Detroit Lions running backs: Eight is not enough in 2019

Detroit Lions running back carousel: Eight is not enough in 2019

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 15: Wes Hills #36 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a third quarter touchdown during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field on December 15, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Tampa Bay defeated Detroit 38-17. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

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J.D. McKissic, Detroit Lions (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

RB4: J.D. McKissic

2019 Season: 14 games, 205 yards, 1 (receiving) touchdown

Question marks: ??? (At this point in the season, why not a few more carries for the guy???)

Well, actually I think I know the answer of ‘why not a few more carries’ for McKissic, but it requires an old school video game analogy to get there.

Specifically those big arcade consoles for like NFL Blitz or NBA Jam, and how at the end of each quarter, they required another 50 cents just to keep the game going.

Great if you got down 21-0 early and wanted a re-do, not so great if you were nursing a late lead and ran out of change to play the 4th quarter with.

As far as J.D. McKissic goes, he has the arcade game version of Darren Sproles skills, but only has a couple of nickels to play with. A 44-yard burst on a reverse in Week 3 is the Lions’ longest run this year, but McKissic just isn’t wired for more than a few gadget plays and screen passes at this level. On top of that, now he’s injured too.

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