Kevin Smith Is Not the Reason For the Detroit Lions' Failures

Don't blame Kevin Smith for Detroit's offensive ineptitude. He is not at fault.

Yes, his 3.1 yards per carry average is below par, as is his 393 total rushing yards eight games into the season. But there is enough mud to be slung around the Lions locker room so Smith should not bear much, if any blame for the Lions' lack of production.

The talk show hosts who label Smith a bust are too quick to judge. It's only his second season in the NFL. The frustrated fans who post on message boards that Aaron Brown is a better running back are nothing short of incompetent.

Kevin Smith could end up being another Kevin Jones. But to write him off as such this early in his career is unjust.

Other than Calvin Johnson, and hopefully—dare I say potentially—Matthew Stafford, Smith is the most talented offensive weapon Detroit has.

As far as the running game goes, Smith is the only weapon Detroit has. Maurice Morris has been generously labeled as serviceable and nothing more for his entire career. Brown is fast, but far from a complete runner.

Give Smith time to grow. Stafford, Johnson, and Smith could develope into a Manning, James, and Harrison trio. Seriously.

In the meantime, blame the offensive line for not blocking, blame the secondary for following in the footsteps of Chris L. Rucker at Michigan State, or blame the coaching staff for slow development.

There are 40-plus guys in that locker room who should be thrown under the bus before people start trying to run Kevin Smith out of town.