Detroit Lions: Expectations for Eric Ebron in 2015

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Jun 14, 2015

Expectations are high for tight end Eric Ebron as he heads into his sophomore season with the Detroit Lions. Considering that Ebron had some issues in his rookie season last year transitioning into the NFL, the potential is still there for him to truly breakout in 2015. One of the main issues that kept him from adjusting to life in the pros was his problem with dropping easy passes. If he’s to truly emerge as one of the top tight ends of the NFL this upcoming season, that’s one of his areas of opportunity that needs to be corrected. So far, he’s been on track to correct this weakness and turn it into a strength.

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In an article written by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, here is what wide receiver Golden Tate had to say about Ebron and working on dropping easy passes:

"“I think Eric’s hungry and, this week, specifically, he’s been phenomenal catching the ball and after the catch,” receiver Golden Tate said. “Linebackers are having a tough time covering him, and even safeties, so hopefully, he’s not letting that (talk about his drops) get into his head.”"

Heading into 2015, fans should expect to see a much more focused Ebron on the football field. Since he’s no doubt putting in the extra work to ensure he turns those dropped passes into receptions, he should be much-improved in that area.

Ebron should also continue honing his craft with his incredible blocking abilities. It will be incredibly important in setting things up to establish the run for a Lions’ offense that will need all hands on deck to be a top competitor in the NFC North this upcoming season.

Last season, Ebron put up sub-par numbers that saw him contribute just 248 yards on 25 receptions and one touchdown. He missed a few games last season due to a hamstring injury but by the looks of it so far during organized team activities, he’s still running at full speed and executing his assignments nicely.

With a year of NFL experience under his belt, Ebron should be able to contribute much more in 2015. With quarterback Matthew Stafford leading the charge, Ebron should be much more reliable on offense as he should definitely be a force to reckon with against opposing defenses.

Considering that Ebron is just 22 years old, his potential is through the roof thanks to his maturity and humbleness to admit his faults while doing his best to bounce back. It was frustrating at first with all those dropped passes but Ebron knew exactly what to do and say to get through the hurdles of last year and prepare himself to improve his game moving forward.

Nov 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron (85) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

If Ebron can block out all the negative press about him dropping easy passes and stick to working hard, he will post some incredible numbers in 2015. If everything clicks on the Lions’ offense thanks to everything Ebron brings to the table, he should definitely turn them into an offensive powerhouse.

Next: Detroit Lions: Is running back Ben Tate a good fit?

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