Lions Praise Cooter For Improved Offense
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
Since Jim Bob Cooter took over as offensive coordinator in Week 8 against the Chiefs, the Lions are only averaging about four points per game more (23.3) than they were under Joe Lombardi (19.9). But the difference? Albeit against a less imposing schedule, the Lions are at least a respectable 4-3 under Cooter's leadership (as opposed to 1-6 when Lombardi was handling the offense).
Things have changed under the first-time coordinator, and how much the Lions' shifting fortunes toward the end of the season have to do with Cooter alone is up in the air. But after Detroit's 35-27 win over New Orleans on Monday Night Football, Lions players were full of praise for what Cooter has done with the offense.
"I think collectively we simplified things, and Coach Jim Bob Cooter has done a phenomenal job at finding what guys do best and putting them in positions to succeed," wide receiver Golden Tate said. "I think offensively, on the line we simplified the calls, the runs. I think on the outside we're finding ways to get Theo (Riddick), Ameer (Abdullah), myself, Calvin (Johnson), Lance (Moore), TJ (Jones) open and it's just working."
Johnson is still the invisible man in Detroit (he was targeted once Monday, a ball that he caught for 19 yards). But at least he's invisible on a team that isn't getting trounced every single week.
Riddick has taken on a greater role since Cooter took over, and he's performed. Tate has been targeted more, and he's caught two touchdowns in each of the last two games.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford has set a career-high in passer rating twice this season – both games under Cooter – and he set a franchise record Monday for completion percentage (he went 22-of-25).
"We have plenty of guys who are talented that can get down the field who can make plays, but I think that also starts with the coach putting us in that position to be successful, using guys' strengths," said rookie fullback Michael Burton, who caught his first career touchdown pass against the Saints. "Coach (Cooter) does an excellent job of 'Okay, this is the guy's talent, this is his strength, so let's do it.'"
And the running game, perhaps most importantly, has seen improvement. Detroit was the worst in the league through the first portion of the season when it came to its ground game.
The Lions broke 100 yards rushing once in the seven games during which Lombardi was offensive coordinator. In the seven games since – all under Cooter – the Lions have rushed in the triple digits five times.
Pre-Cooter, the Lions averaged 68 yards on the ground per game. Post-Cooter, they're averaging 100.7 a game.
"When you have the athletes we have, it should simplify, and I think that's what we're doing," Tate said. "We're running basic plays but we're just finding ways to get open and make them. We know we're good and the things that were stopping us were turnovers, your quarterback being on the ground too much and not running the ball as well. Over the last few weeks we've run the ball extremely well."