Detroit Lions: The other Johnson might make his own name in Motown

The Detroit Lions Kerryon Johnson is a rising star in their backfield, but the ‘other’ Johnson could be versatile enough to make noise of his own.

The Detroit Lions Matt Patricia has put much more of an emphasis on the ground game than his predecessor. Not that Jim Caldwell didn’t want to run the ball, but whenever his ground game would bog down, it would always be left behind as the aerial attack would take over.

Last season general manager Bob Quinn did his part to provide Patricia with more parts to help make the rushing attack work. With the addition of first-round pick Frank Ragnow and second-round selection Kerryon Johnson, it helped spark a bounce back year for the Lions ground game.

The most notable addition to the backfield this offseason was former Los Angeles Ram, C.J. Anderson, who carried the Rams ground game in the playoffs last season while Todd Gurley wasn’t 100%.

While Johnson will get the staring role, Anderson will have the opportunity to be the change of pace back. The thunder in the Lions backfield.

Meanwhile, Zach Zenner‘s very solid finish to last season has given him the chance to not only return, but get opportunities of his own to carry the ball. Maybe not in a starring role and maybe not even that many chances, but his ability to be solid and reliable, if not spectacular makes him valuable depth.

The final spot is slated for the versatile Theo Riddick. In his NFL career so far he has not been consistent carrying the ball, but he has been outstanding catching the ball out of the backfield. That has been his niche as the third down back. While he has struggled carrying the ball, he has been very good in space after the catch.

Yet one of these runners may be pushed for their job by the Lions sixth-round pick, Ty Johnson from the University of Maryland.