Roundtable: Expectations for Lions Following Bye Week

Latest All Lions Roundtable focuses on expectations for the Detroit Lions following their Week 6 bye.

1.) What are you expecting from the Lions following the bye week?

Vito Chirco: I'm expecting the Lions to be a healthier bunch. The team's No. 1 running back D'Andre Swift, for example, is expected to return. 

After that, however, I'm not willing to predict a lot of changes for Dan Campbell's squad. Based on how the roster is presently assembled, I expect the defense to continue to produce lackluster results and to prevent Detroit from winning many games from Week 7 on. 

John Maakaron: It will be good to get several players back who have been injured. I am expecting players to be put in better positions to succeed and for the coaching staff to make slight adjustments to the scheme, namely on defense. 

Dan Campbell must dial down the aggression, as he has put in team in tough spots by forcing things on fourth down. I think the team will play better defensively, but am not sure if that will be good enough to secure many more wins. 

2.) Which Lions player impressed you the most to start the season? 

Chirco: I'm going to go with third-year cornerback Jeff Okudah. Through the first three weeks of the season, he looked like a different player, and one that had turned the corner, after two years of disappointing play and battling the injury bug. 

The 2020 No. 3 overall pick hasn't been as productive the last couple of weeks. Yet, based on how he started the season (and how the production wasn't expected), I'll still give the nod to the Ohio State product.  

Maakaron: Despite several critical errors, quarterback Jared Goff has started the season well. He has led a high-scoring offense and the unit has performed at a high level, despite the poor showing against the Patriots.

If he can limit the turnovers, Goff is starting to prove he could be among the viable options to remain in Detroit for the foreseeable future. 

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3.) Which player needs to step it up the next few weeks?

Chirco: I'm going to say rookie EDGE Aidan Hutchinson. The 2022 No. 2 overall pick leads all Lions defenders with three sacks. Yet, he hasn't recorded a sack the last three sacks, with all three of his sacks having come in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders. 

Just like the rest of Detroit's defense, he's experienced his fair share of struggles against quarterbacks that are fleet of foot, including the Eagles' Jalen Hurts in Week 1 and the Seahawks' Geno Smith in Week 4. He's come close to wrapping up those guys for losses, yet hasn't executed. 

Hutchinson needs to clean up his play, and get after the quarterback a lot more often the rest of the way this season. 

Maakaron: Amani Oruwariye being benched against the Patriots was among the surprising decisions made by the coaching staff. 

While warranted, the talented defensive back must rebound following the bye week. With Jerry Jacobs returning from injury, the 26-year-old defensive back could see his run in Detroit come to an end at the end of the season if things do not turnaround. 

4.) What improvements must the defense make immediately? 

Chirco: Well, first, Dan Campbell and his defensive coaching staff must get a few players right that they're counting on for major production. This list of players includes Hutchinson and cornerback Amani Oruwariye. They're relying on the above two players way too much, to get middle-of-the-road production out of them. Heck, Oruwariye has been so unreliable so far this season that he was a healthy scratch a week ago against the Patriots. 

Hutchinson needs to wreak havoc on the opposing passer a lot more consistently, and Oruwariye needs to improve his pass-coverage skills immediately, in order for any turnaround to happen for Detroit on the defensive side of the ball. 

Maakaron: I am hoping that the return of defensive linemen John Cominsky and Josh Paschal will aid the defensive line significantly. 

The number of explosive runs and passes given up by this defense has hindered the defense tremendously. 

If the defense can limit explosive plays, the heat on defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn can begin to cool off. 

5.) Is there a player you think the Lions should trade for or sign before the trade deadline?

Chirco: I'll go with Panthers EDGE Brian Burns. He's just 24 years old, and has tallied back-to-back nine-sack seasons. Additionally, counting his four sacks this year, he's averaged about 7.5 sacks since entering the league in 2019. 

Carolina's reportedly not currently listening to offers on the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder. Yet, if the Panthers were to make him available, he'd be a big boost to Detroit's subpar pass-rushing unit. 

Maakaron: While the news about running back Cam Akers being available is very interesting, I would avoid trading again with the Rams at this time. Burns would be a great addition, but he is going to be in line for a nice new contract soon. I think the Lions like what they have done building through the draft, so Burns may not end up joining the Lions.

This team needs help everywhere on defense, so I am currently targeting cornerback Sidney Jones from the Seahawks. He has been a healthy scratch and could benefit from a fresh start.