Tag: Tanner Engstrand

Five things to watch as Lions face Ravens at Baltimore; plus, prediction

ALLEN PARK — While there’s extra pressure playing on the road, the Detroit Lions (5-1) have excelled in hostile environments so far with a 3-0 record away from Ford Field.

The next big test is Sunday at the Baltimore Ravens (4-2).

Coach Dan Campbell said they’ve been talking about maintaining poise for three years. Now it’s starting to pay off.

“We talk about it, we’ve preached it, we’ve lived it and we constantly try to put ourselves in those types of situations. We talk about it. That’s when your heart rate should start to level out when everybody – the perceived pressure goes up and it’s high stress, your stress levels should go down and focus on the moment,’’ Campbell said.
The coach said the guys believe in that. “It’s built to handle adversity and anything that comes. And look, this season isn’t over. I mean we know that. We’re going to hit a tough patch at some point here. I don’t know when it’s going to be, but we’re going to hit one and we’re going to have to get back through and get back on our feet and that’s fine,’’ Campbell said. “We’ll be ready for that.”

Five things to watch against the Ravens:

1. The Lions defense has faced its share of mobile quarterbacks this season. That continues with the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson who may not carry the ball as often, but the quarterback is still a force and leads the Ravens in rushing averaging 5.5 yards per carry with four rushing touchdowns and 327 rushing yards. He’s been sacked 16 times. “He is dangerous. And like I say, they don’t ask him to do as much as he did before with his legs, but there’s plenty of it still in there and he’s throwing it pretty good,’’ Campbell said. “They’ve made a concerted effort to do a little more drop back with him and he is, he’s throwing the ball well.’’

2. Somehow, despite injuries, the Lions have found a way to keep the run game going enough to run the clock down late in games and get the win. David Montgomery (ribs) will be out. Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) will return and he’ll be busy. “Certainly I think he’s going to need to take the load of (the work). We’re just going to have to see where he’s at. I’d like to say we’re going to be careful with him, but the reality is we need him,’’ Campbell said. Craig Reynolds carried the load in the win at Tampa Bay and likely will get his share of carries. Devine Ozigbo could see action and if a wide receiver gets the nod to help in the run game, it could be Kalif Raymond. “If it comes to that situation to where he needs to be back there, if that’s what happens, then we’ve got things ready for him and he’ll be ready to go,’’ Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand said.

3. The Ravens have the second-ranked total defense allowing 260.8 yards per game. But it’s nothing the Lions haven’t seen. Jared Goff, the NFC’s offensive player of the week, should have a full complement of targets with wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams along with tight end Sam LaPorta. “It’s kind of similar to last week and how good they are defensively and two elite linebackers again. Really good backend and obviously good pass rush leading the League in sacks, or however many they have, they’ve got a bunch,’’ Goff said. “So yeah, it’s a challenge on every level. I wish I could tell you what a weakness was, but I don’t know if there is one. We’ve got to come ready to play. It’ll be a challenge.”

4. Jameson Williams is trending up. It may seem slow but it’s the plan for the wide receiver who will be playing in just his ninth NFL game. His 45-yard touchdown reception at Tampa Bay could just be the start of something much bigger. “JMo’s speed is there, you see it and we were able to take advantage of it last week. It does add another element to the pass game that maybe –  somebody would say (we were) lacking – it allows us to help with the vertical game and of course  it’s going to open up some things underneath,’’ Engstrand said. “As he keeps coming along we’re going to press him to be detailed and do everything the way it needs to be done, we’re going to continue to see him rise and get his game to the level he wants it to be and we feel it can be.’’

5. Can the Lions keep their perfect road win (3-0)  streak alive? And, going back to last season they are 8-1 in their last nine road games. Baltimore is a tough place to win, but Campbell has built a team that has stepped up on most every occasion.

PREDICTION: Lions 21, Ravens 20. Ravens are 3-point favorites. Expect a close game. Lions healthier than they have been so giving them the edge.

Lions’ QB Jared Goff eases into the MVP conversation with dazzling stats

He earns NFC offensive player of week for win at Bucs

ALLEN PARK — It’s not all about the stats, but Lions quarterback Jared Goff has put up huge numbers in the last 16 games. In that stretch the Lions are 13-3.

So far this season, they are 5-1, in first place in the NFC North and prepping for another tough road game at Baltimore on Sunday.

Goff, the NFC offensive player of the week for the win at the Bucs, is easing into the NFL MVP discussion.

Here’s why:

In the last 16 games, Goff has thrown 37 touchdowns against just four interceptions, completing 65.46 percent of his passes for 4,152 yards. The team went 13-3 in that stretch.

This season in six games (5-1), he’s thrown 11 touchdowns, three interceptions completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 1,618 yards.

“I don’t know what MVP is or isn’t these days but I know this, he’s playing at a very high level, he’s making the throws that are there and seeing the field. He’s exactly what we need and he’s doing exactly what we’re asking him to do,’’ Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday. “I’ve said this before. He is an evolving quarterback, he’s developing, he’s been developing and he keeps getting a little bit better. ‘’

Tanner Engstrand, the Lions’ passing game coordinator, is more specific on Goff’s growth and sees him playing at a “very fast” level mentally.

“He’s seeing the defense pre-snap, he’s having an idea of what needs to happen, what he’s expecting. I think there’s a lot of diagnosis that’s going on pre-snap that’s putting him in the position to have that success post-snap,’’ Engstrand said. “And he’s throwing the heck out of the ball. The accuracy right now is really really good and the decision making process is at a high level.’’”

It helps that Goff, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2016, had the same offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for two years and has been with Campbell for three. 

“It’s a lot of hard work, obviously. But typically, when the team’s playing well, it makes my job a hell of a lot easier and defense is giving us short fields, O-line’s protecting really well and I’ve got receivers downfield making plays,’’ Goff said Wednesday. “So, all that comes together, and I do my part and it makes it a lot easier for me.”

Campbell said it’s a credit to Goff and the coaches that he’s growing and playing so well in his seventh season as a starter.

“He’s in a good way, our line is protecting the heck out of him and you give him just a minute, he can see it, he can throw it and our receivers make the play,’’ the coach said.

NOTES: Campbell said the team has been through a meat grinder in recent weeks so instead of a typical practice on Wednesday, they had a walk-through and put emphasis on the mental part of the game. … Due to no practice, the injury report was estimated. RB Craig Reynolds (hamstring/toe), who carried the load Sunday, would not have practiced. With RB David Montgomery (ribs) out for Sunday, they will be thin at running back. However RB Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) and DB Brian Branch (ankle) — neither one played Sunday — were listed as limited participants. Campbell said on Monday both were trending in the right direction.