The Detroit Lions’ 2018 running back depth is an example of how the franchise has tried in the last decade to add impact to an underperforming position that is showing signs of emerging from a rebuild mode.
The draft, free agency and development of young players are all present in the makeup of the position in what has been a concerted effort by general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia to improve a running game that ranked last in the NFL in 2017.
There is promise of better days on the horizon, but two factors unrelated to personnel strategy cannot be discounted.