Lions Training Camp: Day 10 - A Day of Surprises and Standouts
Day 10 of the Detroit Lions' training camp was a day of surprises and highlights, with the secondary stepping up and the offense finding its rhythm. As the pads returned and the starters returned to the lineup, the Lions' defense, particularly the secondary, made a strong statement. While there have been concerns about the Lions' secondary with key players out and others departing, the unit has been a pleasant surprise so far in camp.
One of the biggest standouts was Chuck Clark, who made a great play on a pass intended for Jahmyr Gibbs and then deflected a pass that was intercepted by Nick Whiteside. Clark's physical presence and instincts in the run game were also on full display. Rock Ya-Sin, meanwhile, 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.
Among the reserves, Christian Izien made a big impression, splitting time as the first-team nickel and second-team safety and making several plays, including an interception where he read the eyes of Luke Altmyer. Izien is also making strides on special teams, and he's closing in on the gunner job opposite Khalil Dorsey.
However, not all defensive backs are performing well. Ennis Rakestraw and Roger McCreary have had up-and-down camps, with Rakestraw dropping to the second-team defense and struggling on special teams. McCreary, meanwhile, has been getting first-team nickel reps but has also had his share of ups and downs, including being flagged for defensive holding.
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, with the offense managing just 6-7 total yards on a pair of plays to open the drive. However, the offense got itself into a third-and-3 and converted, with Goff threading 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, with Goff pulling a convincing play-action and throwing 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.
One of the play of the day came from Jahmyr Gibbs, who 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 came from UDFA linebacker Erick Hunter, who 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.
Overall, Day 10 of the Lions' training camp was a day of surprises and highlights, with the secondary stepping up and the offense finding its rhythm. As the camp progresses, it will be interesting to see how the Lions' players continue to develop and improve, particularly in the areas where they have been struggling. In my opinion, the Lions' defense, particularly the secondary, has the potential to be a strong unit this season, and the offense is showing signs of finding its rhythm and chemistry.
