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Detroit Lions: Tackling LeGarrette Blount is a different animal

By Steven Mullenax

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 21: LeGarrette Blount #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a second quarter touchdown past Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 21: LeGarrette Blount #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a second quarter touchdown past Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The addition of running back LeGarrette Blount to the Detroit Lions’ roster gives this team a toughness that was severely lacking last season.

One area the Detroit Lions offense struggled mightily with last season was in short yardage. The Lions’ running game simply could not be relied upon to convert those third-and-ones and goal-line carries. In those situations, Detroit often fell back to their passing game making their offense one-dimensional.

In 2017, a majority of the Lions carries were split between running back Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick. Both players are considered to be more finesse backs who rarely find success between the tackles. On most teams, neither one of them would be considered a workhorse or lead back, as both seem more suited to be change-of-pace backs instead.

But due to a lack of talent in the backfield, both Abdullah and Riddick were forced into lead roles for Detroit. And the running game clearly suffered as a result. In fact, it was 6-0, 220 pound rookie power back Tion Green that had the most success running the ball last season.

In the Lions’ final five games of 2017, Green averaged 3.9 yards per carry, recording a total of 165 yards on the ground and two touchdowns helping Detroit win three of those contests.

This offseason, the Lions’ brass finally went about the business of revamping the running back position. Although Abdullah and Riddick remain, they are no longer considered candidates for the lead back in Detroit. That contest is between veteran LeGarrette Blount and rookie Kerryon Johnson.

The latter was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft and is expected to be the future of the position in the Motor City. But it’s the 31-year old Blount who brings a violent element to the Lions’ rushing offense that was sorely missing last season.

"“It’s one thing with 200-pounds of Ameer (Abdullah) or Theo (Riddick) running through the hole that you have to tackle,” Lions running back coach David Walker told the Detroit Free Press. “And it’s a totally different animal trying to tackle a 240-pound LeGarrette Blount. So we understand that hopefully will put a little bit more stress on the defense.”"

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Despite his age, it was only two years ago that LeGarrette Blount destroyed the NFL rushing for 1,161 yards and a whopping 18 touchdowns as a member of the Super Bowl-winning New England Patroits. Blount has a career average of 4.4 yards per carry as one of the most feared power backs in the league. He will bring that violent running style to Detroit this season. Opposing defenses should make sure their health insurance is paid-in-full before taking the field against the Lions in 2018.

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