The Lions will have five running backs competing for the open job as the feature back in 2008.  Tatum Bell appears to have the lead for the job despite being in the Lions’ Dog House last year.  Bell will need to hold onto the football to keep the starting job.  He is really fast but he’s not the toughest running back in the NFL.  Bell played in 5 games (all starts) for the Lions last year and he carried the ball 44 times for 182 yards (4.1 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 14 passes for 63 yards (4.5 avg).  Bell has been productive in his career to date but his best times were in Denver where they can make any running back into a star.  Bell has now played in 47 games (19 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 525 times for 2,524 yards (4.8 ypc) with 14 TD runs.  He has also caught 61 passes for 362 yards (5.9 avg).

Brian Calhoun has talent but he’s always gets hurt and last season was no exception.  Calhoun played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Lions last season and he carried the ball 7 times for 35 yards (5.0 ypc).  He also caught 5 passes for 35 yards (7.0 avg).  It will be interesting to see if Calhoun can stay healthy enough in 2008 to show what he can do.  Calhoun has now played in 11 games (0 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 14 times for 54 yards (3.9 ypc).  He also caught 7 passes for 55 yards (7.9 avg).

Rookie 3rd round pick Kevin Smith has the skills to beat out the backs above him on the depth chart.  Smith had an incredible season at Central Florida last year and the Lions’ hope he can do half as good in the NFL.  Smith played in 14 games (all starts) at Central Florida last season and he carried the ball 450 times for 2,567 yards (5.7 ypc) with 29 TD runs.  He also caught 24 passes for 242 yards (10.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Smith to win the starting job by mid-season for the Lions.

Aveion Cason is buried on the depth chart but he will still have a chance to earn a bigger role with the Lions in 2008.  Cason played in 12 games (0 starts) for the Lions last season and he carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards (3.5 ypc).  He also caught 14 passes for 129 yards (9.2 avg).  Look for Cason to add to his modest career numbers in 2008 as he might surprise.  Cason has now played in 49 games (5 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 122 times for 555 yards (4.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He has also caught 60 passes for 628 yards (10.5 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

Artose Pinner didn’t get a lot of playing time with the Falcons last year but he will also have a big opportunity to move up the depth chart.  Pinner played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Falcons last season and he carried the ball 5 times for 46 yards (9.2 ypc).  Pinner has now played in 47 games (7 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 250 times for 858 yards (3.4 ypc) with 8 TD runs.  He also has caught 39 passes for 308 yards (7.9 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  D+