ALLEN PARK -- The first few moments of Matt Patricia's first open practice with the Lions featured some new tests of will.

On one end of the field, running backs lined up with the ball behind three bags made to simulate offensive linemen. When the back would approach the line, assistant coaches would fill two of the holes to force the runner to make the right decision and go.

On the other end, later in the practice, backs took handoffs and ran toward a speeding linebacker before making a cut to avoid an open-field tackle.

The goal of the day was to simulate moments that should come in a game. The goal of the offseason is to find a way to make these moments actually take place.

After years of talk about fixing a run game amounting to little more than words, Detroit pumped some actual resources to the support system that Matthew Stafford has rarely ever had. It hired two offensive line coaches who played the position in the league in Jeff Davidson and Hank Fraley. It drafted a lineman in the first round in Arkansas' Frank Ragnow with plans to start him right away in the middle. It used picks and signings in hopes of creating the offensive line depth it begged for last season.

It added two bigger running backs in LeGarrette Blount and Kerryon Johnson. It even drafted a fullback in seventh-round San Diego product Nick Bawden.

Personnel moves are only half the battle, of course, like dumping the pieces onto the table and expecting a puzzle to form. That part takes time and focus, and that's what Thursday hoped to be a start of. As the Lions ran new drills for their backs, they worked out the more fundamental pieces in different spots, from Ragnow at left guard to linebacker Nick Bellore at fullback. It gave the primary rushing reps to Blount and Johnson, and the fullback position was back a part of life again.

Some of the placements aren't that telling this early. Coach Matt Patricia warned before practice that plenty of players would be working in new spots because the emphasis is learning, not game planning. Blount and Johnson taking the handoffs doesn't say anything about the futures of Theo Riddick or even Ameer Abdullah, necessarily. It just means the new toys need to be played with, too.

Detroit Lions host 2018 OTA practice Thursday 50 Gallery: Detroit Lions host 2018 OTA practice Thursday

"If (younger players) need help, I probably wouldn't be the person who would be able to help them at this point because I'm just as new in the offense," Blount said.

Blount does recognize how he's different than other backs, both on the Lions roster and around the league. The 10th-year pro is listed at 6 feet and 250 pounds, or nearly 50 pounds heavier than Riddick or Abdullah. He came here on a one-year deal after winning his second straight Super Bowl, this time in Philadelphia, for one main purpose: to convert the short-yardage plays that helped doom Detroit's playoff hopes last season.

A year ago, the Lions made similar statements about fixing the running game, but they thought the boost would come internally. Jim Caldwell kept on with embattled offensive line coach Ron Prince without giving him an assistant. Detroit passed on all the running backs in the draft and didn't sign a premier free agent either. It added two high-priced linemen in guard TJ Lang and tackle Rick Wagner, but they were natural pass protectors the coaches hoped would grow into better run blockers as well.

None of it really worked as Detroit slid to dead last in rushing and hit a fourth straight year without a 100-yard rusher in any game. The Lions were just 7 of 14 in trying to convert from a yard out on the ground on third or fourth down. Somehow, running Dwayne Washington or Zach Zenner behind natural pass protectors in obvious running situations didn't net great results.

Blount can't -- or won't -- talk about what happened without him last season, but he knows his calling card and how it's created a career of one-year deals at a position the NFL was seemingly phasing out not too long ago.

"You can't do it individually because I cant go in there and run over 11 guys. Usually, if it's a one-yard touchdown, they only leave you with one guy to run over. Most times, you've got to beat him," said Blount, who ran for a league-best 18 touchdowns with the Patriots in 2016 before dropping to two scores in less action with the Eagles last season.

"There are not a lot of guys that are as big as me out there. I try my best to win that battle."

The battle is a long way off from the shorts-and-shells days taking place at Allen Park, but the Lions seem committed to sending their best men into the fight this time.