Detroit Lions Weblog

Target for Improvement:Red Zone Offense

If there is one element of the Lions offense that I hope has been sufficiently upgraded this offseason, it would be their red zone offense. The team suffered from a lot of dropped passes, unimaginative play-calling, and the inexplicably stunted development of Kevin Jones during the first eight games of last season. The offseason additions of players like Mike Williams, Marcus Pollard, and Kevin Johnson will figure positively in the team’s ability to improve in this area. A wildcard in this anticipated improvement will be how much change has been implemented by new offensive coordinator Ted Tollner in the team’s red zone offensive package.

In 2004, the team had 39 red zone posessions or about 2.4 red zone posessions per game. As a figure of comparison, New England was in the red zone 58 times ( 3.6 possesions/gm). The Lions scored 18 TD’S and 16 FG’s in the red zone, which is a .872 scoring pctg in the red zone. Not bad, but for the team to have enjoyed more success (i.e winning more than six games) they would have needed to have more total red zone posessions. Joey Harrington, in spite of injuries and receivers who dropped far too many passes, performed quite well in the red zone. Harrington had an 81.4 QB rating in the red zone. He only was sacked twice in the red zone and threw 13 TD’s to just 1 INT in the red zone. On the surface quite respectable totals. I think that the team suffered from too many stalled offensive drives due to an unimaginative offense that didn’t utilize it’s meager talents wisely.

Why did it take eight games to establish the running game? Why did the coaching staff continue to play players who were continuously dropping catchable balls? Why did the team refuse to adjust it’s offensive philosophy to better utilize it’s personnel and the rule changes that have seriously hamstrung defensive backs ability to play physical in press coverage? All of these questions will remain unanswered and hopefully diffuse quickly and waft into the aether.

The point is that this team posesses the weapons necessary to be aggressive and seek out mismatches against opposing defenses. It has an exciting young runner who will benefit immensely as opposing team’s are no longer capable of loading 8-9 men into the tackle box. Their will be no quarter given to this coaching staff if doesn’t open up it’s offense, utilize more multi-receiver sets and display more verticality in it’s passing game. The team’s success rides on the ball moving down the field more efficiently and consistently, while yielding more points in the process.

I think that Matt Millen has provided the coaching staff with the tools necessary to do so. Charles Rogers, even with his relative lack of experience, if healthy and ready to perform will give the team a major red zone boost. Marcus Pollard will be a serious red zone upgrade over last year’s TE Stephen Alexander and will provide the offense with a downfield component it has been sorely lacking from the TE position. Pollard is aging, and it remains to be seen if his past offensive output has come as a result of the Colts incredible offense and the abilities of Peyton Manning. I feel strongly that even if he is less of a factor than he was in his prime years in Indy, he will provide the team with a far better option than what the team had had in the likes of David Sloan, Mikhail Ricks, and Stephen Alexander.

Kevin Johnson is an excellent route runner with sure hands and has had some past success catching TD passes earlier in his career with the Cleveland Browns. Johnson may receive little opportunity to perform as a slot receiver in the red zone, though, when you consider that the Lions selected USC WR Mike Williams as their first round draft pick. With Williams’s 6-5 height, excellent hands and playmaking ability he should be a red zone factor from day one. Williams with his frame and strength would appear to be tailor-made for the Lions red zone offense (or for any other offense for that matter). It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he ended the season with 35-40 catches and 8-10 TD’s. I have faith that the Lions will utilize plays that take full advantage of the mismatches he will create when in the red zone. Especially if teams make the unwise decision of attempting to cover him with a safety or linebacker. Honestly, I believe Williams will provide the team with the edge necessary to win 2-3 more games this year. Am I beaming enough, yet?

All of this sounds good, but the most important factor in all of this will be the performance of the starting Quarterback. If Joey Harrington is unable to deliver the ball accurately and improve upon last season’s red zone performance these offseason additions will be nullified. He must inspire confidence in his coaches and teammates and his performance should reflect that confidence. If he is unable to step it up, Joey Harrington, like Mr. Ford’s other failing business, will have his fading NFL career stall and be replaced by next year’s model.