Pressure is on Lombardi, Lions' offense to live up to expectations
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions' offense -- with all of its perceived weapons -- badly underachieved in Joe Lombardi's first year as coordinator.
The Lions ranked 22nd in scoring (20.1 points per game), 19th in total offense (340.8 yards), 12th in passing (251.9 yards) and 28th in rushing (88.9 yards).
For that reason, the pressure will be on Lombardi a little more entering this season to make sure the Lions live up to expectations offensively in Year 2.
It's particularly important considering the team's defense is likely to take a step back following the departure of Ndamukong Suh.
If the offense doesn't pick up that slack, the Lions probably won't have much of a chance to follow up last year's 11-win season with another playoff bid.
Not only are the players entering their second year under Lombardi, but he's also become more familiar with what they can do in the system.
"I think you get a better idea of the players' strengths and weaknesses," Lombardi said Wednesday following the team's offseason practice. "You can craft game plan and calls around those better.
"There's a handful of calls that you look back at last year and you say, 'Man, I wish I'd had a better one on that game-plan sheet that I could have called.'
"Hopefully, you have less of those regrets at the end of every year."
One of the offense's primary points of emphasis is to fix a sack total that nearly doubled from 23 in 2013 to 45, a career-high for quarterback Matthew Stafford, in 2014.
The Lions have tried to address the offensive-line problems by drafting guard Laken Tomlinson in the first round and trading for veteran guard/center Manny Ramirez, while not bringing back starting center Dominic Raiola and left guard Rob Sims.
"I think it's a combination of things," Lombardi said of last year's sack problems. "Every sack has got a different reason. Sometimes the quarterback has got to get the ball out. Sometimes someone gets beat. Sometimes someone misses an assignment. So there was a number of factors.
"We feel real good that we're on the right track to cut down on those numbers."
Lombardi is also encouraged that the addition of Lance Moore and Greg Salas, along with 2013 draft pick TJ Jones' recovery from a shoulder injury, could help complement top receivers Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate more effectively.
"It's always a good thing," Lombardi said of the depth. "We've got a lot of talent at receiver. There are going to be some tough decisions.
"It's fun to see those guys out there competing. We'll see who rises to the top."
The receivers who are returning from last season -- such as Johnson, Tate, Corey Fuller, Jeremy Ross and Ryan Broyles -- should benefit from a full year in the system.
"A lot of the second-level thinking that happens when you're running routes is coming more natural to these guys," Lombardi said.
Lombardi, a former New Orleans Saints quarterbacks coach, is quite familiar with Moore, who was a standout receiver for the Saints for several years.
Moore's experience in a similar system to what the Lions are running could give him an edge in the competition.
"He's got great feel and instincts," Lombardi said. "I think that that experience and abilities he has is really going to rub off on the rest of the wide receivers."
Another player who has stood out to Lombardi lately is running back Ameer Abdullah, a second-round draft pick from Nebraska.
Abdullah could exceed even the Lions' expectations for what he could contribute immediately.
"He didn't get a chance to maybe show all the things he can do as a receiver at Nebraska," Lombardi said. "He's even better in that phase of the game than I thought when we drafted him.
"It's kind of a bonus when you see how well he catches the ball and how well he runs routes."
EXTRA POINTS
--- Cornerback Alex Carter, a third-round draft pick, returned to practice this week. He had missed the early portion of OTA practices while finishing up some classwork at Stanford, a necessity because he left college after only his third year.
"He's gotten baptized," coach Jim Caldwell said of Carter's three days of practice this week.
Carter has been doing some extra work with defensive backs coach Tony Oden after practice. He also spent time the past couple weeks going through the drills on his own that he was missing back here.
"It's nothing like being here getting the reps," Caldwell said. "He's trying to make up for that. He's acclimated fairly well."
Carter, who is currently on track to major in psychology, said he plans to complete his degree from Stanford with a combination of classes through the University of Michigan and possibly some online courses.
"Football only lasts for so long," he said.
--- The Lions signed 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end David Ausberry and released safety Nathan Lindsey.
Ausberry, 27, spent the past four seasons with the Oakland Raiders. He was a seventh-round draft pick coming out of USC in 2011.
--- Defensive tackle C.J. Mosley, who played a key role in the Lions' rotation last season, signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.
