Mayhew Expects Leap In Offensive Production In Second Year In System
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT – The Detroit Lions offense failed to live up to expectations in 2014, averaging 20.1 points. Two-thirds of teams in the NFL scored more.
Along with the growing pains of learning a new system, the Lions had to deal with a injuries to a number of starters, among them wide receiver Calvin Johnson, running back Reggie Bush, all three tight ends and several offensive linemen.
General manager Martin Mayhew, while not displeased with the offense in 2014 given the team won 11 games, expects more from the unit in the upcoming season.
"The second year in that offense is going to be big," Mayhew said Friday at the NFL combine. "It's going to be great for the quarterback having a second year in it. Some of the routes and the way that they run them was totally different for Matthew [Stafford]. He hadn't thrown those routes in college or when Scott Linehan was offensive coordinator, so some of that was a learning process for him. He had a bunch of new receivers out there, guys that he hadn't really worked with that much, so I think a second year in the offense is going to be huge for him individually, but then you take a look at all the guys we had playing. Some of the young guys we had playing, guys like [offensive lineman] Travis Swanson and guys like that, [tight end Eric] Ebron.
"I think the second year in the offense will be good for us," Mayhew added, "and I think we'll see a leap in terms of production. I think we'll see fewer sacks. I think we'll see a better run game, so I think we're going to see a lot better production in year two."
While quarterback Matthew Stafford did not put up the type of flashy passing numbers he has in past seasons, his ball security improved dramatically in 2014. After tossing 19 picks the previous season, Stafford threw only 12 interceptions. His completion percentage increased slightly, from 58.5 to 60.3.
The quarterback coach who helped Stafford make those improvements, Jim Bob Cooter, had interest from the Chicago Bears, who wanted to interview him for their offensive coordinator opening. The Lions denied Chicago's request. Obviously, they think highly of him, a sentiment Mayhew confirmed Friday.
One of the most discussed offensive letdowns in 2014 was the lack of production by rookie tight end Eric Ebron, who finished the season with 248 yards on 25 catches. For a first-round pick, the numbers were hardly noteworthy. Though Mayhew wanted more from Ebron, he said the outside expectations of him were too high.
"These guys are all rookies," Mayhew said. "I think we put unrealistic expectations on all of them, and then some of them meet the expectation, but I think it's unrealistic to expect a rookie to step in and be dominant, and when one does, I think that's more the rare occurrence than what typically happens."
Mayhew said he was not sure why Ebron did not have more success as a rookie, but he liked the progress he saw as the season neared its conclusion.
"I can tell you this – when he pulled his hamstring and he came back, he was looking much more comfortable," Mayhew said. "I don't know if stepping away from the game slowed it down for him a little bit, but I thought he played well toward the end of the season."
The Lions enjoy an embarrassment of options in the passing game, from Pro Bowl wide receivers Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate to the tight end trio of Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew and Joe Fauria to pass-catching running backs like Reggie Bush, Joique Bell and Theo Riddick. Figuring out how to use all of them, and to what extent, is a process that is ongoing, Mayhew said.
How to best utilize the tight ends in particular has been a question. Between 2010 and 2012, Pettigrew caught 213 passes, or an average of 71 per season. In 2014, Pettigrew only logged 10 receptions, one-third of his previous career low. While Mayhew said Pettigrew will likely never again get 60 or 70 catches in a season because of all the other options Stafford has, Pettigrew can contribute more.
"I thought he did well the things that we asked him to do," Mayhew said. "Again, we're sort of still dialoguing and going through the tight end position and how that fits into the offense, what we're going to do because we have three very different types of players at that position right now. They all have different strengths, so I think that's going to be another thing. The second year of the offense is going to give us a better feel of utilizing those guys and getting the most out of that position."
The offensive line will also need to improve, as Stafford suffered 45 sacks in 2014. The group could look markedly different, with longtime center Dominic Raiola not returning and veteran guard Rob Sims potentially departing also. The Lions announced shortly after the end of the season that they were not bringing back Raiola, but they have not yet revealed whether they will do so for Sims.
