Detroit Lions: Ameer Abdullah primed for breakout year
The Detroit Lions found their running back of the future in the 2015 NFL Draft in Ameer Abdullah, and he’s primed for a big sophomore campaign in ’16…
In his rookie season with the Detroit Lions, running back Ameer Abdullah proved he is capable of being a threat from a number of different positions. He wasn’t as effective at putting the ball in the end zone as fellow rookie David Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals, but he showed he can be a dynamic threat as a runner, receiver, and kick returner.
The production coming from his versatility wasn’t a surprise — we saw that from Abdullah at Nebraska — but will he hit a sophomore slump?
I don’t think so.
Abdullah is primed for a bigger role in the Detroit offense with Calvin Johnson now retired, and Joique Bell out of the picture. There will be competition for reps from Theo Riddick and Zach Zenner, but there’s no reason why Abdullah can’t emerge as a big time lead back this season.
He has every skill you’d look for in a running back, even though he’s not a big player like Adrian Peterson or Todd Gurley. At 5-9, 203 pounds, Abdullah proves that you can pack a big punch in a smaller package.
You have to love the tenacity with which he plays. Abdullah never quits on a play, and he has really good quickness in the open field. He always has his legs moving and always keeps his eyes downfield, looking for ways to gain extra yards both by making guys miss and by inviting some contact.
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He has great burst and acceleration, which help him on kickoff returns. After having shoulder surgery this offseason, Abdullah will be ready for camp and ready to help this Detroit team find out what life is like post-Megatron.
They drafted him in 2015 with the intent that he would eventually wind up being this team’s featured back, and 2016 should be the year that happens. With Johnson gone, the Lions will likely lean on the run quite a bit more, and Abdullah stands to be a huge benefactor of that.
As long as he stays healthy, I foresee a big breakout year coming from the former Nebraska star.