Perfect Pairing: Williams and Gibbs: The Perfect Combination for Lions’ Success
The Detroit Lions’ offense is doing so well that head coach Dan Campbell lightly lamented not scoring more efficiently in a game where 52 points and 645 yards of offense were put up. That was a not to an uptick in competition that’s coming, but it says it all about where the Lions are right now.
Ben Johnson benefits from the talent the Lions have on offense, but he is also a top-notch play-caller who will occasionally dig into his bag of tricks to dial up something you’ve never quite seen. No one is perfect, but he’s getting the most out of the talent he has at his disposal.
On a 54-yard reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs topped out at the sixth-fastest speed for a ball carrier in the NFL this season (21.8 MPH, according to Next Gen Stats). He also owns the third-fastest speed on that list, from his 70-yard touchdown run in Week 8.
Against Jacksonville, wide receiver Jameson Williams had a 64-yard touchdown reception as he caught a deep crossing route and outran the Jaguars’ secondary. Williams has three registered speeds of over 20 mph this season, including 21.03 mph on a 36-yard catch back in Week 1.
During his session with reporters on Thursday, Johnson would not say publicly who he thinks is faster between Gibbs and Williams.
“Ooh,” Johnson said. “Depends on who you ask. Yeah, I know where I’d put my money, but I’m not going to say that publicly.”
