There was a look in Marvin Jones' eyes before he even answered the question. Then he smiled.
"We're definitely excited," he said. "It's going to be big."
Jones was referring to the Lions' passing attack this season, which will feature an array of weapons around a healthy Matthew Stafford. Now his voice picked up.
"The people that we have, you look to the left, you look to the right, we have ballers," said Jones. "And obviously this is our second year in (Darrell) Bevell's offense, which we love, so the excitement is definitely up."
It should be. Rejuvenated by Bevell's aggressive downfield approach, Stafford and his receivers were tearing up defenses last season. They averaged nearly 300 yards through the air in the first eight games, among the best passing attacks in the NFL. Then Stafford went down with a back injury. That momentum was snuffed out.
As it was, the Lions finished 10th in the league in passing yards per game. Jones, Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola each had over 60 receptions; the former two combined for 20 touchdowns. All three are back. So is T.J. Hockenson, who's poised for a breakout in his second season. And so is Stafford, accompanied by some darkhorse MVP chatter.
Through the early stages of training camp, Jones said they've picked up where they left off.
Amendola, Golladay On Mission To Bring Playoffs To Detroit
"We're just glad that we're all in here together and finally getting some football done," he said. "It's been big, to come up here and see my brothers and go out there and not miss a beat, just because we all have experience in this offense. And obviously we've added new pieces that are going to come in and do great, so the sky's the limit.
"We just have to continue to work, and that's what we do every day. Yeah, it's exciting."
Those new pieces are headlined by a pair of rookies: RB D'Andre Swift and WR Quintez Cephus. The Lions felt Cephus, the Wisconsin product who measured up with Jeff Okudah last season, was a bargain in the fifth round of the draft. Jones invited Cephus to train with him in San Diego this offseason and noticed similar potential.
"We got some good work in. He definitely has the tools in terms of his strength, explosiveness -- dude can jump out the gym," said Jones. "So it'll be great to see him go once we really start picking everything up."
All the tools are there for the Lions to put up more big numbers in 2020. Their offense -- their passing attack, in particular -- is what makes them a popular bounce-back pick in the NFC. Jones can feel it, Bevell can feel it.
Stafford can feel it, too.
"I'm happy to be back," he said Wednesday. "Body feels good, arm feels good, all that. Just excited to ramp this thing up and get it rolling."
