Ameer Abdullah, Detroit's rookie runner, itching to make an impact for Lions

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The official blue of the Detroit Lions' is Honolulu blue, though the jerseys of some of the offensive players walking off the field following a practice this week were a few shades darker because of the sweat that had soaked through them.

Ameer Abdullah's shirt, however, looked like it was right out of the packaging, save for a small dark patch covering his abs.

"I'm not a guy that sweats that much," the rookie running back said as he made his way inside the team's facility. "I get tired, now. Don't get me wrong. But I usually don't sweat."

Fitting, because he's been a cool customer since arriving here as a second-round pick this spring and has been dazzling in training camp despite taking on extra work while veteran starter Joique Bell remains sidelined following knee and Achilles surgeries this offseason.

Abdullah seems as comfortable as one could expect a rookie to be. He's making quick reads on his runs, knifing through the front seven, reversing field, making defenders plant and pivot to chase him the other way and, in some cases, making them miss completely.

No, he hasn't taken a full-contact NFL snap yet. But after running for 4,438 yards over the last three years at the University of Nebraska, Abdullah looks like as good a candidate as the three backs drafted ahead of him to make an impact as a rookie and boost a team in desperate need of a running game.

"It only takes a couple of days to get used to things," Abdullah said. "I feel like I've always been a person who raises my play with the talent that's on the field. So being out here with much better talent has made me a lot better in just the month I've been out here. I'm getting more comfortable and I'm seeing things quicker. I'm seeing that cutback like I did in college.

"That's why you're seeing a lot of big runs, a lot of slicing through the defense. I'm excited with the progress I've made, but there's still a couple of things I need to clean up."

In the 16 seasons since Barry Sanders retired, the Lions have never been ranked higher than 17th in rushing offense and have finished 30th or worse four times. Last year, Bell led the way with 860 yards.

Of course, the Lions have a sensational passing game when it's clicking, and tight end Eric Ebron is showing signs in camp he might be ready to take the next step to give Matthew Stafford yet another reliable target. And, yes, this is still very much a passing league in many ways.

But the Lions' first two picks in this year's draft -- big, run-blocking guard Laken Tomlinson and Abdullah -- signaled a shift in philosophy might soon be coming.

"This year, I think we're going to run the ball a little bit more," Bell said.

OK, if they're able to do that ...

"It's not 'if,' it's 'when,' " Bell interjected.

Abdullah's arrival is by no means a signal Bell won't play a big role in this offense. He's a big, physical presence, which means Abdullah's slashing style should complement him well. (Theo Riddick, who has 29 carries in two seasons, is vying for time as well.)

Bell is also serving a key role as a leader in the running back's room. It was a quick move into that role for him when the Lions cut Reggie Bush. One day recently, running backs coach Curtis Modkins was telling one of the rookies not to "panic" like Bell did in 2010 when Modkins and Bell were with the Buffalo Bills.

"Coach, I never panicked," Bell quipped.

Neither does Abdullah. He's quite the composed young man and has been that way for some time, apparently.

Lions rookie fullback Michael Burton, who roomed with Abdullah this spring during minicamps and OTAs, was impressed with Abdullah's poise last year when the Big Ten asked him to address about 3,000 people at the conference's media day.

"Didn't seem nervous at all, didn't stutter once," Burton said. "I could just tell what kind of character he had just based on the way he handled that."

Added Abdullah: "I've played in front of crowds of 110,000, but everyone focusing on me? That was the biggest one. I enjoyed it, though."

Abdullah is also enjoying the spotlight of working with the starters so quickly into his NFL career. At the tail end of a run up the right sideline earlier this week, veteran safety Isa Abdul-Quddus popped him pretty well. It wasn't a huge hit, just enough to let Abdullah know the veterans on that side of the ball have their pride, much like the ones around the league will.

When they have a chance to take their shot, they will. So he'd better be ready.

"I get mixed signals," Abdullah said with a laugh about how much contact there should be in practice. "Yesterday I was dropping the shoulder on people and the veterans wanted us to ease up a bit, but you know they come back at us.

"I'm glad they do it because, on one play, I was a little high coming out of my cut and Taylor Mays hit me and -- boom -- I stumbled. I didn't fall, thankfully. That would've been embarrassing. I stumbled and I was like, 'Agh, I'm a little high. If I was lower, maybe I could've ricocheted a little better.'"

Keep an eye out to see whether any of those lessons translate to the playing field this year. If the start of camp and Abdullah's calm confidence is any indication, he could wind up at the head of this impressive rookie class of running backs.

"I had a couple of teams call me in the first round and early in the second round. A team was even talking about, 'We're going to trade up to get you.' Didn't happen," Abdullah said, declining to mention the teams by name. "It's exciting, but it kind of sucked at same time.

"But I was fortunate to have Detroit call because I'm in a good offense, with a great coach and a great team coming back. We can do some great things and I'm looking to contribute."