Over several years in New England, Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn saw first hand what a dominant tight end can do for an offense.
First it was Rob Gronkowski paired with Aaron Hernandez, then it was Gronkowski on his own. The Patriots always had a mismatch at tight end, and they exploited it time and time again.
Teams around the NFL have begun to catch up. From Travis Kelce to George Kittle to Zach Ertz -- and the list goes on -- tight ends are becoming a focal point on offense.
The Lions drafted T.J. Hockenson eighth overall Thursday night to give themselves a similar weapon.
"We’re just trying to do everything we can on offense to be multiple, to be able to get into different packages and put as much stress on the opponents' defense as possible," said Matt Patricia. "Right now the game is all moving toward the tight end position. That's the mismatch that everyone's trying to figure out."
Hockenson, the 2018 Mackey Award winner as the nation's top tight end, can both stretch the field in the passing game and pave roads in the running game. The Lions, even with the addition of Jesse James, had a need at the position.
New offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was fond of using two-tight end sets at his previous stop in Seattle, and he'll be able to do the same in Detroit. With Hockenson, he'll have a playmaker similar to former Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham.
"He’s a real tough guy to tackle. He does a good job of turning small plays into big plays, gets the ball vertical into the defense," said Patricia. "He’s just another threat out there with the ball."
Whether teams try to defend Hockenson with a linebacker, a safety or a corner, Patricia expects the matchup to favor the Lions.
"If they go too small you can run the ball. If they go too big you can throw it. There’s a lot of things you can do with these guys at the tight end position to get them out in different formations and into difficult looks for the defense," he said.
The Lions were connected to Hockenson throughout the draft process, with many pundits seeing the mutual fit. Patricia said he was indeed a player they "targeted early."
Beyond the obvious talent, they love his grit.
"Someone that’s going to represent everything that we want," Patricia said. "He’s smart, tough, works hard, gives everything every single play. This is a guy that finishes every single play, that can do the dirty work in the run game, get open in the pass game and really put a lot of pressure on the defense.
"It just gives us more multiplicity on offense."
That's the theme to Patricia's scheme, on both sides of the ball. And it's the theme to the modern game.
Hockenson adds layers to the Lions offense, which last season was far too easy to read.