New RB Johnson Needs An O-Line, Just Like Every Back In History Not Named Barry Sanders

As far as I'm concerned, the only running back I ever saw that didn't need the benefit of an offensive line was Barry Sanders. Barry was also the only runner I know who showed you something that you'd never seen before -- every single week. Most of it, I'll bet that you've never seen since. Or ever will, again.

So it's nice that the Lions have continued their relentless pursuit of a running game by inking RB Rudi Johnson, the erstwhile Bengals back. He worked out for the team over the weekend, looked good by all accounts, and has the locker room abuzz. Johnson's signing might mean the end -- again -- of Tatum Bell's future in Detroit. Poor Tatum.

Of course, Johnson won't help the Lions, and nor will rookie Kevin Smith, or Bell, or the other rookie, Marcus Thomas -- not at all, if the o-line doesn't get its act together. Barry's long gone, and gone with him is that not-human-way he had of making tacklers miss, even those who didn't have to bother with the annoyance of being blocked.

When Sanders left the Lions on the eve of training camp in 1999, we knew that we'd never see the likes of him again. But I don't think we truly believed that the Lions would never have a running game again, some nine years later. But with the exception of a decent James Stewart year in the early part of this century, and a hot second half by Kevin Jones in 2004, the Lions' running game has been mostly non-existent. It's another of those downers that's coincided with the Matt Millen Era, but this one is strange because Millen, as a player and a broadcaster, was a big proponent of smash mouth football. Yet he's fashioned a team built on finesse and tippy toes.

New offensive coordinator Jim Colletto seems to be connecting to his players, and the o-line is also committed to chewing up clock and running the football. Yes, it's one thing to say and another to do; but in the past it hasn't even been said all that much -- at least not by the right people.


New Lions RB Rudi Johnson


A word now about Smith, the rookie from Central Florida. There's a certain brashness about him that I like. It's not Roy Williams-like, which I think is largely for show as opposed to being anything substantive. Smith, in training camp, wasn't shy to talk about how he plans on bringing the Lions their running game, all by himself if need be, and that he sees himself as another Adrian Peterson type. I was impressed with his ability to be confident without appearing to be obnoxious or talking out of the wrong orifice, if you know what I mean.

I like the Rudi Johnson signing because the Lions saw that they still had a need, even after camp and the exhibition season, and weren't afraid to add another player after the roster was supposedly "set." Plus, he has history in the league as being a productive player. I don't know the terms of the one-year deal, but I'm guessing they didn't break the bank, either.

It would appear as if the Lions are headed in the right direction. They addressed needs in the secondary, and while they may be a little D-line heavy and LB thin, the overall defense should be improved. They drafted a beast of an OT in the first round. They acquired some runners. They laid off the receiving corps for a change. I'd still like to see a backup QB with NFL experience, but I guess we'll just have to hope for another injury-free year from Jon Kitna, which would be three years in a row -- and that's rolling the dice in today's NFL.

I'm not a prediction guy, but I think we're still looking at 7-9, 8-8. The Lions may be a better team this year than they were in 2007 yet end up with much the same record. It's a year where their development shouldn't be solely judged by the won-loss record.