Detroit Lions’ Cast Of Talented Tight Ends Needs To Step Up and Deliver

Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men.

Entering this season, had you told anybody that by Thanksgiving, the Detroit Lions’ three elite tight ends would look essentially useless within a struggling offense, you may have been openly mocked.

But, here we sit four days before the holiday and both accounts are certainly true. The Lions’ offense fell flat again Sunday amidst a 34-9 shellacking at the hands of the New England Patriots, but it wasn’t as if the team was devoid of chances to get on the scoreboard with big plays.

In fact, early in the game and late, the Lions have a chance to claw back into things, if only two of their biggest pass-catchers could have simply gotten the ball when it was thrown to them. Joseph Fauria, struggling to come back after an injury, had a ball deflect off his hands in the corner of the end zone that would have given Detroit the lead back after New England had scored.

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Later, with the Lions trying to fight their way back, rookie Eric Ebron, also struggling to get back into the fold after injury and inconsistency, was the recipient of an excellent play. He had a step on two defenders and had a pass fall right into his chest. Instead of making the play, he dropped the pass. At other times, Ebron wasn’t even on the same page with Matthew Stafford.

Brandon Pettigrew wasn’t heard from despite being activated, and even when healthy, he’s been a non-factor for the team.

It’s not hard to see why Detroit’s offense is struggling. The Lions can’t run the football, and additionally, the team was counting on all three of their tight ends to be significant factors, helping to take pressure off Stafford and the wide receivers by allowing the quarterback exploitable match-ups over the middle. With everyone hurt, it’s been impossible to get the group on the same page with their quarterback.

“There were things beyond his control and things he didn’t necessarily do well,” Jim Caldwell said Monday on the play of Stafford against New England. “He (had) some pretty pinpoint passes that he did not get a chance to get credit for, for one reason or another.”

Clearly, Caldwell was referencing drops, and as mentioned before, both tight ends that saw meaningful snaps on Sunday contributed badly in that department.

As the tight ends continue to get healthy and start to work their way back into the fold, it’s imperative that everyone in this personnel group come to play and the offensive staff begins to better utilize their talents. As a veteran, Pettigrew has to do more, and Fauria and Ebron, both of the younger players, must step up and deliver as well.

It’s imperative that everyone in this personnel group come to play and the offensive staff begins to better utilize their talents. As a veteran, Pettigrew has to do more, and Fauria and Ebron, both of the younger players, must step up and deliver as well.

‘”I’m not worried at all,” Caldwell said about his offense perhaps being too predictable. The fact is, it’s gotten predictable in one major way: the tight end position has given the team nothing throughout the first part of the season, whether thanks to play-calling or failings of individual execution and preparedness.

If the offense wants to get things turned around soon, it’s up to this group to be the ones to take things personally and help spearhead the change.

It’s clear there’s plenty of size and talent to go around, but it’s time for hearts and minds to show up.