Key Matchup: Detroit Lions’ Theo Riddick vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

By Max DeMara | Dec 6, 2014

The Detroit Lions got their offense going last week against the Chicago Bears, and it featured a heavy dose of Calvin Johnson doing what he does best. Despite that, of quiet importance to the cause were the contributions of Detroit’s secondary receivers, particularly Theo Riddick, Jeremy Ross and Golden Tate. Quietly, it was Riddick that was the Lions’ third-leading pass catcher on the day, snagging six passes for 54 yards.

As it relates to this week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that could be most important to remember.

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While Riddick never scored, his impact was particularly huge for the Lions out of the backfield. On screens and quick passes, Riddick’s ability to reach the second level and make Bears linebackers miss created an additional concern for the defense, and opened things up down field for Johnson.

This week, against a very solid trio of linebackers, Riddick will prove to have the power to change the game in his hands again. Last season against Tampa Bay, Matthew Stafford got into trouble trying to throw the ball all over the field deep and tossed four interceptions. He wasn’t able to hit many check downs and make the plays he needed to make underneath, only completing five passes to running backs for a total of 17 yards.

When Stafford has been at his best in 2014, he’s been able to effectively mix and match the deep passes with shorter routes to Tate and running backs out of the backfield. Riddick has gotten particularly explosive in this category, and may have enjoyed his most consistent coming out party on Thanksgiving Day.

This week, watch for Stafford to try and exploit the middle of the field again for big yardage. The Buccaneers have some solid beef up front and quality defensive backs, so the best way to negate that could be getting the ball to Riddick, a man with plenty of speed and open field moves. He can make good linebackers look like they’re standing in cement, and pick up chunks of yardage for an offense that’s struggled to move the ball consistently.

The Buccaneers have some solid beef up front and quality defensive backs, so the best way to negate that could be getting the ball to Riddick, a man with plenty of speed and open field moves.

Getting Riddick into the mix, be it on more running plays or in the passing game, seems to be paramount for the Lions’ offense this season. With his contributions, things open up easier and Detroit has another threat to help them move the football. When he’s disappeared, Stafford is often trying to force things down field into tighter windows instead of confidently making good decisions that are accessible to him.

Riddick seems to be the biggest key towards helping the offense hum, and his inclusion in the game plan could make the biggest difference against a Tampa Bay defense that’s solid in spots.

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