Could Jared Goff go through another Rams-like regression after the Detroit Lions’ losses on the offensive line?
With all of the moving parts of the Detroit Lions’ offensive line, it’s natural to wonder how that’s going to impact every facet of the team. The Lions have prided themselves on their offensive line, often referring to it as the engine under the hood for the entire team. With some uncertainty following the departures of Kevin Zeitler in free agency and All-Pro center Frank Ragnow to retirement, there is legitimate concern.
On this week’s Midweek Mailbag, we discuss how that concern may impact Jared Goff. The Lions quarterback has resurrected his career in Detroit, but part of his improvement has been paved by an offensive line and run game he could trust. If those areas take a step back in 2025, could Goff be in danger of some regression this year?
Obviously, Goff doesn’t have the mobility of some other quarterbacks in this league, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t handle pressure. There are other ways Goff can manipulate the game to avoid letting pressure turn into sacks. He can call hot routes, get rid of the ball quickly, or simply throw the ball away to live another day. Those are things we’ve seen Goff excel at throughout his time in Detroit. In fact, while under pressure last year, Goff produced the sixth-highest Expected Points Added (EPA) per dropback (-0.22) and eighth-highest passer rating (86.5) in the NFL, per NFL Pro.
But it is true that Goff has previously struggled under pressure, and some of his leanest years came when the offensive line help wasn’t there. The 2019 and 2020 Rams offenses were defined by their lack of rushing game and high pressure rates, and it showed with Goff’s play. Could that happen again in Detroit?
Erik Schlitt and I discuss that on the latest Midweek Mailbag podcast. Other topics on this week’s show include:
- What are the challenges of being a 6-foot-5 or taller NFL center?
- What adjustments can the Lions make if the offensive line struggles out of the gate?
- Where has the Lions roster gotten objectively better this offseason?
- How many practices do the Lions need to be ready by the Hall of Fame Game?
- Could Aidan Hutchinson or any other starters play in the preseason?
- What are realistic expectations for Ahmed Hassanein’s rookie season?
- Are the Lions ahead of the curve again with their outstanding safety duo?
- Why hasn’t Hutchinson been extended yet?
You can catch this week’s show on any podcasting platform or using the embedded player below. You can also watch replays of the show—with bonus content—over on our YouTube and Twitch channels .