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Detroit Lions: Ameer Abdullah shines against New York Jets

By Nick Ziegler

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The Detroit Lions were able to start out the 2015 preseason with an impressive 23-3 victory against the New York Jets.

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The Jets came into the game after a difficult week in the news, as their starting quarterback Geno Smith was punched in the face which required surgery. It couldn’t have been easy for the Jets to be ready for this game just two days after the locker room altercation, and the final score would support that.

One of the biggest stars of the game for the Lions was rookie running back Ameer Abdullah.

Abdullah was selected in the second-round of the 2015 NFL Draft, as the Lions were looking to go in a new direction in their backfield. With Reggie Bush no longer on the Lions, Abdullah has been talked about as a possible starting running back in 2015.

At Nebraska, Abdullah totaled 4,588 rushing yards, 39 rushing touchdowns, and a 5.6 yards per carry average. In the passing game, Abdullah also played well, as he totaled 73 receptions, 690 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns in four seasons.

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In his senior season, Abdullah was fantastic, as he totaled 1,611 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns, and a 6.1 yards per carry average.

Abdullah was drafted to the Lions with some expectations to perform in his rookie season.

His main competition for carries in 2015 will be Joique Bell. Bell has been a big part of the Lions’ offense for the past two seasons, but his numbers don’t jump off the page. In the past two seasons, Bell has averaged under four yards per carry, while having over 150 carries each year.

Bell is recovering from offseason surgeries, which has allowed Abdullah to get a lot of reps in practice. Those extra reps for Abdullah paid dividends against the Jets in the Lions’ preseason opener.

Against the Jets, Abdullah carried the ball seven times for 67 rushing yards in an impressive debut. Abdullah’s best play came on a 45-yard run midway through the first quarter. On the run, Abdullah shook Demario Davis out of his shoes near the line of scrimmage, but Darrelle Revis was able to tackle him as the last line of defense.

Bell is expected to begin practicing soon, but Abdullah has certainly already made his impression on the coaching staff. Even though it was a preseason game, Abdullah performed well in his debut, which can be nerve racking for players.

Last season, the Lions ranked 28th in the NFL in total team rushing yards, as they totaled just 1,422 rushing yards on the season. With Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Golden Tate, an improved running game could make the Lions’ offense even better in 2015.

Depending on the health of Bell, the Lions look like they will have a much-improved running game in 2015. Abdullah still has a lot to prove, but Week 1 of the preseason was a big step in the right direction.

Next: 5 keys to success for the Lions in 2015

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