The Detroit Lions 2010s All-Decade team on offense
By Jon Poole
This New Year instead of looking back at the Detroit Lions dreadful year prior. Let’s take a look at the only mostly dreadful 2010s with my All-Decade Team.
Though the Detroit Lions didn’t give us any Super Bowl appearances or wins, or division titles or playoff wins … they did give us some great player performances. So let’s insist the Lions make a new year’s resolution to not waste any more great player performances like the ones detailed below.
The formations most used to select the all-decade team were 11 personnel (one running back/one tight end) on offense and 4-3 on defense. Being those were the most used throughout the decade. Selections were also made with a slight favor of talent more so than productivity.
Quarterback
I was always told to get the easiest part of the puzzle out of the way first.
There is no competition for quarterback Matthew Stafford at his position in his entire career. Backup quarterback Shaun Hill did have a very impressive 2010 season to get the decade started, but Stafford is a top 10 quarterback in this league and has at times in the past 10 years played at an MVP level. Most notably in 2016 and 2019.
All-Decade QB: Matthew Stafford
Running Back
In what may be the most controversial offensive pick for some. I have 2010 first-round pick Jahvid Best edging out 2018 second-round pick Kerryon Johnson in this one running-back formation.
They are easily the top two running backs the Lions have rostered in the 2010s, but I think Best was a much bigger threat out of the backfield. As much injury concerns you had about Best you should have about Johnson, at least Best was able to play a full16 games before.
Even though Johnson’s 2018 season was the best the 2010s had to offer with yards per rush of 5.4. Best had over 1,000 total yards in his rookie season and averaged 4.6 yards per rush and 10.6 yards per reception in his second and final 2011 season.
If you ask me who I’m taking for a full-16 game season, it’s Best without hesitation.
All-Decade RB: Jahvid Best