Lions News

[jaadam4]

I also think the bad field and their shoes had something to do with it. That might be categorized as under prepared by not having the correct footware. It was telling that Campbell made it a point that they were practicing with the 7 cleat shoes before Green Bay.

There’s no doubt it played a part in it.

[CGVT]

Positive update about Onwuzurike. So you’re telling me there’s a chance… I’m worried how Onwuzurike’s back will react when put in football drills. Trench warfare body movement. But hey, it’s a positive update for now.

It would be ideal if the DTs were McNeill, Buggs, Martin, and Onwuzurike come roster cuts. Jones, Covington, and Onwuzurike fighting for that 4th spot.

HTF is that positive news?

It is nothing more than wishful thinking

The 49rs are hoping that Purdy is ready by training camp too.

[TheLondonLion]

I'll be amazed if he features. Huge guy with back issues is an awful combination.

[Nick Pappageorgio]

Didn’t he have fusion surgery last year as a last resort?

I know these guys are chasing a dream…but at this point I’d like to see the guy get out healthy (and with total use of all of his limbs) because I’ve completely written him off as being able to compete again. Very surprised if he makes it all the way through camp.

[jaadam4]

He did the Eric Ebron yoga program

[TheLondonLion]

He was my adopt a Lion. I am never playing again.

[jaadam4]

I wish the Lions would do Hard Knocks again this season. Last year was awesome

[jaadam4]

He was my adopt a Lion. I am never playing again.

Ebron and the yoga mat or Levi O and the fucked up back?

[dpatnod]

I might adopt that Jamo M-Fer. Bring him in. We'll fix his gambling shit. I'll hit em upside the head wif a two by fer. Bahhhh!!!!!!

[CGVT]

Haha!

352214012_206777228931502_757390137357313950_n.jpg

[jaadam4]

They won’t be laughing when we’re skull dragging the North. I hope MCDC sees all of these

[jaadam4]

Some good info from POD about day 1. Since there’s not shit else to talk about Im going to break each positional group into separate posts.


Quarterbacks


With Hendon Hooker still unable to practice, the Lions cycled through their three remaining quarterbacks. Jared Goff was the obvious focus, Nate Sudfeld getting work as the primary backup, and UDFA rookie Adrian Martinez with the third string.

Goff drew praise from coach Dan Campbell in his morning press conference, with the coach commenting that he believes Goff is playing better now than he did with the L.A. Rams—even in his Super Bowl season.

Goff looked solid today, and while he is still building chemistry with some of the younger players, he remains in lockstep with veterans like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, and Brock Wright. Goff wasn’t spectacular, but he also wasn’t nearly as bad as some publications have suggested. Overall, he was about where I expected him to be at this stage of the spring.

Sudfeld was the top reserve quarterback and has a legitimate NFL arm, while Martinez struggled with accuracy when he ratcheted up his power but lost way too much throwing speed when he focused on accuracy. There is a clear separation between the two.

[jaadam4]

Exciting!

Tight ends


Once again, rookie Sam LaPorta stole the show. When comparing him against his fellow tight ends during routes and individual drills—a true apples-to-apples comparison—he was smoother, faster, and more consistent in his routes and catches.

LaPorta started the day with the second group during walkthroughs but saw snaps with the first, second, and third teams. Gaining separation was challenging for most of the Lions' offensive players, but LaPorta was one of the more natural at that skill. He caught multiple touchdowns in team drills, including elevating over Ifeatu Melifonwu (who was in good position but facing away from the ball) and powerfully snatching it from over the top of his body

Rounding out the tight ends group, Wright had a solid day, Shane Zylstra looked a bit less athletic than normal (but that could be the LaPorta effect), and Derrick Deese showed me more today than I saw all of last training camp combined.

[jaadam4]

Running backs


At running back, it was Craig Reynolds leading drills and first-team snaps, but there was a healthy rotation, including a lot of Jahmyr Gibbs with the ones during team drills. In individual drills, Reynolds was first up, and Gibbs was fourth in line, but that was by design, as each was receiving passes from Goff in the rotation. Gibbs surprisingly struggled with few catches during individuals—even audibly expressing his shock/frustration—but in team activities, he corrected the issue and was consistently solid.


Wide receivers

As mentioned in the quarterbacks section, the veteran returning receivers (St. Brown, Reynolds, and Raymond) looked solid, while chemistry was still being worked out with the new arrivals.


The big question on most fans' minds is: how is the chemistry between Goff and Jameson Williams? And my answer is: in progress.

Like with Gibbs, Williams had a hard time hauling in passes from Goff during individual drills and even repeated some drills in order to try and correct the issue. But even if they corrected the issue on one route, they’d run into another issue on the next.

It’s hard to tell exactly what the issue is, but from what I saw on Tuesday, I believe it’s a combination of Williams having elite speed/athleticism—which makes everything happen faster—yet being too inconsistent in his route tree to allow for a timing route to work. Because his routes aren’t always identical in their patterns—and because he’s so athletic—Goff's anticipation of where Williams will be is a bit off, resulting in incompletions.

On the plus side, in team drills, Williams and Goff were on the same page several times and made a few nice connections on the outside at mid-range and down the seam. Experience will help the duo.

[jaadam4]

Offensive line


With Frank Ragnow still out at center, his reps continued to go to Ross Pierschbacher, while center/guard Graham Glasgow was once again rotating with Halapoulivaati Vaitai at right guard while the Lions take his return to the field slow. Matt Nelson was the third primary reserve to get into the first-string rotation, seeing time at left guard and both tackle spots, allowing Jonah Jackson, Penei Sewell, and Taylor Decker to get some rest. Those eight players were consistently with the top unit.

Among the deeper reserves, there was some positional cross-training going on—like Logan Stenberg continuing to rep at center and both guard spots—but it’s worth noting that fifth-round pick Colby Sorsdal was almost exclusively at right guard and Germain Ifedi was at right tackle, while Obinna Eze spent a lot of time at left tackle.

While it’s just the spring and there is plenty of time for things to change, this is how I see the offensive line stacking up at this time