Detroit Lions: Debunking the running back myth
By Robert Jones
The Lions can certainly come out of the draft smelling like a rose by using a second or even third round pick on a running back. Admittedly, for my preference, I would use the second round pick on a back. Especially if Rashaad Penny is still available.
As for the first round of the draft, it’s back to the same old point; defense wins championships.
No high powered offensive team has ever won every shoot-out they’ve been in. As a matter of fact let’s look at this past Super Bowl as an example. There was only one significant defensive play made in the game and the Philadelphia Eagles, won went on to win it, made that play.
For those who want to jump on the fact that Matt Patricia was the defensive coordinator for the Patriots who lost, remember this; Bill Belichick benched Malcolm Butler, the Patriots best corner back and probably best overall defensive player since Dont’a Hightower was on injured reserve.
Yet the point remains the same; defense wins championships. The Eagles made that one single game deciding play and the Patriots didn’t.
To that end I’m sure that Patricia’s new defensive coordinator, Paul Pasqualoni, would love to be reunited with his star pupil from Boston College, Harold Landry.
Elite edge rushers don’t grow on trees and Marcus Davenport of Texas-San Antonio and Landry are the best this draft has to offer. Sure LSU’s Arden Key is an incredible athlete and may very well be available when the Lions are on the clock in the second round, but the very fact that he walked out on the LSU football team during the season last year has to be a major red flag.
Meanwhile the list of running back expected to be available is outstanding. Nick Chubb, Rashaad Penny, Kerryon Johnson, Royce Freeman and Kalen Ballage is a very nice selection. Any one of them would be a great addition.
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In it’s perspective, the ground game is important to fix, but getting a ‘star’ back won’t turn the Lions into Super Bowl contenders. That will only come when they can field a very good defense.
Because defense wins championships.