The Detroit Lions were the worst rushing team in the NFL last season, and leading rusher Ameer Abdullah, had fewer rushing yards than every starting running back in the NFL other than the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers. During the offseason, the team has spoken about having a more efficient running game, but David Walker, the new running backs coach, said it doesn’t mean Detroit will have its first 1,000 yard rusher since 2013, when Reggie Bush accomplished the feat. After a disappointing finish last year, the Lions have one of the worst NFL betting predictions going into this season, and without Calvin Johnson in the lineup, the team could be in for a very long season.
Walker told reporters that he didn’t know if his team needed a 1,000 yard running back, but having a 1,000 yard rusher is not really the team’s goal. Walker said the goal the team has this season is to be efficient when they run the ball, and rush for over 4.2 yards per carry.
After rushing for 597 yards last season, Abdullah returns as Detroit’s starting running back, but his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery has given the Lions time to look at other options in their backfield.
During mini-camps and OTAs, Theo Riddick got the starter reps, but when he missed practice on Sunday, Stevan Ridley got most of the reps.
Ridley and Zach Zenner will be competing for the third string running back position during training camp, while rookie Dwayne Washington and George Winn are competing for a roster spot.
Last season, Abdullah averaged 4.2 yards per carry, which is the type of efficiency Walker was talking about. However, Abdullah is still under the no contact policy at practice as he recovers from his surgery.
Walker also said that he hopes the team can develop the bigger running backs they have into more productive players. Walker pointed out that the smaller backs on the roster, like Abdullah, have been productive, while the bigger backs haven’t.
Last season, Zenner showed some promise, rushing for 60 yards on 17 carries, but broken ribs and a collapsed lung ended his rookie season.
The Lions added Ridley to their backfield this offseason to provide the team with some depth at the position. They are also hoping the veteran can bounce back from the two torn ligaments he suffered during the 2014 season while he was with the New England Patriots.
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell believes the team has an interesting group of running backs, all of whom bring different things to the table in terms of power, speed, and quickness. Caldwell also had a lot of high praise for Ridley, whom he said can do a little bit of everything, from running, catching passes, to pass blocking.
Riddick has been used as a receiver for most of his career, and has just 72 carries in three seasons. However, the Lions say he will be a bigger factor in the running game this year.
Abdullah has told his coaches that he wants to be a running back the team can count on in short yardage situations and passing downs. If the coaches decide to use him in those situations, he could become the first Lions running back since Reggie Bush to surpass the 1,000 yard mark.
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