We might finally know one of the major changes coming to the offense for the Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford.
There had been talk from offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell that Stafford was going to be doing new things this year. That might involve running massive jumbo packages with up to three tight ends on the field. Yes, you read that correctly. The Lions might start just trying to bully teams all over the field.
The Detroit Free Press reported the following Tuesday:
I know a lot has been made of the Lions using more two tight end sets this year, but the way they’re rolling personnel onto the field in practice, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Lions play with three tight ends on the field at times this fall. And I don’t just mean in goal-line or short-yardage situations.
Given how much we’ve beefed up the tight end ranks, I can’t say this comes as a huge surprise. The squad now has T.J. Hockenson, Logan Thomas and Jesse James. (RELATED: Detroit Lions Draft Iowa Tight End T.J. Hockenson 8th Overall)
If you’re going to have those three guys on the roster, you might as well try to find mismatches all over the damn field. Those guys are giants, and good luck trying to cover each one in single coverage or busting through their blocking.
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I’m guessing this is what Bevell was referring to. At the very least it has to be part of the updated plan.
Initially, I was a shade nervous we were going to do something insanely stupid like having Stafford run the option or something like that.
We are the Detroit Lions. Literally anything, no matter how stupid, is generally on the table. Luckily, it sounds like we’re going the exact opposite direction so Matthew Stafford can have as much protection as possible on the field. That’s a plan I can get behind.
