Lions: Bo Scarbrough carving out a future beyond this season with Detroit

When the Lions added Bo Scarbrough, I thought it was just another meaningless running back addition.  I mean, can you blame me?  The Detroit Lions have signed plenty of running backs only to turn them loose a week or two later.

This addition of Bo Scarbrough seems a bit different.  The Detroit Lions may have found something with this sledgehammer style of a runner.  Detroit has needed a power runner for quite some time.  The last back I can remember that could punish tackling linebackers in the way Scarborough has this year is Joique Bell.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell likes to have a power back at his disposal to open up his play-action passing game, especially on second and third with short to go downs.

The Detroit Lions tried to add a thumper in LeGarrette Blount last season, but he appears to be worn out. Detroit signed C.J. Anderson after he had a plethora of success with the super bowl bound L.A Rams last season. Still, he failed to get anything going during the preseason and again in his two regular-season games this year before being cut loose.

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Since then, it’s been a revolving door backfield for the Lions in ’19.  Paul Perkins was signed primarily to be a short-yardage back.  He failed to have any success, only averaging 2.4 yards a carry.  Tra Carson was able to have a little success before he was shut down with a hamstring injury and eventually released.

It appears the Lions don’t have enough confidence in Ty Johnson to allow him 15 or so carries to see what he can do if he were to get into a rhythm.  Johnson was drafted to be a change of pace back that brings a bit of lightning to the backfield.  He’s only averaging 3.4 yards a carry on 53 totes this season.  He can catch it out of the backfield but hasn’t been able to shake loose often.  He’s made 19 grabs totaling just 85 yards.

The lightning has come from J.D. McKissic, who’s caught 27 of his 33 targets totaling 206 yards and a score.  He’s also rushed for 201 yards on 36 carries for a team-high 5.6 yards per carry. He will definitely have a future in this Lions offense beyond this season.

Bo Scarbrough has exactly the same amount of rushing attempts as Ty Johnson (53) and has accounted for 236 yards and a touchdown in just three games.  He’s averaging a respectable 4.5 yards a carry, and punishing would-be tacklers.  Scarbrough has a whopping 176 of his 236 rushing yards after contact.  That’s crazy.  He’s big and strong enough to break tackles, turning a negative play into a positive at times.  He can make up for a struggling offensive line.

Bo was a 7th round pick by the Dallas Cowboys who got lost in the shuffle.  The Former Alabama slammer is carving himself out a future with the Detroit Lions.  He could be the thunder to Kerryon Johnson‘s lightning next season.  Scarbrough doesn’t catch the football out of the backfield; in fact, he’s yet to make a single catch, but he opens up some options for the Lions moving forward.

A group starting with Kerryon Johnson, who was only averaging 3.3 yards per carry before his injury along with McKissic and Ty Johnson, can do more of the pass-catching. It allows Scarbrough to close out football games on the ground late in when defenses are tired, and the Lions are leading.