The Detroit Lions' offense has been off-kilter through two games. Better days are ahead, but the kinks may not be fully worked out for a couple more weeks. Jared Goff was particularly not very sharp in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which made having him drop back 57 times even more foolish.
Goff's lack of proficiency when pressured is not unique to him, but the drop-off from when he had a clean pocket to when he was pressured last year was unique to him. Through two games this season, he has also been uncharacteristically bad from a clean pocket. Maybe, as head coach Dan Campbell noted, Goff is trying to do too much sometimes.
According to Next Gen Stats, Goff was 9-for-17 for 117 yards with two interceptions and a 35.3 passer rating when pressured in Week 2 against the Buccaneers. Pro Football Focus' data matches the 17 pressures allowed.
PFF data unveils primary culprits for pressures allowed on Jared Goff in Week 2
The Lions offensive line dropped two spots, to No. 3, in PFF's offensive line rankings for Week 3.
"Although the Lions' offensive line did not give up a sack, the unit allowed 17 pressures in a loss to the Buccaneers. Detroit's front-five surrendered more pressures than that in just two games last season."
"Center Frank Ragnow had an uncharacteristically bad game in Week 2. Ragnow, who is considered to be among the best centers in the league, allowed six pressures — three hits and three hurries — which is the most he has let up since his rookie season. His 33.7 PFF pass-blocking grade was his third lowest since the start of the 2022 season."
PFF's data on their page for Ragnow shows five pressures allowed in Week 2, not six, but ultimately it's a distinction that makes little difference. Looking deeper at the pass blocking data for all five offensive lineman against the Buccaneers, here are the pressures allowed for each.
Ragnow-5 pressures allowed
Kevin Zeitler-1 pressure allowed
Taylor Decker-2 pressures allowed
Penei Sewell-2 pressures allowed
Graham Glasgow-6 pressures allowed
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs was also credited with three pressures allowed against Tampa Bay, on seven pass blocking snaps. It's obviously possible for more than one person to allow a quarterback pressure on a given play, which is how we get to more than the general total of 17 that's out there.
Inside pressure will derail a pocket passer like Goff quicker than anything. So it's not shocking to find Ragnow and Glasgow, with 11 combined pressures allowed, were the primary culprits for the pass rush pressure the Lions' signal caller faced last week.