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The post-Barry Sanders Detroit Lions and a running game go together like oil and vinegar. Try as they might every season http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-taylor-decker-jersey , but the Lions just cannot seem to establish the run. They’ve tried back after back and even offensive lineman after offensive lineman, but nothing seems to work.However, there finally seems to be some hope in Detroit. The Lions have a slew of talented backs headed into 2018, and many believe general manager Bob Quinn added the final piece of the offensive line puzzle by drafting Arkansas center/guard Frank Ragnow with his first-round pick this year. Throw in a brand-new, experienced offensive line coach and an exciting rookie running back and there’s reasonable justification to be excited about a running game in Detroit.But how high should expectations be after finishing as the league’s worst rushing attack over the past three years? How high could this running attack rank in 2018? To answer these questions, we went back to Football Outsiders’ Scott Kacsmar for some answers. If you missed Part 1 of our interview about head coach Matt Patricia’s bend-don’t-break defense, check it out there. Question 2. The Lions finally have some optimism surrounding their running game. What are realistic expectations for improvement in one offseason? Kacsmar: Kerryon Johnson was an exciting draft pick, and LeGarrette Blount seems to produce everywhere he goes except for Pittsburgh. The backs always get the headlines, but this was really more of an offensive line issue. The line ranked 21st or worse in adjusted line yards in every direction (left end, left tackle, mid/guard, right tackle, right end). No one had good rushing statistics behind that line last season. You have to hope that Taylor Decker stays healthy at left tackle, and that rookie Frank Ragnow is as good as advertised. They’re a much better line on paper this year, but it’s also true that players like T.J. Lang and Ricky Wagner are just better suited in pass protection. It’s still going to be more about Matthew Stafford and the receivers, but Detroit definitely needs to see a boost in the running game. Too many resources have gone into the offensive line and backfield for things to not improve there.For more content from Football Outsiders, check out their store Golden Tate III Jersey , which includes their always fabulous Almanac.Wednesday’s topic: Can the Lions’ defense succeed without a pass rush?Detroit Lions 53-man roster prediction: Preseason Week 3 depth chart The NFL is changing, and those changes have begun to bleed into things we consider normal in the preseason. With the Chicago Bears outright refusing to play starters in the third preseason game and others drastically cutting back on starter play, it won’t be too long before our first glimpse of the team’s starters is in Week 1 of the regular season. We aren’t there yet, however, and this week’s victory against the Buccaneers gave us a pretty good idea of where a majority of the roster stands. So we’re going to take another crack at a guess, with bolded players making the roster.QuarterbacksMatthew StaffordMatt CasselJake RudockChanges: NoneThis looks the same as it did in my last prediction and indeed in every prediction I’ve made since Matt Cassel was signed. That Rudock didn’t rep until late in the game against the Bucs is pretty telling, but the final nail will be watching Jake Rudock playing most of the final preseason game. He had a decent run, but this is likely the end. Running backsKerryon JohnsonLeGarrette BlountTheo RiddickAmeer AbdullahFB Nick Bawden (IR)FB Nick BelloreZach ZennerDwayne WashingtonChanges: NoneI stand by my previous assertion that Kerryon Johnson will be the starter sooner than later with Blount getting a large volume of carries and Riddick in his normal role. Ameer Abdullah continues to be used like someone who has a role in the offense, while that’s less true for Nick Bellore. When Nick Bawden went down for the season, I had assumed the team would bring in another true fullback to take his place, but they’ve mainly rolled with Bellore. Bellore’s role on special teams is still solid, but they’ve barely used him this preseason as a lead blocker and when they have it hasn’t been great.Wide receiverMarvin Jones Jr.Golden TateKenny GolladayTJ JonesBrandon PowellBradley MarquezJace BillingsleyTeo ReddingChris LacyDontez FordBrian BrownChanges: Powell and Marquez up, Billingsley and Redding down. While there has been no movement at the top, there’s been a bit of shuffling among the rest of the group. Brandon Powell’s emergence into the Jace Billingsley role of taking short dump-offs and slants for solid gains has pushed him up the depth chart while Marquez’s and