David Montgomery might be the new heart and soul of the Lions
The Detroit Lions shocked everyone when they essentially re-did their entire running back room after the success of the 2022 season. They made two huge moves. One of them was drafting Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th pick. The other was signing former Bears running back David Montgomery. We've heard and seen a lot about the […]
The Detroit Lions shocked everyone when they essentially re-did their entire running back room after the success of the 2022 season. They made two huge moves. One of them was drafting Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th pick. The other was signing former Bears running back David Montgomery.
We've heard and seen a lot about the former. Gibbs has been the talk of the town since he started impressing at OTA's and mini camp. Montgomery has been a quiet, but steady force this whole time. You knew things were going well, but you haven't really heard anyone talk about it.
Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell broke that silence on Wednesday before the Lions started their joint practice with the Jaguars. The tone and tenor of the way he was talking about Montgomery really struck me. He talked about him with something of a reverence. It felt like he was talking about his son or something.
"He fits us." Campbell said. And I think, he's just, he's very versatile. He's smart. "And he's just wired the right way, man. He's got a workman mentality and he's a lunch pail guy. But man, he's got some shiftiness to him. He's low to the ground. He's got power. And he just can go all day long. And I think we haven't even seen the best of him yet, because we don't really go live and he's not in games yet. That's when I think he's really going to show up. I'm glad we got him. He's gonna be really important for us."
That's a good thing for the Lions. After Jamaal Williams left for the Saints, there was a feeling that the Lions had lost their heart and soul. Williams was a vocal presence in the locker room, but he was also a physical presence on the field. Montgomery may not have all the sound bites, but he definitely brings that same level of physicality to the Lions. Plus he adds a little more with that shiftiness that Campbell was talking about.
Campbell also talked about how teams need to have a bell cow in today's league and he's referred to Montgomery as being that type of player in the past when he talked about how he thinks the Lions have a two headed monster at running back like the Saint did with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara when Campbell was part of the Saints coaching staff.
There's no telling when we'll get to see the Lions debut of Montgomery. It could be this weekend when the Lions play the Jaguars or it could be in the third preseason game that's always been dubbed the dress rehearsal game and has starters playing the most minutes in the past. Maybe it'll be Week 1 against the Chiefs. Whenever it is, look for Montgomery be to be a big part of the Lions offense.
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