Over the next couple months, we’ll be previewing some potential draftees for the Detroit Lions. Today, we look at another stud Georgia running back.
It has become one of the most annoying cliches in sports, but it is absolutely true: great teams need to be able to run to set up the pass. And in recent years, the Detroit Lions have not been able to take the next step to becoming a great team, and their lack of a running game is one of the main reasons why.
Over the past decade, Detroit has finished in the bottom half of the league rushing yards every year, including finishing dead last in the category in 2015 and 2017. This Lions offense has show flashes of greatness, but its potential has continually been anchored down by their pitiful rushing attack.
And the Lions haven’t had the greatest luck with their last high draft pick at running back, as Ameer Abdullah has struggled so far in his NFL career. He has been plagued with multiple injuries, and his production has appeared to have plateaued this past season, leading to his eventual benching toward the end of the season.
With all due respect to Nebraska Cornhusker fans and lovers of Abdullah, it may be fair to say that Abdullah is going to end up being a bust, and the Lions may have to part ways with him this offseason. If and when that fateful day happens, Detroit will post a gaping hole in their backfield, and will need a tough, speedy back to fill it.
Georgia running back Sony Michel can be the perfect rusher to fill that hole. Earlier this month, I previewed his teammate Nick Chubb on this site, as he could have a massive impact in the NFL for years to come. But his former teammate Michel could be even better.
Chubb and Michel were very key pieces in Georgia’s run to the national championship this past season. Chubb brought the power and Michel brought the speed. As the season went along, Michel gradually got more time to shine on the field and did great things with it.
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In 2017, Michel racked up 1,227 yards and averaged 7.9 yards per carry. He also finished with one more touchdown (16) than his teammate Chubb, even though he had about 70 less carries.
That final season has the cherry on top of a rather impressive college career for Sony Michel. In 47 games, he rushed for over 3,600 yards and 39 total touchdowns, including more than 600 yards receiving, showing his versatility.
That versatility could be crucial to the Lions offense, as the Lions love to pass to their backs for small gains all over the field. Running back Theo Riddick is a prime example of that, and I’m sure he’d look great next to Michel in a future Lions backfield.
Michel separates himself from his teammate Chubb with that versatility, along with his impressive speed and incredible shiftiness in space. As you can see from these quick clips, Michel can make deadly cuts in open space with that grand first step, opening up the field even more and leaving the men who try to tackle him in the dust.
And once Michel gets that open space and turns on the jets, it’s curtains for those poor defenses. His speed and agility can translate on the NFL level, and he can hit levels of production that Abdullah would never even dream of.
As the draft gets closer and closer, scouts are seeing Michel’s talent, and his stock has been rising. While initially seen as a Day 2 running back, both WalterFootball.com and MLive have the Lions drafting Michel in the first round as a potential replacement for Abdullah.
Obviously the ideal situation for the Lions would be for Michel to fall to Day 2, allowing Detroit to use their first pick to help restructure their front seven before drafting Michel to transform the running game.
Next: Lions 2018 NFL Draft - 7 round mock
With Michel’s versatility, speed on the edge, and deadly first cuts, he could make an impact here in Detroit from Day 1. When the draft finally does roll around come April, hope and pray that he falls to us, Lions fans. The sky is the limit for what Sony Michel can do in that Honolulu Blue