The Facts: Kerley used to be productive. Last year, he wasn't. But Kerley insists he is the same guy who used good quickness and great hands to twice lead the Jets in catches. And that it was the new coaches -- and their scheme -- that held him to 16 catches in 16 games last season. "It was the opportunity I didn't get to actually play. That was the main reason (for the diminished production)," Kerley said.

Diehards Line: That's why Kerley chose to sign a one-year deal with the Lions this offseason. He saw it as the best opportunity to have an impact once again. Detroit likes to pass the ball and is turning over two of its top three receivers this year, with Calvin Johnson now retired and the club choosing not to re-sign Lance Moore. "They sling the ball everywhere, so you always need a hand full of receivers," Kerley said. "Along with that, they have a West Coast schematic kind of plan, and I think that fits my skill-set." After catching 29 passes as a rookie fifth-rounder in 2011, Kerley led the club in receptions two of the next three seasons. And he did it running more than 70 percent of his routes out of the slot, according to ProFootballFocus. But then the Jets hired Todd Bowles as their coach last season, and the new regime acquired the bigger-bodied Brandon Marshall to play outside. That allowed Eric Decker to move inside, and he ran 68.1 percent of his routes from the slot. So Kerley wanted to land somewhere that would allow him to prosper again, and he thinks he found the ideal match in Detroit, where he instantly becomes the leader to start in the slot. Golden Tate and Marvin Jones are the other projected starters.