Every team in the NFL has their own metrics to evaluate efficiency. For Detroit and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, when they evaluate their run game and its efficiency, they have a very specific metric.
“Run efficiency is first down, we get a third of the distance,” he said. “So 1st & 10, we need four or more. Second down we get half the distance, so 2nd &10 we need five, 2 & 6 we need three or more, and then third down we convert.”
When using that metric, Detroit’s run game has been efficient over half the time, or 55 percent to be exact, according to Johnson.
“Yeah, our guys understand how important the run game is to us,” he said. “Each week, we do an (evaluation) after the games and it’s been every week, ‘What have we done well?’ The run game has been at the forefront of all seven games so far this year.
“Both from a yards per carry standpoint, but really run efficiency which we calculate a little bit differently. It’s been over 55 percent for us from our standpoint and that’s a credit not just up front, because we have some phenomenal offensive linemen, but our two backs are special as we all know, but our receivers, our tight ends are blocking down the field, they’re playing selfless ball, and they know they play as big of a part of our success as anything.”
Johnson on facing the Packers
Second-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been on a tear the last two weeks with back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances. The duo of him and veteran David Montgomery has been consistently good for Detroit all season and the catalyst for everything the Lions do offensively.
Detroit’s 156.7 average rushing yards per game ranks sixth in the NFL. Through the first seven games of the year, Montgomery and Gibbs have each accumulated 550 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. It’s the first time since 1960 with the Browns (Jim Brown and Bobby Mitchell) and Packers (Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor) a team has had two backs with that much yardage and scoring production through this part of the season.
Detroit will be looking for more of the same from their ground game this week in Green Bay, but the Packers do have a Top 10 run defense coming in (111.6 rushing yards allowed per game) and know that’s job No. 1.
MIXING IT UP
The Lions have gotten a passing touchdown from quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and most recently Montgomery. The last NFL team to have a quarterback, running back and wide receiver throw for touchdowns in the same season was the Jaguars in 2013 with quarterbacks Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert, running back Maurice Jones-Drew and wide receiver Ace Sanders.
“Well, you guys think in the springtime when we had the throw off that it’s all for show, but no, we were honestly evaluating those guys and so we have a number of people that can throw the football well,” Johnson said.
Could there be another non-quarterback name added to the list sometime this season?
Johnson just smiled and said maybe.
QUICK ACCLIMATION
If the Lions decide to add outside help on defense via their pass rush before the Nov. 5 trade deadline, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said that person can get acclimated pretty quickly and he’d expect a quick turnaround for them to be able to help his defense.
“Well, you’ve seen that with what we have right now with Isaiah (Thomas) and (Al-Quadin) Muhammad,” Glenn said. “So, a lot of those guys play the first week that they’re in. Especially if we can find packages to put those guys in.
“So, I’m going to look at it from an aspect of, this is the NFL and each week you might play a new player. Then during the game, you might play a new player. For example, (Malcolm Rodriguez) Rodrigo went down, Ben Niemann, (Jalen Reeves-Maybin) Germ, all of those guys had to step up and take his spot and that’s just what it is.”
EXTRA POINT
Still no defensive lineman Josh Paschal (illness) or Rodriguez (ankle) at the open portion of Lions practice Thursday. Both sat out Wednesday too.
