ALLEN PARK — Bringing in the N.Y. Giants for joint practices had a positive effect on Detroit Lions training camp on Tuesday.
After offense going against defense for a few weeks, having an actual opponent upped the tempo and competition at the Lions practice facility.
It wrapped up with a goal-line drill featuring each team’s starters against each other, twos vs. twos and then the third groups.
“I thought that was a cool drill to get us all on the same field, get to root for each other and see each other make plays,see each other, see each other score touchdowns. I thought it was a good day,’’ Lions quarterback Jared Goff said.
Neither team dominated, both scored a few touchdowns and had a few stops.
“I feel like not going against our offense was nice. Not having to cover (RB Jahmyr) Gibbs out of the backfield was nice. It made my day a little less stressful even though I had to cover (TE Darren) Waller a little bit,’’ Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone said.
The Lions and Giants will practice again on Wednesday and then play in a preseason game on Friday night at Ford Field.
Tuesday was the 12th day of training camp practice for the Lions, a team with big expectations this season.
“We’re trying to challenge ourselves to the highest degree, really push our tempo and push our computing ability in some ways at every position,’’ Anzalone said. “I think it’s a good thing. Once we get to game week it won’t quite be the same way but right now it’s good to be stressed a little and work through things.’’
While the defense struggled last season, ranking 29th in team defense, the offense had a better season, ranking fifth in the NFL in team offense.
At this point, Goff thinks the offense is “much further along” of where it was last year in camp.
“If last year was 101, we’re in 201, it’s our ability to do things at the next level and it’s challenging for me as well, making sure every day that I know what my rules are and my checks but I know everyone else is doing the same thing,’’ Goff said on Tuesday.
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