Detroit Lions Weblog

The Lions Cloudy Wide Receiver/Running Back Situation

MLive.com’s “Killer” Kowalski has begun to speculate how exactly the Lions plan to fill out their skill player roster groups when they pare down to the 53 man roster entering the season. Kowalski suggests that the Lions may choose to keep just their four primary receivers, in order to keep either Aveion Cason, Brian Calhoun, or Artose Pinner as kick returners.

The Lions special teams were far from spectacular last season, and none of these players strike me as the kind of game-changing, productive, positive field position type of players that are necessary for NFL success. A Devin Hester, or to refer to ghosts of Lions past, Mel Gray, Glyn Milburn, or even a Desmond Howard is nary to be found among these players.

That being said, if the Lions stick with their four primary receivers (Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Shaun McDonald, and Mike Furrey) it does buy them some crucial developmental time for Kevin Smith, and allows them to sort out their running back situation more completely. The Lions could utilize RB’s Aveion Cason, Brian Calhoun, Tatum Bell, or even TE Casey FitzSimmons in the slot, when the situation dictates, if necessary.

I am eminently more concerned, if they are going to stick with their stated focus upon a solid running attack, that they are able to sort out the roles of each of their backs, and find a way to utilize them to their fullest. The combo of Bell, and hopefully, Smith should give the Lions the kind of rushing attack that they need. More importantly, especially on third downs, short-yardage, and goal-line situations, the Lions need to determine who provides them with their best opportunity to upgrade all of these crucial areas where they have so noticeably failed during previous seasons.

Aside from the pass rush, offensive line, backup QB and secondary, this situation bears watching, because it will be heated right to the finish line, in my opinion.