Lions gave glimpse into how rookie RB will be used on offense
Jahmyr Gibbs showed why he was the No. 12 overall pick by the Lions in limited snaps in Friday night's preseason game. It is evident that Gibbs will be part of Ben Johnson's offensive attack during the season in both the running and passing games.
Gibbs had 37 all-purpose yards in approximately half a quarter of action vs. the Giants. He ran for 19 yards on six carries with a 3.2 YPC average. Gibbs showed patience running between the tackles. He followed his blocks and displayed burst through the holes created by the offensive line. He wasn't afraid of contact. Gibbs lowered his shoulders at the point of contact and finished his runs aggressively.
He bailed out quarterback Nate Sudfeld on a scramble drill and caught a pass for 19 yards and a first down.
His most impressive plays came away from the ball in pass protection. Gibbs picked up blitzing defenders to keep Sudfeld clean in the pocket on a few occasions.
For those familiar with Gibbs, his performance against the Giants is nothing new for the rookie. He has always prided himself on being a physical runner. Going back to his days at Georgia Tech (2020-21), Gibbs has always sought out contact on inside and outside runs.
The same can be said when he suited up for the University of Alabama last season. He was the leading rusher with 926 yards. Gibbs was also third on the team with 444 receiving yards. His 1,624 all-purpose yards were third in the South Eastern Conference.
Gibbs's dual-threat abilities as a positionless weapon made him a hot commodity in this year's draft. Holmes saw him as a difference-maker for the offense. His performance on Friday night was a glimpse into how Johnson will use the rookie in 2023.
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