Shanahan identifies what makes the Lions’ offense so dangerous originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Programming note: Watch Greg Papa’s full interview with Kyle Shanahan on “49ers Game Plan,” airing Friday at 11 p.m. PT on NBC Sports Bay Area.
The 49ers face the daunting task of slowing down the explosive Detroit Lions offense when the two teams meet on “Monday Night Football” at Levi’s Stadium.
Coach Kyle Shanahana highly respected offensive mind in his own right, is well aware of the challenge San Francisco’s defense will face when it takes the field against Detroit on Monday.
Shanahan explained what makes the Lions’ offense so dangerous during an interview with Greg Papa on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “49ers Game Plan.”
“You know, it starts with their (O-line),” Shanahan told Dad. “I mean, that’s really what’s special.
“I mean, they’ve had I don’t know how many first round picks, but they all play like that, and I think most of them are there, but they’ll probably have four Pro Bowlers on their line, I guess this year, so it’s okay for a little while.
Detroit has four first-round draft picks on its offensive line, setting the tone up front that allows the Lions’ talented players and quarterback Jared Goff to flourish.
“But their build, the way they hit the ball, it really helps them do what they want to do because, when you add an elite to that like Jahmyr Gibbs, with his speed, how well he runs, the pattern they use too,” Shanahan told Papa. “They also have good tight end blocking. When you throw Jared Goff behind an O-line like that. I mean, Goff is as accurate as any quarterback in this league.”
Goff, a former No. 1 overall pick who spent the first five years of his career with the Los Angeles Rams, faced Shanahan on several occasions. The 49ers coach praised Goff, while detailing the difficulty of slowing down Detroit’s explosive offensive weapons.
If you don’t get him to change stances and get him to change some of his, you know, his footing, his feet and his throwing angles, he’ll dice you,” Shanahan told Dad. “He did. That. to everyone for too long and, it’s really tough with that O-line and then you have the players that have a wide gap, I mean the tough player in (Amon Ra) St. Brown.
“And then you have the speed with (Jameson) Williams, which is who they are, it’s a tough deal, man, and then how good their tight end is, so they got into every spot and that’s why they can stay balanced too.
The Lions have the The #1 offense in the NFL during the 2024 season, averaging 32.8 points per game as offensive coordinator Ben Johnson continues to push all the right buttons. Detroit has the second-highest yardage total, totaling 6,129 yards in 15 games (408.6 per game), steamrolling opponents en route to a 13-2 record despite dealing with catastrophic injuries on the defensive side of the ball.
With the 49ers eliminated from the 2024 NFL playoffs, San Francisco still has a lot to play as these two teams face off in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game.
If the 49ers are to win again, it will take a heroic effort from their defense if they have any hope of slowing down the Lions’ offense.
