How Lions' Diversified Offense Will Dominate Defenses

Detroit Lions' offense will feature several new weapons in 2023.

The Lions will enter the 2023 season with several new weapons for Jared Goff and Ben Johnson's offense.

Namely, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes added a pair of more-than-capable running backs: veteran David Montgomery and rookie, do-it-all back Jahmyr Gibbs.

Along with drafting Gibbs (No. 12 overall) in the first round of this past April's NFL Draft, Holmes selected pass-catcher Sam LaPorta in the second round (No. 34 overall). From all accounts, LaPorta has the potential to grow into a No. 1-caliber tight end and a reliable red-zone target for Goff.

In adding the aforementioned pair of running backs and LaPorta, Lions head coach Dan Campbell believes the team has diversified its offense and made things a little bit easier for Goff.

"Look, the more that you can get out of those two positions (running back and tight end), it gives you versatility and variety in what you can do," Campbell told reporters earlier this week. "And, we feel pretty good about – we know (Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown) 'Saint' can attack the middle of the defense, and we know he can do some things outside. But, man, opposite to him, to feel like also (being) in that position to attack the other side, the safeties, the LBs (and) build the triangle. Work the triangle for the quarterback." 

Gibbs, who played for both Georgia Tech and Alabama during his collegiate career, was the definition of a multi-purpose weapon.

In his final season as a college athlete (which was his lone campaign with the Crimson Tide), the 5-foot-11, 200-pound back produced a team-best 926 rushing yards and seven touchdowns (on 151 carries). He also led Alabama with 44 receptions for 444 yards and three scores. 

He did all of this while also making his presence known on special teams. In fact, he returned 13 kickoffs for 258 yards, with a long of 57 yards. In total, he compiled 1,628 all-purpose yards, good for third in the SEC and 21st in the nation in 2022.

Meanwhile, LaPorta, a University of Iowa product, recorded 153 receptions for 1,786 yards and five touchdowns in four years and 46 total games with the Hawkeyes. Additionally, per Pro Football Focus, in 2021, he led all Big Ten tight ends in receptions (53), yards (670), yards after catch (299), yards after contact (206) and catches of 15-or-more yards (18).

Campbell sees the two rookies developing into reliable security blankets for Goff. 

"To have LaPorta and somebody like Gibbs who hopefully develop – it does, and I think it’s – in some sense, it’s a quarterback’s best friend," the third-year Detroit head coach expressed. "When you have a halfback and a tight end that can win for you, I just think that, usually the throws are a little bit easier. They’re bigger targets or there’s a lot of separation depending on athlete versus athlete. So, yeah, I think that’s a fair assessment, and certainly, we’re always going to run the ball. I mean, that’s what it starts with, with us. Our foundation is built off of our offensive line. It always will be, and then we work from the ground up from there.”

The Lions' offense does start up front, with a top-tier offensive line that is anchored by Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow. 

Montgomery, who averaged just 2.0 yards before contact with the Bears a season ago, is excited for the opportunity to run behind a line that consistently opened up holes for D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams last year.

"All those guys up front, they carry themselves in a manner like they expect the person running behind them to get six, seven, eight yards per time they touch the ball," Montgomery told reporters on Day 3 of training camp Tuesday. "That’s a big standard, big expectations you want to reach. Just knowing that you’ve got guys in front of you that want to do that and have that mentality, it definitely gives you another gear, lights up a fire that makes you say, ‘Alright, I’ve got to give more, because those guys up front are giving everything they got.'"

Ragnow, who earned the fifth-highest Pro Football Focus grade for a center in 2022, will be joined on the interior of the line by left guard Jonah Jackson and right guards Graham Glasgow and Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Meanwhile, on the outside of the line, the Lions are equipped with a pair of high-achieving tackles: Pro Bowl right tackle Penei Sewell and veteran left tackle Taylor Decker.

As long as Ragnow and his offensive line counterparts stay healthy, the veteran center believes the position group has a chance to be one of the best in the NFL in 2023. 

"Just got to hope we get through training camp as healthy as possible,” Ragnow told reporters Tuesday. “You know, it always seems like it catches up to us. And man, if we can keep it going, I think it can be pretty good. We gotta take it one day at a time and (offensive line coach) Hank (Fraley) did a great job making sure that we’re always working and we’re always finding a way to get better. I think we all realize how quickly, in this league, things can change. I think it’s been a huge addition with this new training staff. Both the old and the new have been just great in helping to do a lot of prehab and rehab, making sure that we’re ready to roll.”