New Detroit Lions coordinator John Morton took his spot in front of the podium Monday morning before Detroit’s seventh training camp practice. Looking a bit more comfortable in his position, Morton gave a lot of informative answers to reporters’ questions. Here are my biggest takeaways from his session.
Morton put off vacation plans to self-scout all spring and summer
Anyone you ask—including his mentor, Jon Gruden—will tell you that Morton is extremely dedicated to his job. We’re talking “sleep in the film room” kind of dedication to his job.
Along those lines, Morton admitted he passed over spring plans to self-scout and make sure he had everything he needed to attack training camp and the 2025 season.
“I really didn’t go on vacation this year, until the last 10 days. I was just in here looking at what we did in OTAs and things like that, and looking at our defense,” Morton said. “I basically game-planned our defense. I want to put this guy here, I want to put that guy there. We want to do this versus that, because I think that’s important. I want them to see where I’m coming from, what I’m going to do during the season. So, if that means me getting here early like I always do, so be it.”
The deep shot is coming
In his previous two decades (plus) of coaching, Morton has gained a reputation for his love of the long ball. While that hasn’t been a staple of Detroit’s offense recently, Morton believes Detroit has the players to make this a feature of his offensive attack.
“I’m isolating guys. I want to give them the chance, so I’m taking more shots,” Morton said. “Plus, I want to see who can do it and then make the corrections, whether it’s a technique error, something like that. I’m all about that because we have the guys that can do it. So, if you got them, utilize them.”
That sound you hear is Jameson Williams’ stock crashing through the roof.
Morton plans to call plays from the booth
Unlike his predecessor, Morton noted that he plans on calling offensive plays from the booth rather than the sidelines.
“I’m going to be upstairs, so I can see it all away from all the chaos,” Morton said.
To be clear, Morton was referring to the preseason. There was no indication it would be different during the regular season, but I do think it’s worth pointing out that he was specifically asked about the preseason. And, remember, there are about 30 extra players on the sideline during the preseason, so it’s a bit more chaotic.
Many have wondered about Morton’s play-calling skills, given his limited experience. He only regularly called plays during his one year as the Jets’ offensive coordinator in 2017. However, Morton expressed confidence in his abilities.
“I’m good. I feel very comfortable this second time around,” Morton said. “Very confident. I get the plays in and out, I’m on it. I’ve learned a lot since then, so I feel really good.”
He likes Graham Glasgow best at center
While the Lions opened training camp with rookie Tate Ratledge at center, they’ve run the last four practices with veteran Graham Glasgow at that position—sliding Ratledge to his college position of right guard.
While that decision hasn’t been finalized, Morton certainly seemed to imply that he prefers Glasgow at center.
“I think that’s more natural for him, because that center and quarterback, that needs to be right,” Morton said. “The quarterback has got to feel right right there. I do like the way it’s going right now. It’s still early, the more we do it, the better we’re going to get.”
Late last week, coach Dan Campbell indicated that they still plan on getting Ratledge some work at center, but we haven’t seen it since the Lions made the switch in the middle of last week.
He liked what he saw from Tate Ratledge at center
Despite the change, Morton praised Ratledge’s work at center during the first three days of practice.
“I love how smart he is. He’s just going to continue to grow,” Morton said. “I thought he did an exceptional job when he was at center, I mean, that’s a lot mentally. Different snap counts, and audible. It was a lot, I thought he did a pretty good job. I’m real happy where he’s at.”
It’s unclear if we’ll see any more significant play for Ratledge at center in camp, but it sure seems like the team still believes in his long-term potential there.
The trick plays aren’t going anywhere
By the end of the 2024 season—particularly after a failed Jameson Williams pass in their playoff loss—some Lions fans grew tired of Ben Johnson’s trick plays. However, when asked if the trick plays were still going to be here, Morton seemed to default to Dan Campbell and suggest they are going to remain as aggressive as they have been.
“I’m going to do what Dan—whatever he wants. But we’re going to have everything,” Morton said. “We’re going to have everything, so we’re going to continue to do those things, because it has worked. We’re going to run things—whatever was working, we’re going to continue to do that.”
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