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Can the Lions survive talent erosion to remain a Super Bowl contender? | Inside Coverage

Frank Schwab breaks down his thoughts on the Detroit Lions and whether or not they can survive the loss of their star offensive & defensive coordinators to make another Super Bowl run in 2025. Hear the full conversation on “Inside Coverage” - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Video Transcript

The Lions, 15-2 last year.

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They were a darling last year going into the year.

They are still in the eyes of some a darling.

Are you rise, repeat, or retreat on the Detroit Lions?

Uh, I hate this so much because I'm rooting for the story of the Lions becoming a Super Bowl champion.

I think it would be incredible, but I do have to say retreat.

I just think it's, look, I, I picked on to win the Super Bowl last year and they, they were certainly a Super Bowl.

tender, obviously had the disappointment in the playoffs with all the injuries, and I get the optimism of, well, all these, uh, you know, you're not gonna have that many injuries again.

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Aidan Hutchinson comes back, etc.

etc.

But I just look at the Lions, again, we talk about this all the time it's, we underrate losing coordinators.

There was a reason Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn were two of the 3 or 4 highest candidates in the pecking order when the coaching carousel came around.

These are good coaches, really, really.

Good coaches.

Ben Johnson is an offensive genius.

Aaron Glenn was holding that defense together with Scotch tape by the end of the year, really impressive for him.

To lose both guys in one offseason is massive.

And we don't talk about offensive line a lot, but right now at retirement, I thought was pretty bad for the Lions.

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He was a special player.

Pro football focus is #2 gra in center last year.

You combine that with the loss of guard Kevin Zeitler, who's had a really good season for them last year.

You've lost 2/3 of your offensive.

Line now in the interior.

That's tough.

Does that mean the rushing lanes aren't quite there for Jamir Gibbs and David Montgomery anymore?

It might.

I, I don't think the Lions are taking a huge fall or anything, but for a team that was 15 and 2, just this erosion of, OK, your offensive line is not quite as good, your offensive play calling is not quite as good, your defensive leadership is not quite as good.

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Everybody's a year older.

You might, you're getting a little unluckyer with the schedule being tougher.

It just erodes a little bit to where you're obviously not.

15 and 2, that that's way too much to ask.

But then you ask, like, is this a team that can even get the one seed in the NFC?

I think right now my answer is no.

I, I, I, I want it to happen because I really don't want the Lions, this whole era to end with like, man, if we only held that lead at San Francisco in the NFC championship.

What if we didn't come out flat against the commanders in the divisional round when we were 15 and 2?

I want this for the Lions, but I think this is a less effective version of the Lions we're going to see this year.

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