The Detroit Lions’ offensive coaching staff has seen some turnover this offseason with former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson leaving for a division rival. Tight end Sam LaPorta believes the attack is in good hands, but the transition brings continuity and questions about new coordinator John Morton’s approach.
How Will Sam LaPorta and the Lions Adjust to Life Without Ben Johnson?
Under Johnson, the Lions’ offense hummed. Quarterback Jared Goff found his groove, tailbacks Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery worked in unison, and a stable of receivers got their fair share of touches.
Now Johnson is in charge of the Chicago Bears. Dan Campbell’s Lions will see him twice a season for the foreseeable future, but LaPorta believes the offense he left behind will hit the ground running under new offensive coordinator John Morton’s direction.
“Fortunately, we kept a couple of our position coaches, specifically our offensive line coach,” LaPorta said during an interview with Jim Rome earlier this week.
“We promoted Hank Fraley to our run game coordinator, so fortunately for me, we have the same run game system this year, the same verbiage, which you can imagine is a lot.
“But Johnny Mo, pass game coordinator his entire life. Brilliant mind. I think he’s going to call the offense great.”
What Does John Morton’s Track Record Say About His Approach?
Morton worked the past two seasons as a passing game coordinator under Sean Payton with the Denver Broncos. Prior to that, in 2022, he was a senior offensive assistant in Detroit and held the same position for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders from 2019-2021.
However, Morton’s history as a play-caller tells a different story. In 2017, he was the New York Jets offensive coordinator, working alongside Todd Bowles in that post. That season, with Josh McCown and Bryce Petty as his starting quarterbacks, Morton’s attack ranked 28th in yards gained and 24th in points scored.
The Jets finished 5-11, including dropping six of their last seven outings. Bowles stuck around for another season, going 4-12 in 2018, before Adam Gase replaced him.
When Morton was fired, many thought Bowles believed Morton leaned too much on the air game.
ESPN reported one Jets player said Morton “thinks we’re the New Orleans Saints, playing in a dome.” Members of the same coaching staff were worried about Morton’s ability to draw up and employ a ground game that could supplement the pass.
At one point, in a home defeat against the Carolina Panthers, Morton called a pass three times in a row from the 1-yard line.
LaPorta and the Lions expect better from the 55-year-old assistant coach. With Johnson’s foundation and the continuity LaPorta mentioned, Detroit’s offense will test whether Morton has learned from his previous struggles as a coordinator.
