Lions coach Matt Patricia joined the Rich Eisen show this week to talk about a number of topics. One of the more interesting points came when Patricia was asked about the battle between Kerryon Johnson and D’Andre Swift for the starting running back job.
Johnson has been the primary starter in both his seasons in Detroit when he’s been healthy, though that has been an issue. Swift is the team’s second-round pick and a very promising runner from Georgia who figures to see extensive action right away.
After joking that he was “good with the quarterback”, Patricia downplayed the importance of anyone being labeled a “starter” and instead brought up the competition and teamwork interplay.
“For me, we’re going to try to play whoever is going to help us in that particular play, that particular game, whatever it might be,” the coach said. “If you’re out there for the very first play, or you get out there on the second play, I don’t really understand what the difference is in a starter in that case.”
Patricia is ready to see how Swift fits and hinted at using multiple running backs in the same set, something the team has not done on more than a gimmick basis since the heyday of Reggie Bush and Joique Bell.
“We’re excited to be able to acquire Swift and get him on our team and seeing what he can do. Sometimes you put two or three running backs out there. We will see what happens.”
