Biabreakable
Footballguy
I basically think Riddick is going to put up similar numbers to what he did last season, with the potential for more if Ameer fumbles away his opportunities again.
My gut tells me that Ebron will be more involved in the passing game than he has been, as part of how they adapt to not having Calvin. I think the Lions had been using Calvin on crossing routes and plays over the middle, where he took a lot of big hits. Those are the kind of plays teams will have their TE execute more, and I think Ebron gets to do a lot of that now.
In my personal opinion if the Lions had kept Calvin outside most of the time instead of trying to get him matched up on LBers (like Calvin doesn't demand a safety over the top at all times) so much, he might have had a longer career.
Riddick is the other player who is going to work from the slot or out of the backfield as the Lions other outlet option besides Ebron.
Riddick hasn't shown himself to be a very good runner yet. As a receiver he is always getting open however.
I came across an article, I think I posted it in the MFL 10 thread, anyhow the article is a Lions beat writer talking about how often Stafford threw short last season. To expect more of that in 2016 because of how successful they were doing that. Riddick is a big part of that success.
As far as the argument that Ameer will take targets away from Riddick, I don't really see that happening because Ameer + Bell combined for 65 targets in 2015. Without Bell I can see Ameer getting 65 targets (picking up Bells looks) but not more than this while Riddick maintains his role in the offense, where he will line up in the slot or different places in the formation.
Last season the Lions ran 1030 plays 632 passing attempts to 354 rushing attempts. If the Lions are able to run the ball a lot more (400 rushing attempts or more) that could eat into the passing targets, which could reduce RIddicks role in the offense. However I don't think the Lions are really built for that. This is a team that has been very pass heavy pretty much every year with Stafford. As they are throwing short so often, this functions as an extension of the running game, but is slightly more effective in generating 1st downs. I don't see that changing much and I would expect passing attempts to be near 600 if not more.
So with 600 passing attempts as the expectation.
Golden Tate 120-140-160 targets
Eric Ebron 65-90-115 targets
Marvin Jones 80-100-120 targets
Theo Riddick 80-100-120 targets.
Ameer 45-55-65 targets
Slot WR 35-50-65 targets (I don't see the slot getting much because RIddick plays this position as well)
If you add up all the median target numbers that is 535 targets, which leaves 65 for other players, or for some of these players to hit the upside target marks.
It bothers me that the numbers I posted in this thread last year got squished such that they are not readable.
My gut tells me that Ebron will be more involved in the passing game than he has been, as part of how they adapt to not having Calvin. I think the Lions had been using Calvin on crossing routes and plays over the middle, where he took a lot of big hits. Those are the kind of plays teams will have their TE execute more, and I think Ebron gets to do a lot of that now.
In my personal opinion if the Lions had kept Calvin outside most of the time instead of trying to get him matched up on LBers (like Calvin doesn't demand a safety over the top at all times) so much, he might have had a longer career.
Riddick is the other player who is going to work from the slot or out of the backfield as the Lions other outlet option besides Ebron.
Riddick hasn't shown himself to be a very good runner yet. As a receiver he is always getting open however.
I came across an article, I think I posted it in the MFL 10 thread, anyhow the article is a Lions beat writer talking about how often Stafford threw short last season. To expect more of that in 2016 because of how successful they were doing that. Riddick is a big part of that success.
As far as the argument that Ameer will take targets away from Riddick, I don't really see that happening because Ameer + Bell combined for 65 targets in 2015. Without Bell I can see Ameer getting 65 targets (picking up Bells looks) but not more than this while Riddick maintains his role in the offense, where he will line up in the slot or different places in the formation.
Last season the Lions ran 1030 plays 632 passing attempts to 354 rushing attempts. If the Lions are able to run the ball a lot more (400 rushing attempts or more) that could eat into the passing targets, which could reduce RIddicks role in the offense. However I don't think the Lions are really built for that. This is a team that has been very pass heavy pretty much every year with Stafford. As they are throwing short so often, this functions as an extension of the running game, but is slightly more effective in generating 1st downs. I don't see that changing much and I would expect passing attempts to be near 600 if not more.
So with 600 passing attempts as the expectation.
Golden Tate 120-140-160 targets
Eric Ebron 65-90-115 targets
Marvin Jones 80-100-120 targets
Theo Riddick 80-100-120 targets.
Ameer 45-55-65 targets
Slot WR 35-50-65 targets (I don't see the slot getting much because RIddick plays this position as well)
If you add up all the median target numbers that is 535 targets, which leaves 65 for other players, or for some of these players to hit the upside target marks.
It bothers me that the numbers I posted in this thread last year got squished such that they are not readable.
