Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Sometimes an offseason is built around one acquisition, and that acquisition for the Detroit Lions was the signing of free agent running back Reggie Bush. The dual-threat RB will join an already explosive Lions’ offense in 2013, and many think he’s the missing ingredient in the Motor City.
The likely reality is that the Lions’ defense will be an average unit this season. After parting ways with several veterans, it’s going to be a transitional season for the Detroit defense. This will make the offense even more important than it already was.
The Lions are going to have to score a ton of points this season. They put up some impressive numbers a year ago, but they’ll need more in 2013. Bush can be the guy that makes that difference. The team has already said they plan to use him frequently at both running back and wide receiver, and that’s really the only way to do it.
Detroit has to maximize every bit of Bush’s playmaking potential, and they have to put him in situations that will cause matchups problems for the defense. The RB himself has even talked about lining up on the same side of the field as Calvin Johnson, which would clearly be a matchup nightmare for most any defense.
There’s a lot of pressure on Reggie Bush to perform at a high level this season. An average year will not cut it for the Lions, or their fans. The now veteran RB needs to have a career season in yards from scrimmage, and if he does, the Lions should find themselves right in the thick of the playoff hunt.
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