Since Barry Sanders retired on the eve of training camp back in 1999, the Detroit Lions run game has been inept. Rushers have crossed the 1,000-yard plateau only four times during that span. At times they’ve seen flashes of brilliance from players like James Stewart, Kevin Jones, and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush. But, they’ve failed to acquire a feature back capable of carrying a Detroit franchise that continues to reside in purgatory since Sanders’ unexpected departure.
With the 2020 NFL Draft fast approaching, most media circles seem to be enthralled with the idea of the Detroit Lions trading down from the number three spot to acquire a bevy of picks. In exchange, a suitable trade partner would receive the opportunity to move up and find a franchise quarterback. However, most experts are failing to recognize Detroit’s opportunity to fill a glaring need. Highlighting a running back selection in either rounds two or three is necessary for a ground attack that finished ranked 21st last season and converted only seven touchdowns on the ground.
Detroit Lions Must Draft a Running Back
No Run Support
Last season, head coach Matt Patricia’s Lions were expected to be a team that set the pace with a strong focus on running the ball. With a renewed focus on the offensive line and a supposed young up-and-coming back in Kerryon Johnson, the Detroit Lions were expecting to alleviate some of the pressure off of longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Instead, Johnson missed eight games due to injury and Stafford was once again the primary focal point of an offense that was heavily tilted towards the pass. In addition, the team’s performance on defense was vomit-inducing. When healthy, Johnson was never able to get himself going and the Lions weren’t able to establish a pace early during games. Ultimately, the team often played from behind and relied heavily on the arm of Stafford before his season ended after eight games due to broken bones in his back.
Matthew Stafford and Draft Prospects
Stafford had a great partnership with star-receiver Calvin Johnson, and it has been Stafford who has been carrying the weight of the Detroit Lions offense since entering the league in 2009. Now, as Johnson appears to be the latest rusher to under perform at the position, it’s vital that Detroit take advantage of the running back depth and select a back still available on the second of the draft. Impact runners that will possibly be available in those rounds consist of D’Andre Swift (Georgia), Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin), J.K. Dobbins (Ohio State), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (LSU), Zack Moss (Utah), and Cam Akers (Florida State).
Breaking Down the Prospects
Swift is the only back with the potential to be taken in the first-round as a late selection. After two straight 1,000 yard seasons at Georgia, he has established himself as the top-ranked back in this class. The Lions would be looking to take advantage of his sure-handed receiving ability, as he’s dropped only three of 76 catchable balls in his career according to Pro Football Focus. His all-around game will translate well to the NFL and will complement Stafford’s ability to check-down when intermediate and deep routes are unavailable.
Wisconsin’s Taylor doesn’t offer much in the passing game but makes up for it in a big way on the ground. Being a former prep track star, he possesses explosive, straight line speed and pairs it with a strong 220-pound frame. After waiting patiently for his blocks to develop, the elite college runner breaks arm tackles with ease, all while contact barely slows him down. After three seasons as a starter in Madison, the New Jersey native totaled 6,159 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns on 925 career attempts. He is exactly the type of workhorse the Lions need.
While at Ohio State, J.K. Dobbins proved to be the Buckeyes own version of a workhorse back. In the end, he may prove to be the best back coming out of this draft class. After two straight seasons of crossing the 1,000-yard mark, the junior exploded in 2019 en route to over 2,000 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. With NFL caliber size and burst, he is a true home run threat with incredible strength in his lower half. PFF ranked Dobbins first in carries of 15+ yards among eligible backs. He is capable of running between the tackles effectively and grinding out tough yards up the middle too.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a poor man’s version of Swift. The LSU back improved his draft stock more than anyone this past season as Joe Burrow’s complementary partner in a title winning backfield. As a junior, he averaged 6.6 yards per rush and also hauled in 55 receptions on 64 targets. With the ability to progress in-and-out of cuts, he is hard to tackle. The Lions are in dire need of an every-down back like Edwards-Helaire. He’s the “little engine that could”.
Utah’s Zack Moss is an elusive slashing back that hails from talent rich Miami, Florida. With NFL bloodlines that include his cousins, Santana and Sinorice, he has been one of college football’s best backs since emerging as a sophomore in 2017. He doesn’t have breakaway speed (4.65/40-Yard Dash) but PFF ranked him second in forced missed tackles and eighth in yards after contact last season. His NFL comparison is Kareem Hunt. Detroit fans are sure to be drooling all over that possibility, as they’ve been rumored to be in the free-agent market for Hunt.
Finally, Cam Akers can prove to be a good value for the Lions later on during day two of the draft. He is used to running behind weak offensive lines and has comparable attributes to Swift, Dobbins, and Taylor. The team could snatch the Florida State junior at a fraction of the cost of the others. His thick legs bode well for his ability to be above average in pass protection, which would be a huge benefit to an aging Stafford. He’s also not afraid to lower his shoulder and take on linebackers. However, he is a little bouncy in the backfield and needs to improve as a one cut runner. As a former-five star recruit that had offers from all the big schools, it’s important to understand that Akers has all the tools and could flourish in the right situation.
Last Word
The depth in this year’s draft class is real, and one can only hope the Detroit Lions are paying attention. They cannot afford to move forward without a reliable, feature back that is capable of grinding out tough runs inside. Often last season, they would lose leads late due to their doormat defense and inability to chew the clock.
The ghost of Barry Sanders has been haunting Motown for years and it’s time general manager Bob Quinn and Patricia step up and build this team in the same vision of the New England Patriots that they lust to mimic. Pairing a revamped defense with a young, capable back just may save Stafford’s back and even allow the Lions to sneak into the new expanded playoff format; something they haven’t done since losing to the Seattle Seahawks during the Wild Card round in 2017.
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