Opposing Viewpoint: Lions Writer Answers 5 Questions About Detroit

[Viktor]

Here is the Week 14 edition of Opposing Viewpoint:


Thanks for doing this, Tim. The Vikings are so used to seeing Matthew Stafford at quarterback for the Lions, it will be bizarre to see someone else at the helm Sunday. Who is David Blough and how did he get here? Does he factor into the Lions long-term plans or is that a question for the offseason?


Tim Twentyman: Blough was an undrafted rookie free agent, who signed with Cleveland after having an up-and-down college career at Purdue. He was the last quarterback to beat Ohio State, but he also threw 43 career interceptions in college.


The Lions had their eye on Blough late in the draft process and ended up trading with Cleveland in the preseason to get Blough for a swap of seventh-round picks.


Blough is a confident passer, and the Detroit offense doesn’t change much with him in the game. He’ll stand in the pocket and deliver the ball down the field. His first career completion was a 75-yard bomb to Kenny Golladay on just his second pass attempt last Thursday. He also has a pretty good pocket presence about him to extend plays. He threw for 280 yards with a couple scores on Thanksgiving against a pretty good Bears defense, and he did that without a full-speed practice under his belt. The Lions only took part in walkthrough’s leading up to Blough’s first career start last week.


As far as long-term plans, Blough is certainly going to try and use this last month to earn a role as Stafford’s backup moving forward.


Besides the injury to Stafford, running back Kerryon Johnson and rookie tight end T.J. Hockenson are now on Injured Reserved. Who is a young player or two on offense that has caught your eye now that he’s seen extended playing time?


TT: Running back Bo Scarbrough comes to mind right away. The second-year back out of Alabama was promoted from the Lions practice squad to the active roster a few weeks ago. He’s on his fourth team in just two years, but this Lions scheme under Offensive cCoordinator Darrell Bevell looks to be a great fit for his skillset.


He’s rushed for 55-plus yards in each of his first three NFL games the last three weeks, joining Barry Sanders (1989), Billy Sims (1980) and Mel Farr (1967) as the only players to do so in franchise history. Scarbrough is averaging 4.45 yards per carry over that span.


He brings a physical toughness to the run game the Lions haven’t had in some time. He runs tough and breaks tackles in both the first and second levels and the Vikings defense will have to be good at team tackling him come Sunday.