Larry Foote Says Jared Goff Is Similar to Manning, Brady

The Lions' QB is among the league's best through five games.

Jared Goff's ability to manage the Detroit Lions' offense has been a major key to the team's success early in the 2023 season. 

Through five games, he is Pro Football Focus' highest-graded quarterback with an overall mark of 90.8. One area where he has been particularly successful is in play-action. 

Currently, he's 34-of-45 for 451 yards, with five touchdowns and no interceptions on play-action concepts, per PFF. His completion percentage in this concept ranks fifth amongst starters, while he's tied for the league lead in play-action touchdown passes.

For his success in this aspect of the game, he has caught many eyes. Among them is Tampa Bay linebackers coach Larry Foote, who will be tasked with helping the Buccaneers to stop the Lions' offense this week. 

"I remember (when) he was drafted because I was in Arizona," Foote told reporters of Goff. "His only bad year, in my opinion, was probably his rookie year. With (Sean) McVay in his second year, he just took off. He's a good, savvy quarterback. What's unique about him (is) I put him in that group with (Tom) Brady and (Peyton) Manning as far as the play action - they sell it, they do a good job of selling it. As a linebacker, that can be tricky, because it looks the same. He's making every throw, and he's a No. 1 pick."

Being compared to two all-time greats is high praise for Detroit's passer, who has experienced a career renaissance in a Lions uniform. When told of the comparison Wednesday, Goff stated that he spends plenty of time fine-tuning this area of his performance. 

“I don’t know, I think it’s just discipline. Focusing on it, making it matter. Putting emphasis on it, putting detail on it," Goff said. "I’m very aware of it, just like every part of my game. I don’t know if it’s something I’m doing any more of than anything else. But, it’s a part of my game that I’m very aware of, and me and the running backs are doing our best to make it look exactly like the run and yeah, it helps. It helps pull the defenders up and get those plays in behind them.” 

Where Lions stack up with 2018 Rams

Goff's best team to this point in his career came in 2018 while he was leading the Los Angeles Rams. That year, he piloted the team to the Super Bowl, where it fell, 13-3, to the New England Patriots. 

The veteran said Wednesday it's too early to make comparisons based on the volatile nature of the NFL, but sees similarities in some aspects between this year's Lions and that Rams team. 

“They’re all different, every team’s different," Goff explained. "It’s too hard to make that comparison. Every team’s different. But, early on, we’ve got good maturity, and have handled success well up to this point pretty well. Still so early in the season, so a lot of work to do. But, (we're) feeling good with where we’re at.”