By Kieran Steckley

Staking your claim as to who the backup quarterback should be is sort of like telling ya buddy his girlfriend is going to cheat on him.
You have your reasons. They are well thought out. But, really, you’d rather not be proven right.
But it’s a little more complicated than that for the 2022 Detroit Lions.
“Hard Knocks” hype and Vegas money betting the over aside, this season is about Jared Goff.
More than that – this season is THE evaluation for the former No. 1 pick-turned-extra-piece in the Matthew Stafford trade.
The franchise’s patient approach to roster building has allowed Goff to, in theory, resurrect his career.
That is why David Blough must be the backup quarterback this season.
By all accounts Blough is the de-facto second quarterback coach – to the extent he designed a trick play in Week 18 last season. He’s a candidate for Kellen Moore-type ascension when he hangs up the cleats.
That’s highly valuable.
When he’s on the field, Blough tops Tim Boyle – his competition – when it comes to navigating chaos.
And let’s not dismiss that notion.
Whether it’s preseason, primetime blowout or surprise Thanksgiving start, Blough plays unafraid. He’s moving in the pocket looking for the big play. He’ll willingly scramble to move the chains. He holds nothing back.
That matters in the locker room, especially when those guys in the huddle know Blough put the preparation during the week.
So what does Boyle offer?
This column will come across as anti-Boyle. It’s just the nature of it. But, look, I get it. Boyle laps Blough when it comes to The Look. He’s 6-foot-4 and 233 pounds with a canon attached to that right shoulder. That 45-yard dime on Friday night to Khalif Raymond was purrrtay. As was the goal line fade to Devin Funchess.
But what are we trying to accomplish here?
Neither Blough nor Boyle are future starters. They are destined to hold a tablet on Sundays.
If the team had its franchise quarterback in tow and just wanted to develop a player with unteachable skills, Boyle is that guy. But Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have been clear they are doing everything to ensure Goff is in a situation to succeed.
If you want the counting numbers: Blough’s 0-5 as a starter with a 54.3 completion percentage and 4-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
But, again, what does that matter?
Any significant snaps for the backup quarterback are a sign of a season derailed. The true impact is felt Monday to Saturday, which is Blough’s domain. And if he gets in the game, guess what? He’s gonna work to make plays.
Blough simply offers more than Boyle. For the meeting room, for the offense and for the direction of the franchise.

Hard Knocks Episode 2 Thoughts

Rodrigo
Have you ever been first on a bandwagon, firm in your belief, only to get nervous when everyone else joins? That’s me with Malcolm Rodriguez. An Oklahoma State alumni, I have watched Rodriguez since he was a bulky safety making plays all over the field as an underclassman.
I always maintained he could make an NFL killing as a special teams ace and fan favorite, as he was in college.
Never thought he’d ascend to a possible starter early in his rookie season.
“This year could be whatever you want it to be,” linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard told Rodriguez on “Hard Knocks.”
The hype train shows no signs of slowing down.

• Only Dan Campbell could make a practice water break an intense moment.
• Amon-Ra St. Brown was so serious listing the wide receivers taken ahead of him in the Draft, I wouldn’t even want to be one of the people who announced the picks for fear of association with such a dishonor.
• Mr. St. Brown should expect a clapback tweet from Kevin Durant or a K.D. burner
• Goff hasn’t been mentioned much on the show so far. But he looks in command of the offense and the team. His leadership has been noticeable.
• Duce Staley is one of us. He wants so badly for D’andre Swift to unlock his full potential. It’s Year 3. It’s time.
• Is there a better example of Dan Campbell letting his players be themselves than T.J. Hockenson wearing those, um, pants?