By Mummy Grace 
At a youth camp held at Ford Field, Gibbs revealed a strategic shift—Morton wants to “split [him] out a lot more” this season. That means seeing Gibbs more in split wide and slot formations—alignments rarely used under former OC Ben Johnson .
Through his first two seasons, Gibbs maintained consistent production in the passing game—52 receptions each year—but averaged fewer targets in Year 2 despite an extra game. Morton, who was with the Detroit offense in 2022, aims to recapture the explosive screen-game success of that year, which ranked 2nd in the NFL in yards per attempt and 4th in success rate . By lining up Gibbs wider, the offense can move quicker and exploit mismatches, something Gibbs is eager to embrace: “I’ve been waiting on that,” he admitted .
Coach Scottie Montgomery also highlighted the support Gibbs receives from running backs coach Tashard Choice—known for player-centered teaching styles—and their shared history at Georgia Tech, which helps ease Gibbs into his expanded role .
The numbers back up the strategy: in 2024, Gibbs ran just 83 routes lined up wide or in the slot out of 690 offensive snaps—a slight decrease from his rookie season . Compare that to other dual-purpose backs: Devon Achane ran 157 such routes in a season, opening the possibility for Gibbs to grow from gadget player to true multi-dimensional threat .
Morton is tapping into a loaded arsenal—Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams—calling it a “kid-in-a-candy-store” scenario . With more routes and formations tailored to Gibbs’ skills, Detroit’s offense could not only maintain its ground dominance but also elevate its aerial efficiency.
💡 Bottom line: Jahmyr Gibbs isn’t just a running back—under Morton, he’s becoming a legitimate hybrid weapon. Expect more routes, more targets, and more explosive plays from Detroit’s star back this season.