With Detroit Lions veterans reporting for training camp on Saturday, we're closer to getting a look at the plans in store for the offense post-Ben Johnson.
John Morton returns to Detroit, where he served as a senior offensive assistant in 2022, after spending two years as the passing game coordinator in Denver. The OC change comes with a trove of questions, including how Morton plans to tweak the formations, changes in player usage, and how he will call plays -- having only served in the role for one season in his NFL coaching career.
Tight end Sam LaPorta told Jim Rome on Wednesday that there are no questions in the locker room about whether Morton can keep a potent Lions offense among the top in the NFL.
"It might be a little bit different," LaPorta said. "Fortunately, we kept a couple of our position coaches. Specifically, our offensive line coach. We promoted Hank Fraley to our run game coordinator. So, fortunate for me, we have the same run game system this year, same verbiage, which, as you can imagine, is a lot. But Johnny Mo, pass game coordinator his whole life. Brilliant mind, I think he's gonna call the offense great."
While there was a brain drain on the staff, the Lions retained offensive line coach Hank Fraley, promoting him to run game coordinator after he received OC inquiries. That move proved even more vital after the retirement of center Frank Ragnow.
Thus far, few details have been revealed about Morton's plans. Surely he will install different plays and formations than Johnson ran. There has been chatter that he might attempt to stretch the field vertically more. Player usage could change, with running back Jahmyr Gibbs noting that he's splitting out wide more.
While there are coordinator question marks heading into training camp, Dan Campbell sets the table. For LaPorta, having stability at the top with Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes ensures that players can focus on their business. After all, in the end, it's players who win the games on the field.
"It goes hand in hand with the players that are out there, of course, winning the game," LaPorta said of Campbell. "People always say it's a player's game. Brad Holmes has been the best at finding guys in the league that fit the culture in Detroit and are damn good football players at the end of the day, as well. So it starts with Dan, Brad, and then it works its way down to the players."
The Lions offense ranked in the top five in points and yards each of the past three seasons under Johnson.
