With our backs to the wall, the darkness will fall, we never quite thought we could lose it all. Ready, Aim,Fire. Ready, Aim, Fire. And empires fall in just one day. You close your eyes and the glory fades.
Those words are from the band Imagine Dragons song, "Ready Aim Fire". Now how does that equate to this topic? Like most Detroit Lions fans, i wasn't happy with the idea of drafting Eric Ebron, Tight End from North Carolina first with the 10th pick. But i realized with Justin Gilbert and Sammy Watkins off the board, and not wanting Darqueze Dennard, it was an okay pick. But now I'm looking at the offensive draft picks we acquired, and I must now say that not only do I love this pick, but I think this pick along with TJ Jones makes the Lions a 30 point scoring team threat. Let me explain why.
Now a lot of people wondered "why pick up Ebron, we have two tight ends on the squad already". And to a certain point you would be correct, except you aren't looking
at the grand scheme of things. Remember that 2 of the new coaches used dual and triple tight end sets. Plus who is to say Fauria won't get all the red-zone snaps while Pettigrew switch off on long ball situations?
But First, lets look at who is on the offensive roster to help setup my theory:
Joique Bell
Reggie Bush
Calvin Johnson
Golden Tate
TJ Jones
Kevin Ogletree
Corey Fuller
Ryan Broyles
Eric Ebron
Joseph Fauria
Brandon Pettigrew
Now look at that lineup. Remember how Stafford, despite his recent 2 bad seasons has thrown for a average of 4,200 yards? Imagine the carnage he will cause with a new scheme and this weapons. But lets get into the fun part of all of this. Calvin Johnson is the only player that is going to demand a double team and rightfully so, he is Megatron. But not this year. Expect him to play a lot of single coverage because of who will be alongside him on the line: Jones, Tate and Ebron. As i said before, Ebron will get snaps this year but let me make one thing clear:
HE WILL NOT BE PLAYING AS A TIGHT END, BUT AS A RECEiVER.
See why he was a great pick now? They picked up a need and a backup in the same pick. Ebron is 6'4 but plays like a slot receiver. Go look at his tape, preferably the one against Miami in 2013. Also realize that he is the guy that broke Vernon Davis' ACC record of YAC and receptions this year alone. His hands are incredible and he will become a nightmare for defenses that think they can double Megatron with a safety and put a Linebacker on Ebron.
Now to my favorite player from this draft class, TJ Jones. First, he dad played for the Lions back in the day. Secondly he can play the role that Nate Burleson was but a bit better as he is taller than Burleson. With his size and hands imagine having 2 Golden Tate's on the field. I don't care what round he was picked, except him to be on the field alongside Tate in 4 receiver sets.
Lets also look at two guys that came to attention during this preseason fighting for their lives on the team and ended up being possible sneak bombs for this arsenal: Corey Fuller and Ryan Broyles. Broyles, despite many fans wanting him gone because he has had the injury bug bite him more than living in a bed bug apartment, has shown over the preseason to be someone who can come in on a 3rd down and get you the first and then some. Fuller, who I personally am happy to see play, will be what Kris Durham was supposed to be. He can stride down the field and has the hands to make great catches that could be beneficial in the long haul of the season.
Now how to make this offensive weaponry score 30 a game? That part is easy. Remember that late bubble screen the Lions used last year with Bell and Bush that always worked and created not only first downs but sometimes touchdowns as well? Expect that as well, but this time expect Tate, Ross, and Jones to be options as well in that setup. That right there is at least 2 touchdowns per game at the most. Add another 2-3 for the fact that Bell and Bush will come back from small injuries and be used in a bigger rotation with Theo Riddick so expect the running to be a 3 headed rushing system.
Now at this point your wondering, no team is going to allow the Lions to rack up 30 on them, and your probably right. But thats not to say the Lions can't get close to 30 a game on the teams they play this year. Calvin is going to get his TD's this year but the reason Ebron , Jones and Tate where brought in was to take pressure off Calvin. If you put the four of these men on the same field, in a single back shotgun set, the defense can't just double team Calvin anymore. Tate, Ogletree, Broyles, Fuller and Jones will demand the Strong safety to cover one of them. Meanwhile the linebackers will be concerned with not only helping sacking Stafford but stopping the running back, no matter who it is. But here is where Ebron becomes a threat. Because while both covering Megatron and Ebron with a cornerback might provide some help from 5 -10 yards, you have to put a safety on one of them, leaving one to torture a corner every time they run this play. See how dangerous that sounds? I know its early but eventually people are going to call this team " the second greatest show on turf". I know this is just my belief but trust and believe that this is going to be one of the reasons the Lions post a better record than before, and break a couple of records in the process. Just watch.
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