Detroit Lions find themselves a new running backs coach
The Detroit Lions have hired former Cincinnati Bengals running backs coach Kyle Caskey to their coaching staff for 2019 and beyond.
For several seasons, running the football was an afterthought for the Detroit Lions. That’s ironic considering the best player in the franchise’s long history is a running back in Barry Sanders. Still, for the past few years in the Motor City, the ground game took a back seat to the air attack in Detroit.
Well, times are a-changin’. And the drafting of Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson last season seems to have sparked a ground game resurgence for the Lions. Although Johnson was limited to just 10 games last season due to a knee injury, he was still able to post 641 yards and three touchdowns while averaging an incredible 5.4 yard per carry.
Johnson also recorded two 100-yard performances last season. The Lions hadn’t had a running back post 100 rushing yards in a single game since Reggie Bush did it back in Week 13 of 2013.
With the addition Darrell Bevell as offensive coordinator this offseason, the rushing attack in Detroit is expected to be more potent than ever. Now the Lions have added another piece to their ground game puzzle.
On Tuesday, the Lions announced the hiring of former Cincinnati Bengals running backs coach Kyle Caskey to their coaching staff. Caskey had been with the Bengals since 2010, spending the past five season as the team’s running back coach.
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Last year, Caskey helped Cincinnati running back Joe Mixon post 1,168 rushing yards. That was the fourth highest total in the NFL last season and tops in the AFC. The Detroit Lions certainly hope the combination of Bevell and Caskey along with a healthy Johnson will be the combination that unlocks the rushing potential of this talented unit in 2019.