Writer believes Detroit Lions had a bottom-10 offseason—here’s why he’s wrong

People act like any QB could just hop in and run an offense for McVay or Johnson. I don’t think it’s that easy. Goff may not be able to scramble or throw a ball like Stafford but the dude just gets it done no matter where he goes. Cal, Rams and Lions all sucked before he arrived. They all were winning a whole lot more than they were losing while he was there. But somehow it’s always the talent around him or the coach who gets the credit. Brad Holmes said it from the beginning that he wanted Goff. I think it’s because he knew he was mentally tough enough to help turn around the worst franchise in NFL history.

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Any relation to Tracy?
1000007164

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He’s definitely underestimated by many.

I think the single biggest reason is his absence of extraordinary physical attributes and lack of “flash.” I really do.

He doesn’t run a 4.5 40 or shrug off would-be tacklers.

He’s not a big scrambler, so you won’t see him running around for 10 seconds and then heaving the ball to a wide-open guy 40 yds downfield.

He doesn’t throw many 60-yd passes (though he CAN).

He doesn’t throw a lot of “rope” passes (though he can).

He’s a more risk-averse passer than the “gunslingers” so many fans adore.

He rarely does no-look passes or wildly off-platform throws.

In sum, he’s not a highlight-reel guy by NFL QB standards.

So unless you have an eye for the crucial subtleties of the position - or take the time to learn from those who do (e.g., watching Goff manipulate defenders w/his eyes and/or feet, appreciating the precision of his passing, understanding how he adjusts play calls in response to what he sees, etc.) - he LOOKS like he’s doing nothing special. And by the gross measures of RUN-FAST-JUMP-HIGH-THROW-FAR he isn’t.

In terms of effectiveness and results, though, he really, REALLY is.

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He’s a top five QB with the Lions and that is all that matters

Would he be top five without Ben Johnson?
Without this offensive line
Without these playmakers?

Don’t know and don’t have to worry about it.

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No, he is not. If you are basing it soley on stats, as most fans do, then sure whatever helps you sleep at night.

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Basing it on stats, and fitting a system, and winning.

But you do you.

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Cough Anthony cough Lynn. :wink: if fairness to Lynn though Decker was injured and we had zero at WR other than a rookie in St. Brown. When they demoted Lynn we started peppering St. Brown with targets and offense looked a lot better. I think Rags was injured that whole season too. The oline was in rough shape. Lots of Matt Nelson and Evan Brown starts.

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He isn’t a top 5 qb. It’a short sighted to say that he is. Patrick Mahomes wins, fits a system and has the numbers. Josh allen fits a system, has the stats, and wins. Joe burrow fits a system, has the stats and wins. Lamar jackson fits a system, has the stats and wins. Justin herbert has the stats and his coach was fired for not having the wins and he has been through 2 oc’s who let him down despite the talent. The argument about top 5 is not about the numbers, it is the off schedule stuff that all the above qbs are known for. Thats what makes them special. The plays are not expected to make when the defense has stayed up night gameplanning for them specifically and take away their best options. It’s fair to say Goff does what is expected and capitlizes on it…but that doesn’t put you in yhe top 5.

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How much pull does Mina Kimes have at ESPN? She hates on Goff like her show depends on it.

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Goff doesn’t seem to understand that the point of being an NFL QB Is not to win games, it’s to make highlight plays and put up points for fantasy teams. Does he even know how to stat pad?

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If that’s the case…soon to be very little

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You ever listen to Mina on mute… she’s terrific :joy:

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Because Detroit has been such a fun team to root for and the national fanbase has adopted them as the favorite underdog that could, I think the network assigned somebody to write the bad guy view to generate clicks.
Because the reasoning in the story makes no sense.

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Yeah, well. The right people love Goff.
The writer is just another narcissist that was wrong about Goff, starting 3 years ago.
He can’t look anymore silly, run with it for clickbait.

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The Goff stuff is comical at this point…

Brady is the retired GOAT…

Mahomes!!!

Then….

Goff was a second half defensive collapse away from being the winningest QB in the NFL outside of Mahomes since 2016 in the playoffs.

Funny how laporta, Saint, and Gibbs get credit for Goff but….

Cook, Diggs, Gabe Davis, Shakir, Knox, Kincaid, Coleman, Singletary, Moss, etc and a top 2-3 defense every year ARE BECAUSE OF JOSH ALLEN?

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If Ben Johnson leaves and Goff still runs a top ten offense all the credit will just go to the next young OC in their eyes

“…Goff got lucky Tanner Engstrom is such a genius. After Ben Johnson left we all knew he would suck until Tanner came along….”

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Crazy thing is Goff at his ‘low point’ with the Rams still threw for 67% completions, 4,000 yards and a playoff win

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A lot of truth to this, for sure. My biggest beef with Goff by a mile was leadership style…and he’s gotten a ton better, while continuing to improve. Numbers guys will always choose to ignore the eye test, but… the way we’re built…I would literally rather have Goff as a leader/team fit than Mahommes here. Mahommes is turning into Rodgers II, in some ways. He’s starting to whine for calls, even when they’re not there, etc.

Talent-to-talent, Mahommes is better. Goff still needs to step into the deep ball, and doesn’t have the arm talent, escapability, or mobility of Mahommes.

However, when you take into consideration what we do, and what we have…Goff usually has time, and when he does, the guy is a GD surgeon on the short to mid/long mid stuff. His deep ball is what it is…he can do it, and there are things we can do to buy him more time, with flea flickers, misdirection, max protect, play action, multiple threat plays (plays that have many ways to attack from the same look that prevent D from pinning their ears back), etc.

Goff’s cast-off story fits Detroit’s underdog story SO well. Our city has embraced him, our team has embraced him, our coaches love him…he works his ass off and all of the guys see that. Love that he’s ours.

By the time he’s done, he will be HOF with at least 2 or 3 SB appearances, possibly more.

As the nation falls in love with us, Goff will gain more popularity & naysayers will look increasingly more foolish. People in my life were making fun of me for talking about our underdog team and “gritty” coach the way I did. Nobody’s laughing now.

Goff is the real deal, and so are the rest of our guys. We are going to really start dreading cuts next offseason. Love our guys… damn near all of 'em. +

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Tons of important factors. Goff literally says the coaches helped him develop and grow (I actually think it was a specific reference to Dan).

Our OL is a huge big deal.
Ra, Laporta, Gibby, Jamo, Monty, are all a big deal too, but not as a stand-alone.

Goff is FANTASTIC at fakes and setting things up. He doesn’t give tells often and has improved a ton in that area. It’s really fun to watch the fakes. You can see the entire defense on thier heels often. Sure…OC gets some credit for that, but Goff executes VERY well. He’s surgical up to the point where his arm talent starts to wane…and with the weapons we have, and the culture of downfield blocking…lots of saucy stuff going on with that. Our meat’n’potatoes set up the fun stuff, and vice versa.