With All Cylinders Firing, Detroit Lions Run Game Should Improve in 2010

In the press conferences that followed the promotion of Martin Mayhew to general manager, and the subsequent hiring of head coach Jim Schwartz, it didn’t take long to hear the customary words describing what the new regime would seek to achieve on the field of play:  run the ball and stop the run.

The returns following the 2009 season suggest plenty of room for improvement in all areas of the game, not just running the ball or trying to defend it.

From a league-ranking perspective, the Detroit Lions ranked 24th in the run game, averaging 101 yards per contest, and ranked 25th in rush yards allowed with 126.6 per game during 2009.

On one hand you could say, “Well, they’ve got to start somewhere.” 

One could also say, “The run game hasn’t been very good for quite some time; when will the Lions run game get out of the league cellar?”

Detroit Lions Rush Offense Rank

Year	Rank
2009	24th
2008	30th
2007	31st
2006	32nd

Regardless the team’s record over the past four seasons, running the ball has not been the Lions’ strong suit, with a combination of Marinelli and Martz adding insult to injury along the way.  The above rankings illustrate clearly the depths from which the Detroit run game must emerge.

It was the late, great, Sir Winston Churchill who said:

“It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary. ”

It was so important to the Detroit Lions leadership to address the issue of improving the team’s moribund ground game that they worked a trade and spent top resources to land the talented California Golden Bear.

When assessing the long-term benefits of the trade that Lions GM Martin Mayhew worked with Vikings Vice President of Player Personnel, Rick Spielman, Detroit didn’t really give up much to acquire Jahvid Best.

In fact, if measuring in tandem, the Lions may have found a left tackle of the future in Jason Fox, whom Detroit selected at the bottom of the fourth round in the 2010 NFL Draft.

#30: Minnesota → Detroit (D). Minnesota traded this selection and a fourth-round selection (128th overall; Detroit selected Jason Fox ) to Detroit for a second-round selection (34th overall; Minnesota selected Chris Cook ), a fourth-round selection (100th overall; Minnesota selected Everson Griffen ), and a seventh-round selection it acquired from Cleveland (214th overall; Minnesota selected Mickey Shuler, Jr. ).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_NFL_Draft

Now that I’ve had time to digest the decision making, if in April you would have said, “HäMM ë R, if I guarantee you the Lions will be taking Jahvid Best AND Jason Fox.  Deal or no deal?”  I would have said deal.

At one point during the evaluation process, I had Miami (FL) LT Jason Fox as one of the top-40 players in the country, and a great prospect for the Lions to draft atop the second round.

In essence, the club got a “both-and” deal: immediate help at the running back position (ala 1989) and a quality find in Fox who could transition to left tackle when Schwartz and Linehan believe he is ready.  For some Lions fans, I know they would rather it be sooner rather than later for the former Hurricane.

The results of one of my recent polls revealed that just over 60 percent of readers believe former Cal RB Jahvid Best will prove to be the most effective new offensive player for the 2010 Detroit Lions.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/411311-the-whos-who-among-whos-new-on-offense-for-the-2010-detroit-lions

If Best is to be the most effective new offensive player, he won’t achieve it by himself.  The additions of LG Rob Sims, TE Tony Scheffler, and WR Nate Burleson will all play a role in creating the offensive synergy that has been missing in Detroit for several seasons.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/420325-te-tony-scheffler-will-prove-to-be-linus-blanket-for-qb-matt-stafford

So how do the 2010 Detroit Lions go about seriously improving their running game?  The aforementioned acquisitions infuse talent into each of the areas where the Lions needed to find help.

The 2010 Detroit Lions need to find a solution, both short- and long-term, at left guard, and are pinning their collective hopes on former Ohio State Buckeye (hate it on Saturdays, but sure love it on Sundays) LG Rob Sims.  Despite presently being on a one-year contract, I believe the parties involved will come together to sign a multi-year agreement.  If Sims gets off to a fast start and the offensive line gels, don’t be surprised if Sims and Lewand etch a contract for signature during the bye week.

I was glad to hear the news when Rob Sims was added to the pride and remain hopeful that he will indeed be the player the Lions have missed since the untimely passing of Eric Andolsek.  A superior performance by Rob Sims during the 2010 campaign could be the deciding factor in whether or not the Lions reach the playoffs.  If there is no “distraction” at left guard and LT Jeff Backus and C Dominic Raiola can each focus on his own responsibilities, we will soon know which “link” in the chain is weakest.

From a historical standpoint, in 1988, the year before the Lions drafted Oklahoma State RB Barry Sanders, the Detroit Lions finish 27th out of 28 teams in rushing with 1,243 yards, a 3.2 average yards per carry, 77.7 yards per game, and seven rushing touchdowns.

What a difference a year can make.

A change at the running back position helped the team climb to eighth in NFL rushing in 1989 with 2,053 yards, a 4.9 yards per carry average, 128.3 average yards per game, and 23 touchdowns.

While the improvement in the ground game didn’t translate immediately into postseason play, it did help to move the team from 4-12 in 1988 to 7-9 in 1989, a three-game improvement.

The upgrade in the offensive backfield in 1989 provided long-term benefits for the Detroit Lions, as the team qualified for the playoffs six times during the 1990s.

I think if you were to tell Detroit Lions fans that the addition of Jahvid Best to the Lions roster in 2010 will help them reach the playoffs six times during this decade, the party might get started a little early.

In researching the 1991 Detroit Lions performance, while finishing 10th overall in rushing, the Lions led the NFL with six runs of 40 yards or more.

