NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Sunday’s Game Will Test Detroit Lions Rushing Attack

By Joe Chapp

facebooktwitterreddit

The Detroit Lions re-tooled, and overhauled a good portion of their offense to better suit a running game. At the draft they grabbed, Manny Ramirez in a trade from Denver. They drafted Laken Thomlinson out of Duke in the first round, and drafted Ameer Abdullah in the second.

ALSO ON SPIN ZONE: Who Is The Greatest RB In NFL History?

It’s clear the Lions are trying to become a more balanced team, after ranking 28th in rushing a year ago. Detroit did enough to make the necessary adjustments  to try, and become more balanced.

Since Matthew Stafford has took the helm of the Lions quarterback duties he hasn’t had a good enough running game. In 2013 Detroit had the 17th best rushing attack in football, there’s just one problem.

More from Detroit Lions

That year the Lions also ranked 1st in drops.

Detroit has never had the prolific offense that can win games, too often they were unbalanced teams knew what Detroit do.

People will routinely bring up 2011. A year in which the Lions went 10-6, and while they made the playoffs, and were top five in offense they were completely set up to fail.

Never mind a defense that ranked 23rd, and gave Matt Flynn his magical contract. The Lions ranked 29th in rushing in 2011, teams knew what they’d do.

It’s not rocket science, running the ball is beneficial to most quarterbacks in the NFL. For a quarterback like Stafford, running the ball would be beneficial.

Out of the last five Super Bowl Champions, New York Giants had the worst running game ranking 32nd.

For some QB’s running the ball is something that is a need come playoff time, and a majority of those teams who didn’t rush well in the season ran better in their playoff runs.

The Detroit Lions are trying to adjust to the style of being a balanced teams after all, Caldwell took over on the Ravens Super Bowl run where they heavily used the run.

Just like Joe Flacco, Stafford might also benefit from a run game that would lead to success as a team.

Often the blame is lied unfairly on the shoulders of Matthew Stafford, who hasn’t had a good enough cast around him to do anything big.

The Lions thought process shows the change in the philosophy as a team, putting up cute passing numbers isn’t the answer. The Lions have certainly learned by going, and trying to improve their running game.

Detroit is heading to San Diego a team who couldn’t stop the run last year that ranked 28th last season. The test is the Lions must show they have improved the rushing game, by rushing over an inferior rush defense in San Diego.

Detroit might be without their star linebacker DeAndre Levy, who is rumored to be out Sunday. The best thing to do would be rush the ball, and have San Diego keep their offense off the field.

The Lions are looking to go back to the playoffs something they haven’t done consectively since 1994-95. In the end the result primarily starts with Matthew Stafford. However with an improved rushing attack the Lions could reach levels they haven’t seen in over a decade playoff success.

Next: Stafford's Last Chance?

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Detroit Lions