[Alex Reno] LaPorta is a very versatile offensive weapon and can lineup anywhere on the field, even out wide. 15% of his snaps in 2022 were out wide. Watch as he makes a tough 3rd down grab in traffic.

16 comments

1. I’m sorry but big ten players don’t impress me. Unless they are oline. The league sucks. We don’t need a pass catching TE.

2. I’m content with the Laporta pick and support it, but I do wonder if the Jamo suspension helped tip the scales in Laporta’s favor over Mayer when we picked. His speed gives him more outside play ability imo

3. Could def be a seam threat with his speed and athleticism. Elite at breaking tackles, good stiff arm abs runs through arm tackles.

   Rookie TEs often take awhile to develop. Even Mark Andrews only had 34-550ish-3 on 50 targets. With Jamo out the first third though, would be great if he developed a rapport with Goff.

4. I watched a couple games yesterday wanting to learn more about Laporta.

   I think he’s best when lined up inline and does the Brock Wright special from last year. He engages the block then slips into the flat, but he has way more after the catch ability.

   Also does a great job of understanding leverage and boxing guys out. Not nearly the contested catcher that Mayer is, but I think Lions are planning to scheme guys in space. Turn a 5 yard catch into an explosive play.

5. Red Zone threat

6. The only thing that gives me pause about LaPorta is that his college career touchdowns to drops ratio is 5 to 14.

   Meanwhile Dalton Kincaid’s was 35-4 and Mayer was 18-12. Not sure it’s reasonable to expect Laporta to be a similar receiving threat as those two.

7. It’s insane how heavily that safety was sitting on that route and it still got completed. The credit goes more to the QB IMO but still a tough clutch grab by LaPorta.

8. I’m not falling for this again.

9. Was this the best clip we could find for him out wide? I get it that it was a contested slant but if this is the clip we want to use to show he can excel split out wide… I’m less than convinced

10. Tbh I think any Hock comparison is pretty lazy. His blocking isn’t nearly there yet, but I can’t help but see how uncanny his YAC ability is to George Kittle. Absolutely no regard for himself and others after the catch (in a good way), and has the opportunity to turn any 4 yard catch into 40 yards.

11. I’m not saying he’s going to be like Gronk, but he’s giving me Gronk vibes.

12. The more I read about the players we drafted, the better I see the offensive vision. There is so much versatility on this offense; Ben Johnson is going to feast on confused defenses all season long.

13. I’m curious how much we utilize him in the offense because last year our TEs were more just red zone targets and when we had Hockenson I feel he didn’t get as many targets/receptions as I thought he should.

14. Between him and Gibbs, it really seems like we want weapons who can line up in a lot of different ways.

15. Lions never use TEs correctly.
    Let’s hope that changes.

16. I loved Hock but let’s be real, he would’ve hit the deck on contact #1