The Lions have the ability to have a great running game this year. If they don't, your fingers should be pointed at one place only. The coaches.
The offensive line is talented. Very talented. With Lang and Wagner healthy on the right side, and Decker a 1st round pick on the LT spot, the only question on the OL is who will play in which position out of Glasgow and Ragnow. Glasgow was playing well at LG last year but when he moved to Center, he was actually one of the better Centers in the NFL during those games. Then the Lions drafted Ragnow who is a Center but can play guard. Logically they will move Glasgow to Center and play Ragnow at LG for this year. Guard is an easier position to play physically and mentally for a rookie. It would be too much on the rookie t0 be thrust into a starting spot at Center on a team that is desperate for a run game. The fact Ragnow is supposed to be a road grader as well, says the Lions can really use him playing LG. Either way they have a lot of talent and they have added decent depth as well for this coming year.
They added Blount to be their short yardage beast and drafted a RB with speed and agility who also has fair power. The question will be if the Lions do what I believe they will do or if they do what I think they should do.
What I believe they will do...
On first and second downs they will use Kerryon Johnson for the most part. I expect them to give a few of those carries to Ameer Abdulah in hopes of keeping Johnson fresh and healthy for his rookie year. On passing downs they will use Riddick and sometimes Abdullah with a touch of Johnson mixed in. On short yardage downs they will show us Blount. Spreading the ball out like this will keep the players fresher but it will have its down sides. For one, it wont allow for any one RB to pile up yards and get a good season going. The Lions will have no rushing leaders and likely wont even have a thousand yard rusher again. It will also allow defenses to recognize what is coming by who is on the field for the majority of the plays. The Lions will end up with a middle of the road run game.
What I think they should do...
Lean heavy on Kerryon for the first three downs. Make the guy their 3 down running back. Give him rests now and then and use Abdullah in his place during those times. IF it is obvious Johnson is getting hit hard and stopped early right off the bat in a game, change up and use Abdullah or start giving Blount some early plays in that case. I don't believe in RB by Committees because they tend to tip off what is coming too much. Maybe Johnson will drop a few balls that Riddick would catch, I don't care. The difference will be made up and then some by having his speed and power allowing him a chance to break long gains off at a much higher clip than Riddick and defenses wont know if it is a pass or run when Johnson is staying on the field. Blount will be the obvious short yardage down guy but will also help run time down with leads.
Making Kerryon the main #1 Running back would keep defenses off balance, will get fans into the game more and give the fans a chance to see a thousand yard rusher in Detroit again. And the first time Johnson takes one to the house on 3rd down, it will make every fan forget about Riddick who has zero ability to do the same.
In the end, it really doesn't matter too much if they do what I think they should or what I think they will do. The fact is, if they fix the scheme problems, the Lions run game will come to life. This will force defenses to play honest and open up the passing game more, allowing Stafford to take advantage of his golden arm. The Lions have the talent to be the best offense in the NFL and the only way it fails to have a good run game this year is if the coaches fail again.
The good sign is that they drafted a Fullback in the 7th round of the draft this year. Bawden is already hurt for the season but it doesn't matter. They will still use Bellore as their fullback. The fact they drafted Bawden shows they plan on using a FB this year and that is a good sign they will change up their offensive scheme when it comes to the run game. That gives me hope. That should give every Lions fan hope.
Showing posts with label Fullback. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fullback. Show all posts
Saturday, July 7, 2018
Monday, May 28, 2018
7th Round Draft Pick, Nick Bawden May be Key to Run Game
Detroit Lions 7th round pick, Fullback Nick Bawden, just may be the best pick of the 2018 draft.
That is a huge statement to make for a guy drafted in the last round. In this case however, he could very well deserve it. Not because he is so good mind you. We wont see that until they strap on pads and start hitting, but simply for what he represents.
I could not even guess how many years it has been since the fullback position was a true part of the Lions offense. They have had fullbacks in the past, but they were usually more of the hybrid Fullback. A guy who is meant for running with the ball and swinging out for passes as much as lead blocking. Those guys tend to be slightly smaller than true lead blocking fullbacks.
Michael Burton was the last player to man the position for the Lions. He was listed at 6' and 235 lbs. Burton was a decent player but nothing special. The Lions let him go before the 2017 campaign was under way.
It is something the Lions last few coaches have taken as an unneeded luxury. They never really understood how import a good lead blocker is for a run game. Consequently, the Lions running game has been one of the worst in the NFL in recent years. To the point where they completely gave up even trying to run on short yardage downs in the second half of last season.
