DETROIT -- For all the talking the Lions have done about how they want their running game to be key part to their offense this season, they sure have a nice passing game.
The first-team offense has dominated through the air through two preseason games, with quarterback Jon Kitna completing all but one of his 10 pass attempts for 182 yards and two touchdowns -- one each to Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson.
In fact, it's Johnson's preseason play that's making the pass attack look incredible. Johnson's seven catches have been good for 154 yards (an average of 22 yards per catch) and a score at Cincinnati in Week 2 of the preseason. In fact, Johnson caught both passes as part of a two-play scoring drive, first hauling in a 9-yard pass from Kitna and then catching a 27-yard dart for the score.
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"The coaches saw that, if we got a certain coverage we wanted to check to that (play)," Kitna said of the touchdown play. "We checked to that play and they really had a great coverage for what we tried to run. I was just getting ready to come off of Calvin but he just ran a great route and he used his size. He got physical with the (defender) and threw him out of the way. (He) was wide open and then I threw a ball that I thought was just a litle wide and he made it look pretty easy.
"He's a freak of nature."
What hasn't come easy for the Lions is their running game, which the club is so desperate to get back to this season after ignoring it last season (thank you, Mike Martz). Through two games, it's been been non-existent with the first-team offense.
Veteran Tatum Bell and rookie Kevin Smith each have one start so far this preseason, Bell vs. the Giants and Smith at the Bengals. Save for a neat 16-yard run by Smith at Cincy, the two runners expected to pace Detroit have totaled three rushes for 4 yards or more over 24 total carries. Bell had one of those carries, Smith had the others, plus the 16-yard gainer.
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The Lions are hoping Kevin Smith can produce right out of the gate.
(US Presswire)
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"We've got to stay physical, and we've got to run the ball," head coach Rod Marinelli said after the Bengals game, a running mantra from him over the past couple of months. "We've just got to keep making that investment and just keep hammering in there."
So while the Lions insist on running it, it's obvious that their passing game is ripe for a big year as long as everyone stays healthy.
What's a Fantasy owner to do?
For starters, 30 seconds of studying the running backs will lead you to believe that Smith is the future at tailback in Motown. Bell has been slammed throughout the preseason and has not been the same runner he was back with Denver several years ago. Meanwhile, Smith has run with some authority. He falls forward to pick up an extra yard or two on most plays, which helps. Smith also has yet to flex his receiving skills, but is confident that he can contribute as a check-down receiver.
The rookie out of Central Florida told CBSSports.com earlier in the preseason that he feels very comfortable with the Lions' offense thanks to his working knowledge of the zone run scheme, the same type of plan that he worked in back in college. The Lions are trying out the scheme for the first time this year.
"It's the preseason. Everybody's trying to work out their kinks," Smith said. "As time goes on, things will start to clear up. It's kind of new for everybody, trying to see what works, what doesn't work. We just hike the ball and run."
Whomever is back there for Detroit will surely benefit from having Williams and Johnson work the passing game and draw coverage away. It's unlikely that teams will commit to eight men in the box against the Lions.
Meanwhile, Fantasy owners would be wise to take a long look at Kitna as at least a decent reserve quarterback and Johnson as a No. 2 receiver with potential to be a No. 1 if he can continue to produce like he has. Williams is also a fine No. 2 playing out his contract.
After all, if the running game doesn't do for the offense what Marinelli wants it to do, the Lions will have no choice but to put the ball in the air.
Judging by the small sample size of their first two preseason games, that might be just what they need.
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