Remember watching Ford Field erupt after plays nobody could see coming? A QB’s deliberate stumble, a dose of misdirection, and a defender or two left flailing while the Lions score. That sense of fun and shock value defined the Ben Johnson era for the Lions faithful, and nobody wants to lose it. Especially not their new leadership.

When Ben Johnson left to be the HC for the Bears, the big question for Detroit was whether the next guy could fill his shoes. Johnson had made a name for himself with his crafty plays that turned heads. That ‘Stumble bum’ touchdown from last season was a prime example. QB Jared Goff had faked a fumble, only to connect with Sam LaPorta for a TD against the Bears. It was bold, fun, and one of the many schemes that made the Lions’ offense click under Johnson. Now, the new OC John Morton wants to keep that energy alive, but with his own spin.

The creativity, Johnson’s bag of tricks, and the blueprint for fun aren’t getting tossed in Detroit. The offensive line touchdowns, the ‘flea flicker’, the ‘hook-and-ladder’, they’ll all be a part of the new regime. Brad Galli’s post on X featuring words from Morton went a long way in signaling that hope. As Galli wrote, “Trick plays didn’t leave Detroit with Ben Johnson. New Lions offensive coordinator John Morton: ‘We’re gonna have everything. Whatever was working, we’re gonna continue to do that.’” Johnson’s trick plays turned tight games around and made the Lions an unpredictable force. Morton clearly gets this. He wants to keep the same element of surprise but add his own perspective, promising there won’t be a dull moment for the franchise. 

HC Dan Campbell has praised Morton’s way of handling things as well. “Johnny talks all the time about RCE. Recognize, communicate, and execute – that’s big. That’s big for us as coaches, that’s big for the players, too.” The decision to keep things similar to last year’s schemes also has another reason. The Lions are not just under the management of a new OC this season. With former DC Aaron Glenn off to the Jets as their HC, Kelvin Sheppard has taken the helm in the trenches. Working with similar playbooks will certainly help the roster transition under the new coaches. 

Above all, Morton and Campbel want to keep building on what propelled Detroit back into the playoff races: an offense that refuses to play it safe. Jared Goff, for one, has also noticed a drive to keep things the same, while upgrading the playbooks under Morton. As Goff noted recently, “[Morton] just sounds different in my ear, I guess. We’re running a lot of the same stuff. Some of the stuff’s different. Some of the stuff’s new, but I don’t think it’s any bit abnormal from every other team adding new stuff. That’s kind of what we’re doing, and it’s been a good progress.” 

With so much focus on flash and creativity, it’s easy to overlook the foundation amid the strategic rebuild. The Lions are notably in a rebuild mode for the offense. But speaking about the relationship between his QB and OL, Morton has shared an interesting take. This year, there’s another twist loading for a veteran.

Jared Goff and Graham Glasgow: the unseen engine

Every single highlight doesn’t end up making the replay reel. But for any franchise, the QB and center in sync are the pulse of a great offense. Right now, that’s exactly what Detroit has with Jared Goff and Graham Glasgow. After spending 2023 shifting from right guard to left guard and even center, Glasgow wanted to be back at his old position of RG. He even insisted on staying at that position during the ‘24 free agency. But with the signing of Kevin Zeitler, Glasgow had to go back to the left guard. But this season, he’ll be playing center, and will also have an edge over the others vying for the spot.

In a league where continuity is currency, the Lions are quietly doubling down on the relationships that matter most. Glasgow’s steady hand at center gives Jared Goff the kind of pocket trust most quarterbacks spend years hoping to find. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t make the highlight reels. But when you’re trying to build on a season that nearly broke through the ceiling, the last thing you want is instability where the play begins. “You can feel the calm,” one team source said of Glasgow’s presence. And that calm could very well be the foundation for Morton’s increasingly creative playbook.

With dual-back sets, a growing stable of young linemen, and an OC still drawing from the Ben Johnson bag of tricks, Detroit isn’t coasting off last year’s success… It’s iterating. Morton’s choice to lean on veteran glue in Glasgow, while bringing Ratledge along at a steady pace, reflects a team trying to balance vision with pragmatism. The Lions have their core. Now, they’re testing the edges of what that core can do.