What to Expect from Golden Tate, Detroit Lions Offense in Week 15

The Detroit Lions lost red-zone standout Joseph Fauria for the season, putting more stress on a unit that averages just 20.4 points per contest. That output might get the Lions into the playoffs, but it will be tough to get past the first round with so few points.

Team	Points Per Game	Point Differential
Green Bay	32.5	+119
Philadelphia	29.9	+80
Dallas	26.4	+42
New Orleans	25.6	-26
Atlanta	25.2	-14
Seattle	24.8	+87
Arizona	21.2	+37
Detroit	20.4	+41

Fauria hasn't matched his rookie output (seven touchdowns) because of injuries and a lack of opportunity. However, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi started using him in jump-ball situations, which created a penalty and a dropped scoring chance.

Now, Detroit needs to find another end-zone presence, and the 5'10" Golden Tate is ready to fill the order.

He's nine inches shorter than the second-year tight end. That doesn't mean he can't be wildly effective, as one of my Twitter followers pointed out:

"

@BrandonAlisoglu wish they'd use Tate more in RZ despite his size. Similar to Cobb in GB

— RV (@LiveAsALion) December 10, 2014"

Tiny Touchdown Machine

Randall Cobb also checks in at 5'10", just like Tate. The Lion is currently outpacing the Green Bay Packer in most categories except for the one that ultimately affects the scoreboard.

Player	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns
Golden Tate	84	1,186	3
Randall Cobb	69	980	10

Much like Fauria, it's difficult to pin the lack of scores on the wide receiver. Tate isn't given the chance to make an impact inside the 20 except on quick screens against a defense that is packed into a small area, making it difficult to weave his way to paydirt.

NFL Rewind

Green Bay has figured out the best route to get it's smaller, sure-handed receiver touchdowns. The play isn't novel, and it isn't legal if ran incorrectly (ask Notre Dame fans), but if ran properly, the result is almost predetermined.

Here, Aaron Rodgers has Jordy Nelson split wide with Cobb lined up inside. The defensive backs are heads up on the two wideouts.

NFL Rewind

At the snap, Nelson quickly slants toward the inside defensive back while Cobb runs a very shallow out. The limited space requires precision cuts so Nelson doesn't knock Cobb off his route.

NFL Rewind

Once Nelson has the minimal-required depth, he heads straight toward the defensive back responsible for Cobb. He can't make intentional contact with the defender without drawing a flag. However, the hesitation and adjustment it causes gives Rodgers the separation needed to connect on the short pass, handing Cobb an easy score.

Yes, it's the infamous pick play. Defensive coordinators will scold its use, but they can't stop it. Even a zone defense would require an extremely quick switch by the defenders since it's a bang-bang play.

The Packers run it so well that Cobb has seven touchdowns starting from the 6-yard line and in. The majority came on this very play.

Detroit can use Calvin Johnson in the Nelson role since the outside cornerback will have no choice but to move with the Lions' top red-zone option. And if he doesn't, letting Johnson gain a step on the defense is a solid second option.

Ring the Bell

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

In no way am I insinuating that Detroit should make Tate the primary target every time it reaches the red zone. Much like a defense, you ignore Megatron at your own peril. And tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Eric Ebron both have the physical prowess to muscle their way to tightly contested passes.

Also, the heavy focus on the passing game thus far is appropriate. Detroit has the "29th-best" rushing attack (84.1 yards per game) and is middle of the pack in rushing touchdowns with nine.

However, when Detroit gets to the 1-yard line, there's no need to get cute. The Lions have a back who doesn't get his due for handling that duty well.

"

When the Lions have had the ball on the 1 yard line, they have run with Joique Bell 5 times. All 5 have been for TDs

— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) December 10, 2014"

Bell has been hitting his stride in time for the stretch run. Bleacher Report's Jeff Risdon broke down his importance in a recent piece that hit the mark, so I won't belabor the point.

Pull the Trigger

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

The last key to unlock an offense that has struggled too often rests with the head coach. Jim Caldwell has been inconsistent when faced with supposedly tough decisions.

For instance, Caldwell opted to kick a field goal against New England from the 2-yard line. The Patriots are currently averaging 30.8 points per game. That type of production would require 10 scoring drives with the mentality Caldwell employed in that situation.

He did, however, find his gumption against a lower-tier team—Chicago. The result was seven points that gained Detroit a lead it would never relinquish.

You never see Rodgers, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning anxiously waiving their field-goal teams onto the field. It's an attitude that can't be quantified by statistics so much as understood by the players that there is an expectation to put it in the end zone.

That type of confidence is important, as Matthew Stafford explained to Dave Birkett of USA Today:

"

I knew warm-ups, the way we were going about the game, I knew we were going to have a good game on offense. I could feel it, just didn't happen the first couple minutes of the game. ... But I knew we were going to have a good day. I felt confident in our guys and we just decided, made our minds up, and obviously our defense played fantastic again, shutting them down the rest of the game.

"

Caldwell was brought in for his even keel and attitude about accountability. If he can ratchet up his aggression using the simple schemes provided above, Detroit's defense will get a running mate capable of going the distance.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.