Detroit Lions: Temper expectations for Danny Amendola

The Detroit Lions signed former Rams, Patriots and Dolphins wide receiver Danny Amendola this offseason but fans should temper expectations for 2019.

A change came blowing in for the Detroit Lions wide receiving corps. The team traded away star receiver and YAC master Golden Tate in 2018. Then, in 2019, the Lions signed a similar receiver in his place, former St. Louis Rams (before they moved to Los Angeles), New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Danny Amendola.

Consider Tate replaced. All is well, right? Not so fast. Fans might not like to hear it, but they should temper their expectations for the new addition to the receiving corps. Let’s start by comparing the wide receivers.

At age 30, Tate is roughly three years younger than Amendola (currently 33). While we’re not talking about running backs, age is still a factor when it comes to receivers…unless your name is Jerry Rice or Larry Fitzgerald. Asking an older receiver to fill Tates’ shoes is a little unrealistic.

While Amendola won’t be asked to do exactly what Tate did for this Lions team, there seems to be a feeling that he’ll step in and replace him just fine. Especially after this video surfaced of Amendola’s nice catch in the back of the end zone during training camp.

Looking at what they’ve done throughout their careers, Tate’s lowest yearly totals with the Lions included 795 yards and four touchdowns. Amendola’s highest yearly totals in his career included 659 yards and four touchdowns. To replicate Tate’s production, Amendola would have to put up the best yardage numbers and touchdown numbers in his entire career.

The players aren’t exactly in the same situations with the Lions. Tate didn’t have the tight end help that Amendola will have with coverage in the middle of the field. But Amendola won’t have running back Theo Riddick eating up short yardage passes as Tate did.

There will be different offensive coordinators driving the ship on offense for the Detroit Lions. This brings different formations and different tendencies. Will Amendola benefit from this more than Tate in the past? That remains to be seen.

But, looking at the 575 yards Amendola put up in 15 games in 2018 versus the 517 yards Tate put up in his seven games with the Lions last year, I’m not holding my breath for Amendola to have a career year in Honolulu Blue. Instead, he’ll be a solid possession-receiver option for quarterback Matthew Stafford that will move the sticks in a similar fashion as wide receiver Anquan Boldin did while in the Motor City in 2016.

Boldin’s stats that year? 585 yards and eight touchdowns. If Amendola puts up anything close to those numbers for the season, this signing will be a success. If not, let’s just hope it means the outside wide receivers and new tight ends are feasting.