Yes, his 3.1 yards per carry average is below par, as is his 393 total rushing yards eight games into the season. But there is enough mud to be slung around the Lions locker room so Smith should not bear much, if any blame for the Lions' lack of production.

The talk show hosts who label Smith a bust are too quick to judge. It's only his second season in the NFL. The frustrated fans who post on message boards that Aaron Brown is a better running back are nothing short of incompetent.

Kevin Smith could end up being another Kevin Jones. But to write him off as such this early in his career is unjust.

Other than Calvin Johnson, and hopefully—dare I say potentially—Matthew Stafford, Smith i...

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