Week 1 is officially upon us, and we're just days away from seeing how much different the Detroit Lions offense and the play-calling look under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
Few appear to be more excited than head coach Dan Campbell, after seeing how well Petzing has meshed with quarterback Jared Goff throughout this offseason.
Speaking with the media on Monday, Campbell was asked about what he's seen out of the OC-QB tandem. "I think just their ability to work with each other," Campbell said, with the two being able to "pull the best out of each other."
Campbell praised Petzing and Goff being "open" and "willing" to adapt to each other. Campbell mentioned Petzing's ability to bring "clarity in some areas," but also Goff communicating the "things that he sees that he likes that we're capable of doing with what we have."
"And I think that's a good thing because I just think that's how you don't stay still. You continue to grow, and with where our quarterback is, that's playing at a high level to be able to continue to test him and push him, but also allow input and allow him to do things that, even though it may be a little new, a new wrinkle, that he feels comfortable trying. It's a good thing."
"To this point," Campbell said, Petzing and Goff "have worked really well together."
A big season for Goff incoming?
Goff already feels a lot closer with Petzing than he was with Morton, with Goff praising Petzing's "variability" and "genius" on "The Green Light with Chris Long" in late-August, adding that Petzing has been "fun to work with."
Goff also compared Petzing's confidence in play-calling to the "good ones" he's worked with at OC, and how much that confidence carries over to his play. One of those "good ones" is likely former OC Ben Johnson, who previously said the Petzing hire in Detroit was a "match made in heaven," saying that, "I fully expect that offense to be clicking at a high level next year."
READ MORE: New top-100 all-time QB ranking has Jared Goff in elite company
Goff still put up big numbers last season despite shaky play-calling and a terrible offensive line, throwing for 4,564 passing yards to 34 touchdown passes -- both second in the league. With new pieces on the O-line and an OC that he appears to work incredibly well with, Goff could have a whole new level of his game unlocked under Petzing.
First things first, got to take care of business in Week 1, which the Lions struggled to do last season in Morton's debut. Petzing will have a chance to prove just how different he is when the Lions play the New Orleans Saints at home on Sunday, September 13 in the early afternoon window.
Add us as a preferred source on Google