Training Camp MEGA thread

[tonyballs]

Hes another jump ball guy. Stafford should be 100% completion in the red zone with calvin fauria ebron pettigrew baldwin. In reality though....baldwin doesnt make the team....hes probably fighting with broyles and durham for the last spot assuming ogletree is in as the 3rd wr.

Sounds about right

 

[evolutionkb]

Also read that Ebron had a couple of flawless practices over the weekend. Nice to hear...

Source? Not doubting. Just want to read it myself.

 

[mhughes0021]

Source? Not doubting. Just want to read it myself.

Rothstein has been reporting last couple days that hes had good practices....think you can see them on lions home page on espn.

 

[evolutionkb]

Rothstein has been reporting last couple days that hes had good practices....think you can see them on lions home page on espn.

Found them, thanks.

 

[tonyballs]

Thanks, Hughes.

I guess you're not that bad a guy after all lol

 

[Mitchrapp]

I was watching NFLN and Joe Haden and Gilbert were talking to Deion. Drool. I know we had no chance to get them but man I'd love to have two young CB's like that..

 

[grandy]

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/8/5/5969539/andre-fluellen-position-change-detroit-lions

Fluellen moving to DE







And I'll just leave this here (feel free to add your own caption)

 

[tomdalton22]

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/8/5/5969539/andre-fluellen-position-change-detroit-lions



Lion mascot hanging with Mayhew and Matt Millen

New caption

 

[detrisin]

New caption

Done...we have a winner.

 

[tomdalton22]

Caldwell trusting players to stretch and get ready for practice on their own.

From ESPN

The Lions are handling all of the stretching and typical warmup activities on their own and not on the field with the entire Detroit roster -- cutting down time.

"But I kind of like it this way because it seems like practice goes quicker," Bush said. "We're not warming up. We're not stretching and that usually takes a good 30 minutes. It kind of makes the practice feel a little bit longer and drawn out.

"We go straight to work and it's good. I like that."

Bush likes this in particular because he sees it as another way Caldwell is instilling a work ethic and trust in his players. He is giving them the added responsibility to not only make sure they are prepared, but taking care of themselves as well.



probably a bad idea.

 

[mhughes0021]

Caldwell trusting players to stretch and get ready for practice on their own.

From ESPN

The Lions are handling all of the stretching and typical warmup activities on their own and not on the field with the entire Detroit roster -- cutting down time.

"But I kind of like it this way because it seems like practice goes quicker," Bush said. "We're not warming up. We're not stretching and that usually takes a good 30 minutes. It kind of makes the practice feel a little bit longer and drawn out.

"We go straight to work and it's good. I like that."

Bush likes this in particular because he sees it as another way Caldwell is instilling a work ethic and trust in his players. He is giving them the added responsibility to not only make sure they are prepared, but taking care of themselves as well.



probably a bad idea.

Broyles is for sure gonna rupture an Achilles this year lol.

 

[mhughes0021]

for the guys looking for the ebron update from a couple days ago...I like the part where hes explaining how he needs to think of all this mental stuff then here comes a 90 mph fast ball lmao...funny.

Eric Ebron starting to show improvement

August, 2, 2014
Aug 2


By Michael Rothstein | ESPN.com

ALLEN PARK, Mich. – He turned up the field, beat the defender, and quarterback Matthew Stafford launched the ball in the direction of his new tight end, Eric Ebron. It was in the midst of a scrimmage during family day Saturday and Ebron, who had struggled with catching the ball during his first week, ran under it.

Then he snagged it in stride for a massive gain, one of the highlight plays of an up-and-down first few days of Detroit Lions training camp for the No. 10 overall pick of May’s NFL draft.



The Lions say that rookie Eric Ebron is beginning to make strides after a slow start in camp.
While one play in one practice during the first week of his first training camp isn’t going to eliminate all the mental mistakes he made prior to Saturday, each catch will help as the playbook simplifies for him while he attempts to learn four spots in the Detroit offense all at once.

