Connect with us

Detroit, MI

Lions QB Jared Goff having sneaky rushing success: ‘It was just absolutely amazing’

Published

on

Lions QB Jared Goff having sneaky rushing success: ‘It was just absolutely amazing’


play

One a game.

That’s how many first downs Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff aims to steal with his legs, and so far that’s what he’s delivered.

Advertisement

Goff scrambled for 7 yards on a third-and-6 in the fourth quarter of the Lions’ Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Rams, had a 3-yard run on a third-and-2 late in the first half of their Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and closed out last week’s win over the Arizona Cardinals with an 8-yard keeper on second-and-7 that allowed the Lions to take two kneeldowns snaps to end the game.

“The one run, it was just absolutely amazing,” Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery joked Thursday at the team’s practice facility in Allen Park. “You don’t get a chance to see many runs like that. I know the run you guys think I’m talking about, I’m talking about Jared Goff’s run at the end of the game. Closing the game with a big-time throw and a big-time run like that, I gave the backs hell like, ‘How can you be outdone in that section right there by J.G.?’ And he did, he did a hell of a job right there and he got down. Probably the only thing that was more impressive was that first down signal that he threw up right there. I’ve never seen him show that type of emotion in that setting.”

Goff doesn’t offer much in the way of mobility as a quarterback.

More: Detroit Lions hope revived rushing attack can help solve Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks defense

Advertisement

He has topped 100 yards rushing in a season once in his career, in 2018 when he finished with 108 yards, and last year had 21 yards rushing and two touchdowns in 17 games.

While some top quarterbacks (Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts) have built-in rushing packages in their offense and others (Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert) use their legs mostly to create plays in the pocket, Goff said he spends time working on his running by, well, running.

“If you don’t run, you’ll lose it,” Goff said Thursday. “And I’m not getting any younger and as time goes on, you’re fighting that battle of making sure you’re still running — especially as a quarterback. Running and actively running and doing it in the offseason, doing it in-season because at practice I really don’t, so I have to actively put myself into some drills that make me run and get those fibers and those fast-twitch muscles going — as many as I have.”

Advertisement

The Lions rank fourth in the NFL in rushing (163 yards per game) through three games, and have one of the league’s best backfield tandems in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.

They don’t have many designed quarterback runs for Goff in their offense, and the ones they do are either sneaks or caught-you-sleeping type plays. But Goff has improvised his way to all three of his first downs this year.

Against the Rams, Goff dropped back to pass out of shotgun and had a five-man route concept downfield. With no one open and protection starting to breakdown, he scrambled up the middle and veered to his right, where he picked up a block from Sam LaPorta and had just enough speed to outrun safety Quentin Lake for a first down.

Against the Bucs, Goff carried twice on back-to-back plays during a two-minute drill late in the first half. On his second carry, Goff faked a handoff to Gibbs in the backfield, rolled right, got another good block from LaPorta and tucked the ball with no receivers open on that side of the field.

Last week against the Cardinals, Goff bootlegged to his right and took off for the sticks after defensive end Dennis Gardeck crashed hard after the run. Most of the Arizona secondary had their backs turned in man coverage.

Advertisement

Goff said he was at “peak speed” when he ran a 4.82-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 2016, and while he admittedly probably couldn’t top that time now, he’s enjoying the small gains as a rusher that are big wins for the Lions.

“I’ve been hiding (my speed) for eight years and now in my ninth I’ve decided to pull it out,” he said. “No, we do joke about it, but I do think if I can get one a game, one first down with my legs a game, maybe it’s two, that’s kind of a big thing for us. One third down, if I can scramble and pick one up. I’ve gotten one in the first three games, so I try to that every game, find a way to get one and it certainly helps us.”

Dave Birkett is the author of the new book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Preorder it now from Reedy Press.

Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.





Source link

Advertisement

Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams

Published

on

Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams


ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions will be without safety Kerby Joseph again this weekend, while listing seven other players as questionable.

Joseph and fellow safety Brian Branch were the only players ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Branch is out for the season due to an Achilles injury, but has not been placed on injured reserve yet. And Joseph, who will now miss his eighth straight game, suffered a setback and could be a candidate for injured reserve, per Dan Campbell.

The Lions listed tight end Shane Zylstra (knee), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle), guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), safety Thomas Harper (concussion protocol), left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder/rest) and guard Kayode Awosika (foot) as questionable.

Decker has not practiced this week. But he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and is coming off playing three games in less than two weeks. Awosika missed last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys due to his foot injury. The veteran guard has practiced in a limited capacity all week long.

Advertisement

Trystan Colon and Miles Frazier split duties at left guard last week for Awosika. The Lions will have a decision to make there between those three options, but perhaps for only another weekend.

Mahogany returned to practice this week. He seems like a longshot to play this weekend based on his injury. But the Lions are listing him as questionable after logging three limited practices in his first action back on the field.

Zylstra has been back at practice for two weeks in his return from injured reserve. Heading into the weekend, the Lions have only one tight end on their 53-man roster (Anthony Firkser) and hope to get Zylstra back.

Campbell said Harper has a chance to play against the Rams despite spending the week in concussion protocol. The Lions could sure use Harper, with Branch and Joseph both out, to hold things down at safety with Avonte Maddox against the high-powered Rams.

“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him, but we’ll see,” Campbell said on Friday morning. “There again, I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at.

Advertisement

“So, we’ll be good. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) DT’s been taking reps, Maddox has been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys. They’re getting valuable reps, so we’re good.”

Raymond has missed two consecutive games due to an ankle injury suffered against the New York Giants. He has a shot to return after working back into practice, and should reclaim his role returning punts.

Vaki has continued to play through his thumb injury. He hasn’t returned kickoffs since suffering the injury, with Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors taking over.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Detroit, MI

Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

Published

on

Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades


CONNOR McDAVID. 9. In a quiet first minutes of this one McDavid had the most dangerous shot for, glancing off Talbot’s shoulder and out. Terrific patience on the doorstep before dishing to Hyman for the 1-0. Nearly outwaited Talbot again later in the frame. Dished the disk back to Ekholm on the 2-0. Pranced in and rifled a backhand off Talbot. Hi-lite reel assist on the 3-1, where he knocks down a puck then puts a backhand through his own legs to a waiting Hyman alone in the slot. An assist on the 4-1, for his forty-third four-point game. 63% on faceoffs. Second Star.



Source link

Continue Reading

Detroit, MI

SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side

Published

on

SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side


play

SAY Detroit had a surprise in store during its 14th annual fundraiser.

The charity founded by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom announced plans for a new SAY Detroit Play Center on the city’s west side during its annual radiothon, taking place on Thursday, Dec. 11. The after-school educational center will be built on the campus of St. Cecilia’s church, which includes the historic St. Cecilia gym, also known as the Mecca of Detroit basketball.

Advertisement

The new facility will be called the SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia.

This will be the organization’s second play center, with the first opening in 2015 along Van Dyke Avenue on the city’s east side. The center provides educational and recreational opportunities for kids from 8-18 at Lipke Park.

The announcement was made during the foundation’s 15-hour radiothon, which raises money for SAY Detroit and other affiliated charities. Last year’s radiothon raised a record $2.23 million, with the fundraiser bringing in over $16.5 million in total since it was launched in 2012.

SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and operates the play center and free family health clinic, along with providing a housing program for Detroit families and other direct efforts with the community.

Advertisement

Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!

You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending