The Detroit Lions Most Sucessful Offensive Plays of 2008

Looking back at the 2008 season for the Detroit Lions is painful. Trying to find bright spots to an 0-16 season are easier than some may think.

The Lions offense struggled last season under the control of Jim Colletto. The Lions played five different quarterbacks last season and none of them had what most would consider a successful season.

The offensive line struggled all season and made it nearly impossible to establish a successful running game and take pressure off of the passing game.

The Lions Top offensive plays in 2008:

No. 4-The crossing route to Calvin Johnson. This route was often run out of the I-Formation and was often ran on play action passes. It's a designed quarterback rollout after the play fake and Calvin Johnson comes across the middle of the field usually out running his defender for a medium yardage completion.

No. 3-The HB Dive play to Kevin Smith. Smith didn't have a chance to start until the second half of the season but he proved he can be a quality starter in this league. In the second half of the season Smith broke several Dive plays for big gains.Usually out of the Singleback Set but also came out of the I-Formation.

No. 2- The slant to Calvin Johnson. Detroit threw two slants to Calvin Johnson in their week two loss at Green Bay and both were long gains for touchdowns. Defensive backs are forced to play a few yards off Johnson because of his game breaking speed so he almost always gets the inside position on the slant route.

No. 1- The deep ball to Calvin Johnson. This was the most effective play the for Lions last year. It came out of almost every formation, Shotgun, Singleback, I-Formation, and so on.

Calvin Johnson was easily the best player on the 2008 Detroit Lions and also one of the top wide outs in 2008. He was a man amongst boys on the field and used his speed to stretch the defense.

He has the ability to beat almost all defenders in jump ball situations and it shouldn't be a surprise to any Lions fans that the most effective offensive plays of the 2008 Detroit Lions involve Calvin Johnson.

Other than these three plays, the Lions didn't really have much on offense. The offense struggled at several positions on offense. Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson were the only big time threats on the Lions offense in 2008.

The Lions offense in 2009 will be much different. Scott Linehan brings a vertical passing game to the offense which will work to the strengths of both veteran Daunte Culpepper and rookie Matt Stafford, who both have big arms.

The offense will also benefit Calvin Johnson who has great size and speed. He should be targeted much more often in the red zone and be given more opportunities to stretch the defense.