“It takes people, like, three years to master one position, and I’m out here and I’m learning three to four positions,” Ebron said. “It’s fun. They know that I’m smart enough to be able to do it and they know I have the talent to do it, and I’m just going to go out here and show them that I can.”

Lions coach Jim Caldwell understands Ebron’s progress could be incremental for a while as he picks up all the nuances of a position that could see him lined up in the slot, outside, next to the offensive line and perhaps even in the backfield on some plays.

With each play comes different options and alignments and trying to compartmentalize all of that has been a challenge for him. It is, he said, part of the explanation for the drop issues that started at North Carolina and have followed him to Detroit early on.

“It’s just a mental blockage,” Ebron said. “It’s me overthinking my assignments and my alignments and making sure I’m right. While all of those are playing in my head, here comes a 90 mile-an-hour fastball from Matt Stafford.

“You’re not going to catch it. You’re never going to catch it if you are thinking about doing something else while a ball is coming to you.”

So when looking at his big catch Saturday, he sees it as progress. It is him feeling even a little bit more comfortable with all the roles the Lions are preparing him to play. See, his big catch Saturday showed his athleticism and his instincts – two of the things that made him attractive as a complementary piece to Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate in the Lions’ offense in the first place.

“Now I’m starting to be able to do the things that I did in college,” Ebron said. “The things that got you drafted so high.”

Still, there will be both good and bad days ahead for Ebron. In some ways, he understands that. There is still much to learn, even if the playbook that he once joked he needed to take Advil to handle has simplified a bit within his first week.

There still are firsts to learn and still things to pick up. There will be coverages he hasn’t seen and schemes he needs to digest. There are areas he needs to learn, still, and it’ll come.

“I think, there’s no question with all the things he has to learn that he’s certainly a work in progress,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. “He’s certainly getting better. … The guy lines up in so many different places.

“It’s not an easy task. So he’s getting accustomed to it, getting better all the time, grasping things a little bit better and I see he’s making plays. We’ve got to keep that going.”

 

[Mitchrapp]

New caption

:lmao:

 

[boogerlovejoy]

Broyles is for sure gonna rupture an Achilles this year lol.

Left Patella Tendon tear.......week 5.

 

[evolutionkb]

From MLive: You get a real sense quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Golden Tate are close to being on the same page. The two connected on several passes and the quarterback-receiver relationship is starting to look more natural. On one seven-on-seven snap, Tate found a clear lane down the middle of the field out of the slot and Stafford hit him in stride for a long gain.

*** I've said it a couple times in other places, including one of Kyle and my video takes, but Jonte Green is standing out from the rest of the backup cornerbacks. Green had another pass breakup today and has generally played sticky coverage throughout camp.


I always thought that Green played decent during his rookie season when he was needed to fill in for injuries. After that year, he seemed to get lost on the depth chart, kind of like Leshoure. Wonder if he did something to piss Jimmy off.

 

[cheeno]

From MLive: You get a real sense quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Golden Tate are close to being on the same page. The two connected on several passes and the quarterback-receiver relationship is starting to look more natural. On one seven-on-seven snap, Tate found a clear lane down the middle of the field out of the slot and Stafford hit him in stride for a long gain.

*** I've said it a couple times in other places, including one of Kyle and my video takes, but Jonte Green is standing out from the rest of the backup cornerbacks. Green had another pass breakup today and has generally played sticky coverage throughout camp.


I always thought that Green played decent during his rookie season when he was needed to fill in for injuries. After that year, he seemed to get lost on the depth chart, kind of like Leshoure. Wonder if he did something to piss Jimmy off.

He can cover but can't tackle for shit and gets blocked like a motha by wideouts. That would be fine if he was Deion. He's good depth though and hey maybe one day he can get his build in check.

 

[grandy]

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/8/6/5969423/lions-notes-calvin-johnson-reggie-bush

- According to Mike O'Hara, Calvin Johnson lost some weight and lowered his body fat percentage this offseason. Good luck, opposing defenses.

