Detroit Lions: What to expect from a Darrell Bevell offense

The Detroit Lions spent much of its resources improving their defense. On offense, the hiring of Darrell Bevell is expected to make the biggest impact.

When the Detroit Lions went about the business of improving their roster this offseason, much of their focus was on the defensive side of the ball. During the draft, four of the Lions’ first five selections were defensive. And in free agency, their highest priced free agents included defensive end Trey Flowers and cornerback Justin Coleman.

Offensively, smaller additions were made like veteran wide receiver Danny Amendola and tight end Jesse James. But the biggest offensive change that will impact this upcoming season is the hiring of Darrell Bevell as offensive coordinator.

Bevell has been in the NFL as a coach since the year 2000. He spent his first six years with the Green Bay Packers as a quarterbacks coach. Bevell was the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 2006-2010. In 2011, he joined the Seattle Seahawks as their OC for seven years.

So what can Lions’ fans expect to see out of Bevell-led offensive in Detroit? The best predictor of future events is the past. So, let’s look at the offensive performances from his previous stints as an offensive coordinator, broken down by season.

2006 Vikings offense – Overall Ranking: 23rd – Passing: 18th – Rushing: 16th
2007 Vikings offense – Overall Ranking: 13rd – Passing: 28th – Rushing: 1st
2008 Vikings offense – Overall Ranking: 17th – Passing: 25th – Rushing: 5th
2009 Vikings offense – Overall Ranking: 5th – Passing: 8th – Rushing: 13th
2010 Vikings offense – Overall Ranking: 23rd – Passing: 26th – Rushing: 10th

2011 Seahawks offense – Overall Ranking: 28th – Passing: 22nd – Rushing: 21st
2012 Seahawks offense – Overall Ranking: 17th – Passing: 27th – Rushing: 3rd
2013 Seahawks offense – Overall Ranking: 18th – Passing: 26th – Rushing: 4th
2014 Seahawks offense – Overall Ranking: 9th – Passing: 27th – Rushing: 1st
2015 Seahawks offense – Overall Ranking: 4th – Passing: 20th – Rushing: 3rd
2016 Seahawks offense – Overall Ranking: 12th – Passing: 10th – Rushing: 25th
2017 Seahawks offense – Overall Ranking: 15th – Passing: 14th – Rushing: 23rd

Here’s some of what we can extrapolate from the above information. Bevell’s second season is when you can expect to see a leap in rushing offense. Also, his offenses tend to be unbalanced, with the running game being overall dominate throughout in his NFL career.

That could mean good things for second-year running back Kerryon Johnson. Last season, the rookie runner posted 641 rushing yards and three touchdowns while averaging an impressive 5.4 yards per carry average. Unfortunately, Johnson was limited to just 10 games due to a knee injury. Now healthy, fans can’t wait to see what he can do under Bevell’s tutelage.

Here’s what Johnson told the Detroit Free Press recently about his new offensive coordinator.

"“We all know what [Bevell] likes to do, we know what he brings to the table. Right now, we can’t do much, honestly. We don’t have enough hours in the building. So right now, we’re focusing on making ourselves better as players. If you do that, no matter what offense it is you’ll fit in.”"

What Darrell Bevell brings to the Motor City is a dynamic change in offensive philosophy. One that appears to be a run-first mentality. But with a quality quarterback like Matthew Stafford under center, perhaps a more balanced approach is the key to unlocking the Detroit Lions’ offensive potential.