Lions running backs coach Tashard Choice wasn’t most excited about Jahmyr Gibbs’ huge statistical jump from Week 9 to Week 10 — he was far more impressed with what didn’t show up on the offensive stat sheet.

In Detroit’s loss to Minnesota, Gibbs was held to 28 yards and no scores, and quarterback Jared Goff was taken down five times. A week later against Washington, Gibbs exploded for 172 yards and three touchdowns — but even more importantly, Goff didn’t suffer a single sack. For Choice, that was the real victory.

Choice explained that Minnesota’s constant pressure on Goff made it obvious that Gibbs needed to step up in pass protection.

“Our priorities are protecting the ball and protecting the quarterback,” Choice said. “Blocking in pass pro is mostly about effort. You’ve got to stick your nose in there and battle for a few seconds. After that Minnesota game, I really got after him. I was tough on him — had to be. He took it the right way, which is exactly what you want from a player.”

Throughout the following week, Choice had Gibbs working heavily on the blocking sled to sharpen his technique and reinforce better fundamentals.

“As a coach, that’s my job,” Choice said. “I have to identify what he’s struggling with and keep pushing him to improve. They might get tired of hearing it, but the coaches who ride you the hardest usually care the most.”

Choice and Gibbs go back to their time together at Georgia Tech in 2021, giving them the kind of relationship where blunt feedback is understood and appreciated. And against the Commanders, Gibbs showed he took that coaching to heart.