really run down the roster. Losing Montgomery in a trade obviously hurts, but was proven fruitful with adding Juice Scruggs, their current starting center. A lot of resources were spent trying to shore up the offensive line, namely center and right tackle. They know that it’s the key to the offense and the key to protecting Goff. Why don’t we look at the keys to success here?

Last year was obviously a tremendous disappointment and the struggles on the offensive line crippled the team. John Morton never meshed with Goff as offensive coordinator and now they have Drew Petzing. Interestingly enough though, it’s been framed that this offense is Jared Goff’s and Petzing is here to help install it and call plays. It’s not often you see a quarterback given that kind of autonomy but this is where the Lions have decided to go. I don’t know if it’s a right or wrong move, but if you’re going to be paying a quarterback a ton of money, you might as well build the offense around him and make it happen.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

1. Team Health
   Listen, the healthiest team usually wins the Super Bowl. The Lions have had some troubling injuries the last few seasons and last year was clearly the most disappointing year they’ve had in awhile. The money they spent on Cade Mays to play center was smart money, but with the injury, it’ll be until at least the bye week for us to see that pay off. They cannot afford any more injuries along the offensive line or in the secondary. The second team offensive line seemed to struggle a bit in the preseason and with both Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch out for the foreseeable future, they cannot afford to have any more injuries in those spots.
   
2. Offensive Line Play
   This is a little bit building off of the first key, but the offensive line must drive the bus. Dan Campbell said they’re going to rotate Ben Bartch and Christian Mahogany at LG the first game and I hate that. But so does he, so it’ll be alright. The fact neither one separated themself is a huge problem, because you know it is not because both were playing at some crazy high level. Now, they’re missing Cade Mays for at least a month, so the OL is already behind the 8 ball with Juice Scruggs at C. But once (and if) everyone is back at full health, this unit must be dominant and they must be cohesive. I loved what I saw out of Blake Miller in the preseason so that just means that when everyone is ready, the only question mark is that left guard spot. Without the offensive line playing at a high level, I don’t like this teams chance of success.
   
3. Sacks/Pressures
   The Lions spent more resources on edge rushers to play across from Hutchinson this offseason and that was again a smart move. Betting on Marcus Davenport so long was a waste of time and they finally drafted and edge rusher early on in the draft. I’m a huge Derrick Moore fan and I think he was an excellent pick up to play across Hutch. He’s been a dude since his first day in Ann Arbor and I think he is a perfect compliment. I also liked the pickup of DJ Wonnum in free agency…he’s shown some juice there. With the secondary decimated by injury and the release of Terrion Arnold, they’re going to have to actually get after the quarterback. And do it now and then without bringing 2-3 extra guys on a blitz. They must put the quarterback under more duress if they’re going to be successful this season.
   
4. Studs be Studs
   The best thing that can happen for you are your elite players make elite plays in key situations. They have handed out quite a few big time contracts to guys that they have drafted. And in all fairness, those guys are premier players at their positions. So your best chance at success is for those guys to keep performing at high level and to keep making plays. You can’t have regression or empty weeks…these guys have to be the best at their positions week in and week out.
   
5. Early Schedule
   When you’re bad the year before, you get an easier schedule. So now will be the time for the Lions to prove they’re not the worst team in the division and make hay with their schedule. There is no reason that with games against the Saints, Bills, Jets, Panthers and Cardinals before their week 6 bye that they should not be 4-1 going into the bye week. Feast early and set yourself up for success.
   
6. Secondary Overperforms
   There’s really no way around this. Losing Terrion Arnold, Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph absolutely guts this group. There are some guys that can play and some young guys that are looking to make a mark (Keith Abney will be a dude), but I don’t love their depth or their team speed. And their high-end talent isn’t very high-end. DJ Reed has been pretty disappointing and needs to prove that he is worth the money he was given.

PREDICTION

I think this team will win 10+ games with this schedule no problem. They got a good draw based on their finish last year and they can make some moves. I do worry about coming back from Germany and not having a bye and then rolling right into Thanksgiving after that though. There is the potential to lose all 3 of those games and really send the team for a spiral. There will be some slip ups along the way, but the end of the schedule is brutal. I’m not sure this team will be able to win it all if they drop all of these division games and are 1-3 the last month of the year. Not to mention at 3-3 in the division they’re most certainly not going to get the 1 seed in the NFC.

I wish I could say I believe this team can win it all but I do have major concerns about their secondary. If the offense is going to score 35+ a game then yes, this team could win it all. I just don’t see a scenario where a team that thin in the secondary wins it all. They will have an improved front seven and pass rush so the defense should be far better. Maybe I’m just trying to temper expectations this time around after last year. I think this will be a fun team to watch and certainly great for your fantasy teams…I’m just not sure their on-field success will take them to the Super Bowl. 12-5 with a loss in the NFC Divisional Round is my official guess.

Photo via: ESPN