The Detroit Lions run game is stalling at the moment. Ameer Abdullah is having ball security issues. Zach Zenner is done for the year. Joique Bell remains out for the season. With question marks over who will really get things moving on the ground, Theo Riddick might be the best player the Lions have at the position. A threat in both the run and passing game, Riddick is a worthy investment in Week 7.
Riddick is Detroit's version of Darren Sproles. The running back torched the Detroit Lions for seven carries for 28 yards on the ground and another three catches for 50 yards through the air. Overall, the running back has 278 yards and two touchdowns in the receiving game along with 38 yards on the ground. He has proven difficult to tackle and more productive then Abdullah has looked. Currently leading all running backs in receiving yards he is emerging as Matthew Stafford's best-kept-secret.
"I think because he's a ballcarrier, and he can carry the ball, to line him up out there (at receiver) exclusively doesn't use all of his talents and abilities," coach Jim Caldwell said, via MLive.com. "We have wide receivers that don't catch as many (balls as him), so I think he has value in both places and that's why we don't leave him in one place exclusively."
Right now, the Lions have Bell working on returning to the field. The running back continues to heal from ankle and Achilles issues. According to Bell, he is still weeks away from getting on the field and with Zenner out, Riddick becomes the next go-to running back behind Abdullah. Do not expect Riddick to be the starter on the first play, but he is expected to be more productive than the rookie.
Stafford is hoping the momentum gained against the Bears carries over to the Minnesota Vikings. Against the team's secondary, the Lions have a chance to truly shine. Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate finally had the big games fans have been waiting for and there is a good chance it continues against Minnesota. However, the tenacious front unit could be trouble for the run game while pressuring Stafford into mistakes. The quarterback cannot afford a setback after the win in Chicago.
"I just didn't play well in certain times this year and needed to play better and whatever had happened or would have happened wouldn't have mattered," Stafford said, via ESPN.com. "I would have probably looked at it the exact same way and understood that for us to win I got to play better. By no means did I play perfect, but played well enough to win."