Detroit Lions: Debunking the running back myth

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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes the football against the Washington Huskies during the second half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Lions are seeking the right pieces to end their ground game ineptitude, But how really important is a spectacular running game?

One week from today the Detroit Lions will make their first selection in the 2018 NFL Draft and we will see if general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia value flash or substance.

There are still many fans that believe the Lions will have thrown away next season if they don’t use their first pick on a running back since Detroit hasn’t had a ground game to save their life in years.

The truth of the matter is that most fans value high end dominant running backs more than today’s general manger’s.

It’s that ‘flash’ they crave instead of ‘substance’.

For everyone who is now getting ready to burst a major blood-vessel, let me make my position on the all mighty running back debate as clear as possible; yes, the ground game needs to be much better, but no, it doesn’t need to be dominant.

If the Lions had the chance to choose between Penn State star running back Saquon Barkley and the next coming of Lawrence Taylor, who would you choose?

It’s a hypothetical question really, but think about it.

We all expect Barkley to be a superstar and with good reason. He is everything you could ask for to be the next great running back. A dominant offensive force. But, for the sake of argument, let’s say there was an equally as good defensive force, the next Reggie White or Lawrence Taylor, that was also coming out in the draft and the Lions could choose between them. Who would you choose?

The reason I ask is because of demonstrated history.

Only three times has the team that won the Super Bowl featured the leagues leading rusher. Meanwhile since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970 when total defense was an official statistic, the team with the number one total defense has won the Super Bowl 11 times.

As a matter of fact, one of those three teams that won the Super Bowl with the leagues leading rusher also had the benefit of the league’s top total defense as well. Yet 10-league leading defenses didn’t have the benefit of the leagues leading rusher when they won it all.

Here is the point; yes, it is important to improve the Lions anemic ground game. However, as history has taught us; defense wins championships.

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