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Theo Riddick has been a dangerous weapon in the passing game and the Detroit Lions want to make sure they keep him involved as the team's other running backs get healthy.

(AP Photo)

ALLEN PARK -- You're never going to hear Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell or offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi complain about having too many talented weapons, but Theo Riddick's emergence as a reliable option in recent weeks presents a unique challenge for the coaching staff to keep the second-year running back involved in the game plan.

Despite a stellar training camp, Riddick barely saw the field the first four weeks of the season, when both Reggie Bush and Joique Bell were healthy. But with Bush sidelined two of the past three games, Riddick showcased his pass-catching ability out of the backfield, hauling in 13 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

Now that Bush is back to full strength for the team's upcoming home game against Miami, the Lions will need to get creative to get both him and Riddick touches.

"I think they both have a role," Lombardi said. "Obviously, they both have certain skills that cross over that are a little redundant, and so in some ways they eat at each other's reps. But they're both very good players, they're both players that can do things extremely well, and so I think you use them both. You try to get them both on the field maybe at the same time."

That would be a new look for the Lions' offense. If you factor out formations with fullback Jed Collins, Detroit has had two running backs share the field just 13 times this season, and not once was the combination Bush and Riddick.

That could change against Miami, according to both Lombardi and Caldwell.

"I think when you have those kinds of players you want to be able to get as many of them on the field at the same time," Caldwell said.

Both Bell and Bush like the idea of utilizing two-back sets more often, because those formations can keep opponents off balance.

"That's just going to force defenses to change up the way that they scheme us because of our ability to run the ball and run routes well out of the backfield," Bush said. "It will just give them something else to think about. That's a good thing, that's a plus for us."

Riddick can also line up in the slot, something he did regularly while at Notre Dame.

"I think that he will have reps, whether he's taking them from Reggie or whoever," Lombardi said. "I don't know, but there's certain things that he does extremely well that you want to make sure that he keeps doing."

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