The Detroit Lions have gotten plenty of production from their 2023 NFL Draft class. That group has immediately produced four key players, including running back Jahmyr Gibbs. After a relatively slow start to his career, Gibbs has burst onto the scene.
He and veteran David Montgomery give the Lions two highly-skilled running backs capable of impacting a game in many ways. Gibbs, Detroit’s No. 12 overall pick, was labeled as a speed back entering the draft. However, he has impressed with an element of physicality in his game since entering the league.
Despite missing two games with an injury, the rookie has totaled 566 rushing yards and five scores on the ground in his first season. His ability to turn short gains into longer ones, by breaking tackles and making defenders miss, has been a welcomed sight.
Through his first nine games, he has forced 20 missed tackles. His diverse abilities emulate Alvin Kamara, who displays a similar skill set for the New Orleans Saints. In Week 13, the two will square off at the Caesars Superdome. Dan Campbell, who spent five years with the Saints, was on staff when the organization drafted Kamara, and sees a multitude of similarities between the two players.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of similarities. I mean, it was one of the things I was intrigued with when we were watching Gibbs. But, there’s – look, certainly the ability to run the ball, not just perimeter, you feel like perimeter, man, these things can go anywhere, but inside as well,” Campbell explained. “So, inside zone runner, outside zone perimeter runner, but then the things out of the backfield, there were similarities. And, Gibbs is doing a good job, but he’s got a long way to go before you get to that. But, we certainly like where Gibbs is at.”
The Lions know that Gibbs has the potential to be special. His speed is elite, and his patience and willingness to run through tacklers are difference-making qualities.
Though he has plenty to achieve to surpass Kamara’s production, the talent level is similar to that of the veteran early in the rookie’s career. As a result, Campbell has high hopes for what Gibbs can achieve during his career.
“AK (Alvin Kamara) was a guy we had high hopes on, we liked him. Sean (Payton) identified him early, and knew he would just be a perfect fit for our offense. And, everything that Sean thought was dead-on,” Campbell said. “And, he just took off, and he took off fast.
And, it got to the point where – and I know they’re still this way, we worried about giving him too much, because he could take on so much. He could absorb so much in the gameplan, and play multiple spots. It was more about not wearing him out during the week to get him ready for the game, because you’re asking him to do so much. But, Gibbs has got these traits, these qualities about him. He’s highly intelligent, he is explosive, he does have versatility. So, we’re excited about our guy.”
