Jahvid Best: Why He'll Be the X-Factor for the Detroit Lions in 2012

In a recent interview with MLive.com's Anwar Richardson, Detroit Lions GM Martin Mayhew made some bold predictions about which players are poised to have breakout years. Besides mentioning Willie Young and Nick Fairley as candidates, he suggested that Jahvid Best will have his best year yet.

If your first reaction to that is to scoff and/or curse Mayhew for jinxing Best's chances of success, I assure you you're not alone. He hasn't exactly shown reliability enough to warrant breakout status.

He only started nine games his rookie year and missed 10 games last season due to symptoms stemming from his third concussion. As research suggests, multiple concussions make a player vulnerable to others, not to mention susceptible to more serious after-effects like dizziness, blurred vision and nausea.

The Lions have certainly seen this with Best.

That's why Mayhew's prediction seems so over the top. It's hard to count on Best for a full season, much less a breakout one.

Then again, look at Matthew Stafford. It was in his third year that he shattered stereotypes—and record books—and demonstrated his durability. No one would have predicted that kind of performance with his track record, either.

Could Best follow suit and do what Mayhew suggests? It's not as far-fetched as you might think.

Consider his limited production the past two years. He gained 555 rushing yards his rookie year and 390 yards last season. If he's on the field for all 16 games, likely in a change-of-pace role, there's no reason he can't gain 600 to 700 yards rushing—and that's a conservative estimate.

When you factor in his contributions to the passing game—487 and 287 yards receiving the past two seasons—1,100 to 1,500 total all-purpose yards in 2012 is realistic. That would qualify as a breakout year. 

In fact, Best will make his biggest impact in the passing game, catching flares and screens out of the backfield. These plays put him in open space where he can use his speed to maximum effectiveness.

It also limits the wear and tear on his body and his risk for further concussions.

Detroit's offense is set up for Best being utilized in this way as well. With receivers like Titus Young and Calvin Johnson spreading the field and demanding double-teams, opposing defenses are even more vulnerable to his game-breaking skill set.

With Best healthy and firing on all cylinders, the Lions were 5-1 last season, which is indicative of the impact he has on the game. 

He's arguably the Lions' most electric player not named Calvin Johnson, capable of breaking off a long touchdown run at any time.  His performance in last season's Monday Night Football affair is a perfect example. He also adds a dimension to the offense that Mikel Leshoure cannot.

If the Lions are planning on handling Best with care, they certainly aren't giving that impression. Mayhew's comments are proof of that. Best's recent comments as reported by the Associated Press indicate he wouldn't want it that way and, at least on the surface, has no fear regarding his concussion history.

That should instill confidence in Lions fans who not only want Best on the field impacting games, but also hope for his health and safety—now and in his life after football.

The reality is there's no way to predict Best's future. He could go the rest of his career and not suffer another concussion—and that's what everyone in Detroit is hoping for.

One thing can be predicted with certainty: With Best on the field, an already dangerous Lions offense becomes absolutely lethal.