One of the biggest criticisms of the Detroit Lions 2017 draft class is that they didn’t select a runningback. The Lions had a chance at landing some of the top backs in the class, but decided the current crop of Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner, and Dwayne Washington are more than serviceable. Or maybe not.
Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson reports the Lions are one of two teams in play for former Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount. From Robinson:
League sources said at least two teams are squarely in play for Blount now that the draft has ended: The Detroit Lions and New York Giants, two franchises that are still mulling the addition of a bell-cow running back to eat up some early-down and short-yardage carries next season.
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Blount, 30, has been on a lot of Lions fans radars the entire offseason. The Lions sturggled picking up first downs in short yardage situations last year, and there may be no better 3rd-and-short runningback in the league then Blount. He is also a beast near the goal line, evidenced by his league-leading 18 rushing touchdowns last season. To put it in perspective, the Lions have only had 16 rushing touchdowns combined the past two seasons. His 3.9 yards per carry last season would have rated him second on the Lions behind Abdullah, who carried the ball just 18 times last year.
There should be an err of confidence for Lions fans seeing as how Detroit does offer a better chance to win than the Giants do, and Blount would have a clearly defined role here in Detroit, and a sizable one at that.
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Blount would offer a nice change of pace and a three-headed monster of him, Abdullah, and Riddick in the backfield is something that no opposing defenses want to see. We’ve already spent our offseason upgrading the offensive line, which should help the running game regardless, but being able to convert those 3rd-and-4th-and-ones will extend drives, keep the defense off the field, and add wins.