Then here in the 2018 draft they selected Nick Bawden, who comes in 2 inches taller and ten pound heavier, and he represents a change back to the old ways of running the ball. When the offensive line opens a hole up, it will be the fullbacks duty to clear the LB or Safety who is trying to fill it. Without a lead blocker in recent years, the Lions left it up to the ball handler to either beat the defense-men to the hole or run him over. The Lions have not had anyone fast enough to beat them to the hole and they haven't had anyone with enough power to run over them. This year they have added a running back in Legarrette Blount who can run over them, Kerryon Johnson who might actually beat them to the hole, and as icing on top, they added a fullback who will clear the way.
Last year the Lions talent at running back was not as much of the problem as many fans seem to think. The real problem was in the run scheme. The entire scheme and play calling by Jim Bob Cooter was anti-run at best. Everything they did was the worst thing they could do to have a run game succeed. Adding a fullback this season shows that Patricia might actually know what he is doing and I am expecting to see the first season Stafford has actually had a true run game to back him up.
Some people believe the Lions had a good run game when they had Jahvid Best, but its not really true. Best had a few great runs. He was a threat to take it to the house on any play. That gave the Lions a true run threat and helped Stafford immensely. Right up until Best got hurt again. But Best was not a real threat on short yardage plays. So he only helped Stafford for a couple downs at a time. Now the Lions should have a run game that will be a threat to get what they need on every down and defenses will not be able to focus on the passing game alone.
So far in Stafford's career it has been a case of, "We cant run the ball. You know we are passing. We know we're passing. Try to stop us!" And the fact Stafford is one of only two QBs to ever have seven consecutive seasons of 4,000 yards or more, says that those defenses couldn't stop them from moving the ball very often. Imagine what he might do with the opposing defenses having to worry about the run as well.
That is a huge statement to make for a guy drafted in the last round. In this case however, he could very well deserve it. Not because he is so good mind you. We wont see that until they strap on pads and start hitting, but simply for what he represents.
I could not even guess how many years it has been since the fullback position was a true part of the Lions offense. They have had fullbacks in the past, but they were usually more of the hybrid Fullback. A guy who is meant for running with the ball and swinging out for passes as much as lead blocking. Those guys tend to be slightly smaller than true lead blocking fullbacks.
Michael Burton was the last player to man the position for the Lions. He was listed at 6' and 235 lbs. Burton was a decent player but nothing special. The Lions let him go before the 2017 campaign was under way.
It is something the Lions last few coaches have taken as an unneeded luxury. They never really understood how import a good lead blocker is for a run game. Consequently, the Lions running game has been one of the worst in the NFL in recent years. To the point where they completely gave up even trying to run on short yardage downs in the second half of last season.
Then here in the 2018 draft they selected Nick Bawden, who comes in 2 inches taller and ten pound heavier, and he represents a change back to the old ways of running the ball. When the offensive line opens a hole up, it will be the fullbacks duty to clear the LB or Safety who is trying to fill it. Without a lead blocker in recent years, the Lions left it up to the ball handler to either beat the defense-men to the hole or run him over. The Lions have not had anyone fast enough to beat them to the hole and they haven't had anyone with enough power to run over them. This year they have added a running back in Legarrette Blount who can run over them, Kerryon Johnson who might actually beat them to the hole, and as icing on top, they added a fullback who will clear the way.
Last year the Lions talent at running back was not as much of the problem as many fans seem to think. The real problem was in the run scheme. The entire scheme and play calling by Jim Bob Cooter was anti-run at best. Everything they did was the worst thing they could do to have a run game succeed. Adding a fullback this season shows that Patricia might actually know what he is doing and I am expecting to see the first season Stafford has actually had a true run game to back him up.
Some people believe the Lions had a good run game when they had Jahvid Best, but its not really true. Best had a few great runs. He was a threat to take it to the house on any play. That gave the Lions a true run threat and helped Stafford immensely. Right up until Best got hurt again. But Best was not a real threat on short yardage plays. So he only helped Stafford for a couple downs at a time. Now the Lions should have a run game that will be a threat to get what they need on every down and defenses will not be able to focus on the passing game alone.
So far in Stafford's career it has been a case of, "We cant run the ball. You know we are passing. We know we're passing. Try to stop us!" And the fact Stafford is one of only two QBs to ever have seven consecutive seasons of 4,000 yards or more, says that those defenses couldn't stop them from moving the ball very often. Imagine what he might do with the opposing defenses having to worry about the run as well.
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