With First Two Picks, Lions Make Clear Their Intention Of Improving Run Game
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
ALLEN PARK - With their first three moves of the NFL draft, the Detroit Lions backed up their talk about plans to improve their run game, which ranked 28th in the league last season.
First, the Lions traded down in the first round from the No. 23 pick to the No. 28 pick, and in the trade they acquired veteran guard Manny Ramirez from the Denver Broncos. With the 28th selection, the Lions took Duke guard Laken Tomlinson.
After beefing up the offensive line with those moves on the first day of the draft, the Lions took Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah with their second-round pick.
Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said the team took Abdullah because he was the best player available according to Detroit's draft board, but the selection also filled a major need in an area the Lions have spoken extensively about improving.
"Running the ball is really important, obviously," Mayhew said. "Get the other team off the field, the other offense off the field, possessing the ball is important, the ability to close out games running the football, and we did that a few times last year, but we've got to get better running it.
"We need more balance, and we've needed that for some time," Mayhew added. "We're working on that this offseason."
Mayhew agreed there are some similarities between Abdullah and veteran Reggie Bush, whom the Lions released after an injury-plagued 2014 season in which Bush struggled to produce.
"I think both of them are guys that can function in space," Mayhew said. "Reggie is probably a little bit more developed as a receiver right now, but as I said, this guy's just a rookie coming in. He'll get better in that area."
Abdullah had no desire Friday to compare himself to Bush.
"I think there's only one Reggie Bush, and I hope to prove that there's only one Ameer Abdullah," Abdullah said. "In my years of living, watching college football and watching Reggie during his career, he's one of the most electrifying guys I've ever seen."
Along with a lackluster run game in 2014, the Lions struggled in their special teams last season, and the selection of Abdullah should provide a boost in that area as well. Mayhew said Detroit will use Abdullah in the run game but also in the return game.
Mayhew said Abdullah's versatility, particularly his ability to contribute as a return man, was one element that made the Lions rate him above other running backs who were still available. Shoring up special teams was a priority, with coordinator Joe Marciano making it known a while back that he wanted to bring in someone to compete with incumbent return man Jeremy Ross.
"There was a number of areas that we just thought we were lacking a little bit," Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said. "Some of it has to do with the blocking as well. There's a lot of phases that go into it, but nevertheless, I do think that obviously we have to be better in that area. We were ranked extremely low in almost every category, and that's got to be an area of improvement for us."
