Detroit Lions

Caldwell: NFL isn't a 'long-range, over-the-top game' for passers

Published Dec. 17, 2015 9:20 a.m. ET

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The Detroit Lions haven't completed many long pass plays on offense this year. When pressed to explain why that is, head coach Jim Caldwell tried to provide a valid reason.

Caldwell said the defensive backs in today's NFL are too hard to beat over the top.

Via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press:

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford ranks 31st in the league with 3.09 "air yards" per attempt, according to the Free Press, meaning most of his passes don't travel very far beyond the line of scrimmage -- if at all. The Lions run a lot of screens and underneath routes, mostly to wide receiver Golden Tate and running back Theo Riddick.

I can go through the film of every week of every single team in our league and I look for big plays and all of that kind of stuff. I see more big plays happen from guys that are completing 2- and 3- and 4- and 5- and 6-yard passes than I do guys throwing it 80 yards over the top. Those don't happen very often in our league.

It's not a long-range, over-the-top game in our league because you're not going to outrun a whole bunch of those (defensive backs). Those guys are paid back there to keep you in front of them and believe me, they can run.

Under this offensive scheme, the Lions are counting on their pass-catchers to break plays open after the catch. That just hasn't happened very often this season. As a result, Detroit's offense ranks 22nd in the league with an average of 340.8 yards per game.