Detroit Lions: Expectations for Ameer Abdullah in 2015

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Aug 28, 2015

While it remains to be seen what running back Ameer Abdullah will accomplish for the Detroit Lions this upcoming season, he’s definitely got a good attitude heading into 2015. If preseason football is any indication, Abdullah has the potential to really be a catalyst on the Lions’ offense. He had a great game in Week 1 against the New York Jets with 45 rushing yards and 9.6 yards per carry but his second preseason game against the Washington Redskins, spoke a different tune in which he handled it well.

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Against the Redskins, Abdullah rushed for just four yards and 3.5 yards per carry as other members on the depth chart at running back got more reps to see what they got. Of course nothing much comes out of preseason football other than seeing players fight for roster spots and teams work out any and all kinks with their overall game planning.

For Abdullah, it’s an early glimpse that not only can he play up to his potential but also has no problems sharing the workload for the overall benefit of the team. It’s a great mentality to have since there is no doubt that once the regular season arrives, he will be leading the pack at running back thanks to his speed and ability to read defenses well.

It’s expected that the Lions will have a running back committee this upcoming season featuring Abdullah, Theo Riddick and Joique Bell that should definitely bring a nice dimension on offense. To have a three-headed monster at running back capable of keeping those chains moving will make life much easier for quarterback Matthew Stafford and the rest of what should be a high-octane offense.

In an article written by Conor Orr of NFL.com, here is what Abdullah had to say about what truly is a top priority for him and the rest of his teammates:

"“We have a lot of team-oriented goals for this team in the future. We want to be a playoff team. We want to go far into the playoffs. Taking that into account, there’s certain things necessary to get that team there, and if that’s to be a running back team by committee, I’m going to be that guy. And when I’m in, I’m going to make sure I make an impact.”"

Aug 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) carries the ball as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Perry Riley (56) and Redskins defensive tackle Stephen Paea (90) make the tackle in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Needless to say, Abdullah could be that one missing piece the Lions have needed at running back in quite some time. Establishing a solid running game not only alleviates the pressure off the shoulders of Stafford but also puts the Lions in a much better position to have better game management and be put in a position to win close football games due to a potent rushing attack.

It’s also good to see that the Lions won’t overwork Abdullah since there really is no need to have him be their only workhorse. Riddick should also handle a good amount of reps at running back and once Bell is fully healed from injury, he will also be able to step in and deliver. The Lions could actually have a top-5 rushing attack if everything falls right into place.

Overall, expect to see Abdullah be a nice surprise in 2015 and do his part to establish the Lions’ running game to the point where it’ll throw off even the most stout defenses. He’s got the skill-set to be an overachiever and is anxious for the regular season to finally get here to prove his worth to his teammates that he also wants to do anything needed for overall success.

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