Detroit Lions: Will Kerryon Johnson ground these flyin’ Lions?

The Detroit Lions have made a big commitment to the improvement of the ground game, but will Kerryon Johnson live up to the hype?

Ever since the Detroit Lions selected Matthew Stafford with the first overall pick in the 2009 draft, this team has taken flight.

Part of that has to do with Stafford’s rare arm talent. Another part is because when you select a quarterback first overall, you are drafting him to win games and championships. The final part has been the ground games absence of a pulse.

In his time here in Detroit, Stafford has accomplished passing numbers and feats at record-setting pace and not just in Lions team history. We’re talking NFL history.

However, for all the statistical achievements he has been able to accomplish, he has a poor record against winning teams and is the not-so-proud owner of a doughnut hole for his three playoff appearances.

While the blame has always been thrown squarely on Stafford’s shoulders, the truth of the matter is that for the most part, his supporting cast hasn’t been good enough to win the big games.

The defense has had its moments and in 2014 they even ranked second overall in the entire league. However, as we all know, the defense has usually had its hands full stopping opponents and outside of Reggie Bush rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2013, the ground game has been in a perpetual state of rigor mortis.

That’s not even mentioning the rotating door of receivers not named Calvin Johnson that made dropping passes their calling card in Detroit.

Under those circumstances, it is pretty easy to see how difficult it has been for Matthew Stafford to shine against the good teams and in the playoffs.

The inability to provide a talented and deep supporting cast as well as a coaching guru that could actually help Stafford win the big games and in the playoffs has been noticeable.

But that could be changing now…