Evaluating 2024 New Year's resolutions for the Detroit Lions.
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00:00 As 2023 prepares to wind down, we're going to take a look at what the Detroit Lions'
00:04 New Year's resolution for 2024 is going to be. Here today to break that topic down is SIL Lions'
00:10 John Mackren. John, give it to me straight. What is your New Year's resolution for the
00:15 Detroit Lions in 2024? Yeah, Cam, it's been a special 2023 for the Lions. You recognize what
00:22 they were able to do in this season. A team that was looking to build momentum off of a 9-8 season,
00:30 coming into a season where they had high expectations. Now they're on the verge
00:34 of potentially hosting multiple playoff games. You see an offense that's led by Jared Goff,
00:40 who really has proven people wrong when he was traded to the Lions. Really considered a cast-off,
00:45 a throw-in. And now he's a player that the entire organization respects. You saw the video after the
00:53 Lions won the division. Dan Campbell and Goff embracing, telling each other that they love each
00:58 other. Really indicating, look, I think that Dan Campbell can relate to Jared Goff in regards to
01:04 having a player that many people don't think has that much talent. But really, when you really boil
01:09 things down, Jared Goff is a hard worker and really resilient. But I look at it, Cam, the number
01:14 one thing that I'm a fan of in football is defense. And I think the Lions offense is built to win a lot
01:20 of games. That offense is successful. Jared Goff understands that the team built around him,
01:26 an offensive line that's stellar. Amonra Saint-Brown is one of the hardest-working
01:30 and most consistent receivers. You have Jamison Williams, who can be the home-run threat.
01:34 Lot of pieces for Ben Johnson. But for me, I'm a fan of defense. So my New Year's resolution
01:41 is for Aiden Hutchinson to take his game to the next level, whether it starts in the postseason
01:47 this year, which would be so beneficial as the Lions make their playoff push. Aiden Hutchinson,
01:52 I think, is key for that defense. You recognize that pressure impacts quarterbacks so much.
01:59 And yes, he is pressuring the quarterback at a high rate. He is impactful. He is drawing
02:04 extra attention. But now it's time for him to become that closer, that dominant force on the
02:11 edge for the Detroit Lions. And if that happens, if he can bring down the quarterback, if he can
02:17 find any avenue to break free from all the chips and double teams and extra attention, if he can
02:23 cause negative plays, because when you sack the quarterback, that's typically a six- to
02:28 eight-yard loss, that can put the defense in such an advantageous position. I know he does need help,
02:35 yes, and I do think that Brad Holmes is going to give him help. But Aiden Hutchinson, if he's going
02:41 to become that natural and dominant force for the Detroit Lions, it's got to start as soon as
02:48 possible. If it doesn't happen, there may be some talks regarding his future now in Detroit, because
02:53 I do think that he's a good player, but you always got to have those conversations. Would you pay him
03:00 north of $30 million per season when his contract's up? I think he'll get there, but right now,
03:06 he just needs to elevate his game a little bit more. And I think he will. Remember that when
03:10 we look at a player, we always expect them to perform at a high level right now, but I do expect
03:17 that he's going to live up to the billing. He's a hard worker. He'll figure out the answers. But my
03:22 New Year's resolution for the Lions, get Aiden Hutchinson to the next level. John, couldn't
03:27 have said it any better myself. Happy New Year, and thanks for all the time.