The Detroit Lions are gearing up for the new season with heightened expectations surrounding running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Lions running back coach Tashard Choice, who previously recruited Gibbs at Georgia Tech, emphasized the player’s exceptional football intelligence and natural abilities. Choice spoke about observing Gibbs’s growth over the past few years and praised his ability to quickly learn and apply new concepts on the field.
Choice recalled that some teams initially considered Gibbs as a defensive back before recognizing his running back skills. His firsthand experience with Gibbs allowed him to watch the player’s weekly performances with interest, motivated by both Gibbs and teammate Shep. Choice stated,
“To see him progress, to see how smart he is — I tell him he’s one of the smartest running backs I’ve ever coached. He’s just a natural football player… so having an opportunity to get around him now coaching, I’m going to be harder on him even more.”
—Tashard Choice, Lions Running Backs Coach
Adjustment in Pre-Snap Stance Benefiting Other NFL Players
Meanwhile, Bears head coach Ben Johnson shared insights about quarterback Caleb Williams and an adjustment to his pre-snap stance during shotgun formations. Johnson mentioned that Williams has shifted to placing his left foot forward, a slight but strategic change designed to enhance his quick game and throwing posture. The adjustment came through collaborative discussions rather than strict coaching orders, illustrating a mutual willingness to experiment and improve.
Johnson explained,
“I’ve done it a number of ways in my time in the league. Really, over the last few years, I’ve kind of gravitated towards that. It’s something that I feel pretty strongly about. He and I talked about it, the reasons why we want to do it. I think it helps out, certainly, with the quick game from the gun, and then it helps us be in a little bit better throwing posture for a lot of the other things that we’re asking him to do. When we talked about it initially, he was already kind of exploring that himself, so it wasn’t so much us telling him to do it, it was more of a mutual, ‘Yeah, let’s see what his looks like.’ I think he’s taken a knack to it.”
—Ben Johnson, Bears Head Coach
Packers Add Isaiah Simmons and Value His Athleticism
On the other side of the NFL, the Green Bay Packers have added linebacker Isaiah Simmons through a one-year contract after his previous tenure with the New York Giants. Linebackers coach Sean Duggan praised Simmons for his hunger and eagerness during offseason workouts and expressed confidence in utilizing Simmons’s versatile skill set throughout the season.
Duggan commented on Simmons’s rare combination of size and speed, stating,
“I see a really hungry player. He’s a very eager player right now, and he’s extremely athletic. I think his versatility is going to be something that’s pretty special. I don’t think you see a lot of 6-4 guys that are 240 pounds that can run a 4.3. But I see a guy who, just like everybody, he’s putting his head down. He’s working, he’s trying to learn the defense. He’s learning the way we do things here.”
—Sean Duggan, Packers Linebackers Coach
What This Means for Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions
The praise from Tashard Choice underscores the high hopes the Detroit Lions have for Jahmyr Gibbs as they enter the new NFL season. Coaching staff recognize Gibbs as a player who not only possesses rare athletic gifts but also consistently demonstrates advanced football instincts and a willingness to improve. This commitment will likely position Gibbs as a key contributor to the Lions’ offense, as they aim to leverage his skills in dynamic ways.
With the offseason developments around the league, including player adjustments like Caleb Williams’s stance shift and the Packers’ strategic acquisition of Isaiah Simmons, the competitive landscape is evolving. For the Lions, Gibbs’s development and the coaching staff’s focus on sharpening his abilities will be crucial elements to watch in their pursuit of success.