Credit: Detroit Free Press-USA TODAY Sports
An 0-8 teams has plenty of candidates for improvement, but these five Detroit Lions must be better after the bye week.
The Detroit Lions are 0-8, so there aren’t a lot of positives to take into their Week 9 bye. After Week 8’s dismal showing against the Philadelphia Eagles, a proverbial midway point in the 17-game season feels like a good time for a week off.
The week will also allow the Lions to evaluate themselves without preparing for a game, and make changes where appropriate. This week’s trade deadline yielded no moves, so whatever improvement there is to be had will come internally over the final nine games. Any possibility for an outside addition will be someone another team cut, so any real impact from any said addition is unlikely.
As the they try to at least win a game and avoid going 0-17, these five Lions must improve after the bye week.
5 Detroit Lions who must improve after the bye week
5.
Anthony Lynn
OC, Lions
The league’s 29th-ranked scoring offense has to have a fall guy, and Lynn is it for some people. But with a limited quarterback, an offensive line that’s been down its two best players and a thin crew of wide receivers further thinned by a couple notable injuries, the former Chargers’ head coach hasn’t had a lot to work with in his first season as Lions’ offensive coordinator.
Head coach Dan Campbell is taking the right approach by saying he wants to help the Lions’ offense, as much has he could add value by being a fresh voice who knows his place. Lynn needs to think outside the box like his head coach does, within reason, and the offense will only benefit.
4.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
WR, Lions
St. Brown has had the expected ups and and downs of a rookie wide receiver, especially within a struggling offense. But he’s seeing the field plenty (60 percent snap share or better in seven of eight games), and Week 8 may have been a step toward becoming a big-play threat (three catches for 46 yards, with a 35-yard play negated by a penalty).
Campbell specifically mentioned St. Brown as someone who’s in line for a bigger role coming out of the bye. That could take many forms, in terms of where he lines up, how touches and targets are manufactured for him, etc. St. Brown did return kicks a bit in college at USC, and in 2019 he had seven carries for 60 yards with a touchdown as a Trojan, so maybe there are some possibilities there to get the ball into his hands.