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Detroit Lions: This player could be key to aerial explosion

By Steven Mullenax

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 15: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions throws the ball during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 15, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 15: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions throws the ball during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 15, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Is the development of this player the key to the Detroit Lions’ passing attack taking another step and dominating the NFL this upcoming season?

The 2018 Detroit Lions are a team in transition. Not only did they hire a new head coach in former New England Patroits’ defensive coordinator Matt Patricia this offseason, but Patricia has installed many new faces along the coaching staff and onto this roster.

Detroit also lost some familiar names in players like defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, linebacker Tahir Whitehead and tight end Eric Ebron. Taking their place, free agents like defensive tackle Sylvester Williams, linebacker Devon Kennard and tight end Luke Willson.

Amid all these changes, one thing has stayed relatively the same. And that’s the Lions’ potent passing game. Most importantly, offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. Entering his fifth season in Detroit, fourth as offensive coordinator, Cooter schemed a Lions’ passing attack ranked sixth in the league last year.

Following the massive coaching changes this offseason, offensive stars like quarterback Matthew Stafford plus his wide receivers Golden Tate and Marvin Jones all publicly rallied around Cooter, wanting him to remain as their offensive coordinator in Detroit. That’s despite the fact the Lions’ rushing offense ranked dead last in the NFL in 2018.

The motto “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” might not exactly fit in this situation, but the Motor City’s passing game is the absolute best thing this Lions’ team does. And it could be even better if second-year wide receiver Kenny Golladay lives up to the potential he flashed last season.

"“Much like his underrated teammate Marvin Jones, Golladay is a vertical threat with go-go gadget arms and a flair for posterizing cornerbacks in mid-flight,” wrote Gregg Rosenthal for NFL.com. “In what could be the final year for slot receiver Golden Tate in Detroit, the emergence of Golladay could take the sneaky fun Lions offense to another level.”"

In his rookie year, Golladay exploded in his preseason debut, racking up two touchdowns. He did the exact same thing in his regular season debut, posting two scores against the Arizona Cardinals Week One.

But the rookie all but disappeared afterwards, then suffered a hamstring injury that would sideline him for six weeks and really curtail the rest of his season. Golladay would not score again until Week 17.

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Kenny Golladay ended his rookie year recording 28 catches for 477 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 213 pound receiver was far too inconsistent in his first season in the Motor City. But if he can continue to build chemistry with Matthew Stafford and take another step in his development, the trio of him, Marvin Jones and Golden Tate could easily become the NFL’s top receiving corps this upcoming season.

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