Why the Lions Offensive Coordinator Being Relieved from Playcalling Duties Helps the Team
Newly hired Lions offensive coordinator John Morton was notified last week that he would no longer be calling plays for the rest of this season. Head coach Dan Campbell will take over that role and look to keep Detroit in playoff contention. Morton’s play calling leaned heavily on spread concepts and horizontal passes, which didn’t necessarily fit the personnel in Detroit. They are built for more open concepts that allow their weapons to get into space. Removing Morton allows the Lions to return to their established identity: a run-first balance with a good mix of play-action shots.
This new change simplifies the system for quarterback Jared Goff. He thrives on timing, rhythm, and defined reads; nothing chaotic nor distracting. The playcalling of Morton often put too much on Goff’s play before the snap. Whether that be formation shifting or long-developing plays, that just wasn’t Goff’s playstyle.
With Campbell now calling plays, he can reduce the mental load and stress that Goff once received when in the huddle. This will get Goff back to efficient, decisive football that he was once playing. Under former OC Ben Johnson, the offense thrived because it gave all of the primary receivers room to roam. The backs in the backfield also excelled in pass-catching and yards after the catch.
Detroit’s run game stalled under Morton. The mix of run plays and pass plays was not spread out enough, and that made the whole offense stall as a whole. Earlier runs were too predictable because they came from poor offensive looks and formations. Campbell will rebuild the run-first foundation that was once there and give better leverage for Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Letting the two backs in the backfield get off to a hot start will always be the recipe to open up the passing game.
One of the biggest criticisms of Morton was mid-game stagnation. Meaning no halftime adjustments and similar plays would be run even when they didn’t work. Better in-game adjustments will ultimately lead to success. It doesn't matter what players you have on the field if you can’t execute basic plays. Campbell will improve halftime adjustments and counter opposing defensive adjustments to help sustain the score throughout the whole game.
