Lions Confident Jared Goff Can Handle Pass Rush, Make Every Throw

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson evaluates Jared Goff's progression this season.

One of the most heavily scrutinized players on the Detroit Lions' roster is quarterback Jared Goff. 

Earlier this season, the veteran signal-caller faced heavy scrutiny from fans for his inconsistency and elevated number of turnovers, especially in the face of intense pressure from opposing defenses. 

Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson acknowledged this week that Goff did indeed struggle with the increased pressure he was facing from defenses like the Patriots and Cowboys. 

"I feel like earlier in the season, the weeks where we were struggling the most, call it New England and Dallas, it might have gotten in his head a little bit," Johnson said. "I don't think it fazes him now. I think he know nows he's going to get hit each week. That's part of playing the position in this league, particularly when you drop back to pass. 

"So, he's aware of it. I think he's done a heck of a job being able to work the pocket, avoid and find some some clean throwing lanes. So, that's our point of emphasis," Johnson continued. "Continue to move, find that soft spot, not get too deep in the pocket to allow the EDGE rushers to affect us. And, I think he's taken that criticism to home from weeks ago, and is showing up over the last few weeks for us in a positive manner."

Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press

Lions confident Goff can make any NFL throw coaches dial up

After Goff failed to connect with wideout DJ Chark late in the game on third down against Buffalo, many have again raised their level of skepticism the veteran quarterback can make the big throw or have wondered why the coaching staff would call a passing play in such a critical moment of a football game. 

For Johnson, time has not been spent overanalyzing the failed play. 

Instead, he maintains trust the 28-year-old quarterback can execute any passing play that is dialed up. 

"I wish we would have hit it," Johnson explained. "You know, it comes down to that. We went into this game, the last week, we went into the game with a certain mindset of how we were going to win and how we were going to score points against a really good football team. I think we held true. A lot of that, really the aggressiveness that Coach Campbell had us going with on offense, I think was a big reason why we were close there in that fourth quarter and came up one play short."

Johnson was reminded that Goff had taken a similar shot to teammate Josh Reynolds that did not connect earlier this season. 

Despite not being able to execute at times late in games through the air, Detroit's first-year offensive coordinator expressed the trust remains that the team can execute any offensive play call. 

Johnson commented, "I've got total trust in the guys out there to execute the play call. So, I'm not going to overanalyze, 'Hey, can he or can you not make this throw?' Jared Goff can make pretty much every throw in this league that we'd ever ask him to do."