The Detroit Lions offense is loaded with talent, but a few players are harder to replace than others. Tight end Sam LaPorta missed the final eight games of last season due a back injury he has since revealed was pretty severe, and here's what the Lions' offense did with and without him.
With (nine games): 31.4 points per game.
Without (eight games): 24.8 points per game
That's the difference between the No. 1 scoring offense in the league and the 12th-best last season.
The impact of LaPorta's absence was instant, noticeable and undeniable. Part of that drop-off was rooted in the drop-off to the next-best tight end on the roster, with Brock Wright, Anthony Firkser, Shane Zylstra and Ross Dwelley not posing a great threat to opposing defenses.
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has shown an affinity for using multiple tight ends. So some offseason priority could be placed on narrowing the talent gap between LaPorta and the second-best tight end on the Lions' roster. In fact, it might be a necessity with or without considering where LaPorta is in his recovery from back surgery.
PFF adds a data point to why Sam LaPorta is critically important to the Lions' offense
If the Lions' offense needs something it doesn't have, it might be a wide receiver who can win physical 1-on-1 battles with defenders and tilt coverage his way. With more opportunities, Isaac TeSlaa could grow into that role.
Daire Carragher of Pro Football Focus has highlighted the site's 10 best pass catchers in contested catch situations last season. Despite his injury-shortened campaign, LaPorta came in at No. 10.
"The first of two tight ends to make our top 10, LaPorta's season was cut short due to a back injury in Week 10. Still, he deserves to make this list as the only player to receive five or more contested targets this season and come down with the ball every single time."
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"LaPorta went 7-for-7 in contested situations, boosting his career rate north of 70%. The sample size may not be too large in this instance, but a healthy LaPorta will be quite an asset once again in the Lions' offense — we haven't seen a coverage defender get the better of him in over a year."
Jared Goff is one of the more accurate passers in the NFL. But sometimes a quarterback needs a little help on a throw that is less than perfect, and when a defender is in close proximity. LaPorta has a combination of size and reliable hands no other Lions' pass catcher quite has, and his prowess in contested catch situations only fortifies how indispensable he is.