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Detroit Lions must change to avoid heartbreaking losses

By James F. Puzzuoli

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys pulls in a pass against Jarrad Davis #40 of the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys pulls in a pass against Jarrad Davis #40 of the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images /

RUN THE BALL CONTINUED

Looking at the final run totals for the teams, it is obvious that Detroit doesn’t have nearly the commitment to running the ball, especially compared to the Cowboys:

  • Detroit Lions – 20 carries, 96 yards, 1 touchdown
    • Leader – Running back Kerryon Johnson
      • 9 carries, 55 yards, 1 touchdown
  • Dallas Cowboys – 35 carries, 183 yards
    • Leader – Running back Ezekiel Elliott
      • 25 carries, 152 yards

This is yet another game in which the Detroit Lions were effective running the ball, but they did not commit to running the ball. Stafford was pretty great Sunday, and his wide receivers made some tremendous catches. That is not the issue. This team does not control the clock, which forces them to play catch up.

However, the bigger issue with not running the ball is that this defense is out on the field too much. And opposing offenses get into a nice rhythm throughout the game.

How is it that Johnson only gets nine carries in this game? Last week, he (again only) had 16 carries and broke 100 yards for the game. This kid has something, and the Detroit Lions refuse to feed him the ball.

Yes, Johnson’s first carry of the game was 32 yards, which helped his numbers. But his eight-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter was a monster run. He demolished three tacklers on his way to the end zone. Johnson is this great combination of shiftiness when needed, but punishing when you get in his way.

Why didn’t Kerryon get the ball 25 times in this game like Elliott? Even on wide receiver Golden Tate’s second touchdown of the game (late in the fourth), the defensive back was caught looking into the backfield. On that particular play, Johnson wasn’t even in the backfield.

Yet Dallas was aware that Detroit could run the ball, which is why the corner was spying. Even with such a small sample size of what they could do on the ground, opposing defenses are forced to respect the rush attack. Yet, Johnson only sees the ball nine times?

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