Even during some of the Detroit Lions’ early offseason practices, the energy is elevated, the sideline noisier. But it’s not the players who are the driving force behind the ramped-up intensity. No, it’s Detroit’s revamped coaching staff.
The way I read the Montgomery and Choice difference are the players, I assume the WRs are driving Scottie more than the RBs did.
Interesting of you have seen Saint's podcast where he seems kind of laid back, maybe not laidback but more let me show you my dominance than talk about it or showoff. is JaMo leading this because I doubt it, don't think the Lions want that happening right now, half the reason they moved Scottie to the WRs is to get a better handle on JaMo.
Is it Patrick and/or Lief making Scottie more animated, I don't see it really. Neither seem that animated and your part-time players have to be overwhelming personalities to lead or push a coach like that.
In some ways the RB and WR room have the same dynamics, no doubt Saint leads the WRs and JaMo is kind of the rebellious kid that needs a little adult direction sometimes. The RB room is similar with Greg Montgomery being the dog in stature and gravitas in the RB room, that's why they paid him like that. Gibbs is maybe more subdued, more mature that JaMo but he dies like to have fun. Ja is more willing to wait his turn more while JaMo seems to want the spotlight on him more. He is a total team player and will give everything he has to help his teammate succeed but there is no doubt he wants the attention. There is nothing wrong with that if it's under control there is even something right about seeking the limelight.
If Scottie has changed his approach it is by design. Montgomery and Campbell, maybe even Holmes and Cris have discussed how they want to handle the WR room, especially JaMo and maybe Scottie is showing JaMo how he can be animated without crossing the line. If it comes from somebody who is showing his emotions nearly as much as he is the message is easier to take.
I feel like that might be the issue between Saint and JaMo, St. Brown comes across as a little preachy to JaMo.
Look, 2/3rds of coaching is really being a physiatrist and a HC like Dan is 1000% one. It's all about dealing with personalities, you get that wrong and the x's and o's don't matter but get it right and the x's and o's are part of it.
Sorry, just this aspect of teambuilding is so fascinating to me and I am so glad this Lions brain trust agrees and are masters at it, it's not mind control like Patricia and Schwartz tried, it's finding the right minds and blending them into something bigger.
I remember when Jahmyr was first coming in, Calvin Johnson talking about his close friend Tashhard Choice being Gibbs RB coach at Georgia Tech, and how his buddy told CJ that Gibbs was going to be something special. We might see CJ around the Lions even more now.
I don't think we will miss the departing coaches as much as the national media thinks. The replacements MCDC brought in might be even better. MCDC was also a bigger part of the game planning and play calling than he is given credit for by a lot of the national media.
A championship winning team has to have excellent coaching for the entire roster to bring out the players best. There has been a lot turnover in the 2025 Lions staff. Hope hope hope.
Could it be possible that this "new" coaching staff will be stronger than that of the last few years? In a sense, it might not be the same Lions that the opposition has seen the last 2-3 years.
I love that hoodie, is it sold anywhere?
Good job on this story. Very insightful, funny and informative.
The way I read the Montgomery and Choice difference are the players, I assume the WRs are driving Scottie more than the RBs did.
Interesting of you have seen Saint's podcast where he seems kind of laid back, maybe not laidback but more let me show you my dominance than talk about it or showoff. is JaMo leading this because I doubt it, don't think the Lions want that happening right now, half the reason they moved Scottie to the WRs is to get a better handle on JaMo.
Is it Patrick and/or Lief making Scottie more animated, I don't see it really. Neither seem that animated and your part-time players have to be overwhelming personalities to lead or push a coach like that.
In some ways the RB and WR room have the same dynamics, no doubt Saint leads the WRs and JaMo is kind of the rebellious kid that needs a little adult direction sometimes. The RB room is similar with Greg Montgomery being the dog in stature and gravitas in the RB room, that's why they paid him like that. Gibbs is maybe more subdued, more mature that JaMo but he dies like to have fun. Ja is more willing to wait his turn more while JaMo seems to want the spotlight on him more. He is a total team player and will give everything he has to help his teammate succeed but there is no doubt he wants the attention. There is nothing wrong with that if it's under control there is even something right about seeking the limelight.
If Scottie has changed his approach it is by design. Montgomery and Campbell, maybe even Holmes and Cris have discussed how they want to handle the WR room, especially JaMo and maybe Scottie is showing JaMo how he can be animated without crossing the line. If it comes from somebody who is showing his emotions nearly as much as he is the message is easier to take.
I feel like that might be the issue between Saint and JaMo, St. Brown comes across as a little preachy to JaMo.
Look, 2/3rds of coaching is really being a physiatrist and a HC like Dan is 1000% one. It's all about dealing with personalities, you get that wrong and the x's and o's don't matter but get it right and the x's and o's are part of it.
Sorry, just this aspect of teambuilding is so fascinating to me and I am so glad this Lions brain trust agrees and are masters at it, it's not mind control like Patricia and Schwartz tried, it's finding the right minds and blending them into something bigger.
I remember when Jahmyr was first coming in, Calvin Johnson talking about his close friend Tashhard Choice being Gibbs RB coach at Georgia Tech, and how his buddy told CJ that Gibbs was going to be something special. We might see CJ around the Lions even more now.
I don't think we will miss the departing coaches as much as the national media thinks. The replacements MCDC brought in might be even better. MCDC was also a bigger part of the game planning and play calling than he is given credit for by a lot of the national media.
Hoping that Lions social media mic’s these guys up to give us fans a taste of the chirping during Training Camp.
The comparison is obvious, but it’s giving heavy Aaron Glenn/Duce Staley vibes, which was incredibly fun to watch.
A championship winning team has to have excellent coaching for the entire roster to bring out the players best. There has been a lot turnover in the 2025 Lions staff. Hope hope hope.
Could it be possible that this "new" coaching staff will be stronger than that of the last few years? In a sense, it might not be the same Lions that the opposition has seen the last 2-3 years.
Much better.
I’m getting fired up just reading this. So looking forward to seeing the defense go this year. Love what these coaches bring to the table.
Keep these articles coming!
Choice's initial coaching experience reminds my of Dan Campbell's. In an early press conference, Dan was asked what motivated him to be a coach.
Cambell told of an experience at a summer football camp where a kid playing tight end was being owned by a very athletic defender.
Dan gave him a pointer that might help him and watched the kid as he finally won a rep. He was hooked.
That still is one of my favorite Campbell stories.
This team is so easy to root for.
One of my favorite hires, he's awesome