dan campbell – Page 112

Lions Dan Campbell sees WR Josh Reynolds having a big year

ALLEN PARK — It can only be a good thing for a player if Lions coach Dan Campbell tags him with a nickname.

Wide receiver Josh Reynolds has three — praying mantis, spider of death and freaking serpent. Campbell shared the names on Saturday, the fourth day of Lions training camp.

Reynolds played the last seven games of last season for the Lions after being cut midseason by the Tennessee Titans. In those games he had 19 catches for 306 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“I like this guy, I’m buying stock in him. I think he could have a big year,’’ Campbell said. “He’s a smooth athlete, he’s a grinder, he’s smart and Jared (Goff) trusts him. I can’t say enough about that (wide receivers) room in general and he’s a big piece of that.’’

Reynolds was drafted in 2017 by the Los Angeles Rams where he played with Goff.

“We’ve had that rapport but to be able to continue to build on it is awesome and a big difference,’’ Reynolds said on Saturday.

Campbell said it has made a huge difference having Reynolds in camp.

“It makes a big difference. You guys know the story on him, I’ll say this, he came in the spring in great shape and I was pleased with what he was able to do and how he was able to help us toward the end of last year but he came in this spring and caught my eye again. I felt like he even took a step forward from that,’’ Campbell said.

At camp, Reynolds said he’s trying to soak up the offensive scheme.

Wide receiver is a competitive position for the Lions with guys like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond and Quintez Cephus. Rookie Jameson Williams, a first-round pick, will add even more speed but so far hasn’t been cleared to practice.

“Those guys are pros in there , they work and they are smart,’’ Campbell said.

Reynolds, 27, says it is competitive.

“That’s all we do is compete over there. It’s real competitive. We’ve got guys who can do everything. We’ve got speedy guys, we’ve got long guys, all of them make plays,’’ Reynolds said.

Five things to know about Lions CB Amani Oruwariye

While Friday was just the third day of training camp, already Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell sees a difference in Amani Oruwariye, the oldest cornerback on the roster at age 26.

“I tell you what from this time last year, he feels like a guy who understands what he’s capable of. He understands what he’s good at, what he can do, what he needs to work on. He’s a pro right now, he’s practicing like a pro, he did in the spring,’’ Campbell said before the start of Friday’s practice. “There’s a comfort level and he’s very confident and it’s good to see.”

A big difference from a year ago is now the Lions — with Campbell in his second season — know what they have in Oruwariye.

“We feel like, alright it’s early in camp and all of that, he’s got to prove it again. He knows that and has to continue to improve, but we feel pretty good where he is in that spot. It was good to see him grow and develop at the rate he did. He was having a hell of a year before the injury, I would say he picked up right where he left off in the spring and even the first two days,’’ Campbell added.

Five things to know about Oruwariye early in training camp:

1. He embraces his role as a leader as the oldest corner on the roster and even noted that he has found one gray hair. “Agewise, there’s a lot of guys around my age, guys who have been here with me. Just from experience, I’ve played a lot with different coaches. I do feel a sense of responsibility to make sure the guys are ready to go and make sure everyone is prepared and working like a professional every single day,’’ Oruwariye said on Friday.

2. Oruwariye shared his reaction to Campbell calling him a pro. “I take pride in it, it means I come to work everyday and be the best teammate I can be everyday and try to be the best Amani I can be everyday for my teammates,’’ the corner said.

3. Last season Oruwariye was sidelined for the final three games with a thumb injury. He was missed. He led the Lions with six interceptions — no one else had more than one. Three of his picks came in the last five games he played. He was on a roll. “It was amazing. I was living a dream, making the plays I could make for the defense. Obviously we didn’t get the wins we wanted, but I’m hoping if I continue to have that production and I can rally the guys around me to continue building off that, we’ll start getting the Ws,’’ Oruwariye said

4. No one could be more pleased about the emphasis the team put on improving the pass rush in the offseason, including drafting Aidan Hutchinson with the second overall pick. “It’s amazing. Those guys just make it easier on us. Obviously we still have a job to do but knowing that we’ve got guys who can win the one-on-one battles up front consistently it’s going to affect our defense tremendously,’’ Oruwariye said. “It will affect how we see offenses, our timing of how routes develop because we know we only have to guard four seconds instead of five seconds. It’s everything,’’ Oruwariye said.

