The Detroit Lions have not run the ball effectively in 2019. They’re 18th in yards per game on the ground at 98.7 through the first three weeks, but the Lions are 27th in yards per carry at just 3.4 (tied with Green Bay) despite being No. 8 in the percentage of offensive plays that are designed runs (44.4%).
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell would like more success and efficiency from his run game. But he’s not upset with the outcomes and feels the team is very close to a breakout. He talked optimistically about the Lions run offense in his Week 4 press conference.
“We’ve actually had some really nice blocked plays,” Bevell told the gathered reporters. “What I really feel like is we’re just one guy away. I feel like there has been a lot of instances where we’ve had 10-out-of-11 doing the thing that we need them to do, so if we can just get that one last little piece fit in there, then it’s going to start going.”
When asked to clarify if he was referring to one specific player or a blocking mistake, Bevell explained his answer.
“Maybe a little combination, but just one guy just coming off at the wrong time,” the OC stated. “We’ve looked at it, we’ve coached it up with our guys, and I think they’re all on board. There’s a lot of great things that are going on on the tape, and we just need to get that last little piece to go. I think it will really help us.”
This week presents a golden opportunity. The Kansas City Chiefs bring the NFL’s worst run defense to Ford Field. Opponents average 6.2 yards per carry against the Chiefs defense, nearly a yard more than any other team allows.
