By Ashley Scoby

@AshleyScoby

Joique Bell was listed as the starter in the Lions’ first unofficial depth chart this week, but it still isn’t certain that he will play in Detroit’s season-opening game in San Diego. He sat out the entire preseason due to an undisclosed injury, and just returned to practice last week.

“You know what, I talked to the coach about it, and I think we’re going to have a sit-down on Friday, make the decision there,” Bell said. “As far as me playing this week, I’m practicing. At the end of the day, it’s coach’s call, and the trainers.”

At this point, it’s likely Bell just needs to get back into full game shape before taking the field. And when that happens, he thinks that Detroit’s offense will ramp it up a notch from what they did last year.

Last season, the Lions finished 22nd in the league in total offense, 28th in rushing offense and 12th in passing offense. But according to Bell, Detroit is in a much more comfortable position offensively, what with now being in the second season under offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.

“I think offensively we’re clicking more than we were last year,” he said. “I think right now we’re farther along at this point than we were last year. Coming in the second year of the offense, getting it down, and Mathew (Stafford)’s a lot more comfortable and familiar with the offense, along with the receivers and offensive line, and we’re excited.”

While the offense struggled at times last season to fully utilize all its tools (partially due to injuries to tight ends, as well as star receiver Calvin Johnson), the defense was one of the best in the league. Detroit’s defense (albeit the one led by now-former Lions Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley) finished second in the NFL in total defense, behind only Seattle.

The offense wasn’t quite to that level last year. But Bell said he thinks the success will be more balanced between both sides of the ball this season.

“The defense was part of the heart and soul of the team last year,” he said. “Offensively I think we’ll be ready to make that next step, make that next jump and kind of balance it out.”

Coming off a season where they made the playoffs – but lost in heartbreaking fashion – the Lions have high standards for what “success” means in 2015.

As for Bell, his standards are something he keeps to himself. Inside his locker, he keeps a list of the things he wants to accomplish through the season. How many of those he checks off will play a large role in how Detroit reaches its more widespread goal of postseason success.

“I have my personal goals in my locker,” he said. “Things that I want to achieve this season that I have written on a piece of paper that I have in my locker that I look at every day. … If you don’t write it down, it’s just a dream. But once you write it down it becomes a goal.”