Is Jack Campbell about to have a breakthrough season?

The Detroit Lions are just days away from opening the doors to what may be their most anticipated training camp ever. Last season, they returned to the national stage and won a club-record 14 games before losing their first Super Bowl appearance in a heartbreaking NFC title game. But this year, they could be in an even better position, as they have nearly every key player back from the winningest season in franchise history, in addition to signing key players to address their biggest weaknesses. They will open training camp as a leading contender for the big win. We’ll analyze each position in the coming days. Today: Linebacker. Before: Quarterbacks | Receivers/Tight Ends | Running backs | Offensive line | Defensive Backs | Defensive Linemen

Roster locks: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez and Jalen Reeves-Maybin

In a Competition: Steele Chambers, DaRon Gilbert

Notable departures: None

Tear down: The Lions were among the five worst run defenses when this regime took over in 2021. Last year they were in the top five. How have they been able to soar into the stratosphere in just three years? There are so many factors, although the rise of the linebackers from one of the league’s worst units to one of the strongest probably has something to do with it.

Just look at Alex Anzalone, who embodies the return of Detroit’s defensive backs more than anyone else. He followed Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn from New Orleans to Detroit in 2021 and became something of a lightning rod for criticism when the defense faltered. A year later, he recorded a career-high 125 tackles. Last season, he added another 129. And so a guy who was once the face of Detroit’s defensive woes now has the seventh-most tackles in the league since arriving in Detroit. He was rewarded for it, too, signing a three-year, $18.3 million contract extension in the offseason. That’s not bad for a guy who came here on a near-veteran minimum contract.

And here’s the crazy part: As good as Anzalone has become in Detroit, it might not be long before he’s not even the best player in his own league anymore.

Jack Campbell is coming off a solid rookie season, starting 12 times and making 95 tackles. He was named to the All-Rookie team and finished seventh in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. That’s solid work.

But Campbell wasn’t drafted 18th to be solid. He was a monster at Iowa who then tested out of the gym at the Combine and posted a near-perfect RAS score of 9.98, ranking sixth among the 2,648 linebackers who have gone through the draft process since 1987.

Campbell struggled to reach his full potential for much of his rookie season, in part due to the amount of information he had to process. But by the end of the year, he was a good player against the run game and one of the best rookies on defense in the league. Then he returned to Detroit for his second offseason program and looked like he was on the verge of a breakthrough. He was excellent against the run game and even intercepted a few passes during the mandatory minicamp, which gives hope that his pass defense also needs improvement.

“First of all, I have to say, he’s a man,” defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said over the summer. “He’s a grown man. He’s really taken control this offseason like he should. He’s a true MIKE backer. He’s a guy that lives and breathes the green dot mentality as a MIKE backer. Then just watching him on the field, his zone drop, his mentality as far as chasing the football is outstanding.”

With Anzalone leading the way and Campbell on track for a stellar season, Detroit’s defense is in great shape. But that’s not all. Derrick Barnes is coming off a stellar season and intercepted the pass that put the Lions in the NFC Championship game. Malcolm Rodriguez has starting experience, as does Jalen Reeves-Maybin – both of whom are also among the league’s best special teams players.

They have a strong linebacker squad and a lot of experience – and with Jack Campbell, it might not be long before Detroit has its next big star at that position.