Lions HC Dan Campbell On Jared Goff: “He’s a better quarterback than he was in Rams”

The Los Angeles Rams’ bombshell trade of quarterback Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions took place more than two years ago.

Lions HC Dan Campbell On Jared Goff: “He’s a better quarterback than he was in Rams”

Although it might not have looked like it at first, Goff could have benefited most from the change of location. Late in 2022, the 28-year-old quarterback rediscovered his feet and put up impressive stats in the second half of the season, almost taking Detroit to the playoffs. Goff appears to be the quarterback for the Lions as they attempt to establish themselves as legitimate contenders moving forward.

Goff’s performance, though, has forced the Lions to think about giving him a contract extension. It’s improbable that Detroit would let Goff go if the club achieves its goals and makes the playoffs this year.

In light of Goff’s upcoming third season with the Lions, head coach Dan Campbell was recently asked about his development throughout the offseason.

“I think what you’re seeing is a guy who just put his head down and went back to work, worked on what he could, tried to improve on what he could,” Campbell said. “He’s a better quarterback than he was [in Los Angeles], in my opinion, because he can do more things. He’s mentally on it.”

“He hung in there and I think what you’re seeing is a guy who just put his head down and worked on what he could, tried to improve on what he could, and now his confidence is really, it has grown, and along the way, he’s matured as a quarterback,”

Last season, Goff threw for 4,438 yards, 29 touchdowns to only seven interceptions and earned his third Pro Bowl selection in the process.

In 2018, the quarterback guided the Rams to the Super Bowl, but their 13-3 loss to the Patriots was a result of a stymied offense under Goff.

Los Angeles’ offensive performance deteriorated over the course of the following two seasons, falling from third in scoring in 2019 to twelfth and tied for 22nd the following year.

The onus was put on Goff, who was traded to Detroit in exchange for Matthew Stafford and was subjected to public criticism from Rams head coach Sean McVay.

The Lions’ season last year finished with a 9-8 record.

Campbell thinks that Goff’s increased responsibilities is one of the key reasons why he is better today than he was in L.A. When compared to the Lions’ system, which is led by head coach Sean McVay, the Rams’ approach seeks to relieve the quarterback of some of the strain. Some quarterbacks thrive with that level of control though, and Campbell believes Goff is one of them.

“We ask him to do a lot more in my opinion than what [the Rams] were actually doing out there,” Campbell said. “They had a lot of pretty good pieces out there as well as we know. Damn good defense. All those things, but I just feel like, I know from speaking with him and watching him really over the last two years, I just feel like … we put a lot of things on him where I’m not so sure that was ultimately what they were doing.”

 

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