The Detroit Lions went through running backs last season the way Spinal Tap went through drummers. It’s a wonder none of the eight running backs spontaneously combusted during a game.
Yet the Lions cobbled together a respectable run game that averaged 103.1 yards, 21st in the NFL.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t serious concerns.
Promising third-year player Kerryon Johnson averages 4.5 yards per carry, but he hasn’t played more than 10 games in either of his first two seasons. Power back Bo Scarbrough, promoted from the practice squad Nov. 16, was a late-season revelation when he averaged 4.