The Detroit Lions have had a major roster turnover this offseason with trading former QB Mattew Stafford, losing Kenny Golladay, and Marvin Jones Jr. ESPN & Vegas odds do not like the Lions roster ranking dead last in the NFC and second worst in the NFL. D’ Andrew Swift receives some love from former RB and current NFL Network analyst Marice Jones Drew. Former Lions great running back Barry Sanders really loves the Lions new regime. MicroMike breaks down the latest news of the Lions.
Ready or not, D’Andre Swift will be the top running back for the Detroit Lions in his second season with the team. One former successful NFL back believes Swift has the ability to make a major leap in 2021.
Maurice Jones-Drew, who once rushed for over 4,000 yards in a three-year stretch, ranked Swift at No. 22 in his preseason listing of the top RBs for each team. And while that might seem a little low for Swift, it’s clear from the ranking and how Jones-Drew presents Detroit’s second-round pick from 2020 that he sees potential for a lot more.
Swift’s rookie season was a mixed bag with a few big performances but more subpar outings. The Lions can’t afford for their rushing attack to have a lull that stretches on for a while. Swift, a talented and versatile weapon out of the backfield, must find consistency and make a major Year 2 leap in Anthony Lynn’s offense.
Jones-Drew’s commentary is fair. Swift did have an inconsistent rookie season. He broke the 100-yard mark on just 14 carries against the Jaguars but managed just one measly yard on six carries against the Colts two weeks later.
He rushed for 521 yards at a 4.6 yards per carry clip while splitting time with both Adrian Peterson and Kerryon Johnson. They’re both gone now, leaving Swift ahead of newcomer Jamaal Williams as the Lions’ top ground threat.
It’s worth noting that Jones-Drew has Swift ranked ahead of the likes of Melvin Gordon, Miles Sanders and Mike Davis, each of whom was more productive a year ago.
The hiring of Campbell, executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes in addition to all the new faces in Motown makes Sanders — still the Lions’ biggest star — “feel different” about this group that things are going to turn around soon.
After playing through many tough seasons, Sanders can certainly relate to the changes and knows Campbell and Holmes have a big challenge ahead.
“Well, it’s a great opportunity for the new regime. So many great sports moments have happened here in Detroit. There’s been hockey championships, baseball championships, basketball championships, but Detroit is definitely a football town,” Sanders said. “And there’s a thirst and a hunger to win and hopefully they are the guys that can get it done. I know the town is excited and we know that their work is cut out for them, but if it was easy, everyone would be able to do it. So hopefully they’re the guys.”
The Lions are still trying to establish an identity, particularly at Sanders’ old position, and are leaning heavily on second-year running back D’Andre Swift.
Detroit’s run game thrived with Sanders, who rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his 10 seasons, including 2,053 yards in 1997. Since 1998, they’ve been arguably the worst running team in the league. The Lions haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Reggie Bush in 2013, the longest active drought in the league, per ESPN Stats & Information.
Source:
Jeff Ridson, Lions Wire
Eric Woodyard, ESPN
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