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Detroit Lions: Blount and Johnson are the lead backs at OTAs

By Ash Thompson

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 21: : LeGarrette Blount #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a second quarter rushing touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during their NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 21: : LeGarrette Blount #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a second quarter rushing touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during their NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Lions running game will look a lot different in 2018. The new faces leading the group in first-team reps are a large part of the reason why.

The Detroit Lions are not going to be the same team that they were in 2017. One of the major overhauls that general manager Bob Quinn engaged in during the 2018 offseason was the running back group. The 2017 crew lacked both the power to get tough yardage and the breakaway speed to capitalize on easy opportunities. The Lions have added two players that improve both of those categories to lead the room in 2018.

LeGarrette Blount is the NFL’s quintessential power back. In an era where the passing game dominates, he brings nothing to the table there. His career high in receptions is 15. Despite this fact, he has continued to find jobs and continued to be productive. Teams know what he does, and he still does it to them. Ameer Abdullah led the Lions with 552 yards rushing in 2017. Blount has spent most of his career in the “you never know which running back will get the ball” offense of New England. Only one of Blount’s last five seasons has been as unproductive as Abdullah’s 2017 season.

Kerryon Johnson is not blazing fast, but he is faster than the Lions 2017 running back group. Lions fans tend to think of Abdullah and Theo Riddick as explosive players. They are both exceptionally quick, but neither has a significant top gear. Both ran 4.6 of slower in their combine 40-yard dash, and players do not get faster as they age. Johnson ran a respectable 4.52 at his pro day. Of all the Lions running 2017 running backs, only Dwayne Washington had a faster time. That .08 second is the difference between being caught from behind by linebackers and not at the NFL level. Additionally, unlike the 2017 crew, Johnson has also shown the ability to be a productive runner while injured. Despite being plagued with injuries in his senior season, Johnson managed 1585 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns.

Next: Frank Ragnow impresses at OTAs

It is not surprising that Quinn’s veteran free agent signing and the first running back he has taken before the sixth round of the draft would take first-team reps at OTAs. That is exactly what happened Thursday, the only session open to the beat reporters covering the team, according to Kyle Meinke of Mlive.com. The Lions clearly do not want more of the same from their running game in 2018. That is a good thing for Lions fans.

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