Film Review: How Third-Down Success Lifted Lions
Jared Goff is playing at an elite level for the Detroit Lions. His veteran demeanor has been perfect for a young team dealing with its first taste of sustained success.
With the Lions down two running backs by the second quarter of Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, the passer was forced to carry the offense. He delivered a clutch performance, leading the team with 353 yards passing.
He was particularly efficient on third downs, leading the team to a 9-for-16 efficiency rate. Both of Detroit's touchdowns came on third downs, and all nine conversions were on Goff throws.
"We did what we had to do. It wasn't perfect but when you play defense the way we're playing right now and you can control the clock and get explosives, that's what we did. We were able to get explosives and honestly, that's the best we've been on third down. We came up with four huge third down plays that were all third-and-10 plus. That's hard to do, but that's where some of our biggest plays showed up. To me, that was the difference -- Us shutting them down on third down and us making plays on third down."
Here's a look at why the Lions were so successful on third down against the Buccaneers offensively.
First quarter
Third-and-6 from Detroit's 29-yard line (3:57 remaining)
After starting 0-for-2 on third downs, Detroit moves the chains for the first time on a connection from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown. It's a simple dagger concept that implores the wideout to get beyond the chains and find an open spot in the middle of the field.
The Lions know the Buccaneers are in zone, so Sam LaPorta's out route takes away the cornerback responsible for that half of the field. As a result, St. Brown is able to slide in front of the deep safety and make the catch with just enough room.
In order for this to work, the throw from Goff needed to be on the money. He converts, but the Lions wound up punting on this drive.
Second quarter
Third-and-13 from Tampa Bay's 27-yard line (2:39 remaining)
Facing a third-and-long as the result of a penalty, the Lions seem to be pretty content taking a positive play and getting points in this situation. The play is a short concept designed to get St. Brown in space.
Tampa Bay's alignment sends five rushers at the quarterback, with linebacker Lavonte David dropping into coverage on the snap. Marvin Jones Jr., the outside receiver at the bottom of the screen, runs his defender away from the play for just enough time to send St. Brown uncovered into the middle of the field.
Once St. Brown makes the catch, he elects to try to outrun the defender coming at him rather than try to turn and go upfield. By running laterally, he put himself at risk of losing yardage.
That was not to be, however, as he received a great block from Craig Reynolds that would give him all the space he needed to score the first touchdown of the game.
Third-and-10 from Detroit's 20-yard line (:50 remaining)
Tampa Bay's safety depth in this situation lent itself to the Lions attacking the middle of the field. Here, they do just that as Goff hits Reynolds for a 20-yard gain to move the chains.
He gets help from two teammates on his side of the field, who both stretch their routes vertically to pull the defenders away. Reynolds breaks off at the 40 and hauls in the pass to keep the drive alive. This series would end anticlimactically, as the Lions elected to go to halftime after Goff was sacked two plays later.
Third quarter
Third-and-4 from Detroit's 30-yard line (13:37 remaining)
Tampa Bay had some success with their blitzes against Detroit's offensive line, so it tries to make a big play on this third down by sending heat. However, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson appears to have anticipated that and dials up a screen.
The play is a tunnel screen. Reynolds comes back toward the ball to make the catch, while the blockers set up the "tunnel" by walling off the defenders and creating Reynolds' run lane.
The Lions face man coverage on the outside, meaning that the nearest receiver is responsible for blocking the defender assigned to Reynolds. St. Brown throws a nice block and both Sam LaPorta and Penei Sewell do a superb job of getting to the perimeter and setting up the lane for their running back.
Reynolds goes for 28 yards, but the Lions end the drive without points as Riley Patterson misses a field goal.
Third-and-4 from Detroit's 33-yard line (6:39 remaining)
After Tampa Bay kicked a field goal to cut the Lions' lead to four, points were badly needed on this drive. Had they punted on this series, momentum may have been relinquished.
However, the Lions found a way to convert three separate times on this drive. The first was a curl route by St. Brown that went for 11 yards. Out of a bunch set, he and Josh Reynolds run similar routes toward the middle of the field.
This is another example of Detroit using Tampa Bay's coverage scheme against them. Reynolds stops his route just inside the numbers, which pulls the linebacker out from the middle of the field.
As a result, the window for Goff to hit St. Brown opens.
Third-and-11 from Detroit's 43-yard line (4:22 remaining)
Facing a longer down and distance, the Lions once again attack the middle of the field. Here, defensive end Joe Tryon is put in a bind. Craig Reynolds vacates from pass protection through an opening to the near hashmark.
Tryon is forced to choose between covering Reynolds or Raymond. He elects to stay close to the running back, allowing the speedy receiver to push his mark toward the marker.
He makes the catch in stride and gains 12, just enough to keep the drive alive for Detroit.
Third-and-10 from Tampa Bay's 45-yard line (3:19 remaining)
Jameson Williams appears to run a post-corner here, generating plenty of separation between the two defensive backs responsible for that corner of the field.
The speedy wideout has plenty of room to make the catch running toward the pylon, but Goff's throw is a touch short. As a result, Williams is forced to adjust his body to the flight of the ball.
Rather than run under it, he turns his body and goes back to get it. The end outcome is a phenomenal falling catch by the second-year wideout for his first score of the season.
Fourth quarter
Third-and-3 from Detroit's 23-yard line (9:14 remaining)
The final two third down conversions came on the Lions' penultimate possession. Though this series wouldn't end in points, it took 6:52 off the clock and cemented the victory.
The first conversion went to St. Brown, finishing off an impressive effort for the wideout. He runs an out route, separating just enough from the defender to haul in a well-placed ball from Goff.
Third-and-5 from Detroit's 48-yard line (5:32 remaining)
The Lions opt for a bunch set on their final conversion of the game. The Buccaneers are in man coverage, so Detroit benefits from sending two to the right on routes that start toward the sideline.
By doing so, it frees up the middle of the field for LaPorta. He gets inside leverage on his defender and breaks toward the hashmark, making the solid catch in enemy territory to extend the possession.
