Detroit Lions: Can the greatest show on turf come to Motown?
Lions roster issues
In terms of converting to a system where all guys can run every play and no substitutions need to be made, the Lions need some new pieces. Jones fits the Rams mold, Golladay is a bit bigger, and the 3-receiver set needs a third piece. Luckily, there are lots of available wide receivers that have the requisite athleticism.
If we just look at the available roster options, TJ Jones is one of the only players who fit the size-speed combo necessary.
A couple of players who fit the bill are Paris Campbell from Ohio State, Stanley Morgan, Jr. from Nebraska, and Riley Ridley from Georgia, provided they all declare for the 2019 draft.
At tight end, none of the options is the H-back type. Luke Willson is a vertical threat guy, albeit fairly inconsistent, Mike Roberts is struggling (now on injured reserve), and Levine Toilolo is a blocker with limited receiving skills. Nick Bawden, the rookie fullback, hasn’t played yet to know if he could carry the ball and be the versatile blocker-runner-receiver.
This is another area where the Detroit Lions roster is deficient. The Lions tried to trade for Rob Gronkowski this past offseason but he made it clear he isn’t going anywhere else. The Lions will have to look at free agency or options like Caleb Wilson from UCLA, Noah Fant from Iowa, or Brandon Fritts from North Carolina.
In all, the Lions have some key pieces but have holes to fill if they want to convert to a Rams kind of playbook.
Is this the kind of direction you would want to see the Lions offense take going into next year? Let us know in the comments.
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