Lions' 2023 Review: Montgomery, Gibbs Pairing Proves Electric

Lions' pair of running backs is perfect fit for offense.

When the Detroit Lions drafted Jahmyr Gibbs No. 12 overall in the 2023 draft, Brad Holmes received plenty of criticism. 

Nearly a calendar year later, the Lions' decision-maker is being lauded for his choice. Gibbs turned out to be a home-run selection, and the perfect partner for free-agent signing David Montgomery. 

Together, the duo took Detroit's run game from good to great, and the unit flashed elite potential. The group, under new leadership from first-year running backs coach Scottie Montgomery, had strong production, and nearly had a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. 

Here's a look at where things stand for the Lions at the running back position heading into the offseason.

Reason for hope

David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs exceeded expectations in their first year together. Despite both missing games due to injury, they narrowly missed becoming the first pair of teammates to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram did it in 2019. 

Both players surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards, however. In addition to their work on the ground, both players played big roles in the passing game. 

Under head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions have always had a run-first identity. It worked well last season with Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift, but this year's pairing proved to be an upgrade. 

Detroit had an emphasis on creating more explosive plays in the run game, and it did just that. Including postseason games, the duo combined for 27 runs of 15 yards or more, and both averaged over three yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus. 

By comparison, Swift and Williams combined for 15 runs of 15 yards or more last season. Williams also averaged just 2.78 yards after contact in that campaign. 

To emphasize just how much the unit improved, Swift and Williams combined for 54 forced missed tackles in 2022. Across the team's 20 games this year, Montgomery forced 54 missed tackles on his own, while Gibbs forced 46. 

Detroit's offensive line paved the run lanes, but the Lions were able to generate more explosive runs because of the open-field quickness of both running backs. 

This is precisely the reason for hope regarding Detroit's backfield. Each will have another year of experience, and the dynamic between them doesn't call for one player to do the majority of the work. 

As a result, the Lions can avoid putting too many miles on one player's tires moving forward. 

Roundtable: Questions for Brad Holmes

Reason for worry

With how physical the game of football is, there's an inherent risk when running between the tackles. Both Montgomery and Gibbs suffered injuries that sidelined them for multiple games this season. 

Detroit was fortunate in that it only had to play one game where both were missing at the same time, which was a Week 6 tilt at Tampa Bay. In that game, Montgomery went down with a first-quarter injury and Gibbs was inactive. 

As a result, the Lions turned to Craig Reynolds, who delivered a key block on a touchdown but finished with just 15 rushing yards on 10 carries. 

While injuries are always a concern and part of the game, this offseason has a bigger storyline looming. Guards Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow are free agents, meaning the team's dominant offensive line could have a new look in 2024. 

The Lions will be tasked with either maintaining or rebuilding their offensive line. If one, or both interior linemen, decide to leave, repeating this year's success will be a challenge. 

Biggest question

What is the ceiling for a full season of Jahmyr Gibbs? The rookie started slow, surpassing 50 rushing yards just once in his first four games. He would also miss Week 5 and 6 with an injury.

However, the lights started to come on against Baltimore, when he scored his first career touchdown. 

The following week, he erupted for 152 rushing yards against Las Vegas (in Week 8). From that point on, he was electric. 

Now, the Lions will hope to get a full season of elite production from the running back. He still managed to fall just 55 yards short of 1,000 yards, despite missing two games and starting so slow. 

If he can put together a full season of production in 2024, his abilities in the run and pass game would keep the Lions' offense moving at a level similar to how the team ended the season. 

As for the depth behind he and Montgomery, Reynolds has proven to be a valuable asset. He knows the team's pass protections, plus can fill in at a moment's notice. 

If the Lions are looking to add competition at this position via the draft, they could do so by taking a player in the later rounds. Two FCS products, New Hampshire's Dylan Laube and South Dakota State's Isaiah Davis, are versatile talents with exciting big-play potential. 

Free agents 

• RB Craig Reynolds (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)
• RB Zonovan Knight (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)