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Through 33 career games with 30 career starts, there’s been very strong production from Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta. During his career in the NFL, he’s recorded 146 receptions on 203 targets for 1,615 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Some fans or analysts are wary about LaPorta’s production dipping in year two compared to his rookie season. However, the production dip really isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be for LaPorta. While his production did dip by less than 26 receptions and 163 yards from 2023 to 2024, he still finished top-6 in receiving yards (726 yards) and top-11 in receptions (60 receptions) for all tight ends last year.
After all, LaPorta had one of the best rookie seasons of all time. Prior to Brock Bowers last season, LaPorta had the most receptions of all time for a rookie tight end with 86 receptions. Having a dip in production should have been expected. Especially in a Lions offense that features Amon-Ra St. Brown, David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams.
With only so many targets to go around, the production dip should be warranted.
Keep in mind, LaPorta dealt with three separate injuries last season. In the pre-season, he was hampered by a hamstring and then dealt with a shoulder and ankle injury during the season. All of that said, let’s dive into some film to showcase why the slight production dip from Sam LaPorta is a good problem for the Lions offense.
Prior to being inactive in Week 11 against the Jaguars last season, LaPorta only played over 90% of the offensive snaps one time. That was in Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings. However, after being listed as inactive in week 11, LaPorta played in over 90% of the Lions’ offensive snaps for 7 straight weeks. During that span, he recorded 35 receptions on 51 targets for 360 yards and four touchdowns.
But like I mentioned earlier, he was banged up quite a bit. That includes suffering a shoulder injury in the Lions week 10 win against the Houston Texans. Before suffering that injury, LaPorta did have 3 receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Highlighting that touchdown with the play above, you’ll see the Lions operate a play-action pass that leaves LaPorta wide open on a corner route in the end zone. As the play develops, most of the Texans defense bites on the play-fake to running back Jahmyr Gibbs and this gives LaPorta plenty of separation and room to operate for the touchdown.
Using the play above, I want to showcase a reception made from Sam LaPorta against the Green Bay Packers in week 14 of last season. Looking at that play above, the Lions come out with a condensed trips formation to the right (top of the of the screen). Using their ’13’ personnel (one running back and three tight ends), you can see LaPorta at the bottom of the formation.
Once the ball is snapped, LaPorta breaks underneath Shane Zylstra (TE 84) toward the middle of the field on a dig route. With Zylstra running up the seam on a clearing or vertical route and LaPorta on the dig route, this creates the Dagger Concept. Despite having defenders smothered around him, quarterback Jared Goff throws this one right to LaPorta and he hauls it in for a completion. This is a tough grab for any pass catcher and earlier in the year, it’s unclear if an unhealthy LaPorta would have caught this.
As the year progressed, more difficult receptions were made by LaPorta and positive production ensued. Furthermore, he made some key blocks along the way for Jahmyr Gibbs. All of that said, there’s no reason to panic with Sam LaPorta. His production is just fine and his role in Detroit should easily remain the same, if not, advance into something much more dynamic and productive for the Lions offense.
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