Lions Coaching Staff Challenging Jared Goff
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While there has been talk of the young talent on the Detroit Lions roster taking a step forward and needing the second-year players to make the necessary leap after their rookie season, quarterback Jared Goff is still the most important player on the current roster.
After a week and a half of camp, the veteran is being challenged by the coaching staff to remain calm under duress.
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"I would say that we've tried to make him uncomfortable," offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said. "It's something we talk about with all the offensive players is get comfortable being uncomfortable. It's been a challenge to rattle them.
"We've thrown some new concepts at them that we didn't do in the spring time and he's handled it really well. I know Coach talked about just the offense as a whole, being able to handle pressure and as the intensity goes up and the heat of the moment of the game goes up, that the heart rate goes down. And I think he kind of is the example for that for the rest of the group, because he has done a really nice job just staying steady and he is focused. I'm really proud of where he's at after a week and a half."
Despite tossing a pick six to linebacker Alex Anzalone at practice on Friday, Goff rebounded nicely and regularly found wideouts DJ Chark, Kalif Raymond and Amon-Ra St. Brown for solid receptions.
Last season, the veteran quarterback was unwilling to take chances and thread the needle in tight coverage.
At training camp in his second season in Motown, he has been more willing to take chances, especially with the new additions the front office brought in to significantly upgrade the wide receivers room.
It was observed that Goff launched a pass down the left sideline and Chark made an over the shoulder sliding catch while keeping his feet inbounds. It was the second consecutive day the duo has electrified the crowd in attendance.
"We're pretty far along. With guys like DJ Chark and even (Amon-Ra) St. Brown -- building that chemistry and making sure that they know what I'm thinking and vice versa," Goff told SiriusXM NFL Radio this week. "I want to know what they're seeing and thinking and how they feel with certain leverages and defenses. So, it's a constant communication. And the more we talk, the better it is. Even if we're talking about nothing. It's just get on the same page and feeling like we're constantly communicating."
Briefly
After Detroit Pistons general manager paid a visit to Allen Park, center Isaiah Stewart visited and took in the open practice on Friday.
Stewart told reporters that even though he played tight end when he was younger, he would not be trying out and suiting up anytime soon.
