Detroit Lions rookie running back Ameer Abdullah has steadily impressed all offseason, and the hype around him is continuing to grow stronger.
Ameer Abdullah came out of Lions OTA’s as perhaps the most talked about player on Detroit’s roster. Then came minicamps, and his on the field performances only got better.
Coming out of college, the Lions drafted Abdullah in round two of the NFL Draft, with expectations presumably being that he would be a nice fit to compliment the ground-and-pound style of Joique Bell. So far, he certainly seems to be more that capable to fill that role.
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“I get kind of tunnel vision when I play football that’s the focus it takes on this level. I just need to continue to hone in on that and get better with that focus.’’ – Ameer Abdullah
Now, as we are in the midst of day two of training camp — the most talked about name among Lions circles continues to be the former Nebraska Cornhusker. Season ticket holders were the first of the Lions fan base to get an up close look at Abdullah this week, and judging by the cheers that resonated from the grandstands — they like what they see.
The reason?
Abdullah possess an explosive first step, and his receiving abilities appear even better than anticipated.
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Mind you, he’s yet to experience contact, or break a tackle, but nonetheless it’s hard not to be pleased with his performance thus far.
Moving forward there could turn out to be continued opportunity for Abdullah to shine with the first team offense, as Joique Bell’s timetable for a return remains unknown. Abdullah is aware that his workload could continue to increase, but he states that the key is simply to remain focused.
"“I go into this camp saying I want to be better than I was the day before. Today was a good day but it could have been a lot better. First day, we came in here. the tempo was good but it could have been better, could finish better, could catch every pass thrown my way, finish better. Tomorrow will be better.”"
As training camp continues and the preseason ramps up, expect the buzz to grow. The pads will go on Wednesday night when festivities move over to nearby Novi High School. This will likely be the first time Abdullah will make contact with a professional athlete — teammate or not.
Stay tuned.
Nate Williams is an editor and columnist for FanSided and SideLionReport.com. For continued Detroit Lions news, rumors and analysis be sure to give him a follow on twitter at @NateWilliamsFS as well as SLR at @SideLionReport!
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