Detroit Lions: How the Lions Will Do in 2011 Without Mikel Leshoure

The injury to Mikel Leshoure was a huge blow to every Lions fan. Ever since the Lions traded up to get him, we have been salivating over the prospect of pairing the elusive Jahvid Best with Leshoure, a 230 lbs power back, to create the next thunder and lightning backfield.

However, with Leshoure out for the season, it seemed that the Lions were back to the same old running attack. Best would try in vain to be a dominant every down running back, and the Lions would have to rely on the passing game once again to pick up yards and win games.

Fortunately, this morning the Lions have made two signings at running back that could give us a three-headed backfield that can at least keep teams honest. They are Jerome Harrison, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Mike Bell, who played last season at Cleveland.

Enjoy!

The Role and Impact of Mike Bell

Firstly, the obvious replacement for Leshoure is Mike Bell. Unlike Harrison and Best, Bell has the bulk to run over linebackers and at 225 lbs he has shown over his career that he can perform as a short yardage and power back.

However, he does not provide the same every down ability that Leshoure did. He struggles in the open field, has questionable speed, and has had a history of fumbles. He is also a poor receiver out of the backfield, which is something that the Lions like to emphasize.

Bell really seems to be a one year rental. He will take on the grunt work that Leshoure was meant to do, and is likely to perform decently. However, he does not have the open field running ability or receiving skills that Leshoure has, and this will limit his value in 2012 when Leshoure returns unless he can reinvent his game this season.

Despite his shortcomings, Bell should have a solid season in 2011, and may be able to earn the Lions a fourth or fifth round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. He should see about 100 carries this year, and a yards per carry average of about 3.7 is definitely achievable. This would give him 370 yards for the season. He should also be able to collect about seven touchdowns as he will get the short goal line carries.

The Role and Impact of Jerome Harrison

Jerome Harrison, on the other hand, is a player that excites me. Probably everyone who reads this will remember his explosion in 2009 when he picked up 561 yards and five touchdowns in the last three games of the season. However, the arrival of Peyton Hillis made him expendable, and he was traded to the Eagles.

Now, he will suit up for the Detroit Lions, and he looks to be more than just a one year rental like Bell. Although he would seem to be a similar runner to Jahvid Best, he has a shorter and stockier frame, and this has allowed him to find more success running between the tackles than Best has. Harrison also has the speed to run outside and the moves to make defenders miss in the open field. While he cannot run over defenders, he is hard to bring down and can slip out of arm tackles more regularly than his size would suggest. Harrison is also a solid receiver.

If Harrison can find his 2009 form, then he would allow Jahvid Best to become more of an offensive wild card weapon, much like the role that Reggie Bush had in New Orleans. I believe that this would be the best way to use Best, and allow him to make mismatches in the backfield or as a receiver. Meanwhile, Harrison would be able to perform the bulk of the carries at running back.

In 2011, I can see Harrison becoming a valuable player if the Lions commit to using him. He could easily take 200 carries and rush for an average of 4.2 yards per carry. This would give him 840 yards for the season. He should also be able to contribute about six touchdowns in the running game and two as a receiver, along with about 30 receptions and 290 receiving yards.

The Role and Impact of Jahvid Best

The injury of Leshoure and the signing of two new running backs has also changed the role that Jahvid Best is likely to play in the upcoming season. While the amount of carries he gets will be largely dependent on how he performs now that he has beaten the dual turf toe injuries that stymied him last season, I see him playing the Reggie Bush offensive weapon role rather than an every down running back. Last year before his turf toe injury he made the biggest impact as a receiver rather than as a runner, and his yard per carry average was poor even then.

This would be take advantage of his soft hands, good route running ability and athleticism, while removing him from the line of scrimmage and reducing the chance of injury. His 4.35 speed and amazing elusiveness would also be used more as he would get the ball in the open field more.

Finally, the Lions would be able to use him more as a punt returner if his ball-carrying load was reduced. While the Lions already have Stefan Logan to return kicks, if Best could give him occasional breaks it would probably improve Logan's numbers. Also, the special teamer would have to focus on two different types of returners in practice. Logan is a more north-south return man who relies on hitting lanes to make big returns, while Best has the agility to turn anything into a touchdown.

This makes me think that he would be most dangerous having only about 100-120 carries on the season. With such a small number, his yards per carry average would be likely to hover around 4.0, giving him about 500 yards for the season and four touchdowns. However, if he lined up in the slot or as a secondary running back and was used as a receiver on the other downs, he could prove especially effective. He should be able to catch about 60 passes in this role, and manage about 580 yards along with four touchdowns.