- Reggie Bush is entering his ninth season in the NFL, and he recently threw out the idea of playing for 15 total seasons before his career comes to an end. That would be quite an achievement considering he's a running back.

- NFL AM's countdown of the top 100 plays of 2013 is somehow still going on, and Bush's electric touchdown run against the Chicago Bears came in at No. 26.

- Sam Martin is hoping to become the NFL's top punter this year.

- As a way of reminding Lions players to stay out of trouble, Jim Caldwell has been showing "clips of people related to sports who find trouble away from the field," according to The Detroit News.

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/8/6/5972199/lions-position-battles-2014-offense

Quarterback: Kellen Moore vs. James Franklin vs. the rest of the roster

With Franklin not getting many reps at quarterback, it's hard to say there's a battle between him and Moore at this point. The preseason could certainly change that if the Lions give Franklin a chance to play, but he's really competing for a spot on the practice squad right now. Moore, meanwhile, is still competing with players at other positions for a roster spot, and he will try to convince the Lions that they should keep him around as their third quarterback.

Current favorite: Nobody. With several other positions on the roster overflowing with players who are capable of making the team and players who could actually contribute (mainly on special teams), I just can't see the Lions keeping three quarterbacks this year.

Fullback: Montell Owens vs. Jed Collins

With the release of the Lions' depth chart on Tuesday, we learned that Owens is currently listed as the starting fullback over Collins. This seemed a bit odd considering Owens was previously listed as a running back by the Lions, and it's even odder when you compare their size. Owens is only 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, while Collins is 6-foot-1 and 252 pounds. Simply from the perspective of who you would want serving as your traditional lead-blocking fullback, Collins seems to make more sense, at least on paper.

Current favorite: Too early to tell. We really need more information on how the Lions plan to use these fullbacks before declaring a favorite for the starting job. Owens may be listed as the starter right now, but I'm not convinced that this is going to be a permanent thing by any means.

Wide receiver: Ryan Broyles vs. Kris Durham vs. Jeremy Ross vs. Kevin Ogletree vs. Corey Fuller
There are a few different position battles taking place among this group of receivers. One of the battles is for the No. 3 spot on the Lions depth chart, and Ogletree seems to be ahead of the pack based on how the reps have been divided up so far during camp.

The other battles are simply for roster spots. No frontrunners have necessarily emerged at this point for the final couple spots at wide receiver, but it's a safe bet that Ross will make the team no matter what since he's the Lions' returner. It's also a safe bet right now that TJ Jones will not factor into this position battle because he's still on the PUP list. If he is activated in the near future, he could get back into the mix, but I've replaced him as a candidate to make the team with Fuller, who has seemingly had a strong start to camp.

Current favorite: Kevin Ogletree. I feel pretty comfortable calling Ogletree the favorite for both a roster spot and the No. 3 role at receiver. As for the other spots, it's too early to tell right now.

Offensive tackle: LaAdrian Waddle vs. Corey Hilliard

Waddle and Hilliard have gotten an equal number of reps so far during camp. There's a rotation in place where Waddle is the No. 1 right tackle one day and Hilliard is the No. 1 right tackle the next. This is an indication that the two players are pretty even right now in the race for the starting right tackle job.

Current favorite: LaAdrian Waddle. The reps may be even, but this is still Waddle's job to lose in my mind. Unless Hilliard clearly establishes himself as the better option at right tackle, I just can't see him starting given what Waddle did last season in the No. 1 role.


http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/8/6/5972559/lions-position-battles-2014-defense

Defensive end: Darryl Tapp vs. Larry Webster vs. George Johnson

Going into camp, the position battle here was Jason Jones vs. Devin Taylor for the starting spot opposite Ziggy Ansah. However, it's pretty clear that Jones is staying in the starting lineup, and the more intriguing battle is actually for the final spots at defensive end. Tapp and Webster figure to be the fourth and fifth defensive ends on the 53-man roster, but Johnson has really emerged since camp opened. His chances of making the team still don't seem great, but if nothing else, he's at least made things interesting at this position.

