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http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/...rove_to_be.html
Jahvid Best should prove to be the key addition for the Lions this season
By Tom Kowalski
June 06, 2010, 6:25AM
ALLEN PARK -- While second overall draft pick Ndamukong Suh might turn out to be a better overall player, first-round choice Jahvid Best could be the key addition to the Detroit Lions' season.
The Lions are clearly an offensive-heavy team at this point and they were extremely unbalanced with a ton of talent in the passing game and not much in the running department. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew expects Best to change all of that.
A running back with blazing speed -- and a threat to go the distance on any play -- Best also has excellent running ability. He won't break a ton of tackles, but he has great balance and explosion to pick his way through holes and accelerate through them.
Best is going to be Detroit's starting running back on opening day, there's no debate about that. What has yet to be determined, though, is how long he's going to be staying in the games.
While his 5-foot-10, 200-pound frame would suggest that he'll need to be in some sort of rotation to stay fresh, head coach Jim Schwartz isn't going into this with any preconceived notions. Actually, that's not true. Schwartz does have an idea of what he's looking for - what Chris Johnson has given the Titans over the last couple of years.
When Johnson was drafted -- and Schwartz was in Tennessee at the time -- it was believed the 185-pound Johnson couldn't handle a large workload. That has proven to be false and Schwartz hopes Best can prove the same thing in Detroit.
The Lions, though, will go into the season with idea that Best can't do that and hope for him to prove that he can. That's why Best was returning kickoffs during some of the off-season workouts. Look, if Best still is returning kickoffs as we get closer to the regular season, you can count that as an extremely bad sign.
There was a concussion issue with Best, who missed his last several games last season after suffering neck and head injuries while diving into the end zone on a touchdown. Best was cleared by a concussion specialist and it's believed that Best was healthy enough to play in California's bowl game but was advised against it because of his impending draft status. It's a similar situation to fourth-round pick Jason Fox, who didn't play in Miami's bowl game because he needed knee surgery to give him ample time to recover for draft preparations.
Still, Best has been banged up at different points during his football career and he has to prove that he can stay healthy. Carrying the workload doesn't just mean having the talent to do it, but possessing the durability as well.
The Lions moved up in the draft a few years ago -- to that same No. 30 spot -- to take another very talented runner, Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech. Jones started well in his rookie season but his career sputtered when he couldn't stay healthy.
Best needs to prove that history won't repeat itself.
Jahvid Best should prove to be the key addition for the Lions this season
By Tom Kowalski
June 06, 2010, 6:25AM
ALLEN PARK -- While second overall draft pick Ndamukong Suh might turn out to be a better overall player, first-round choice Jahvid Best could be the key addition to the Detroit Lions' season.
The Lions are clearly an offensive-heavy team at this point and they were extremely unbalanced with a ton of talent in the passing game and not much in the running department. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew expects Best to change all of that.
A running back with blazing speed -- and a threat to go the distance on any play -- Best also has excellent running ability. He won't break a ton of tackles, but he has great balance and explosion to pick his way through holes and accelerate through them.
Best is going to be Detroit's starting running back on opening day, there's no debate about that. What has yet to be determined, though, is how long he's going to be staying in the games.
While his 5-foot-10, 200-pound frame would suggest that he'll need to be in some sort of rotation to stay fresh, head coach Jim Schwartz isn't going into this with any preconceived notions. Actually, that's not true. Schwartz does have an idea of what he's looking for - what Chris Johnson has given the Titans over the last couple of years.
When Johnson was drafted -- and Schwartz was in Tennessee at the time -- it was believed the 185-pound Johnson couldn't handle a large workload. That has proven to be false and Schwartz hopes Best can prove the same thing in Detroit.
The Lions, though, will go into the season with idea that Best can't do that and hope for him to prove that he can. That's why Best was returning kickoffs during some of the off-season workouts. Look, if Best still is returning kickoffs as we get closer to the regular season, you can count that as an extremely bad sign.
There was a concussion issue with Best, who missed his last several games last season after suffering neck and head injuries while diving into the end zone on a touchdown. Best was cleared by a concussion specialist and it's believed that Best was healthy enough to play in California's bowl game but was advised against it because of his impending draft status. It's a similar situation to fourth-round pick Jason Fox, who didn't play in Miami's bowl game because he needed knee surgery to give him ample time to recover for draft preparations.
Still, Best has been banged up at different points during his football career and he has to prove that he can stay healthy. Carrying the workload doesn't just mean having the talent to do it, but possessing the durability as well.
The Lions moved up in the draft a few years ago -- to that same No. 30 spot -- to take another very talented runner, Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech. Jones started well in his rookie season but his career sputtered when he couldn't stay healthy.
Best needs to prove that history won't repeat itself.
I am with you all the way. Best will leave average RB's like Mattews in the dust. Think Best = Chris Johnson. Beast!
