Detroit Lions should run more play-action in 2018

The Detroit Lions averaged more yards per play-action pass in 2017 than anybody in the league, they would be smart to run more of those plays in 2018.

When Jim Bob Cooter took over the role of offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, he had a lot of success. Arguably the most important thing he did was simplify the offense around quick hitting, short passing concepts. Since then, the Lions have had one of the best passing attacks in the NFL.

One part of the offense that was very effective in 2017 was the play-action game. Take a look at these stats from Football Outsiders, via Charles McDonald on Twitter.

The Lions were first in yards per play-action play. First. Like best in the league first. They almost averaged a first down every time they faked the ball to the running back and dropped back to pass.

The Lions had the most success in the league on play-action, they ran those plays the ninth least in the league, they had way more success on plays with play-action than plays without.

Let’s take these stats even further. Using FO’s play-action stats, basic team offensive stats from Pro-Football-Reference.com, and some basic math, we can determine that the Lions ran around 196 play action plays, they amounted to about 35% of their total yards and about 45% of their passing yards. That’s a lot of yards for only 20% of their total plays.

If the Lions had so much success on play-action, shouldn’t they run more of those plays?

Absolutely.

In 2017, the Lions were a great play-action team and a lousy rushing team. They bucked conventional wisdom and proved that they don’t need to establish the run before having play-action success. With an improved (and hopefully healthy) offensive line, the Lion can have another great year on play-action regardless of any run game improvement.

The 2016 Falcons, you know, the 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl Falcons, ran play-action 27% of the time, averaging 10.3 yards per play, and had one of the better offenses of any team in the last five years.

I’m not saying the 2018 Lions will be the 2016 Falcons, but they certainly could learn a thing or two from the Super Bowl runner-up. The NFL is a “copycat league” and there are few better offenses to take from than Kyle Shanahan’s.

What’s with the Yards Per Play difference?

Play fakes take time, suck the defense in, open up larger throwing windows, and give receivers time to get downfield. Play-action plays generally lead to longer throws because it helps receivers get open further from the line of scrimmage.

With longer throws come bigger plays. When offenses are centered around short passes, one of the best ways to create explosive plays is with play-action.

Need another reason?

The Lions have a downfield difference maker.

Marvin Jones Jr. is the second-best deep-threat WR in the NFL, according to NFL.com’s Matt Harmon. If you’re thinking, “Jones and Stafford just got lucky on most of those deep balls” you might be interested to know that Harmon also ranked him as the second-best tight-window receiver in the league. The Lions have the weapons to throw the ball downfield more, Harmon also has Stafford ranked as both the second best tight-window and deep ball quarterback in the NFL.

Besides, who doesn’t want to see more of this in 2018??

Next: Detroit Lions 2014 re-draft

Whenever you find something that works in the NFL you want to go back to it. The Lions had a ton of success on play-action in 2017, they should emphasize it in their offense in 2018.