2019 Detroit Lions training camp preview: 3 biggest storylines

Lions training camp starts this Thursday. All Lions fans are welcome to head out to the Lions training facility in Allen Park and get some of their many questions answered. Questions like: How will Matthew Stafford look with Danny Amendola? Or which reporter will catch one of Matt Prater’s field goals that are conveniently aimed at the media? My money is on this guy.

Those are just the little questions, though. There are three big things that everyone has to have on their mind when it comes time to put those pads back on.

What will Darrell Bevell’s offense look like?

This has been a subject of debate ever since the Lions hired Bevell to replace Jim Bob Cooter back in January. The thoughts have varied. Some believe the Lions are going full on run first with Bevell, while others think the Lions are simply trying to be a balanced team.

I personally believe the Lions are going for the balanced offense over the run-first thing that is a little overblown, if you ask me. I’ll be curious to see how much Bevell plans to utilize his tight ends in the pass game and whether or not he’ll let Matthew Stafford air it out again after Cooter—and Joe Lombardi before him—put handcuffs on him.

Who’s the breakout star?

We do this every year. There’s a guy that sets himself completely apart from everyone else and becomes a highlight machine. Last year it was Kerryon Johnson. The year before that it was Kenny Golladay. Who’s it going to be this year?

The early candidates are T.J. Hockenson, Amani Oruwariye, Justin Coleman, Tracy Walker or Jahlani Tavai. Keep an eye on all of these guys this weekend and going forward. The player I really want to see is Travis Fulgham. He’s a big-bodied receiver that can go up and get it. He’s also really flying under the radar. Don’t be surprised if he’s everyone’s camp darling by the end of August.

Did everyone buy in?

A major question that needs to be answered. This is Year 2 for Matt Patricia. Year 1 left a lot to be desired. There were a lot of questions going around about whether or not the team had bought into what their first year coach was selling.

Players like T.J. Lang have assured Lions fans that Patricia and company are, in fact, building something special.

But that was last year. There are a lot of changes going on this upcoming season. There’s a new OC, a new special teams coach, new players and generally a new feel all around. Time will tell if that new feeling is going to be bad or good.

It’s not going to be easy to tell just by looking at players during camp. But if it’s right, there’s a feeling in the air, and you can see that the players are giving it their all for a coach they want to play for or phoning it in in a system they don’t believe in.

These are the things I think are the biggest things to look out for. But I’m interested to hear what Lions fans are wondering about going into camp. What are the big questions that you need answered?