Detroit Lions owe Jared Goff a fair trial in 2022 before coming to a verdict

For most of the 2021 season, the Detroit Lions have performed up to expectations.  Sometimes expectations are poor, and that is the case here, but Jared Goff deserves a fair trial in 2022 before the organization comes to a conclusion surrounding his future.

The fact that there isn’t a worthy top of the draft quarterback prospect entering the 2022 NFL Draft helps Detroit remain patient with Goff for at least one more season.

Heading into the year, I had Detroit winning three or four games; they currently sit with a 2-11-1 record. If not for a record-breaking field goal by Justin Tucker, plus a late game-winning drive by the Vikings in their first meeting of the season the Lions could easily have a better record.  Plus, taking a pair of close losses to Cleveland and Chicago, in addition to a dreadful tie with Pittsburgh, the Lions could potentially be sitting with five or six wins.

The Lions have three games remaining with Atlanta, Seattle, and Green Bay.  Two of those games are very winnable, and unfortunately, I am not talking about the Packers.

Under first-year head coach Dan Campbell the Detroit Lions have looked awful and downright pathetic at times this season.  Other times, in games they have no business competing in, such as this past week against Arizona or the Baltimore game, for example, Detroit has played up to the level of their competitors.  That is a good sign moving forward.

For all of the first-year type of coaching blunders, whether it’s clock management or managing the teams’ time outs and play-calling the one thing that’s remained consistent is Campbell’s ability to get players to buy into his culture.  Campbell has proven to be a tremendous motivator, and by all accounts, his players love him.

I never thought that Campbell would be a ‘one-and-done’ coach, but you could have made a strong case if the Lions had finished the season winless, now with at least two victories under his belt, one of which came against a ten-win team he’s certainly safe moving forward.

The Detroit Lions need some sort of continuity moving forward, and not having those dreaded coaching change rumblings surrounding the organization heading into the offseason is a step in the right direction.

So, we know Campbell is safe, but what about Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff?

For most of the season, Jared Goff had been a tough watch.  He always seemed to have happy feet in the pocket, didn’t seem to get through all of his progressions before quickly electing to dump the football off in the flat.

Goff had been reluctant to hang tight and step up in the pocket when he sensed pressure allowing his offensive tackles to push an edge-rusher past him. Instead, he’d often spin out of the pocket and be sacked for a significant loss.

Goff isn’t a mobile quarterback; the film often shows once he goes into scramble mode, he’s a sitting duck; he might as well just rip the football out of bounds once he breaks the pocket to avoid the sack.

Things seemed to change on this front last week against the Arizona Cardinals.  Goff was willing to stand in the pocket and take a lick to make a play.  By doing so, he also drew a couple of roughing the passer penalties, which automatically translates to a 15-yard gain.

Goff stood tall, climbed the pocket, and delivered two deep strikes for touchdowns last Sunday to rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown and his former teammate in Los Angeles Josh Reynolds.

I still won’t call Goff the answer at the position, but he’s proved to me that he can be the guy we thought he’d be when the Detroit Lions acquired him with the host of draft capital in exchange for Matthew Stafford.

So far in 2021, Goff has thrown for 3,007 yards, 17 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

Goff is a bridge quarterback, but the organization could also do a better job surrounding him with some pieces this offseason to give him a fair trial before deciding whether or not he will be sticking around past 2022.

The Lions are in the market to add a free agent receiver like Michael Gallup or D.J Chark.  With their second first-round selection, the Lions should also consider drafting a pass-catcher like Drake London or John Metchie III.

The Detroit Lions will most likely need an interior lineman, plus a capable backup tight end to use in heavy sets with T.J. Hockenson.

I suspect the Lions will also be looking for another offensive play-caller, as I feel Anthony Lynn’s days with the organization are numbered. It’s hard to keep an offensive coordinator around after they’re stripped from the play-calling duties.