Detroit Lions offense not in dire straits, but lacking more than 'mid-range' jumper
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions offense remains one of the most productive in the NFL, but when you watch the games, you can tell something isn’t quite right, even if you’re struggling to put your finger on the specific deficiency.
Maybe it’s because the deficiency is efficiency.
It doesn’t help that we’re comparing the current unit to last year’s group, which set the franchise record for points scored. That’s a tough bar to clear, particularly when you abruptly remove an All-Pro center from the equation.
Of course, there was another notable departure this offseason, with coordinator Ben Johnson taking a head coaching opportunity in Chicago. Finding a one-to-one replacement was never realistic, but Lions coach Dan Campbell did what he felt was the next-best thing, bringing back former senior offensive assistant John Morton, who was involved in the design and implementation of Johnson’s scheme, with an eye on maintaining the bones of the operation.
Still, the combination of those two absences has led to a predictable drop-off, even if only a modest one. The Lions aren’t going to break franchise records this season, but they’ve still been relatively potent. To suggest anything else is disingenuous. The team ranks second in scoring, third in offensive points per game, and eighth in popular efficiency metrics, EPA and DVOA.
That’s slipped across the board, but not reaching a level meriting the sounding of alarms.
Passing game coordinator David Shaw, an avid basketball fan, compared the team’s recent lack of rhythm — averaging 21.7 points the past three games — to a squad struggling with their mid-range jumper.