Roundtable: Is Dan Campbell's Best Decision Allowing Ben Johnson to Call Plays?

1.) Is Dan Campbell's best decision allowing Ben Johnson to call plays?

Vito Chirco: Based on how the Lions' offense performed better after Johnson took over as the team's de facto pass game coordinator and became more actively involved in the weekly offensive gameplan, I say the answer is a resounding "yes."

With that said, I think Campbell should worry more about the team's day-to-day operations and on handling the personalities of his players inside the locker room. He seemingly did a good job of that in his first year on the job and now he can just improve upon that going into his second season.

There's also a point to be made that Campbell needs to improve as an in-game manager (something that his predecessors, Matt Patricia and Jim Caldwell, also struggled with). If Campbell wants to take the next step as an NFL head man, he needs to have a better grasp on when to be aggressive and when to take his foot off the gas pedal.

Those aforementioned elements are the things he needs to focus on, rather than worrying about calling the plays on offense.

Adam Strozynski: If you believe everything that came out of Allen Park last year, toward the end of the season, Ben Johnson is a creative genius. If that is the case, he should be the guy to make the calls on the offensive side of the ball. I feel like Dan Campbell is better suited supervising and coaching guys up on the sidelines.

2.) Who should be the Lions' No. 2 tight end?

Chirco: Well, to me, it's all about who performs the best during training camp between Brock Wright and James Mitchell.

Wright started five games in the place of T.J. Hockenson a season ago, and caught 12 balls for 117 yards and two touchdowns. So, he might be the early leader in the clubhouse, but watch out for Mitchell.

Mitchell, the Lions' fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft, played in only two games a year ago due to a knee injury. However, in 2020, the Virginia Tech product hauled in 26 balls for 435 yards and a team-high four touchdowns, and was named second-team All-ACC by PFF College.

So, Mitchell will be legit competition to Wright, and by the end of training camp, I could see Mitchell emerging as Detroit's No. 2 tight end.

Strozynski: After T.J. Hockenson, this really is a who's who of nobody's. I guess Brock Wright, but I would be quick to give it to the guy that pushes Hockenson the most during training camp.

3.) Is the talk of Aaron Glenn becoming an NFL head coach one day a little premature?

Chirco: I think it is a little premature. Glenn had a solid season last year as Detroit's defensive coordinator, and he definitely did more with less. But, it still was his very first season calling plays, and it's not like the Lions were a high-functioning defensive unit. So, I'm of the mindset that Glenn still needs a season or two in the role. And, if he still continues to receive high marks as a coordinator at that point, then he'll have proven to me -- and likely to the rest of the NFL -- that he's deserving of a head coaching job.

Strozynski: I think so. He did a great job with a rag-tag bunch last year, but let's see you build on it and be better this season. Then, we can start looking at him as a legit head coaching candidate.

4.) What did you take away from this week of Lions OTAs?

Chirco: The biggest takeaway for me is that there's going to be a large amount of competition at the linebacker spot.

Derrick Barnes, Chris Board, Alex Anzalone, Malcolm Rodriguez and Jarrad Davis are each going to have a chance at receiving a healthy dose of snaps this upcoming season, and the hope is that will lead to a high-performing linebackers room for the Lions in 2022.

Barnes, to me, also has a chance at grabbing a leadership role in Glenn's defense. So, it'll be interesting to see if the second-year pro makes the most of the opportunity.

Strozynski: Malcolm Rodriguez might have been a steal. It's still early, but it seems like he will be competing for a starting position in this linebacking unit.

5.) Are you concerned about Taylor Decker's ability to stay healthy?

Chirco: I am, but I'm not overly concerned. Sure, Decker played in only nine games in 2021 due to the injury bug. But, he also started in at least 15 games each of the three seasons before that (2018-2020).

He's also on the right side of 30, as he'll be 29 years old come the start of the 2022 campaign.

I'd feel differently about Decker's ability to stay healthy if he was 32 or 33 years old and had consecutive seasons of succumbing to injury.

And, I'll say this: If he suits up for nine or fewer games again this upcoming season, it's time to sound the alarm and to start worrying about the viability of Decker being Detroit's long-term starter at left tackle.

Strozynski: To me, it feels like Detroit is sitting on a coveted piece that could fetch some solid draft capital.

I would have moved on from him last year. Yes, the injuries are a part of that, but Penei Sewell is a larger part of it.

I do have concerns at this point in his career, and you don't ever want to be on the downside of a player's career, especially when it comes to an individual on the offensive line.