Detroit Lions: What if the tight ends don’t produce?

Just the ability of the Lions top receivers is enough that one of them should be open on every play. Plus the Lions can always go to a four wide set and sit down the tight ends if they would like because T.J. Jones may not be flashy, but he catches the ball and moves the chains.

The tight ends have a huge opportunity this coming season because they will get plenty of chances to make plays. But if they can’t, then this team has enough talent on the outside to compensate.

I’m not saying it would necessarily be easy, but there is no questioning the quality of this group of receivers.

To make a comparison, the New England Patriots basically have all world tight end Rob Gronkowski and one or two slot receivers that are pretty good. The Lions have a receiving corps that is outstanding and if the tight end position is a deficiency, then they will find a way to be productive.

I haven’t even mentioned Theo Riddick out of the backfield or even Ameer Abdullah who is expected to be used as a receiver more as well.

Now the Patriots and Lions are two decidedly different animals, but the point is clear; if you have weapons that can make plays, there are ways to maximize them and capitalize on their skills.

So can the Lions succeed without tight end production? Yes, absolutely, but I don’t think that will be the case. I believe that Luke Willson and Michael Roberts both will be productive and become the elements that Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia envision them being.

They don’t have to be stars, they just have to be solid. They just have to make the every day plays and once in a while surprise every one with a big play.

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The deck is stacked in the favor of this tight end group. This stable of wide outs will create opportunities galore and quite frankly Willson and Roberts both have enough ability to make opposing defenses pay.

And if they don’t, then there are plenty of other talented Lions to throw the ball to.