The Detroit Lions cut the cord on David Montgomery early in the offseason. He had already taken a backseat to Jahmyr Gibbs in the second half of last season, and while that didn't necessarily help the team, he wasn't willing to embrace that role.
Considering that, the Lions signed Isiah Pacheco to a one-year, $1.8 million deal to be Gibbs' new sidekick. The 'Sonic and Knuckles' era was officially over, with Pacheco bringing a different, more physical profile to the mix.
On paper, Pacheco could be just what this team needs in goal-line situations. However, after watching him struggle the past couple of years with the Kansas City Chiefs, he might be on a short leash during training camp.
Isiah Pacheco must step up for the Detroit Lions
Pacheco became a fan favorite in Kansas City almost right away. He was the ultimate underdog, an unknown seventh-round pick who made a name for himself with his angry carries, running like the field had stolen his lunch money.
Unfortunately, that was unsustainable in the long run. Ultimately, injuries caught up to him, and once he lost his burst and explosiveness, he became a bit of a one-trick pony and wasn't really efficient for Andy Reid's team.
He's back to full strength, and for the first time in his career, he'll get just a handful of carries behind a true superstar. That can either help him stay healthy and fresh and be more efficient or hurt him because he won't get into a rhythm.
Whatever the case, the margin for error will be pretty close to zero. Even if Sione Vaki doesn't look like a threat on paper, he's been with the team longer, and the Lions won't hesitate to shake things up if the newcomer doesn't make the most of his opportunities.
The Lions have more than enough weapons on offense, and they should be able to find a great balance between the passing and the running game. That said, they're about to reset the running back market with Jahmyr Gibbs' new contract extension.
The running game will be paramount to their success, and while Gibbs should be able to handle most of the heavy lifting, Pacheco will also play a pivotal role as his primary backup. That starts in training camp, and if he looks like the sluggish back who couldn't even crack 4.0 yards per carry last season, this team should have little incentive to keep him around for much longer.
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