Stop Sleeping on Jared Goff

Photo: David Reginek, USA Today Sports

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History is something we all want to be a part of, especially when it comes to sports. However, in the age of smartphones, iconic sports moments often have spectators in the background, phones in hand. As a sports memorabilia collector, I understand the desire for a special keepsake picture or video to cherish and share with family and friends as part of an exciting story. What if I told you that a screenshot of a fantasy football winning team led by Jared Goff in 2023 could be a piece of sports history that you can personally enjoy for years to come? The Detroit Lions haven't won a division title since 1993, a span of 30 years when their division was known as the NFC Central before the creation of the NFC North in 2002. The decades of struggle are projected to come to an end this season, with Aaron Rodgers no longer in the division. The Lions are the clear betting favorite (+120 to +145) to capture the NFC North title for the first time in franchise history. Let's delve into how Goff is going to contribute to the Lions' success:

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Exciting Offensive Environment

Coaching and playcalling have a significant impact in football, and one of the biggest storylines of the offseason was the decision of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to stay in Detroit. Following an exciting 2022 season, Johnson was a highly sought-after head coach candidate, and many expected him to leave the Lions. However, he chose to return, bringing continuity to an offense that already ranked sixth in Expected Points Added per Play, tenth in Success Rate, 15th in Pass Rate Over Expected, and 15th in Early Down Pass Frequency last season.

Johnson could legitimately be the next best genius offensive mind. He's been in the NFL working on the offensive side of the ball for the past 11 seasons and has been a part of the Lions coaching staff since 2019. Yet last year was his first shot at being an offensive coordinator, and he drastically improved Detroit's offense immediately. The Lions offense ranked 25th in points and 22nd in yards in 2021, and under Johnson, those ranks spiked up to 5th in points and 4th in yards in 2022.

Elite Protection

Goff has consistently performed better in a clean pocket throughout his career. Let's take a look at the past three seasons and compare his clean pocket passing numbers to his statistics under pressure:

Clean Pocket Passing Numbers

Under Pressure Passing Numbers

These splits are drastic and could be a significant red flag in a worse situation and offensive environment. But here's the thing: Goff is an excellent quarterback when kept clean, and he gets to operate behind one of the best offensive lines in football in Detroit, elevating his play and overall success. The Lions' offensive line ranked eighth best in the NFL to close out the 2022 season by Pro Football Focus, and the unit never ranked outside the top ten all season long. Goff is protected on both ends by two of the best tackles in the league in Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, and he also works with one of the best centers in the game in Frank Ragnow. And Detroit's line arguably has been improved with the signing of free agent Graham Glasgow in the interior this offseason.

Improved Weapons

Although Jameson Williams' six-game suspension for gambling on other sports while at the team facility is not ideal, Goff will have a talented downfield weapon for the majority of the season upon his return. It would be unwise to give up on Williams. While he had limited playing time as a rookie and caught only one pass, it's important to remember that he suffered an ACL injury on January 10th, 2022. Expected to be fully healthy and hopefully leaving the gambling issues behind after the suspension, it would be surprising if the Lions didn't quickly work him into a near full-time role, considering they traded up to select him at #12 overall just a year ago. Let's not forget that Williams had an outstanding season in 2021, setting the SEC ablaze with 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Jahmyr Gibbs possesses a stylistic similarity to Alvin Kamara, albeit with the caveat that his profile carries more risk due to weighing in at 199 pounds compared to Kamara's 214 pounds. Nevertheless, Gibbs' versatile dual-threat skill set is a perfect fit for today's NFL. He is a natural receiver, evident from his 103 catches for 1,212 receiving yards and 8 receiving touchdowns in just three collegiate seasons. After two successful years at Georgia Tech, Gibbs transferred to Alabama and wasted no time showcasing his talents in the SEC. In 2022, Gibbs ran for 926 yards and 7 rushing touchdowns while also catching 44 passes for 444 receiving yards and 3 scores. Gibbs demonstrates excellent footwork, agility, contact balance, and big-play potential. The Detroit Lions clearly share this evaluation, as they selected him at No. 12 overall, celebrated by pounding the table, and subsequently traded away D'Andre Swift. Goff, who has no problem throwing intermediate passes and checking the ball down, will mesh well with Gibbs' receiving skill set.

After trading T.J. Hockenson during the 2022 season, Jared Goff was left with Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, and James Mitchell as his tight end options. However, the Lions made a significant upgrade by selecting Sam LaPorta in the second round ahead of Michael Mayer. LaPorta, who attended Iowa, a school known for producing successful tight ends like George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, and Noah Fant, has the potential to follow in their footsteps. He has been the focal point of Iowa's passing game, leading the team in receptions for the past three seasons. LaPorta posted solid numbers as both a junior (53 receptions, 670 yards, 3 touchdowns) and a senior (58 receptions, 657 yards, 1 touchdown). Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 245 pounds, LaPorta had an impressive combine performance, running a 4.59 40-yard dash, 4.25 shuttle, and 6.91 3-cone. He also recorded a 35-inch vertical jump and a 123-inch broad jump, showcasing his athleticism. LaPorta's versatility, being used out wide and in the slot, will provide valuable options for the Lions' offense.

The additions of Williams, Gibbs, and LaPorta will upgrade the talent surrounding Amon-Ra St. Brown, who had an impressive season with 106 receptions for 1,161 yards and 6 touchdowns last year.