The Detroit Lions' run game is something that has to be worked on. The fans know it. The team knows it. The organization as a whole knows it.

So that’s something we’ll address in today’s Lions Mailbag. To ask a question for a future Mailbag, use the hashtag #LionsMailbag on Twitter, email me at michael.rothstein@espn.com or drop a note on Facebook.

Now, to your question.

why is Lions still short in RB? Time to accept that Abdullah not good enough? Zenner not consistent & Riddick not typical RB! #LionsMailbag — Life is a lesson (@amdavadi) January 31, 2017

The Lions' running back situation -- and run game -- is going to be a focal point throughout the offseason heading into the 2017 season. Some of that is for good reason as Detroit was 30th in rushing yards per game last season (79.9) and 27th in yards per carry (3.74).

Now some of that had to do with injuries at the position, with Ameer Abdullah sidelined the last 14 weeks of the regular season due to foot surgery and Theo Riddick in-and-out of the lineup with injuries. That, without question, hampered some of what Detroit wanted to do with its run game and its offense in general. But it also does leave a large question about what the Lions are going to do with their run game this offseason.

It’s clearly an area Detroit needs to improve -- general manager Bob Quinn said as much during his season-ending news conference -- and it is more complicated than just adding a plug-and-play running back. An improved run game, which the Lions last tried to fix in the offseason heading into the 2015 season, requires a strong offensive line, good blocking tight ends and talented running backs.

Heading into that 2015 season, the Lions tried to upgrade on the offensive line in the draft with Laken Tomlinson and through a trade with Manny Ramirez. That, to this point, didn’t work. They added Abdullah in that draft and he’s shown promise when he’s been healthy.

So this revamping of the run game might have to be a little bit of everything. Detroit needs to figure out what it is doing on the right side of the offensive line with Larry Warford and Riley Reiff heading toward free agency and not guaranteed to return.

The tight end situation, beyond starter Eric Ebron, is unknown and will likely be addressed in both free agency and the draft. That will help with blocking and creating holes for the runners.

As for the running backs themselves, there’s little reason to think Abdullah can’t be a piece of the Detroit backfield as long as he returns healthy from his foot injury. In an admittedly small sample size, Abdullah averaged 5.61 yards per carry and looked much more explosive and confident in his second year than he did as a rookie. To say he’s not good enough, as your question asks, is just not true. He has the talent and the strength to be a lead runner as long as he can stay healthy.

So I wouldn’t rule him out by any means. It’s who else Detroit has with him in the backfield that is the bigger question. Riddick remains a dynamic pass-catcher and a good pass-protector, but last season showed his best role is as the team’s two-minute, third-down back. He’s just not reliable enough to be a lead back and should be used to change pace.

Zach Zenner showed some promise, particularly late in the season, and should have a role on the team in 2017. What it is might depend on who else is on the roster. Dwayne Washington remains a question as the size-skill-speed components are what you want, but the vision and decision making were lacking as a rookie. If he can make a jump, he’s part of the answer as well.

But Detroit should be looking at a running back at some point during the draft -- although I’d avoid one early, for the most part. Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook might be intriguing options early and should be evaluated, but building from the lines out seems to be the way the Lions want to do things and improving the offensive line (and defense as a whole) is where to start. This is especially true since history shows running backs can be found at any level of the draft.

But this will likely be a discussion that continues throughout the next few months.