Team news: Las Vegas Raiders | Page 42

The biggest key to the Lions backfield success is the development of Ameer Abdullah. As a rookie last season, he was plagued by ball security issues early in the campaign, but closed out the year strong. He averaged 4.7 yards per attempt and put the ball on the ground just once across the final eight games. That's a stat line that should excite. Now it boils down to a smooth recovery from offseason shoulder surgery and if he can handle an increased workload.

Theo Riddick is what he is, a below-average runner, but elite receiver out of the backfield. He's a key offensive cog after catching 80 passes last season, but expecting significant growth as a ball carrier borders on unreasonable.

There are some threats to Abdullah's workload, but this particular writer doesn't even predict one of them - Stevan Ridley - makes the roster. That would leave Zach Zenner as perhaps the main threat to take away carries. It's a situation to keep an eye on because depending who makes the roster, Abdullah's value could rise and fall greatly.

Arian Foster will be visiting the Dolphins and set to workout this week. Keep an eye out for the Lions on potentially monitoring Foster.

Related players: Jay Ajayi, Ameer Abdullah

The report comes from a Texans blog which presumably has some connections with those in the know in the Foster camp. Obviously, he'll change the fantasy landscape wherever he lands, though he's coming off of a torn Achilles. Jay Ajayi would be the big loser in Miami, though Foster may remain in a backup capacity as he recovers from his injury.

Lions.com writer Tim Twentyman on RB Ameer Abdullah:

Abdullah went through his fair share of ups and downs as a rookie and finished with 597 rushing yards (4.2 average) and two touchdowns.

I thought he showed a high level of maturity and dedication in an interview with Sirius NFL Radio this offseason.

“I feel like I showed some flashes last year, but in this league you can’t show flashes,” he said. “You have to be consistent. That definitely had a lot to do with growing pains.

“It also had a lot to do with me being immature as a player coming straight from college and not understanding what kind of preparation and mental focus it took for such a long amount of time.

“I know I have a lot to give to this team and a lot to give to this league. I know I can be a good back, but it starts with those little things I mentioned earlier.”

I’d be pretty surprised if we don't see a much-improved Abdullah in year two.

After the team's Week 9 bye, and with new-OC Jim Bob Cooter calling the plays, Abdullah averaged 11.5 touches for 55.3 yards and 0.12 TD per game. He averaged 4.65 YPC in that span, and the running game as a whole improved considerably under Cooter (+6.75 carries, +27.5 yards and +0.37 TD per game). Joique Bell saw 9.4 touches per game during that stretch, and that work is up for grabs now that Bell is gone. If healthy, Abdullah will probably lead the Lions in carries and yards, and may be a post-hype sleeper if his touches increase significantly. But Theo Riddick will serve as the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield, and Stevan Ridley and Zach Zenner could eat into Abdullah's early-down and short-yardage touches, so Abdullah's upside is somewhat capped.

The offense being installed in Allen Park this offseason is very different than the one the Lions ran even the second half of last season.

“I think it's exactly what it is, we started from scratch,” receiver Golden Tate said after an open OTA practice last week.

“The calls are different. The signals are different. From top to bottom it’s all new and we’re just taking it day by day. I think our guys are doing a great job staying in their book and trying to learn it.”

There are obviously some elements that were put in place on the fly the second half of last year that have been adopted into the new package. But this has truly been a full reinstall, according to Tate. And like anything new, it takes time to perfect.

It would explain some of the sloppiness, penalties, missed assignments and balls hitting the ground on offense over the course of the two open OTA practices the last two weeks.

Related players: Matthew Stafford, Marvin Jones, Eric Ebron, Ameer Abdullah

The offense was more productive once Jim Bob Cooter took over in Week 8, averaging 2.24 points per drive compared to just 1.54 points per drive in the first seven games. Total yardage and number of plays remained about the same, but there was a larger commitment to the run (+4.8 rushing attempts per game). Passing yardage declined (-26.5), but touchdowns were up (+0.36) and interceptions were way down (-0.99). Given Tate's comments about the new install, it sounds as if the offense is a work in progress, and the team will have to get new WR Marvin Jones up to speed.

Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder in January and could miss the rest of the off-season, a person with knowledge of the procedure but not authorized to speak about it publicly told the Free Press today.

Abdullah, who led the Lions in rushing yards (597) and the NFL in kick-return yards as a rookie, suffered his injury in a December win over the New Orleans Saints.

He started the final two games of the year, wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears, and visited Dr. James Andrews for surgery after the season.

If healthy, Abdullah will probably lead the Lions in carries, but Theo Riddick will likely serve as the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield, while Stevan Ridley and Zach Zenner could eat into Abdullah's early-down and short-yardage touches.

With Calvin Johnson settling into retirement, the Lions will need more from their running game this fall. Ameer Abdullah is the No. 1 back, and if he conquers his fumble problems, he should be in for a big season.

Abdullah had a disappointing rookie season after an electrifying preseason. Joique Bell is gone, but Theo Riddick is still around to handle third-down duties and the team signed Stevan Ridley to compete with Zach Zenner for carries behind Abdullah. The rookie had five fumbles on 168 touches, which is not a good fumble rate. As the article highlights, if Abdullah can prove he can hold onto the ball, he could surpass 250 touches in his second season.

The Detroit Lions have cut running back Joique Bell, who entered the 2015 season as the team's top rusher.

Bell, 29, struggled with injuries throughout the 2015 season and was passed on the depth chart by rookie Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick. He gained a career-low 311 yards on 90 carries with four touchdowns.

Related players: Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner

That leaves the Lions with Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick and Zach Zenner at the position. Riddick should continue to produce in PPR formats while Abdullah and Zenner will compete for carries. The Lions may decide to address the position in the draft, but they have more pressing needs with Calvin Johnson's pending retirement.

Ameer Abdullah had the holes. He had the space. And for the one of the few times during this 2015 season for the Detroit Lions, he was actually able to run through those holes productively almost every time.

It has been a rocky season for the former Nebraska running back, taken by the Lions in the second round in May. He started off great, with a preseason run that caught the attention of the NFL world and an opening week of the season where he had a nifty cutback for a long touchdown.

Then his season – like the Lions season – went down. He struggled holding onto the ball. He lost carries and snaps. The nadir came at one of the low points of the Lions season – the 45-10 loss to Kansas City in Week 8 that signaled the end of general manager Martin Mayhew and team president Tom Lewand’s time with Detroit.

Abdullah played five snaps that day. He had one carry for 3 yards. That was it, even in a blowout. Done for the day.

Since then, the story said, he has been steadily improving. He has been averaging at least 3 yards per carry in every game since. His rushing yardage has gone from 15 against Green Bay in Week 10 to 44 against Oakland, 63 against Philadelphia on Thanksgiving and then a career-best 67 yards against Green Bay on Thursday. He's someone to keep an eye on in this final month in terms of his fantasy value for next season.