It is the “homerun” threat, the threat of making a long run and taking it all the way to the “house”, that helped to drive the Jahvid Best pick, as he was the fastest timed running back at the 2010 NFL Combine with a 4.35 40-yard dash.  Best’s 4.17 short-shuttle and 6.75 three-cone drill attest to his outstanding lateral speed.

For those who have watched Jahvid’s 93-yard run for a score against rival UCLA, you see great lateral quickness, causes several defenders to miss (some of which was poor tackling, sloppy effort), and then gets in the open and finds his way to the end zone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlkrumgWB6o&feature=PlayList&p=45A8E062218EBEAF&playnext_from=PL&index=8

Once rookies and veterans came together for organized team activities, it didn’t take long to hear rave reviews about Jahvid Best and the promise he holds for the organization.

A few weeks ago, John Niyo of the Detroit News captured the thoughts of DT Landon Cohen and WR Nate Burleson and their early impressions regarding RB Jahvid Best:

"That guy has got impeccable cutting and great speed, so he's gonna be one of those guys that can take it to the house for us," defensive tackle Landon Cohen said. "When he gets the ball, he's got great vision, great athleticism. He's gonna be great, man. I like what I see in him so far."

"You hear about how explosive Best is and then you see him catch a ball in the flat, stick his foot in the ground and get up field like a Mustang," Burleson said. "He's just extremely explosive. I've seen him catch a ball at a dead stop, stick his foot in the ground and get up field extremely fast."

http://detnews.com/article/20100624/SPORTS0101/6240339/Rookie-Lions-RB-Jahvid-Best-draws-teammates--raves

Regardless my early misgivings regarding Best’s prospects to make an immediate impact in the NFL, the more I read, the more I research, and the more I hear, it sounds like my concerns were for naught (so far, at least).

What the 2010 Detroit Lions appear to be building is a multidimensional offense upon which an opposing defense cannot key.  We saw first hand what the Saints offense did last year, and such is the offense this team aspires to become and then some.

The addition of offensive weapons like TE Tony Scheffler and WR Nate Burleson lends immediate credibility to the Detroit Lions receiving threat.  What should materialize (in theory, of course) is a situation where opposing defenses will no longer be afforded the luxury of simply defending against the pass, as dictated by the scoreboard and down and distance.

What we should begin to see in 2010 is the evolution of the Linehan offense where the opposing defense will have to honestly play the likes of Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Brandon Pettigrew, Tony Scheffler, and Jahvid Best.  Staying close or leading on the scoreboard as the game wears on will foster that environment of defensive honesty.

The more honestly the defense has to play against the Lions offense, the more it should open the run game and create opportunities to break off long gains.  Jahvid Best was drafted for his long gain capability, and the Lions offense is counting on Best to deliver “the big run” in 2010.

Explosive, long runs that result in a touchdown can serve to mentally defeat the opponent and sway the tide of victory.  Gaining momentum during a critical moment of the game is an advantage the Lions seek with the addition of Jahvid Best.  I know Lions fans of all ages would be thrilled to see Jahvid improve upon last season’s longest run of 64 yards by Maurice Morris.  In fact, a half dozen or more of those would be just fine.

Last year’s season opener showed us what can happen to an opponent when you have a QB who is savvy in his offense with good timing, chemistry, and protection, and receivers who couldn’t be covered:  a Super Bowl Champion was born.

The Saints offensive line was ranked fourth overall in sacks allowed, giving up 20 sacks and allowing 52 QB hits.  Conversely, the Lions offensive line was ranked 24th, as they allowed 43 sacks and 95 QB hits.  The influx of new Lions players on offense must move the pride synergistically in a “Saintly” direction, l’est QB Matthew Stafford meet another devilish demise.

If the offensive line can immediately congeal with this being the second year in the program for four of five starters, the 2010 Detroit Lions should be able to both run the ball and throw the ball.  The team seemed to run the ball fairly well to the left side on occasion last year, and hopefully the addition of LG Rob Sims will prove to be the titanium fastener that seals and solidifies the Detroit Lions offensive line.

During the Lions first three seasons with Barry Sanders, the team averaged between 120-130 yards rushing per game, and I would like to see them get back to that range this season.  When the Lions added Barry Sanders to the club, they went from 77.7 yards per game in 1988 to 128.3 yards per game in 1989.

While I don’t expect the team to add 50 yards per game to their 2009 average of 101 yards, just adding half would get them to 126 yards per game, which would have put them on the cusp of a top-10 NFL rushing offense during the 2009 campaign.

I think most Lions fans would consider that progress.  Some may consider it “major” progress.  Birds or bars, oak leafs or stars, it makes no difference to me ;)

Last year, Dom Capers was able to instantly transform Green Bay’s existing 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense that became the No. 2 overall NFL defense and the No. 1 NFL rush defense.  Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan needs to have a “Capers-esque” turnaround year on the offensive side of the ball for the Motown Leos.

The 2010 Detroit Lions are hoping they will experience “the difference a year can make” heading into their second campaign under the leadership of Schwartz, Cunningham, and Linehan.  The amalgamation of talent now found on the Detroit Lions roster must demonstrate a quick cohesiveness that results in immediate wins. 

Detroit Lions victories over both Chicago and Philadelphia would speak to those aspirations in a resounding fashion.  If the run game is truly improved, the Lions should be 2-0 by close-of-business on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010.

Of course, the defense will still need to do their part ;)

HäMM ë R