The Detroit Lions rank 30th in the league after two weeks with 111 total rushing yards. With an inability to run the football, it's no surprise the Lions rank dead last in points allowed, a staggering 82 thus far. However, it is a surprise how general manager Matt Millen is going about fixing his running game. Cedric Benson and Shaun Alexander met with the Lions on Tuesday, and even worse News 8 in Austin is reporting that the Lions will likely sign Benson.
Ouch.
I'm all behind Benson getting another chance somewhere, he deserves at least that opportunity, but do the Lions think the former Bears running back is going to break the tackles that Kevin Smith and Rudi Johnson can't?
In three years with the Bears, Benson broke just four runs longer than 25 yards. Not helping his terrible yards per carry has been the fact he hasn't demonstrated the durability necessary to complete a long NFL season.
After another year of struggling to run the football in 2007, ranked 31st with 80.2 yards/game, the Lions drafted just one offensive lineman. The good news is that it was their first pick. The bad news is that Gosder Cherilus was a reach at the time and hasn't broken into the first string yet, as most first round picks are expected.
Note to Millen: you're running game will not be fixed by signing LaDainian Tomlinson. Get some damn offensive lineman, but don't hurry, because your team is too fun to watch right now.
Lions look at RBs, including Alexander and Benson [Freep]
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