As receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown walked off the sphere at Levi’s Stadium following the Detroit Lions’ NFC Championship Sport loss to the San Francisco 49ers, he skilled a sense he did not wish to really feel once more: defeat.
Regardless of the Lions successful two playoff video games in a single postseason for the primary time since 1957, whereas gathering their first division title in additional than three a long time, St. Brown wasn’t happy.
Shifting ahead, the Lions have their sights set on bringing a Tremendous Bowl to Detroit.
St. Brown described it as “unfinished enterprise” in the course of the Professional Bowl Video games.
“I do not assume any one in all us wish to really feel that once more if we will,” St. Brown mentioned after the loss on Jan. 28. “I believe the sensation that we now have is sufficient to encourage us for subsequent yr. We had an excellent yr as an entire, however it’s all for nothing if you happen to do not win the entire thing.
“Everybody’s objective to begin the yr is to win the Tremendous Bowl and if you happen to do not, you sort of fail that season. Whether or not you lose right here within the NFC championship or do not make the playoffs, it’s all the identical. We can be prepared.”
One of many major areas for enchancment this offseason can be on protection. The Lions want an improve to the secondary, with extra expertise at cornerback, whereas additionally discovering a difference-maker to pair with Professional Bowl edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
Detroit’s protection allowed 23.2 factors per recreation, twenty third most within the league, whereas permitting 7.8 yards per move try, which ranked thirty first.
Because the crew tries to take that subsequent step of reaching the Tremendous Bowl, Lions basic supervisor Brad Holmes is aware of he cannot overlook that space, however he additionally has religion within the gamers on the roster and their skill to enhance.
“Now we have a number of younger gamers on protection. And look, we play an aggressive model. I believe there is no query on our id. However I do not actually see there is a massive discrepancy of expertise,” Holmes mentioned throughout his end-of-the-season information convention on Monday. “We’re simply sort of working collectively. However it’s a complete crew effort. We do not take a look at protection completely different than we take a look at offense. We do not take a look at particular groups completely different. We’re attempting to construct a crew, and I do know all people needs all the pieces to be paired.
“You will have a Professional Bowl pass-rusher with double-digit sacks and 100 pressures. Everyone needs to pair the pass-rusher with someone. You will have a D-tackle that was on his approach earlier than he bought damage to, probably, a Professional Bowl season and sacks, you wish to pair him with that man. You will have a promising younger security; you wish to pair him. Everyone needs to and belief me, that is what we would like, too. We wish the identical factor. We wish, not solely the frontline depth of all 11 starters, however we would like all of the depth to be actually, actually high quality, and that is what we try to do.”
The Lions additionally may additionally profit with including depth to the offensive line, with the potential for dropping guards Graham Glasgow, Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Jonah Jackson by free company. With sturdy safety, Lions quarterback Jared Goff was in a position to take pleasure in a profession renaissance the place he handed for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.
He additionally turned the third quarterback in Lions historical past to file a number of playoff wins and has expressed curiosity to stay in Detroit for the long-term with one yr remaining on his contract.
Holmes says they’ve mentioned the potential for an extension however have not reached a call simply but. Nonetheless, the Lions’ entrance workplace has maintained fixed religion in Goff as their man for the longer term.
“I did not perceive why his profession was outlined after he went to a Tremendous Bowl a second yr as a full-time starter. And so, then when he got here to us, I all the time had perception,” Holmes mentioned of Goff. “So, him doing what he did this previous yr and even the yr earlier than, it is not a shock to us. I simply understand how he is wired.
“I do know the expertise he has, I do know the management he has, I do know his psychological and bodily toughness, I do know what he is made about and I believe his friends, and positively his teammates acknowledge the identical issues. So, simply glad that what he is carried out and simply could not be extra happy with all the pieces he is achieved.”
One other promising signal for the Lions this upcoming season is that they retained each coordinators. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn each receiving severe head teaching curiosity however ended up staying in place. Holmes feels that it is a signal that the Lions are constructing a “nice tradition” that coaches wish to stay part of.
Hutchinson was pleased with the information of getting each guys again. He feels that when you may have extra years with a coordinator, it provides the protection a greater understanding of the system as they’re able to take that subsequent step.
“I do not know if there’s one factor that we will do proper now. I really feel like what we did final season and the expertise that we had and the expertise that we now have now going into the NFC championship,” Hutchinson advised ESPN in the course of the Professional Bowl Video games. “I really feel like that alone goes to hold us far subsequent yr, having that playoff expertise once we do get within the playoffs. So that is what I really feel like is a very powerful factor, is having that have.”
