Lions' Michael Burton sees backfield carries evaporate
Allen Park — Michael Burton’s role in the Detroit Lions offense has vanished over the past month. The second-year fullback has played a total of six snaps the past four games as coordinator Jim Bob Cooter tries to find the right mix to spark the team’s ground game.
“As we’ve grown and kind of gotten to know our offense, our talent, what we’re working with, we’ve sorted shifted into a little more of a one-back system,” Cooter said. “We’re kind of trying to get our squad figured out, our offense, and figure out the best way we can help our team. We thought that was the best way to go.”
Burton, who continues to have a significant role on special teams, is playing the good soldier when it comes to his playing time on offense.
“I don’t think about my (reduced playing time) at all,” Burton said. “I just go out and do my job, whatever the coaches ask me to do, to the best of my ability. I have complete trust in the coaches in this organization. If they need me for one play or one hundred plays, I’ll do my best to help this team win.”
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @justin_rogers