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Detroit Lions: Debunking the running back myth

By Robert Jones

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)
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) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 24: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions looks to pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at Paul Brown Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 24: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions looks to pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at Paul Brown Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

We also need to recognize the point that as long as Matthew Stafford is lining up under center, the Lions will be a pass first offense. Which doesn’t mean that the ground game is unimportant, because a good ground game will make the Lions passing offense, which was dynamic more often than not last season, even better.

Plain and simple, the offense needs the running game to be effective. That alone will make the passing game almost unstoppable. For an example of that take a look at the New England Patriots.

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Name the last dominant running back they have had? The irony is that the best answer to that question, if we stay within the last decade or so, will now be lining up in the Lions backfield. LeGarrette Blount is the pounding power back the Lions haven’t has since… the dawn of time? Yet he was just another part of the Patriots backfield platoon.

Now he will be part of the Lions backfield platoon, since Matt Patricia has said that he plans on doing the same backfield rotation here in Detroit that his old team the Patriots do.

Once again, that is fine. Yet it does put a premium on having players that are effective. Not necessarily superstars, but effective.

That leads us to the draft. For anyone who believes that Lions will have blown it if they don’t select a running back in the first round, you seriously need to switch to decaf. The talent level at running back is very deep.

You say, ‘how deep’? How about Kareem Hunt and Alvin Kamara deep.

Hunt and Kamara were both third round picks in last years draft. Would any of the fans be saying we blew it with them producing like they did last year in Detroit? If you disagree, then the men in the white coats will be joining you shortly to take you away to a nice padded room.

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