Also of note, that 2011 Lion team for one hot minute had the makings of a devastating offense and one that looked like it was going to be something for a few seasons. Calvin Johnson was in his prime, Burleson was still productive. Pettigrew had his career year and he was near top 5 tight end. Their second tight end was Tony Scheffler and he was very productive, in most Lion years he would be an upgrade at the tight end position. Rounding out the skill position players were Best and Titus Young. Best only played 6 games but when he was in there, the whole offense was dangerous. Titus Young had a great rookie year. It was no coincidence that Stafford's career year was that year, it was the most dangerous collection of skill position players they had. For most of those players that was the high water mark. You never saw Best again, Titus Young played 1/2 more of a season. Pettigrew was never as good as that season. Only Calvin Johnson improved or stay at his very high level.
It goes to show you how fleeting this stuff is in the NFL. Injuries can devastate you so quickly. It also shows you how much the QB is reliant on skill position players, when you have big targets like CJ, Pettigrew and Scheffler converting first downs is much easier, scoring in the red zone is much easier. People like to evaluate quarterbacks independent of skill position players but its a hard evaluation. If by the end of the year you are running out practice squad players or street free agents you are going to look worse.
It goes to show you how fleeting this stuff is in the NFL. Injuries can devastate you so quickly. It also shows you how much the QB is reliant on skill position players, when you have big targets like CJ, Pettigrew and Scheffler converting first downs is much easier, scoring in the red zone is much easier. People like to evaluate quarterbacks independent of skill position players but its a hard evaluation. If by the end of the year you are running out practice squad players or street free agents you are going to look worse.
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