Detroit Lions – Zach Zenner puts oomph in the run game

Detroit Lions fullback Zach Zenner rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
This Oct. 16, 2016 photo shows Detroit Lions fullback Zach Zenner (34) rushing against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL football game in Detroit. Zenner has become Detroit's No. 1 running back, moving up the depth chart after Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick had season-ending injuries. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski, File)

By Paula Pasche | The Oakland Press

PUBLISHED: January 6, 2017 at 12:58 p.m. | UPDATED: June 17, 2021 at 6:34 a.m.

ALLEN PARK >> For the first 14 games this season, the Lions running game was inconsistent at best.

The top two running backs – Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick – were injured and shut down for the season.

Seventh-round pick Dwayne Washington showed flashes but just wasn’t good enough to handle the load.

All Zach Zenner, who was inactive for the first two games, wanted was a chance. Once he got it, he has made it tough for offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter to take him off the field.

“We’ve played multiple guys this year. Just kind of working through playing a lot of different guys at a lot of different spots, trying to figure out the best way to do it. When guys get their opportunity they make the most of it or they don’t and I think Zach’s got his opportunity and he’s making the most of it right now,” Cooter said.

Look for Zenner to get plenty of work in the Lions’ wild-card game at Seattle on Saturday night.

His teammates are not surprised by his success.

“Zach Zenner brought we all have seen during preseason. He’s a hard runner, he runs hard, he runs with his heart, and we just out there blocking for him,” tight end Eric Ebron said. “I don’t have no problem blocking for Zach Zenner.”

Zenner, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015, coughed up the ball near the goal line in the loss at the N.Y. Giants three weeks ago.

“You don’t lose confidence in a guy because he dropped one ball in that situation. He responded exactly like you’d expect him to respond, with resolve,” coach Jim Caldwell said.

Cooter had enough confidence in him, to give him more and more work in the losses at Dallas and to the Packers.

At the Cowboys, Zenner had a dozen carries for 67 yards and two rushing touchdowns. He also had a pair of catches for 25 yards.

Against Green Bay he 20 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown, along with four catches for 41 yards.

The Lions have nine rushing touchdowns, four of them from Zenner.

“(He’s) doing a good job for us. Really reliable, consistent, running where he’s supposed to, running where the holes are, running where the defense isn’t, you know,” Cooter said. “Holding onto the ball better and better, valuable in the pass game, valuable in protection, does a good job for us and just taking advantage of his opportunity, I think, playing well.”

Zenner, whose nickname is Doc because he’s deferred medical school to play in the NFL, said he’s always been confident in himself.

Plus he’s always had support from those who know him best.

“Personally i don’t believe I’ve had many doubters. If I have I haven’t heard them,” Zenner said. “I have a very supportive family and wife, my inner circle are the people I listen to and they haven’t doubted me for a second.”

The Seahawks have taken note of Zenner in preparation for Sunday’s game.

Defensive end Michael Bennett credits Zenner with the Lions’ improved run game.

“I think it’s the running back. There’s not many white running backs in the NFL, but he has to be the best right now. He’s doing such a great job of cutbacks and hitting the hole. He’s a really good back,” Bennett said in a conference call this week. “I know all the stuff he did in college, three straight seasons of 2,000 yards. I don’t care where you at, if you can do that you got amazing talent. And I think he’s just an amazing running back, the things he can do with the ball. He’s got good balance. He can spin. He can catch it out the backfield. I think he fits the offense perfectly.”

Zenner said he was not offended by Bennett’s comment about him being white.

“You know everyone is entitled to their opinion, it sounds like he said some pretty nice stuff, I’m appreciative of that,” Zenner said. “I think he’s a really good player and we’ve got to face him. He does some stuff that you have to say, ‘Wow’ when you watch the tape.”

Obviously Bennett had done his homework on Zenner who indeed had three straight seasons of 2,000-plus rushing yards at South Dakota State.

“Well there’s no surprise, Zach has been as productive a runner as you could ever find over his history and we have a lot of respect for what he’s capable of doing. He ran hard against us before,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said in a conference call. “He’s given them style and he definitely brings it and we have a lot of regard for what he can do. I’m sure it’s been a good boost for them and as everybody, you know, we all need to keep on that football.”

When the Lions played a Monday night game in Seattle in 2015, Zenner had two carries for nine yards and one catch for four yards.

It gave Zenner a little familiarity with the stadium which is known for its loud fans.

“I think that’s beneficial, there’s quite a few guys on this team that went there and played I think it’s beneficial to know the environment,” Zenner said. “Though even if we were going somewhere new we’d adapt quickly to what the conditions are.”

So now Zenner take another step in his career – his first playoff game.

“It means a lot from the coaching side that they’re willing to give me this opportunity,” Zenner said. “It also means a lot for my career as a player just being able to go in there and have ample opportunities.”