Jared Goff Shines Under Ben Johnson: Leading NFL with Record-Breaking Play-Action Mastery

October 22, 2024
Jared Goff Shines Under Ben Johnson: Leading NFL with Record-Breaking Play-Action Mastery
  • Jared Goff, the quarterback for the Detroit Lions, has been excelling under the guidance of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

  • Recently, Goff completed an impressive 85.2% of his last 68 passes, averaging 13 yards per attempt, with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

  • He leads the league with a 79.4% completion rate on play-action passes, coupled with a remarkable 12.3 yards-per-attempt average.

  • Despite facing pressure on 58.6% of his dropbacks against the Vikings, Goff's quick decision-making and anticipatory skills have been pivotal to his success.

  • Against a formidable Vikings defense, which allowed the fewest expected points added per dropback, Goff achieved an EPA per dropback of +0.700.

  • While there is ongoing debate about whether Goff is a game-changer or merely a game manager, he is effectively executing Johnson's offensive scheme.

  • In Week 7, he recorded a quarterback rating of 140.0, leading the Lions to a narrow 31-29 victory over the previously unbeaten Minnesota Vikings.

  • He averages 10.3 yards per attempt, ranking first in the NFL for throws to running backs or tight ends outside the numbers.

  • In particular, Goff has thrived on play-action throws over the middle, completing 24 of 29 passes for 378 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

  • Goff's success is largely attributed to three key strategies: play-action passing, attacking the middle of the field, and utilizing running backs in the flat.

  • Johnson and Goff maintain unpredictability in their offense by creatively involving running backs and tight ends in various routes.

  • Together, Goff and Johnson are currently regarded as the most effective quarterback-coordinator duo in the NFL.

  • Goff also made history by achieving the highest quarterback rating in back-to-back games in NFL history, with a rating of 157.7 in Weeks 4 and 6.

Summary based on 1 source


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