Detroit Lions – Five things to know about the running game moving forward

Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick (25) is tackled by New Orleans Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

By Paula Pasche | The Oakland Press

PUBLISHED: January 10, 2017 at 12:18 p.m. | UPDATED: June 17, 2021 at 6:41 a.m.

For the Lions’ offense to thrive, the run game must succeed.

It was an issue in 2015 and again in 2016.

The absence of Ameer Abdullah since Week 3, along with six games missed by Theo Riddick played a huge role in the failure for the season that just ended with a wild-card playoff loss to the Seahawks.

“I think any time you can run the football it helps you win games, it helps you control the pace of the game maybe late in the game, it helps you lock up a win,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “Especially late in the season we didn’t do a great job of running the ball consistently it’s an area we’ll work on and get better at.”

The numbers were actually worse this year averaging 81.0 rushing yards per game (ranked 30th in the NFL) and 3.7 yards per carry (27th in the NFL). In 2015 they averaged 83.4 yards per game (dead last in NFL) and 3.8 yards per carry (25th in NFL).

The top four running backs going into next season are Abdullah, Riddick, Zach Zenner and Dwayne Washington.

Five things to know about the running game:

1. It will be an issue again in the offseason. “There’s been sometimes when you think at least you have some portion of it headed in the right direction and then we have a bit of a setback,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “So yeah, that’s an area that’s certainly very important to us because we have not been very good at that consistently. So we’ve just got to keep working at it.”

2. Abdullah underwent foot surgery and could not return after the injury occurred in Week 2. He expects to be ready for spring workouts that start in April. He also thinks he can still be the lead back. “Definitely, coming into this league I had no other plans but to be a premier NFL back in this league,” Abdullah said. “I know I will be. It just takes patience, prayer and it takes diligence. Coming from these injuries it’s that much more important to me.” In his two games this year he had 18 carries for 101 yards, along with five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. Stafford said it was tough losing Abdullah because he appeared poised for a good year, The quarterback still has faith in the running back. “He can for sure help us no question,” Stafford said. “You guys saw it the first couple games of the year, when he touched the ball he’s an electric guy. Not only carrying the ball out of the backfield but he’s a good receiver as well.”

3. Teammates still believe in Riddick and Abdullah. “You look back at what Theo and Ameer brought to the table, those are guys who can run 80 yards from the backfield but those are also guys – I love our chances against a linebacker 10 out of 10 days. I don’t care if you find the best cover linebacker or safety I don’t think they can cover Ameer or Theo,” wide receiver Golden Tate said. “Not having those guys there in the backfield and running our option routes – (injuries are) a part to the game, that just means the receivers and tight ends need to step up more and we didn’t do that this year. That’s one thing I’m going to take personally.”

4. With Abdullah and Riddick out, for a while rookie Dwayne Washington was the No. 1 back. The seventh-round pick has got some work to do with finding holes and not hesitating at the line of scrimmage. He played in a dozen games with 90 carries for 269 yards (2.9 yards per carry) and one touchdown. He also had 10 catches for 62 yards.

5. Zenner, an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015, got his chances in the final three games and went with it. He had 22 carries for 136 yards and three touchdowns in the final two regular season games. He also had six catches for 66 yard in those games. “This season was good to get all the experience I got. If you look at the opportunities I was given it doesn’t get much better than that in the NFL as far as having the opportunities to show what you can do,” Zenner said. “I’m very appreciative of the opportunities, I’m looking forward to next year.”