The Lions, by several measures, have the NFL's best defense through 10 games. They're giving up the fewest yards per game thus far, and, most importantly, the fewest points per game. The offense hasn't kept pace, in part because of injuries. As the Lions head down the stretch and get some of their playmakers back to full health, their offense has the potential to join the defense among the league's best.
Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate lead a surging Lions’ offense
Calvin Johnson is finally healthy and Golden Tate is clicking with his new quarterback. Together, the two wideouts could put the Lions’ offense back among the league’s best.
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It all starts with the return of Calvin Johnson from a month-long injury hiatus. His return will be boosted by the fact that Detroit finally has a legit complementary weapon to pair with Megatron. Johnson has consistently made his hay by beating double and triple coverage while running with teammates such as Kris Durham, Titus Young, Nate Burleson, and Bryant Johnson. Now, with Golden Tate lined up opposite Megatron, the craziest thing has happened -- Johnson has started to draw single coverage on the outside.
Last Sunday’s win over Miami provided great examples of how this could be a factor down the stretch. In the first quarter, the mere presence of Tate -- due to his ability to elevate and catch a contested ball, and then run with it after the catch -- was enough to draw the attention of two defenders, allowing Megatron to catch a deep touchdown pass for the Lions.
Watch below -- the deep middle safety keys in on Tate, who runs a slant-curl in the intermediate range. This allows Johnson to get deep on the opposite side. The Lions exploit this matchup with Brent Grimes. Grimes is a good corner, but at 5’10, he can’t overcome the laws of physics come to defend Johnson.
Matthew Stafford has never shied away from throwing the ball up for Johnson to get it, and when he sees single coverage on the outside, he does just that. Stafford lets it rip down the seam, knowing that his 6'5 target can elevate and make the catch. Johnson gets it.
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The Lions were able to execute this play for a number of reasons, but primarily because they were able to make the defense think they were running.
To start, they came out of the huddle in “21” personnel -- two backs, one tight end and two receivers -- which is, very generally speaking, a “run-heavy” personnel grouping, particularly when the receivers are in tight splits. Add in the fact that it’s first-and-10, and the defense, just by nature, will understandably be looking to defend a run.
This means Detroit draws eight defenders into “the box.”
The play-action fake by Stafford (as you can see above in the GIF) coaxes the defensive front-8 forward, and then Stafford throws the ball deep over everyone’s head.
The second example from Sunday's win over the Dolphins showed what the Lions can do when teams key on Megatron.
This was the final play of the third quarter, when the Lions were down three points and in need of a scoring drive. They come out in their “21” personnel again, and facing second-and-9, again line up with reduced receiver splits (they are closer in toward the ball). The Dolphins respond with a similar Cover-3 look with eight men in the box.
Johnson runs the same route as he did on his touchdown reception. This time, however, the deep safety has the presence of mind to stay over the top. That allows Tate to run a slant route up the middle and underneath the coverage, with only the outside corner trailing him across the field. This is easy money.
That’s a 28-yard gain that moved Detroit into Miami territory. The Lions would get a field goal on the drive to tie the score at 13.
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While it took Tate a few weeks to acclimate to a new passing offense and build chemistry with Stafford, by Week 4, right about when Johnson’s ankle injury began affecting his performance, the former Seahawk and Golden Domer was up to speed. Tate has posted 100-plus yards in six of his last seven games, and now sits fourth in the NFL with 909 receiving yards. In fact, Tate’s 66 receptions through nine games is tied for the most by any Lions receiver in franchise history -- joining Herman Moore from 1997 -- and eclipses even Megatron’s best effort.
Even with Johnson’s return last week, Tate grabbed 11 passes for 109 yards, which was perhaps a signal that Tate’s targets won’t decline much even after sliding to the No. 2 role. Defenses now have to game plan for two legitimate outside options when playing the Lions. That’s valuable.
Even with Johnson missing three games and barely playing in a couple others, Tate and Megatron have combined for 1,370 yards receiving this season, good for 5th in the NFL among receiver duos. They trail the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders (1,854 yards), the Packers' Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb (1,539 yards), the Steelers' Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton (1,506 yards) and the Colts' T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne (1,441 yards).
With a healthy Megatron, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Lions' receiving duo move up in the rankings. Even more importantly, they should open up the Lions' offense. The multiple threats they provide on the outside, combined with the return of Reggie Bush, presents a conundrum for defensive coordinators.
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