Will the Detroit Lions investment in the run game payoff?
The Detroit Lions have spent the past two years trying to fix the running game. Is everyone on board with this new commitment to the run?
General manager Bob Quinn clearly wants a balanced offensive attack this season. The Detroit Lions lack of a consistent running game goes back to the retirement of halfback Barry Sanders in 1999.
Quinn has spent plenty of resources on the running game. He and new head coach Matt Patricia seem simpatico on everything they do. Still, will the Detroit Lions backslide into letting quarterback Matthew Stafford just sling it all over the field?
2017 FREE AGENTS
Guard T.J. Lang and tackle Rick Wagner were clear signings meant to help bolster the run offense. Yes, these two were signed to replace outgoing guard Larry Warford and tackle Riley Reiff. But there was supposed to be an upgrade of run blocking with the new acquisitions.
Two things derailed the running game from taking off last year. Injuries, first and foremost, which included losing starting left tackle Taylor Decker for the first half of the season. Not to mention the fact that Lang and Wagner also had injury issues in 2017.
Last season, Quinn had seen ineffectiveness from running backs Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick. So much so, that he finally invested talent into the position this offseason.
2018 FREE AGENTS
It wasn’t the first signing this offseason, but running back LeGarrette Blount was the most exciting acquisition of the free agent period.
Blount can give the Detroit Lions a run between the tackles force that they haven’t had. This is especially important considering how woeful Detroit has been at short yardage and goal-line runs.
But Blount was not nearly enough.
2018 DRAFT
The draft continued the trend of building the run game. Center/guard Frank Ragnow is meant to fill the last remaining hole on the starting offensive line. Ragnow is known for his run blocks, so he fits in perfectly with Quinn’s plans.
Then came second round pick running back Kerryon Johnson. Similar to Blount, Johnson should be a between the tackles run threat. This apprentice (Johnson) could not ask for a better master (Blount) in front of him.
Plus, there is the interesting addition of fullback Nick Bawden in the seventh round of the draft. A fullback could transform the short yardage game. The Detroit Lions are no threat to get a yard, and that applies on any down. They have been extremely inept at it.
Still, one question remains.
CAN COOTER COMMIT?
Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter is known for what he has done for Stafford. And, of course, the video game-like pass stats over the past few years. It could be argued that Stafford’s big contract should be attributed to Cooter. As Stafford has flourished under him.
It is tempting to just let Stafford get in the shotgun and fling that ball all over the field. He is very good at it. The belief is that legitimate backs along with a healthy and talented offensive line will keep Cooter committed to the run.
If that happens, Stafford’s numbers could actually rise. While his bad numbers (like turnovers) should actually fall.
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If the run game does not work this year, Quinn will have run out of answers. He has given everything to the run game, and this should be the start of something spectacular. If it isn’t, it is hard to see what to do next.