On Wednesday, the Detroit Lions shocked just about everybody by announcing that Darrell Bevell would be their next offensive coordinator. Bevell's name was rarely (if at all) mentioned as a potential candidate by the so-called “experts” and it was fun to watch the comments on social media flow in about whether or not it was the right hire.
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One person excited about the hire is Lions' running back Kerryon Johnson. Johnson spoke to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press about his anticipation of playing for Bevell, a coach who has worked with running backs like Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch.
“Hopefully he can see a shade of me in those guys and hopefully that (means he’s) giving me the ball,” Johnson said Thursday. “That’s what every running back wants. But like I said, he’s dealt with a lot of talent, he’s won a lot of games, he’s dealt with a lot of talented players at every position and we want to win, I’m sure he wants to win, and we can get it done together.”
By most accounts, Bevell is a run-first offensive coordinator and that has Johnson hoping it means more touches for him.
“Obviously with my position, that makes me excited and I hope that is the direction we try to go in,” Johnson said. “But regardless of the direction I want us to go in, it’s about the team and how we win games. So if he wants to bring that and that’s where we go with it, that’s where we go with it. If not, if he sees our team go in a different direction and that’s what we do, as long as we win, I’m fine.”
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Johnson, who missed the end of his rookie season with a sprained knee said he is healed up and ready to roll.
“Little bit too late, but it’s nice to be able to bounce back,” he said. “It doesn’t always happen with injuries, knee injuries to be specific, but I’m good now and that’s all that matters.”
During his rookie campaign, Johnson showed flashes of greatness as he rushed for 641 yards (5.4 per attempt) and three touchdowns while adding 213 yards and another touchdown receiving.
If Kerryon can stay healthy, you can bet your bottom dollar that those stats will improve greatly in 2019.
