Lions second-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs is coming off a terrific performance last week in a win over the Seahawks where he rushed for 78 yards on just 14 carries (5.6 avg.) and notched two rushing touchdowns.
Gibbs is averaging 5.3 yards per rush on the season with four total touchdowns. He has a long of 20 yards in the win over Arizona a couple weeks back, but Lions coaches think there is a lot of more meat still on the bone when it comes to Gibbs breaking off some long runs moving forward.
"Yeah, he's coming on," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Gibbs. "He continues to get better, and there were about probably three runs in there (vs. Seattle) that are this close to going all the way, and it's been like that every week, there's been more and more of these that are this close. So, I would anticipate he's about to really take off. He's coming on."
Gibbs and fellow running back David Montgomery form one of the best backfield duos in the league, fueling a Detroit rushing attack that's averaging better than 150 yards on the ground per game while averaging 4.7 yards per carry with seven rushing touchdowns.
Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery said Tuesday his challenge to Gibbs this week is making Cowboys defenders miss in space in the second and third levels to ignite some of those big runs Campbell thinks Gibbs is so close to busting.
"His biggest challenge this week is making people miss on the second and third level," Montgomery said. "That is a challenge because it's how you get to the second and third level. If we can get there clean with his feet in place square on defenders, he can make people miss. A lot of times right now he is running so fast, and our line is doing such a good job that when he gets to the second level, they are always on angle so he can make one guy miss but there's a corner with an angle on him."
Montgomery said they are working on getting Gibbs squared to defenders in the second and third level, and if they are successful doing it, they expect some big runs to hit.
THINKING OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THE HURRICANES
Montgomery is busy preparing for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but the North Carolina native, who said Tuesday he still has half of his family living in the Cleveland County area in western North Carolina, is also thinking about those affected in his home state from Hurricane Helene.
"My heart is with them what they are going through," Montgomery said Tuesday. "A lot of people without power. A lot of people lost family members, Thank God I haven't lost anybody or had any really horrific deals, but myself and (offensive coordinator) Ben Johnson definitely are connected to – I'm connected of course to Cleveland County, and he is directly connected to Asheville, so it means a hell of a lot to us to make sure they are good. We are thinking about you, if you are listening."
Montgomery said the combination of people in that area still being without power and running water is hard to deal with. Now people in Florida and the Southeast have to deal with Hurricane Milton which is barreling toward the area and expected to hit this week.
BRANCH'S TRUE VALUE ON DEFENSE
Detroit's defense missed safety Brian Branch Week 4 vs. Seattle as an illness that popped up forced him to miss the game. Lions defensive assistant Jim O'Neil explained on Tuesday the value and importance of having Branch and veteran Kerby Joseph in the lineup together at safety and the problem they cause an offense when on the field together.
Joseph is one of the best deep safeties in the game and Branch is terrific in the box, but both are interchangeable in those roles and that makes it tough on an offense.
"I think AG (DC Aaron Glenn) has done an unbelievable job schematically showing offenses different looks where we could be in base, but we could be playing nickel calls because of the skillset Branch has," O'Neil said.
Branch has 22 tackles (16 solo), seven passes defended, two tackles for loss and an interception in three games played this season. He was back at the open portion of practice Tuesday coming out of the bye week, which is great news for his availability Sunday and for Glenn's ability to throw all his schematic tricks at the Cowboys.
EXTRA POINTS
- The Lions have opened the 21-day practice window for rookie guard Christian Mahogany who has been on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list since the start of the season.
- All 52 players currently on the active roster took part in the open portion of practice Tuesday as the Lions are the healthiest they've been since Week 1.
