What Can We Do about this LAck of a run Game we have ????

He is a hell of a blocker. I don’t understand Linehan’s insistence of abadoning the fullback role. When Heller is used in this capacity, which is rare, he opes a hole for the RB. I’m hoping Linehan uses him more often in the 2nd half.

That’s plenty for our offense’s needs, actually.

Yes, it would be great if this team could run as well as it passes, but the NFL does not really work that way.

Our average yards per rush is 4.1, which is good for 19th in the NFL [tied with the Chiefs and Ravens].

We have a better rushing average than Green Bay, while only rushing for four yards less per game. We are rushing for more yards and a better average than the Jets and Giants, two of the perennial best rushing teams in the NFL.

A team’s rushing game is more than just the #1 RB.

Wait until after we draft some good Lineman next year and see how good our RB’s look.
After a good O-Line Leshoure, Best, & Williams will be a Three headed monster next year.

First off you need to include Jahvid’s receiving numbers in the running game since most of his receptions are actually long hand off runs. Screens, dump offs in the flats, angle routes underneath, etc. When you include his receiving numbers he is just fine, and as a 3rd down / change of pace back he is one of the best in the NFL. Every bit as good as Darren Sproles or Reggie Bush and while not as good as Matt Forte or LeSean McCoy those two are feature backs, not change of pace guys. Jahvid was forced to be more of a feature back because of injuries, that is not his fault, not is it any flaw with him or the schemes he is used in.

I started to do the hindsight thing and bitch about trading up for Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure, and then I stopped. For one it is moot, it don’t matter, the players we drafted are what we have to work with, and I still think there is growth for Jahvid on top of not knowing what Leshoure really brings to the table. I will have to stow away my bitterness about not having Eric Decker and Rodney Hudson.

I feel going forward that it is kind of ironic that the Lions follow a philosophy on defense of drafting guys close to the ball, defensive tackles, because they make more of an impact on every down, but they do not mirror this to the offensive side of the ball. You would think that we would be drafting some offensive linemen instead of receivers, running backs, and special teams line backers based off that same philosophy. I guess it just goes to show that on the offensive side of the ball the philosophy is not the same. However it should be.

Going forward the Lions need a true power blocking center, but a guy who still has the athleticism to pull on zone stretch runs and get out in front on screens. I liked Rodney Hudson last year, and I like Pete Konz this year. Dom is a great guy, a great leader, but he is still the guy out there with the least ability for upside or consistency. Right there with him is right guard Stephen Peterman. In fact this year Peterman has been more of a liability than Raiola. But at Dom’s age, and his impending decline, I would love to see us replace him sooner rather than later. The day we do that is the day I fall off my chair in shock though.

Schwartz had a similar center in Tennessee, Kevin Mawe that was over rated, went to a bunch of pro bowls based off reputation alone, and pretty much sucked for about the last 5 years of his career. Granted that was a Jeff Fisher decision and Schwartz had nothing to do with it, but I wonder if perhaps he is taking a que from his old coach in keeping around a similar player much past his prime.

It is pretty simple, for the Lions to take the next step they need to draft a center, guard, and tackle, and fairly soon too. I added in tackle because I am not sure that Jason Fox can stay healthy enough to be a starting tackle in the NFL.

So in next years draft we go get Pete Konz, then add in a guard somewhere in the mid rounds along with a another developmental left tackle. The guard I am not going to bother speculating on yet because I do not know enough of the guys yet. The tackle I like is Riley Reiff, #77 for Iowa, who was just a part of handing U of M thier arse. He is a junior so I dont know if he will come out yet, but he has the size, athleticism, technique, and durability that I like. He needs to add strength much like Jason Fox did, but that is what you will get in the 3-4 round on a left tackle prospect, all the ones that are starter ready usually go in the first round if not the top 15 picks. Think of Reiff as a healthy Jason Fox. If he comes out I really, really hope the Lions draft him.

For a guard I will say one guy I have my eye on is Kelechi Osemele, from Iowa State, the guy is just a beast in run blocking and he has some pretty sick athleticism for a big guy, he is actually playing left tackle for them this season and holding up pretty decently. He projects to a 2nd round pick.

So there you have it. Draft Pete Konz in the first round, trade up if you have to for Kelechi Osemele, and grab Riley Reiff in the 3rd or 4th. That is if they all enter the draft. But that is how I would fix the Lions run game :P It might take them a year or two for Reiff to develop but Konz could start day one and Osemele would probably take the starting job from Peterman before his rookie year was out if not immediately.

The really great thing about this is that it would help our pass protection a lot too.

Stop worrying about the run game. Geez. Uh, like…how do you say… Basically, our offensive “woes” have not been due to the lack of a run game. If 61% was 67% or more…

Yes, screens and quick passes are considered part of the “running” game, but even without them, the downfield game, when it’s on, is more than enough.

But the best way is to get way ahead and run the clock out getting us more attempts

Domonic has to go. Thank goodness he is gone after this year. Once we dont have DTs in the backfield on run plays it will be easier to run and we will see improvement. Until then we just have to deal with what we have and hope for the best from Best.