Current favorites: Darryl Tapp and Larry Webster. Given that the Lions drafted Webster in the fourth round, he's not going anywhere. Tapp also looks pretty locked in thanks in part to his versatility. Barring an injury or the Lions opting to keep six defensive ends, I just don't see room for Johnson at this point in time.

Linebacker: Kyle Van Noy vs. Ashlee Palmer

The Lions haven't handed over the starting job at strongside linebacker to Van Noy just yet, but it's only a matter of time until he's at the top of the depth chart on a full-time basis. He's been getting No. 1 reps in training camp, and the Lions have really viewed him as a starter since the day he was drafted.

Current favorite: Kyle Van Noy. This is still Van Noy's spot to lose.

Cornerback: Chris Greenwood vs. Cassius Vaughn vs. Jonte Green

With Darius Slay and Rashean Mathis starting, Bill Bentley locked in as the nickelback and Nevin Lawson not going anywhere after being a fourth-round pick, there are really only one or two spots up for grabs at cornerback. It's a safe bet that one of those spots will go to Vaughn, who has gotten some reps with the first-team defense during camp. The other spot will seemingly come down to Greenwood and Green.

Current favorite: Cassius Vaughn. Green may have a slight lead over Greenwood right now, but it's still a bit too early to tell with them. With Vaughn, on the other hand, he seems to be in pretty good shape when it comes to making the team.

Safety: DeJon Gomes vs. Isa Abdul-Quddus vs. Jerome Couplin
Depending on how the rest of the roster shakes out, there will likely be one or two spots available for these three safeties. Couplin is probably destined for the practice squad, so it should come down to Gomes and Abdul-Quddus if there's only room for one of them.

Current favorite: DeJon Gomes. Gomes and Abdul-Quddus are similar players in that they both can contribute on special teams and have some past starting experience. It wouldn't shock me if both players end up on the 53-man roster, but I gave Gomes the edge for now based on what he's done in coverage since the start of camp.

 

[grandy]

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/8/5/5972867/lions-training-camp-notes-from-tuesday

- Jon Baldwin, who was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on Monday, did not practice on Tuesday. Here's why: Waiver claims are typically made official a day after they're initially reported. In Baldwin's case, however, that did not happen, so it seems like something came up during his physical. It could be a case where the Lions simply want to get a second opinion on something, or this could be a sign that he won't actually pass his physical. Either way, his status with the Lions is up in the air right now.

- Ziggy Ansah also didn't practice on Tuesday, but he again tested out his shoulder, indicating that he's getting close to being taken off the PUP list.

- Two other injury notes from Tuesday: Michael Williams was out again, but Darius Slay did in fact practice after leaving Monday's session early, so that's good news.

- He may not be a starter on the Lions' depth chart, but Kyle Van Noy got No. 1 reps at outside linebacker on Tuesday, according to Michael Rothstein.

- When Rob Sims and Dominic Raiola took a break on Tuesday, the Lions had Alex Bullard at left guard and Travis Swanson at center, according to Josh Katzenstein.

- Giorgio Tavecchio and Nate Freese both made all five of their field goal attempts on Tuesday.

- Matthew Stafford and Golden Tate connected for a touchdown during Tuesday's practice.

- The Lions defense spent some time preparing for the read-option on Tuesday.

- Ex-Lions head coach Steve Mariucci attended Tuesday's practice as part of his job with NFL Network.

- Josh Katzenstein: Golden Tate was just wide open in down the seam, shouted "woo," and Stafford hit him for easy TD in 7-on-7s. #Lions

- Kyle Meinke: Just saw a set with Eric Ebron split outside and Calvin Johnson in the slot. Chew on that one.

- Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. was also at practice on Tuesday.

 

[LKP]

Broyles is for sure gonna rupture an Achilles this year lol.

Prediciting injuries. Classy hughes. You are the worst Lions fan ever.

 

[mhughes0021]

fuller ahead of broyles....nice job mayhew.