Turning Around Lions’ Pass Protection: Key Adjustments

The Detroit Lions‘ offensive line is viewed as one of the best in the entire NFL. However, the unit has allowed an uncharacteristic amount of sacks in recent weeks.

Over the last four games, the Lions have allowed quarterback Jared Goff to be sacked 14 times. In each of the last two, Goff has been sacked four times apiece. Moving forward, avoiding this trend is a point of emphasis for the entire coaching staff.

“Our sack numbers over the last stretch of four or five games have been higher than what we’ve grown to know over the last two years,” said offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. “So something we talk about as a unit, there’s ways we can help out schematically to not put guys in so many 1-on-1 islands. And so we do look at that every week, that doesn’t really change.”

While the line has had issues, some of the sacks are the result of good coverage downfield. With Goff having an emphasis on not turning the ball over, sometimes him holding onto the ball is to blame for him being sacked.

“I do think, also, when you look at Jared and not putting the ball in harm’s way down the field, something we did talk about was by being a little bit less aggressive trying to push the ball into tight windows, we may get a couple more sacks because he’s holding onto the ball a little bit longer,” Johnson said. “That might be a result of that also, just with the way we’re coaching Jared to play turnover-free ball. But the sacks are a point of emphasis, particularly this week when we’re facing a crew that, it’s their number one priority up front.”

The Packers’ defense has 12 sacks and plays with an intensity devoted to making the opposing passer uncomfortable. Devonte Wyatt leads the team with three sacks, while linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has 2.5.

“They’ve got, not just four, but eight guys up front that they just roll through constantly. They’re attacking, penetrating, stunts, games, violence. We’ve got our work cut out for us,” Johnson said. “It’s gonna take everybody. It’s gonna take receivers, it’s gonna take tight ends, it’s gonna take the running backs as well as the o-line.”

Playing ‘on the attack’ key to special teams success

The Lions‘ special teams units had a banner day on Sunday against Tennessee. Big returns from Kalif Raymond and Khalil Dorsey, along with booming punts from Jack Fox, allowed the Lions to control the field position game for most of the afternoon.

“A bunch of those guys ended up picking up blocks, and their punter kind of out-kicked the gunners covering down the field. Didn’t do a great job of holding them up on the outside,” Fipp explained. “But Leaf got started, and once the ball got in his hand, the faster the returner plays, the slower the coverage is gonna play. I think what you guys saw during that game was Kalif was playing really fast. He’s on the attack. When you play on the attack in this game, good things happen to you.”