5. Either Will Harris or Jeff Okudah will likely start opposite Oruwariye when the season starts. Harris made the move from safety to corner during the 2021 season and Okudah’s 2021 season ended on opening day when he ruptured his Achilles’ tendon. “Will stepped up huge for us last season, it’s hard to go unnoticed. He just is Mr. Consistent, Mr. Know-it-all. He’s played every position on the defense. He’s just out there making sure he can perfect his craft at corner, it’s new to him. I’m helping him out a lot. He’s learning and competing,’’ Oruwariye said.

“Jeff is just gaining that confidence to be out there and play and put together a good camp. I told him to take it one day at a time and obviously I’m still always there. If you need advice for anything, for things I see, talk to me, we can sit down and watch film. But for him it’s just gaining confidence and the courage to go out there and do what he does best. We all know what he’s capable of us, it’s just putting it out there.’’

NOTE: Lions training camp continues on Saturday. The team then has Sunday off. Monday will be the first day they’re in pads and also the first day camp is open to the general public.

Lions confident CB Jeff Okudah will be ready to go for training camp

Perhaps one of the happiest Lions to be participating — on a limited basis — in OTAs is cornerback Jeff Okudah who tore his Achilles tendon in September’s season opener and was forced to miss the final 16 games.

“I’m enjoying to the fullest extent you can enjoy something. For me, I couldn’t walk to the restroom in September, I had to retrain my whole body,’’ Okudah said after Thursday’s practice. “To be able to be out here and do drills, whatever I can do, is a blessing because there wasn’t a guarantee I’d be out here so I’m taking in everything and enjoying every moment.’’

Okudah won’t exactly say if he’ll be ready for training camp in July.

“I’ve thought about that question for a long time,’’ he said. “The best way to describe it is I’m going to be ready when it’s time to be ready. I’m confident I’ll be ready when it’s time to be ready.’’

Got that?

Lions coach Dan Campbell takes it a step farther. He does expect the cornerback, the third overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, to be ready to go for camp.

“I’m very encouraged. We know the surgery went well and just the rehab process, like I feel really good about this, just where he’s come and where the injury is at. I feel like he’s right where he needs to be,’’ Campbell said on Thursday.

Okudah and Campbell both mentioned the importance of being in the right mental frame of mind.

The cornerback talked to athletes who had been through Achilles surgery to find out what to expect.

“They gave me the confidence that the Achilles will be the least of your worries. It will be about getting back mentally and taking care of the rest of your body,’’ Okudah said.

He has been attacking rehab since he got the foot in an orthopedic boot in November.

“We’re not worried about Jeff’s movement skills. He’s going to be able to move. You watch him with his footwork and the things he’s doing, he can do all that. That is real important right now, just continue his growth mentally. Him to be able to get the walk-through reps and then just to get the film study, it’s big for him,’’ Campbell said. “So it’s good to have him here. Then when the time’s right, to go full speed when we get him in camp, he’ll be ready.’’

Okudah, who played in nine games his rookie season, said it has not been hard to stay mentally focused through the rehab.

“My drive just took over. I’ve been hungry like I haven’t ate in years,’’ Okudah said. “That hunger has been inside of me since the injury, even before the injury, so I’ve had that feeling for probably two years, that hunger. I’m ready to go out there and play to the best of my ability.’’

The 23-year-old cornerback said his mental state prior to the injury helped him be in a good place.

“Obviously when you have a big injury you’re going to be down for a little bit, but being around people who have love for you,’’ Okudah said. “They picked me back up, to be here today to be in a great mental spot. I’m blessed.’’