ALLEN PARK — Sam LaPorta’s second season with the Detroit Lions didn’t earn him the All-Pro or Pro Bowl honors of his rookie year, but it was still impressive — and he’s looking to build on it in a different way.
LaPorta finished last season with 60 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. While it marked a slight dip from his rookie campaign, the numbers were still historic: He became the first tight end in NFL history to record at least 600 receiving yards and six touchdowns in each of his first two seasons.
Part of the reason for LaPorta’s statistical decline in Year 2 was a lingering injury — now behind him — that hampered his mobility and efficiency. He doesn’t expect that to be an issue this season.
“So my first offseason I had ankle surgery. So I was trying to prepare the body for my second season. This season, I came out pretty healthy, which is great,” LaPorta told reporters Thursday. “I got to take some time off, just let my body relax for the first time since basically fall camp of my senior year at Iowa. So, it’s kinda a long stretch, but took a couple weeks to relax and then hopped back on the bike and started going again.”
Another factor? The evolution of the Lions’ offense — most notably, the emergence of wide receiver Jameson Williams, who posted a career-high 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games.
With Williams taking on a larger role, LaPorta found other ways to contribute — a point he seemed to feel had gone overlooked.
“I was very pleased with how my run game and the blocking came along in Year 2. I felt like I was still a very polished receiver in the pass game,” LaPorta said. “There were a lot of weapons last year, so I kept hearing comments this offseason, ‘Why didn’t you get the ball as much?’ It’s like, ‘Dude, we scored the most points of any team in the NFL in the last five years. Everybody deserves the ball.’ And I agree — I think I deserve the ball still — but I was very pleased with how I blocked in the run game.
“Looking ahead this year, I think just continue to polish things off in the run game, the pass game. Start to see the game from the quarterback’s perspective — what Jared (Goff) needs exactly — and maybe not just knowing what I’m doing on the field, but what other people are doing as well. Just seeing the big picture.”
One person who will play a key role in how LaPorta sees that bigger picture is new offensive coordinator John Morton.
Speaking with local reporters earlier this offseason, Morton said there won’t be many changes from the offense the Lions ran under former coordinator — now Chicago Bears head coach — Ben Johnson. He noted he may add a few wrinkles and put his own spin on things.
When asked if the average fan would be able to spot the difference between Johnson’s and Morton’s systems, LaPorta said the NFL is a “very copycat league,” where most teams run the same concepts and execution is what sets the best apart.
“I think you can look at anybody’s film on any given Sunday and be like, well, they’re running wide zone the same way that team’s running wide zone, but why are they running the ball for three yards a carry and why are they running it for seven yards a carry?” LaPorta said.
“And I think you can break things down that way and it really makes a difference. So, to answer your question, I feel like no, but it comes down to the small details and the way you get coached.”