Redding’s intermediate field ability is completely wasted with Matt Cassel and Jake Rudock having to heave with all their might to get the ball five yards downfield. Tight endsLuke WillsonHakeem VallesLevine ToiloloMichael RobertsSean McGrathMarcus LucasChanges: Valles way up, Roberts downWhile we thought, at first, that this group was all locked up Authentic Sylvester Williams Jersey , they went ahead and made it tough for us. Luke Willson is still the presumed starter, but Hakeem Valles has made it tough to keep him off the field. Levine Toilolo has a role due to his upper-tier blocking, but Michael Roberts has done everything in his power to play his way off of the roster. What little value Sean McGrath brought to special teams isn’t enough for a roster spot while Marcus Lucas’ only real hope is to latch on as a practice squadder. Offensive lineLT Taylor DeckerLG Frank RagnowOC Graham GlasgowRG T.J. LangRT Rick WagnerReserves:Tyrell Crosby (OT/OG)Leo Koloamatangi (OC/OG)Corey Robinson (OT/OG)Wesley Johnson (OC/OG)Kenny Wiggins (OG/OC)Joe Dahl (OT/OG/OC)Brian Mihalik (OT)John Montelus (OG)Dan Skipper (TP (tall person))Beau Nunn (OG)Jamar McGloster(OT)Changes: None to starters, Crosby and Koloamatangi up, Wiggins way downThis is a group I have very little faith in, both faith in predicting it and faith in its value if called upon. Tyrell Crosby looks like a steal if his college injury concerns don’t creep up, while Koloamatangi has been one of the Lions’ best players for a second preseason in a row, if only against reserve players. Beyond that, it’s varying degrees of bad. Defensive EndsEzekiel AnsahAnthony ZettelKerry HyderCam JohnsonJeremiah ValoagaChanges: Cornelius Washington cut, Cam Johnson upNot the most inspiring group, but it is what it is. Zettel and Hyder have looked promising, which is a good thing, but mostly only when flipped inside on passing downs. Cam Johnson has been uninspiring, but they’re really repping him like someone who’s making the team. Valoaga is likely headed back to the practice squad.Defensive TackleRicky Jean FrancoisDa’Shawn HandA’Shawn RobinsonJeremiah LedbetterChristian RingoChanges: Hand up, Robinson downOur prediction of Hand becoming a starter soon seemed to be as close as you can come to confirmed against the Bucs when he started alongside Francois in four-down sets and was on the field a ton. The big story is A’Shawn Robinson who has been put in a very favorable position this offseason but has managed to lose ground at every step. After being a huge part of the defense in 2017, he may be relegated to obvious run situations only.Nose TackleSylvester WilliamsToby JohnsonJosh FatuChanges: NoneNothing new here. Williams is coming off his best action this preseason and camp, so hopefully that’s a good sign. Pass Rushing LinebackerDevon KennardAlex BarrettEli HaroldFreddie BishopChanges: Eli Harold addedNot a lot of movement in terms of who’s repping where Youth Jarrad Davis Jersey , but the addition of Eli Harold is going to make things a bit interesting. Devon Kennard figures to be a big part of the defense, but his play hasn’t justified that move so far. It leaves room for someone else to step up, but who makes that move?LinebackerJarrad DavisChristian JonesJalen Reeves-MaybinJonathan FreenySteve Longa (IR)Miles KillebrewChad MeredithDarnell SankeyTrevor BatesChanges: Longa to IR, Killebrew to LBNo significant changes in this group aside from injury, but holy cow have they been bad. Christian Jones and Jarrad Davis were competing to see who could make the most boneheaded plays against the Buccaneers while Jalen Reeves-Maybin has continued to look like a steep regression in coverage is likely. It’s a bad sign for him, but opens the door for Miles Killebrew to sneak back into roster safety now that he’s joined this group. But again, holy crap this group is bad from top to bottom.CornerbackDarius SlayDeShawn SheadQuandre Diggs (Nickel)Nevin LawsonJamal Agnew (Nickel)Teez TaborMike FordChris JonesSterling MooreDexter McDougleJosh OkonyeChanges: No movement in order, but a bunch of churning at the bottomOnce thought to be a strength, this group was thrashed by Ryan Fitzpatrick. Even Slay put on a bad showing, though it wasn’t nearly the horror show Nevin Lawson put on. Despite the poor game, Slay is still a top-tier cornerback, but the rest of this unit looks nearly as bad as the linebackers. SafetyGlover QuinTavon WilsonTracy WalkerCharles WashingtonRolan MilliganMarcus CromartieChanges: Added CromartieThe addition of Marcus Cromartie does nothing to this unit. They’ve actually performed alright, but the lack of pass rush is going to cause them fits as the season goes on.Special TeamsLS. Don MuhlbachK. Matt PraterP. Sam MartinK. Ryan SantosoNothing to see here.
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