Maybe, the Lions were the ones who changed it or maybe the Cardinals were copying the Lions:
David Montgomery signed a 2 year , $18,250,000 contract with the Detroit Lions, including $3,250,000 signing bonus, $10,490,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $9,125,000. In 2024, Montgomery will earn a base salary of $2,270,833, a signing bonus of $6,229,167 and a workout bonus of $6,615, while carrying a cap hit of $5,060,046 and a dead cap value of $15,906,666.
I think so much is O-line dependent. Get road graters up front like the Lions and Eagles and you can do it. The question is are teams looking for O lineman that are primarily run blockers or pass blockers? My experience is that itâs rare to find a guy that does both well.
I would rather have a good run blocker as long as I had a mobile but not run first QB. Once you can sell play action you just bought time that you otherwise wouldnât have had.
I have marveled at the genius of Brad Holmes fixing the running back room toward the end of the rebuild. A decent running game can keep teams from getting better draft picks. Typically they are plug and play guys. I think itâs one of the reasons Barry struggled in Detroit. A great oline also helpsâŚGreat point. I do believe the Lions are ahead of the curve though on the running game. For once in my lifetime we are setting the trend.
Itâs not âgeniusâ. Everyone says to do it but few GMâs do. They get too wrapped up in the shiny toys. Brad was lucky to take over a team with a 1st round LT and C already in place. Brad was lucky to have a generational OT fall to him in the draft.
Brad then felt comfortable going after the shiny toys with a trio of 1st round picks on the O-line. Heâs kept it going with FA and late round picks but the reality is that heâs going to work on replacements for Decker and Rags sooner rather than later.
Sorry, my hyperbole got in the way again.
Whatâs amazing is the Lions couldnât fix it under Caldwell or Patricia which is said.
Ben Johnson had a role in that as well. When reviewing the tape of the 2022 season, he indicated the Lions were leaving yards out there. Thus, Swift being traded and Jamaal left to toil in Saints obscurity.
The opportunities were there.
In 2017, the Lions took slow as molasses CB Teez Tabor over RB Alvin Kamara, who had put on a show vs Vanderbilt.
In 2018, the Lions took skinny legged Lee Suggs clone in Kerryon âMy Wayward Sonâ Johnson, who understandably couldnât stay healthy and had leg problems.
In 2020, Quinn took DâAndre Swift in Rd 2 over Jonathan Taylor. Swiftâs been pretty good, but not good enough to keep.
Itâs sad really. If Stafford in 14 had a run game like we have now that team probably pushes much further.
So many years Matt and passing game had to do it all.
I love Goff but wonder what Stafford could have done with this team.
Folks donât bring the hate. Iâm allowed to love both Goff and Stafford!!
With the OL and running game âŚ
No judgements here, man. You canât help who you love. Although Kelly doesnât really seem like the sharing type, tbh
Iâve wondered how much the league would move back to strong run games after ten years of drifting to the Linehanesque âthrow every downâ WCO on steroids
Teams started to build lighter faster defenses to defend this style of play. The Lions got a little ahead of the curve in the movement back to an under-center game with strong oline and good luck tackling Monty and Gibbs with your nickel linebackers
Also why I love what Campbell brings. He is an old school thumper who sheds blocks and tackles. Not shabby in coverage either
Very true. Most teams play a ton of dime and nickel too. Itâs also why we are so successful running the ball on 3rd and longs. You wanna stop the Lions run game with 1 linebacker on the field? Good luck. But if they keep more linebackers on the field, we throw. Tough to stop
I am the exact same way with Stafford. Want to see him succeed as long as it isnât against the Lions.