There are several minor problems with the Lions’ offense at the moment, and Dan Campbell believes one of them is directly related to his quarterback.
Jared Goff has been one of the NFL’s most productive quarterbacks over the past two-plus seasons, starting from late 2021. However, that version of Goff has been largely absent through the first two games this season, despite his ranking fourth in the league in passing yards and the Lions’ offense placing second in total yardage.
In Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Goff threw for 307 yards, but that was overshadowed by two interceptions (and nearly more), a low 5.6 yards per attempt, and an overall lack of sharpness. When combined with some questionable play calling from offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, the Lions went 1-for-7 in the red zone and lost by four points.
It’s understandable for Goff to have an off game, especially early in the season, as the offense didn’t play together during the preseason. There are some small areas that need improvement, particularly in the red zone, and once those issues are resolved, it could lead to better results.
Dan Campbell hones in on small issue with Jared Goff through two games
Goff has thrown three interceptions in the first two games of the season, with his second interception last Sunday against Tampa Bay standing out as particularly poor. Since the beginning of the 2022 season, the Lions hold a 15-5 record when Goff avoids interceptions, compared to 7-9 when he throws one.
Head coach Dan Campbell addressed the offense’s struggles, including Goff’s performance, during his regular Tuesday morning appearance on 97.1 The Ticket. Campbell noted a minor issue with Goff’s play.
“I told him this yesterday,” Campbell said. “One of the notes I wrote was, ‘I feel like a couple of times you’re just trying to do too much.’ He’s extending plays a little longer than necessary, and I felt that didn’t help us.”
Goff’s deeper stats through two games offer some insight, especially when looking at his clean-pocket performance. Although he’s typically vulnerable under pressure, even from a clean pocket, Goff has been struggling (credit to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit for the data).
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF):
– In 2023: 372-for-491, 4,051 yards, 28 TDs, 3 INTs, 116.1 passer rating, 0.8% turnover-worthy plays (TWP), 94.5 PFF grade
– In 2024 (through two games): 37-for-58, 361 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 74.0 passer rating, 4.8% TWP, 49.0 PFF grade
NFL’s advanced metrics:
– In 2023: +2.7% Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE, 8th), +0.31 Expected Points Added (EPA) per dropback (4th)
– In 2024 (through two games): -6.5% CPOE (23rd), -0.06 EPA per dropback (27th)
PFF’s TWP metric suggests Goff may be forcing plays, while the offensive line’s struggles, especially against interior pressure, have been an issue. Despite these setbacks, Campbell remains confident that the Lions’ offense is close to finding its rhythm, with only minor issues accumulating over the first two games. Goff is poised to improve from here.
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