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Detroit Lions NFL Combine and draft primer: Running backs

By Michael Kirkland

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: Running backs Leonard Fournette of LSU and Dalvin Cook of Florida State listen with a group of players during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: Running backs Leonard Fournette of LSU and Dalvin Cook of Florida State listen with a group of players during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Johnson with a carry
AUBURN, AL – NOVEMBER 18: Running back Kerryon Johnson #21 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball through traffic during their game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Kerryon Johnson

Johnson, Auburn’s leading rusher, has a lot to like about him. He has the requisite build for an NFL back, 5-11, 212. Johnson also has very good, not great speed. Kerryon expects to run a 4.45 in his timed run. He is a decent receiver and runs hard. Again, his first ten yards is ultra-important, like most runners.

I would put Jones, Johnson, and Chubb in a second tier of players for the Lions. Let’s call them Plan B kind of players. Not that they are all the most expensive in terms of draft stock, but they either have a lot of similarity to players we have, or have some red flags, or warnings.

Combine talk

When looking at running backs, another thing to be wary of is college injuries. Now, anyone can get hurt, accidents happen. If they keep happening, though, that’s where you have to look to see if the player is the problem, though. In researching Johnson, he has had a history of medical issues.

His running style, very upright, is cause for concern. The more of your body that you expose for NFL defenders to hit, the more you’ll get injured. Runners are supposed to drop their pads down, get smaller in traffic, to avoid exposure and protect the ball. Johnson hasn’t learned. Kerryon will be looked at very close due to his medical issues. Important for him to be cleared by NFL doctors.

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