Brock Wright celebrates a score for the Lions in 2022. Getty
With the Detroit Lions hiring a new offensive coordinator, there might have been some questions about what role Brock Wright would have on the team. However, Drew Petzing made it pretty clear that the 2021 UDFA, who is entering year six with the Lions, is still going to be in the mix for a notable role on offense.
Petzing called Wright one of the more dependable players on the team.
He is not saying that this is a guy they will throw the ball to with the game on the line, but when it comes to asking him to do his job as a backup tight end, few do it better. Wright is viewed as a sound blocker and someone who is in the right places at the right times. Petzing has noticed, and fortunately for him, Petzing likes to use his tight ends.
GettyBrock Wright celebrates a score for the Lions.
Last year, the Arizona Cardinals ranked ninth in 12 personnel usage, which means one running back and two tight ends on the field. They ranked third in 13 personnel usage, which is one running back and three tight ends.
The Cardinals did not have the proper players to run these formations, and they ended up using a tackle as the third tight end often. However, now that Petzing is with the Lions, the team is going to lean into this high usage.
Despite better personnel, the Lions ranked 16th in 12 personnel and 14th in 13 personnel.
If there is one thing to know about head coach Dan Campbell, it is that he does not mind getting physical and adding physical players into the rotation. So, he is not going to be mad if Petzing comes in and wants to get Wright on the field more than he was last season.
Wright was one of the first additions the team made when they turned things over to Brad Holmes as General Manager and Dan Campbell as head coach. The team signed him as a UDFA out of Notre Dame. So, they not only hit on their first draft, but the UDFA class was great as well.
Wright hit the ground running as well. That is because the team had a specific plan in mind for him as a blocking tight end. They did not ask him to do too much, and he handled his role well.
He played 305 snaps as a rookie, and then played a career-high 591 snaps in 2022. In 2023, he dropped down to 425 snaps, but he was right back up to 581 the next year. Lastly, he had 402 snaps with a new offensive coordinator. The drop in usage might be a part of why Petzing is here.
Despite being on the field for a notable role every year in his NFL career, he has 70 career catches for 632 yards. Last year, he had just 108 yards. He helps get players like Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta open, so we should expect to continue to see him on the field.
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