Bish & Brown: Why Drew Petzing Fits Detroit - Detroit Lions Podcast

A surprising hire, a clear philosophy

The Detroit Lions have their new offensive coordinator. Drew Petzing is in. On the Detroit Lions Podcast, Russell Brown and Scott Bischoff sifted through first impressions and got to the substance. Initial reactions felt muted. The shiny name wasn’t coming. But the more they worked through scheme and personnel, the more the hire fit what the Lions want to be in the NFL.

They pushed back on the noise. Fans cherry-picked stats. Few considered what Petzing had to work with. The conversation stayed on the grand picture: what this offense needs to do on Sundays and how Petzing can get it there.

Lessons from Arizona that matter in Detroit

Petzing’s Arizona run offered useful clues. In 2023 he split the year between Kyler Murray for eight games and Josh Dobbs for eight. Dobbs looked good in that structure. In 2024 Murray played the full season. The offense was fine, not great, but functional. In the most recent season, Murray played about four or five games. Context mattered across all three years.

Usage stood out. James Conner was highly productive despite not being a super explosive athlete. Arizona created touches for him as a runner and receiver. That detail resonated with Detroit. Think Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Creative throws to backs. Turn easy completions into first downs. That is bankable offense when games tighten.

The fit: second-and-4 football

The hosts kept returning to down-and-distance. This is the point of the Detroit Lions offense. Get to second and four. Open the playbook. Run play action. Move the chains. Control the clock. Petzing aligns with that identity. The expectation is a coherent ground attack that puts Jared Goff and the passing game in favorable spots.

They contrasted that with the allure of Mike McDaniel. Fun idea, but not a clean fit. Shotgun-heavy. Wide zone as a base. That would force major changes to what Detroit does. Petzing’s approach blends easier with the current core and the way the Lions want to play in the NFL.

Framing the 2026 NFL Draft

The discussion acknowledged uncertainty around how this hire touches the 2026 NFL Draft. The lens is clearer than the board. Build an offense that lives in manageable downs. Lean on play action. Feature backs in the passing game when the coverage picture invites it. Those are guideposts for roster planning, not predictions.

It was cold outside. Snow piled up. Inside the Detroit Lions Podcast, the thesis warmed up fast: the name might not sparkle, but the fit makes sense. That is what matters for Detroit.

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