Good players make play-callers look good, and Ben Johnson aptly described two of his playmakers.

The Detroit Lions’ offense is performing so well that head coach Dan Campbell casually expressed disappointment about not scoring more efficiently in a game where they racked up 52 points and 645 yards of total offense. While this might hint at tougher competition ahead, it perfectly captures where the Lions stand right now.

Ben Johnson benefits from the skill set of the Lions’ offensive talent, but he is also an excellent play-caller who occasionally pulls out something unexpected. No one’s perfect, but he’s certainly maximizing the potential of the players at his disposal.

In Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, running back Jahmyr Gibbs hit a top speed of 21.8 mph, making it the sixth-fastest speed recorded for a ball carrier this season, according to Next Gen Stats. He also owns the third-fastest speed, from a 70-yard touchdown run in Week 8.

Against Jacksonville, wide receiver Jameson Williams caught a deep crossing route and raced for a 64-yard touchdown, outrunning the Jaguars’ secondary. Williams has recorded three speeds over 20 mph this season, including 21.03 mph on a 36-yard catch in Week 1.

During a Thursday press session, Johnson declined to publicly say who he thinks is faster between Gibbs and Williams.

“Ooh,” Johnson said. “Depends on who you ask. Yeah, I know where I’d put my money, but I’m not going to say that publicly.”

Ben Johnson’s labels for Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams are spot on.

John Madden once famously said that “a great quarterback is a great deodorant,” meaning a great quarterback can cover up many other weaknesses on a football team.

Similarly, the talent surrounding the quarterback can help a play-caller who might be in a bit of a rut.

Johnson was asked how Williams helps him open up the playbook.

“Yeah, a great example was his touchdown last week,” Johnson said. “I’ve got this bad habit right now of calling that pass concept into Cover 2, and it’s usually a dead play, but he makes it work. So, no, I mean, there’s a lot of factors, and certainly him, but there are a number of other players, like Gibby, who are erasers, fixers. If things aren’t quite right, they make it right, and he definitely gives us that element in the passing game. Defenses take notice of that.”

Johnson might not always call the perfect play for a certain coverage or matchup, but with the unique speed of Williams and Gibbs, they can often make a mismatched play work. “Erasers” or “fixers” are the perfect labels for both players, who play vital roles in one of the league’s most potent offenses.