When Lions RB coach and assistant head coach Duce Staley was a player, he was regarded as one of the most versatile backs in the league. Staley even logged one season (2002) where he hit 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards, an uncommon feat.
Staley knows how arduous a milestone accomplishment like that can be. So how does Staley feel about Lions RB D’Andre Swift boldly proclaiming he can top 1,000 yards in both rushing and receiving in 2022?
“Oh, I love it. I love it,” Staley told reporters this week. “When I heard about it, I jumped through the roof. That’s good too, because you sit there and you see a kid like that, the talent that he has, he can definitely be a good one. And to set the goals that high means now he’s challenging himself, which I love.”
It’s definitely ambitious on Swift’s part. In his second season, Swift ran for 617 yards and caught passes for another 425 — both career-highs. Staley knows Swift has the talent to pull it off; he bluntly answered “no” when asked if Swift needs to improve to hit his goals. But the Lions plans to keep Swift on something of a pitch count to keep him healthy figures to make the 1,000-yard mark difficult in both rushing and receiving, let alone both together.
Staley is poised to do whatever he can to help his young protege.
“Since Day 1, I came through the doors, I told him I’m going to get the best out of him,” Staley said.
Lions 53-man roster projection heading into the preseason finale
