The Detroit Lions' No. 1 scoring offense lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, an innovator and play-calling maestro. With John Morton taking over those duties this season, the question lingering in Motown is what sort of changes we'll see from a consistent and explosive offense.
Quarterback Jared Goff noted that good offenses evolve every season, regardless of whether there are significant coaching changes or not.
"I'm sure the casual fan will notice some of (the changes)," Goff said on Friday, via the team's official website. "Some of it is different. Some of it is the same. (Morton)'s got a long background of stuff he's liked that he's done, and he was here for a year through a lot of our success. There will be a lot of that carryover and some new. To be honest, I don't think that would have been any different if you're returning with the same offense. You always kind of add some wrinkles. But, certainly, he has his flavor on the offense and has been doing a good job."
Morton was with the Lions in 2022 as a senior offensive assistant before spending the last two years as the Denver Broncos' passing game coordinator. The 55-year-old spent one season as the New York Jets' play-caller in 2017.
Having a year of familiarity helps with the transition from Johnson to Morton, but one can expect natural differences when changes occur. Johnson did a fantastic job setting up big plays by mapping out the calls effectively. Will Morton have the same cadence, reliability and unpredictability to his play-calling? It's a question that won't be answered until September.
"Some of it's changing, some of it's remaining the same," Goff said of the offense. "The biggest challenge is just getting on the same page with what we like, and we're constantly working through that."
Goff noted that the playmakers on offense are another year wiser, giving them an advantage as they attempt to build on the foundation laid under Johnson. The Pro Bowl quarterback rejected the idea that the offense could naturally take a step back.
"No, of course not, we want to take a step forward, if anything," he said. "We're trying to get better, learn from our mistakes last year, and find ways to get better off them."
With the second-toughest schedule in the NFL and significant coaching changes, it will be challenging for the Lions to replicate their 15-win season. Still, with the stability Dan Campbell has built in Detroit, a precipitous fall would be a stunner.
