Ebron Sees Beckham-Like Production In His Future
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
ALLEN PARK (CBS DETROIT) - Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron characterized his rookie season as a humbling experience. In 13 games, Ebron caught 25 passes - of 49 thrown his way - for 248 yards.
For a 10th overall pick, it was a mediocre debut season, particularly in comparison to that of 12th overall pick Odell Beckham Jr., who lit up the league with 1,305 receiving yards over 12 games.
In reflecting on his season Monday, Ebron conceded that going from go-to guy in college to just another player in the NFL was a transition.
"Understanding that you come from being the number one target in college football to now having three or four number one targets on one NFL team, you just have to continue to work yourself into a role," Ebron said. "We have great playmakers on this team, and I just have to keep working myself into a role.
"With Calvin and Golden ... those are two great NFL football players and tremendous men outside of football," Ebron continued. "You just have to do nothing but honor and respect that you have two guys like that on your team and you can say you've played with them, and when your time comes to make the plays, you've just got to make those plays."
Ebron believes that when his time arrives, he will be able to produce in a manner similar to how Beckham delivered this year.
"Absolutely," Ebron said. "I hold myself to high standards, so I always see a lot of things happening, and in the future, maybe it will happen that way."
As members of the 2014 draft class, Ebron and Beckham will always be linked, and comparing the two - at least after one year - does not reflect well on Ebron.
Ebron said he does not compare himself with Beckham because the two play different positions, and it makes sense; any comparison is an unfair one. Ebron plays a position less conducive to massive offensive production, and he plays alongside two high-profile targets in Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate in a system in which the quarterback often targets running backs, too.
Beckham, on the other hand, is his passer's number one target. Not surprisingly, he saw more than four times as many passes as Ebron did this season.
Ebron alluded to those factors Monday.
"We have tons of playmakers on this team," Ebron said. "I just came to be an asset to help make plays. The more and more we keep building confidence, the more and more it'll come through. It might not have been what you guys all expected for me to do and things like that, but it definitely will improve."
