The Detroit Lions have been again in pads on Day 8 of coaching camp, and with followers nonetheless in attendance, the depth was ramped again up. The Lions proceed to tweak their depth chart and conditions, and are clearly rewarding participant for his or her efforts to date in camp.
Participation report
From: Erik Schlitt
The 2 massive information objects of the day have been the return of beginning defensive again Brian Department and the early exit of rookie operating again Sione Vaki. Department had been slowly working in the direction of full participation, and as we beforehand reported would occur, he was in a position to take part in full on Thursday.
“I really feel good,” Department advised Satisfaction of Detroit after apply. “I’m so hungry proper now, to be sincere. It feels actually good getting again with these guys, again within the swing of issues, and I’m simply attempting to work on my craft.”
Vaki injured his shoulder throughout a one-on-one drill and left the sector early with trainers. He was in a position to stroll off beneath his personal energy however no additional updates have been supplied presently.
Past Vaki, we noticed continued absences from DJ Reader (PUP), Christian Mahogany (NFI), and Zonovan Knight (undisclosed), whereas Kayode Awosika was a brand new addition to the participation report. The crew was unable to substantiate why Awosika was absent and we are going to look to get clarification from coach Dan Campbell on Friday.
Alterations to the depth chart
From: Erik
Along with the traditional rotations we’ve come to anticipate—at reserve quarterback, nickel again, and reserve SAM—we additionally noticed some reserve gamers incomes reps with the starters throughout crew drills.
With Department lastly wholesome, the Lions are giving him a variety of publicity, and at occasions, even saved him on the sector for first and second-team reps. Kerby Joseph obtained the primary alternative to see snaps reverse him, with Ifeatu Melifonwu becoming a member of Department on the second crew. Because the day progressed, when Department wanted some reps off, Brandon Joseph joined Melifonwu on the second crew. UDFAs Morice Norris and Loren Strickland wrapped issues up on the third crew.
Additionally within the secondary, rookie Ennis Rakestraw noticed his alternatives develop. He has been a fixture at outdoors nook on the second crew, however on Thursday, he noticed snaps with the primary unit (reverse Terrion Arnold) in addition to on the third crew at nickel. Rakestraw rewarded coaches together with his second interception of the week throughout crew drills. The progress has been regular for Rakestraw and he seems to be headed towards extra alternatives.
On the offensive line, with Muti lately positioned on injured reserve and Awosika not current, the Lions shifted round their second unit. Connor Galvin stepped in at left deal with, Dan Skipper shifted over to proper deal with, Colby Sorsdal pushed inside to proper guard, Ike Boettger obtained snaps at left guard, whereas Michael Niese continued to rep at middle. Moreover, with the crew brief on tackles, Sorsdal additionally noticed a fair proportion of third-team reps at proper deal with all through the day.
At receiver, Daurice Fountain continues to fill the Lions’ beginning WR-X function, adopted by Antoine Inexperienced, with Donovan Peoples-Jones additionally being within the combine.
“We’ve obtained quite a few guys competing for that spot,” offensive coordinator Ben Johnson mentioned earlier within the day. “Reece (Fountain) has definitely come on to date in coaching camp, his physicality, his explosiveness has proven up. Antoine Inexperienced continues to be pushing all alongside right here. We see progress from the springtime, we simply have to see the consistency that we’ve been hoping for from him. DPJ (Peoples-Jones) has made some massive performs for us, he had a giant block simply the opposite day in apply that we took notice of.”
Standouts in TE, RB, LB, S drill
From: Jeremy Reisman
Whereas Erik was watching the offensive line tackle the defensive position, my focus was on the inside talent place guys going up towards the protection. The Lions ran three units of drills with this group: open discipline tackling, go safety vs. go rush, and route operating vs. protection.
My primary standout from the group in all sides was Jermar Jefferson. The fourth-year operating again has a protracted technique to go to earn a roster spot, however I had him with massive wins in every side—and towards starting-level expertise. He juked Ifeatu Melifonwu (who is often fairly sturdy in open-field tackling drills) out of his sneakers, he completely stonewalled Jack Campbell in a go safety rep, and he cleanly beat Derrick Barnes in protection for a straightforward route win. Most significantly, Jefferson’s play carried over to crew drills, the place he made a couple of performs on situational downs.
One other clear sweep winner in all three drills was Kerby Joseph. Tasked with bringing down the elusive Jahmyr Gibbs, Joseph went 1-for-2, however he was harmful as a go rusher (beating Brock Wright) and had Shane Zylstra fully blanketed in protection, giving Hendon Hooker no window to throw into.
Derrick Barnes additionally appeared sturdy as a go rusher, which ought to come as little shock given all of the work he’s placing into that side of his recreation because the crew’s prime SAM linebacker proper now. David Montgomery is frequently one of the best again in go safety, however Barnes slipped proper by him with a powerful swim transfer that harkened again to Barnes’ days at Purdue.
