Get on board. The Theo Riddick train is a-movin'.
The shifty running back out of Notre Dame was drafted last season to be Reggie Bush's understudy.
"He's hard to guard one-on-one, so that is going to be good for us to have another piece of the puzzle," Bush said this weekend of Riddick's role in the Lions' new offense, per Paula Pasche of The Oakland Press.
During his rookie season, Riddick played just 49 snaps -- carrying the ball nine times for 25 yards and catching four passes for 26 yards.
Under new coordinator Joe Lombardi, Riddick could see increased snaps playing the Darren Sproles role from the New Orleans Saints' offense.
NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah -- one of the first on the Theo Train -- believes the diversity in Riddick's game could propel the 5-foot-9 back onto the field more in 2014.
Bush said that despite Riddick's meager playing time, the young back is ahead of where Bush himself was after his rookie season.
"He has a natural given ability to be able to make people miss in space," Bush said. "... He's far more advanced now compared to where I was as a rookie. I wasn't as good of a natural runner, it took me a couple years to get to that point and he already kinda has that. So, I'm sure you'll see him used a lot in the passing game this year and the running game."
While he won't usurp Bush's role, if the veteran gets injured during the course of the season, Riddick should get the opportunity to fill those shoes.
*The latest "Around The League Podcast" picks the best receiver group in the NFL, and goes deep previewing the season with Bucky Brooks. *
