It’s been a long time since the Detroit Lions have been known as a running team. Not since the days of Barry Sanders juking defenders out of their shoes have the Lions featured a prolific rushing attack. In fact, Reggie Bush‘s 1,006 yard season in 2013 remains the only occasion that a Lion has rushed for over 1,000 yards since 2004. With the 2016 season inching closer and closer, it doesn’t appear likely that another Lions running back will duplicate this feat anytime soon. Clearly, the era of featured runners is a thing of the past in Detroit.
The Detroit Lions Running Back Rotation Will Continue
For a team that is heavily reliant on Matthew Stafford and the passing game, running the football has long been an afterthought in this offense. Despite a roster that features some talented and promising players at the running back position, passing will likely continue to be the bread and butter of this offense. When a team expects to attempt approximately 600 passes a season, the rushing attack is bound to be de-emphasized.
It doesn’t help matters that there doesn’t appear to be a featured runner in this backfield, either. While sophomore runner Ameer Abdullah is poised to step into the lead role, his workload has yet to be determined. Abdullah showed flashes of promise as a rookie, and Lions fans are excited about his potential, but he figures to be taken off the field quite often in various situations.
In spite of his natural pass-catching prowess, Abdullah was not featured prominently in the passing game in 2015, and that is likely to remain the case in the coming season. This is entirely due to the development of Theo Riddick. Riddick was nothing short of terrific in this department last season, snagging 80 receptions for 697 yards (both totals were second among NFL running backs), and adding three touchdowns in the process. Clearly, the team will continue to rely heavily on him as a vital check down target, but he won’t be very involved on the ground, as evidenced by the mere 43 carries he received in 2015.
Unexpected Contributors
While both Abdullah and Riddick offer considerable talents, neither is likely to be featured heavily in goal-line and short yardage situations. In recent seasons, that role was ear-marked for Joique Bell, but with Bell out of town, who will step up and handle those responsibilities? Currently, the answer to that question appears to be sophomore runner Zach Zenner.
Zenner, a 2015 undrafted free agent, has impressed in camp over the last two seasons, and the team clearly has enough confidence in him that they felt comfortable releasing Stevan Ridley, a free agent signing who was expected to be a legitimate contender for this role. While there isn’t a great deal of NFL game tape on Zenner, he runs with power and tenacity, and boasts underrated pass-catching ability as well. He appears locked in as the team’s third runner.
Rounding out the running back rotation are special teams contributor George Winn and seventh-round rookie Dwayne Washington. Washington, in particular, is a player to watch as 2016 approaches. At 6-foot-1 and 223 pounds, he is a powerful back who runs in the 4.4’s. That’s impressive. While currently not a lock to make the team, his strong preseason play has him firmly in the mix for the 53-man roster.
Whatever the final combination of Lions runners may be, it is clear that multiple players will have roles in this offense. Abdullah is likely to see the most work between the 20’s and will almost certainly lead the team in touches, but the recent reliance on a committee backfield is certain to remain in the Motor City for another season.
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