Another bullet-point notes:
Jahmyr Gibbs struggled in go safety early, however it wasn’t for an absence of attempting. His effort helped him win the ultimate rep by sticking with Malcolm Rodriguez.
Jack Campbell had some struggles in all three drills, though he was typically lined up towards the highest offensive expertise. Like each defender in camp, Campbell wasn’t in a position to deliver down Montgomery in each one-on-one tackling reps.
Craig Reynolds continues to have a robust camp. He’s firmly entrenched as my RB3.
1-vs-1: Offensive line vs defensive position
From: Erik
The Lions ran two variations of their one-on-one drills between the offensive and defensive traces. The primary evolution began the rep with gamers already engaged, whereas the second and third units have been extra conventional, with gamers lined up throughout the road of scrimmage from each other.
The Lions’ beginning offensive line continues to look very sturdy in these drills. The offensive line gained the vast majority of reps, with the one defensive standouts being Alim McNeill pushing Graham Glasgow deep into the pocket, Levi Onwuzurike dipping beneath a block from Kevin Zeitler, and Aidan Hutchinson inflicting a stalemate with Penei Sewell.
Amongst the reserves, Boettger confirmed effectively towards rookie Mekhi Wingo and worldwide participant David Bada, whereas Sorsdal had wins over Josh Paschal and Mitchell Agude, however misplaced to Nate Lynn, who had a very good day general.
UDFA middle Kingsley Eguakun obtained a shout-out from Ben Johnson within the morning press convention, for his play throughout camp to date:
“Kingsley’s a man that stands out,” Johnson mentioned. “He’s doing an incredible job at middle. We load our guys down, our middle’s down, so he’s in a position to make the calls. He’s additionally cross-training at guard, he’s doing a very nice job.”
Eguakun had decisive wins over nostril tackles Brodric Martin and Chris Smith in one-on-ones. Then perhaps he over-celebrated a bit, as a result of, for his third rep, coaches lined him up towards Hutchinson, who made fast work of the rookie with an inside swim transfer. With a bit of additional time left earlier than the crew switched drills, coaches allowed linemen to sq. off as soon as once more, and Eguakun stepped up, this time going through off towards McNeill, who like Hutchinson, confirmed off his starter abilities and shortly gained the rep.
It’s good to see Eguakun getting some further consideration, and whereas he struggled towards the starters, that’s to be anticipated and shouldn’t deter from the success he has had to date in camp.
Situational drills
From: Jeremy
The Lions ran 4 situational drills to finish apply. Let’s run by all of them.
First stringers: 20 seconds left in first half, third-and-2 from the opponents’ 16-yard line with no timeouts
Derrick Barnes sacked Jared Goff on the one and solely play from the offense.
With the clock operating, the Lions rushed the kicking crew on and have been in a position to get the sector aim off in time, however Jake Bates missed the kick from beneath 40 yards huge proper.
First stringers: 31 seconds left within the recreation, down six factors, ranging from the opponents’ 41-yard line with two timeouts
Goff took a deep shot to Jameson Williams who was tightly lined by Carlton Davis. The ball slipped by his palms, however Davis was known as for defensive holding.
False begin on the offense.
Levi Onwuzurike recorded a sack, however the Lions performed by it and Goff discovered Sam LaPorta for 9 yards.
Goff tried to drive a ball to Williams up the appear, however it was batted down by Department.
With Good safety, Goff discovered Daurice Fountain for 12 yards, leaving simply 5 seconds on the clock.
Lions ran a fast out to Amon-Ra St. Brown right down to the 9-yard line leaving one second left.
After scrambling to his left and again to his proper, Goff needled the ball between a pair defenders and located St. Brown at the back of the top zone for a landing.
Second stringers (Nate Sudfeld): 44 seconds left, down three factors, ranging from opponents’ 48-yard line, two timeouts
Mekhi Wingo recorded a sack for a 5-yard loss (timeout).
Sudfeld discovered Tom Kennedy for a 10-yard acquire on a curl.
Incomplete go to Kennedy.
The Lions opted towards making an attempt a 61-yard discipline aim to tie, however Sudfeld couldn’t join with Brock Wright after Ifeatu Melifonwu broke up the go alongside the sideline.
Third stringers (Hendon Hooker): 1:31 left, down seven factors, ranging from personal 30-yard line, two timeouts
After a defensive offsides, Hooker discovered Shane Zylstra for an enormous 30-yard acquire with a laser up the seam.
Spike to cease the clock.
Hooker discovered Jefferson for a 16-yard acquire, going out of bounds to cease the clock.
With strain from Nate Lynn, Hooker stood up and located Jalon Calhoun for 9 yards. (timeout)
With over a minute nonetheless on the clock, the Lions gave the ball to Jefferson for a brief acquire, setting them up first-and-goal simply contained in the 10-yard line.
Going into hurry-up mode (regardless of loads of time left and a timeout), Hooker tried to attach with Zylstra on a fast go to the flats, however newly-signed linebacker Malik Jefferson jumped the route and took it for what doubtless would’ve been a pick-six.
