The Detroit Lions took their foot off the gas Thursday, and it made for a short training camp session at the team’s facility. After a heavy stretch that included a long scrimmage Sunday and several padded practices, Dan Campbell said it was the right time to dial things back on Day 16.
“We’ve gotten a great week,” Campbell said. “The last three days that we’ve had padded practices, the day before that night practice, that day, the night practice, and then yesterday were outstanding.
Just the work that we have got, the situations we have got, the amount of reps. They’re hard reps.
They’re under stress. They get tired, have to work with each other.
You have got to stay on top of your fundamentals. I just thought it was great work.
So, I’m pleased-(we’ve) backed way off today.”
The entire practice was trimmed down to walkthroughs, individual work, four short drives, and one special teams period. It lasted less than an hour and was unpadded, so the live-action notes were limited. Even so, a few things stood out.
Jack Campbell was everywhere
If there was one defender who kept popping up, it was Jack Campbell. In just nine snaps for the first-team offense and defense, he made his presence felt four times.
He started by powering through Jahmyr Gibbs on a sack that was allowed to continue as the play unfolded, with the pressure helping force an off-target throw. On the very next play, Campbell dropped into deep coverage and got a piece of a downfield ball for Jameson Williams on third-and-long, knocking it away.
Then he showed up against the run. Campbell chased Gibbs down the line for only 3 yards on a first-down carry, and later he shot the gap between Tate Ratledge and Juice Scruggs for a 3-yard tackle for loss.
In one tiny slice of practice, Campbell showed off pass rush, coverage, and run defense.
The line still isn’t clean
Detroit looks to have settled on a starting five up front, even if it hasn’t been made official. The group has been the same one for the last few practices:
LT: Penei Sewell
LG: Christian Mahogany
C: Juice Scruggs
RG: Tate Ratledge
RT: Blake Miller
Before practice, Campbell sounded encouraged about the unit’s progress, especially with Scruggs.
“I did think yesterday was better,” Campbell said of Scruggs. “And particularly in a lot of that situational work to where they got to be on the same page with some stuff. And the rest of the o-line, I think those only help.”
Thursday didn’t back that up. The first-team offense had missed assignments sprinkled through those nine snaps, and a false start added to what has been a recurring issue throughout camp.
D.J. Reed came untouched on a corner blitz and got home for a sack, with the tight ends to that side likely involved in the blown assignment.
On Campbell’s tackle for loss, Ratledge was late coming off a double team to pick up the blitzing linebacker. And on the offense’s final red-zone snap, a screen to Jahmyr Gibbs never had a chance because no one - Scruggs or Ratledge - got a hand on Alim McNeill, forcing Jared Goff to dump the ball at Gibbs’ feet.
The second unit had its own problems, including another false start and no success on two rushing attempts.
It’s not panic time, but the Lions clearly need more time together if this group is going to be ready for Week 1.
A few other notes
Josh Dobbs got one full team rep, and he made it count with a 20-yard touchdown to a wide-open Jackson Meeks. That was the snap when Ennis Rakestraw got hurt.
Because the team was running the drill like a drive, the third unit was done after that play. Even with the small workload Thursday, Dobbs is expected to start Saturday’s preseason game.
Sione Vaki turned in the biggest offensive play of the day, catching a swing pass into the blitz and turning it into about 20 yards with help from blockers.
Jake Bates stayed perfect, drilling field goals from 41 and 42 yards and adding his only extra point.
Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors were the starting kick returners.
On punt pursuit, Ahmed Hassanein beat Anthony Lucas off the edge, but Greg Dortch made him miss badly with a sharp juke.
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