Kenny Golladay's 54-yard touchdown catch in Detroit's season finale victory over Green Bay showed off everything general manager Bob Quinn and the Lions liked about Golladay when they made him their third-round selection out of Northern Illinois in last year's NFL Draft.
Tied 3-3 in the second quarter with the Lions facing a 3rd and 10, Golladay ran a very good route down the middle of the field finding the soft spot in zone coverage. He attacked the football and caught it away from his body not breaking stride. Golladay then stiff-armed Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and outran the perusing defenders all the way to the end zone.
"I was really trying to clear out and get Marv (Marvin Jones Jr.) open and without me even knowing the ball was coming to me," Golladay said of the touchdown play.
"I was trying to do my job and I just peeked and the ball was right there. I just had Ha Ha to beat and just gave him a stiff arm and just tried to run as fast as I can."
The play showed off Golladay's strength and speed at 6-foot-4 and 213 pounds. It's the kind of play that should make Lions fans excited about his potential in this passing attack moving forward.
He finished the season with 28 receptions for 477 yards (17.0 average) and three scores, but also missed five games in the middle of the season with a hamstring injury. Golladay was a legitimate deep threat for quarterback Matthew Stafford when he was on the field, catching eight passes of 20-plus yards and five of 40-plus yards.
"I just look back and I wish I would have gotten those five games that I missed," Golladay said. "I was blessed enough to come back from the injury and make plays for this team."
With Marvin Jones Jr. (1,101) and Golden Tate (1,003) each recording 1,000-yard seasons, if Golladay makes the jump most young players make between years one and two, the Lions could have a rather potent trio at receiver in 2018.
"First off, I'm going to rest the body a little bit," Golladay said of his offseason plans. "I have to take a little time off. But then just work on the little things I feel like can help me become a better receiver for this team. I'm excited."
