The Detroit Lions ramped the intensity back up at training camp for Day 10. The pads were back on, and most of the starters were back in the lineup following a bit of a veteran rest day on Sunday. If you want a full participation list, check out our latest Lions injury news update.
Here’s everything else I noticed from Monday’s practice.
Several defensive backs stand out
There has been a lot of understandable consternation about the Lions’ secondary with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph out with injury and Terrion Arnold off the team
entirely, but the secondary has been a pleasant surprise early in camp, and that was on display several times during Monday’s practice. So much so that quarterback Jared Goff had to give it up to the DBs.
“Obviously the front seven gets the notoriety right now with all the big-time players, but the back end’s doing a good job too with the veteran guys,” Goff said. “I thought Chuck (Clark) made a great play on me today and almost had another one on me. Avonte (Maddox)’s doing a great job, D.J. (Reed), when he’s out there is doing a great job. They’re competing, it’s fun, and it’s competitive.”
Clark, indeed, was one of my biggest standouts of practice. In an early red-zone drill, Devin White deflected a pass intended for Jahmyr Gibbs, and Clark picked it off. Then, on a third-and-short in a live drive, Clark jumped a crossing route to Amon-Ra St. Brown to deflect the pass, and it landed in Nick Whiteside’s hands. Clark also continues to be a physical and instinctive presence in the run game.
Rock Ya-Sin continues to have competitive battles with both Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown, and he logged a decisive tackle for loss in the run game as well.
Among the reserves, Christian Izien made a big impression Monday, as well. He split time as the first-team nickel and second-team safety, and made several plays on the day, including an interception where he clearly read the eyes of Luke Altmyer while dropping into a zone. But his biggest impact this year may come on special teams, where he continually reps high and wins his one-on-ones. In my opinion, he’s closing in on the gunner job opposite Khalil Dorsey.
Two notable DB exceptions
While I’ve been impressed with the above defensive backs, it’s been much more of a mixed bag with two cornerbacks: Ennis Rakestraw and Roger McCreary. On Monday, Campbell referred to both of their camps as “up-and-down” and he seemed particularly tough on Rakestraw.
“He’s had some ups and downs. He needs to string a few days together here of some good stuff, but he can do that, and he’s gifted,” Campbell said.
Rakestraw has pretty firmly dropped down to the second-team defense, with Nick Whiteside jumping into the starting lineup (with Reed out). To make matters worse, Rakestraw hasn’t performed particularly well on special teams, while Whiteside is making some strides there.
McCreary continues to get some first-team nickel reps and outside work with the reserves, and Monday was a perfect example of the highs and lows of his camp. He got flagged for defensive holding—a common problem this camp. But he also avoided an Isaac TeSlaa block to blow up a screen, and had perfect coverage on an Amon-Ra St. Brown wheel route to force an incompletion.
First-team defense starts strong, offense finishes
The first-team offense and defense faced off for three “real” drives, where the plays count, and they often went live tackling.
The initial drive was all defense. Starting deep in their own zone, the offense managed just 6-7 total yards on a pair of plays to open the drive. On third-and-short, Goff tried to hit Sam LaPorta on a crossing route, but Chuck Clark jumped in front of it, tipped the ball into the air, and Nick Whiteside was there to pick it off.
The second drive, starting around midfield, was much more successful for the offense. While they ignored what probably would’ve been an Aidan Hutchinson sack (on Blake Miller), they got themselves into a third-and-3 and converted this time. Goff threaded the needle between Clark and Thomas Harper for a big 20-yard gain to Sam LaPorta. After a nice 7-yard run from Jacob Saylors and a big run stuff from Jack Campbell, Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 15-yard touchdown on a post corner route that beat Whiteside.
The offense would get the better of the defense in a final situational drill. The situation:
- Offense is up 23-20
- 1:53 left in the game
- Each team has 2 timeouts
- Ball starting on own 48-yard line
The defense started promisingly with a tackle for loss on first down. But on second down, Goff pulled a convincing play-action, and threw a bomb to Jameson Williams, who had beaten Ya-Sin by a single step. A perfect pass resulted in Williams down at the 1-yard line (50-ish yard gain), and the offense kneeled the rest of the clock away.
Miscellaneous
- The play of the day came from Jahmyr Gibbs. He bounced a run outside and was squared up with Nick Whiteside, the only player holding contain on that side of the field. Gibbs absolutely shook him for what was around a 10-yard touchdown run.
- Another strong day from UDFA linebacker Erick Hunter. He absolutely blew up a pass to Jackson Meeks, jarring the ball loose on a big collision, and was all over Tyler Conklin on a short pickup. He also repped with the primary kick return team, a good sign of his standing there—although the injury absences of Malcolm Rodriguez and Damone Clark are noteworthy.
- Devin White had a series in which he made a play—either good or bad—on nearly every single down. Working on red zone plays…
- White bit hard on a play-action pass, resulting in a wide-open Brock Wright for a 10-yard gain.
- He dropped into coverage and batted a ball intended for Jahmyr Gibbs that was intercepted by Clark.
- Sam LaPorta beat White into the flats for a fourth-and-short conversion and possible touchdown.
- White bit again on play-action, leaving Wright wide open for a 2-yard touchdown.
- When running downhill as a blitzer or run defender, White has been excellent all camp. And even when lined up one-on-one in coverage, he can hold his own. It’s just when offenses can utilize his own aggressiveness against him that he gets into trouble.
- A typical Jake Bates day:
- Makes: 39, 39, 46, 47, 51, 54, XP
- Misses: 47, 51
