It's always interesting to listen to veteran NFL players when they're asked around this time of year how they attack the offseason in an attempt to improve their game and find an edge.
For third-year Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, that process meant getting inside the head of quarterback Jared Goff.
"Start to see the game from the quarterback's perspective," LaPorta said. "What Jared needs exactly and maybe not just knowing what I'm doing on the field but what other people are doing as well. Just seeing the big picture."
That mindset comes with the kind of maturity a veteran player like LaPorta should have going into Year 3 and could help him become an even more complete player. That's got to be exciting for Lions coaches given what LaPorta did over his first two years in the NFL.
He became the first tight end in NFL history with at least 600 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns in each of his first two-career seasons. He also became just the fourth tight end to log 1,500 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns in his first two seasons. His 146 receptions combined the last two years are the most by a tight end in league history.
Now imagine a player who thinks like a quarterback and understands how teams are planning to attack him and having a good counter for it. The same counter his quarterback has in mind.
LaPorta got to enjoy an offseason for the first time since heading into his senior year at Iowa where he wasn't either training for the Combine or undergoing surgery and rehab. Last season, he was still rehabbing from ankle surgery around this time.
His body feels great, and he's excited about the prospects of this offense with all the returning skill weapons along with key pieces upfront along the offensive line. He was happy with his development in Year 2, especially when it came to improving his run blocking, and he plans to build on that to continue to be one of the more productive tight ends in the league in 2025.
"Looking ahead to this year, just continue to polish things off in the run game and pass game," he said.
LaPorta said the fun part about this time of year, especially when a team is breaking in a new offensive coordinator like Detroit is with John Morton, is the feeling out process.
"There might be different ways that Johnny (Morton) wants to get me the ball," he said. "Maybe other areas we might step away from. I think there's a relationship that needs to be built there as well, and we'll learn what each other needs."
There's a lot of mouths to feed in Detroit's offense and only one football to go around, but LaPorta understands that, and most importantly he just wants to win. Having a better understanding of how Goff sees the field and where he views the open spaces is only going to help LaPorta become more of a security blanket for his quarterback, much like wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has become for Goff in the slot.
LaPorta came on strong at the end of last season, recording 29 receptions in Detroit's last five regular-season contests for 335 yards and two touchdowns. He's hoping to pick up right where he left off, and having a better understanding of the entire picture on offense should help with that.
