5 Detroit Lions who need to be great in 2020

4. RB Kerryon Johnson

The Lions had the league’s 21st-ranked rushing attack last year (103.1 yards per game), with just seven scores on the ground. Johnson missed eight games with a knee injury, but even when he was on the field he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry. For a comparison, Bo Scarbrough averaged 4.2 yards per carry in 2019.

Johnson also missed the final six games of his 2018 rookie season with a knee injury. So it’s becoming a pattern, and his drop from 5.4 yards per carry as a rookie to last year’s 3.6 is notable. So as if on cue, the Lions used the 35th overall pick on Georgia running back De’Andre Swift. That could be a case of just taking the best player available, but Johnson has been put on notice regardless.

A better ground game would do a lot to help the Lions’ defense, if nothing else. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell didn’t show a very discerning eye when it came to giving someone carries last year, as Scarbrough had at least 18 carries in three straight games as the lead back (not that there were better alternatives). So Swift is an upgrade to the backfield situation as a whole.

If only for his own sake, Johnson needs to stay healthy and play well enough to keep Swift in the background this year. If he is up to that challenge the Lions’ offense could be very, and sneaky, dangerous.