Detroit Lions: Ameer Abdullah Chases Expectations in 2016

After failing to meet high expectations set for him in the 2015 preseason, Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah chases those goals into 2016.

We all remember the Ameer Abdullah hype train don’t we? He burst onto the scene for the Detroit Lions in his first preseason gain totaling 67 yards on just 7 carries. He followed that up by scoring a 24 yard touchdown up the middle of the San Diego Chargers defense on his first career NFL carry. The sky was the limit for this kid, and he was ready to be the best rookie running back in the NFL in 2015.

He then hit a bit of a slump, failing to reach 50 rushing yards again until Week 11, and finding the end zone only once more on the ground and once in the passing game. He was the Lions leader in rushing, but managed only 597 yards for the season, good for 34th in the league. Add in Abdullah’s 5 fumbles and its clear that he didn’t have the spectacular season some hoped he would after he shined early.

That’s not unusual for rookies as they try to find their stride in the NFL, but Abdullah still finished behind Todd Gurley, Thomas Rawls, TJ Yeldon, and Melvin Gordon in rushing yards, and it could be argue that David Johnson, Jeremy Langford, Matt Jones, and Karlos Williams all had more successful seasons despite not being their team’s No. 1 rushing option. Abdullah was Detroit’s No. 1 option though, and he failed to offer enough production.

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Now he heads into 2016, and he’s looking to be the team’s starting running back once again. He’s recovering from shoulder surgery this offseason, but Detroit didn’t do anything that suggests they want to go a different direction for their leading ball-carrier. They added Stevan Ridley but he’s declined due to injuries in the last few years and may not be a real competitor for the job. Seventh round pick Dwayne Washington is a wild-card but its unlikely he has a real shot at high playing time in his rookie year.

Interestingly, many of the backs on this Lions team have struggled with ball security, as Ridley had 8 through two season in New England a few years ago, Abdullah had 5 last year, and rookie Washington had 10 in only 227 career carries in college. It could be the ability to hold on to the ball that decides how long Abdullah will hold on to the starting spot and how much of an opportunity these new additions will get.

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell has already expressed faith in Abdullah’s improvement for 2016:

"“If there’s anybody who is going to improve,” Caldwell said (via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com)“he’s going to improve.”"

Abdullah will need to improve if he wants to hold on to his starting spot, and the Lions need him to improve after they struggled mightily to run the football in 2015. They were ninth in the NFL in passing yardage but dead last in rushing yardage, pushing them to 20th in terms of total offense. Matthew Stafford needs a much more balanced offense or he has no shot at success.

Excluding his injury-shortened 2010 season, Matthew Stafford has had a different leading rusher in every year that he’s been in the league. The only time a running back has reached 1,000 yards alongside Matthew Stafford was Reggie Bush in 2013. This is certainly due to an offensive style that has relied heavily on the pass, but the team needs to be able to run the ball more effectively, especially with Calvin Johnson now gone.

Perhaps finding someone else to return kicks would help Abdullah’s offense after he lead the league in total returns and return yardage in 2015. Those touches are helpful for the team, but the extra few yards he may give them on a possession may not be worth the wear and tear on his body and the energy he has to expend. Whatever the solution, the team needs to find ways to get him the ball on offense and give him the opportunity to make the plays we saw him make last preseason and in his regular season debut.

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Ameer Abdullah is going to get another chance this season, and he has to seize the Lion by the mane and earn the starting job or he may not get another chance. Some believe that Stafford’s window in Detroit is closing soon after failing to win a playoff game in the seven seasons since he was taken with the first overall draft pick in 2009, and I have to see their point. Hopefully Abdullah can do enough to help the Lions to a successful offense in 2016.

He wasn’t able to live up to the preseason hype last year, but I still think he has the skills to do it. Staying healthy and hanging onto the football are the keys to Abdullah’s 2016 season, and Abdullah’s success is vital to the Lions season. Hopefully they can figure it out together.