Tag: dan campbell

Lions rookies make standout plays in workouts against Giants

RB Jahmyr Gibbs displays his bursts of speed

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions’ two joint practices with the N.Y. Giants this week provide quality reps against an actual opponent. While valuable for veterans, the work may be more beneficial for the rookies and younger players.

Many of the Lions’ young players stood out on the first day of work on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs impressed with a pair of touchdowns — the first to the right, the second to the left.

“You guys have all seen, he’s got big bursts. He can get to the second level and make the guy miss and get to the third level and maybe hit a home run,’’ left tackle Taylor Decker said. “It’s nice to have a yin and yang at the running position, not to say David (Montgomery) can’t change speed at the second level. 

Decker said based on what he’s seen Gibbs will be used  in the pass game and screens. 

“He’s definitely got a unique skill set. He’s going to be a good player,’’ Decker said.

Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta continued with a solid day on Wednesday with a touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone in team drills.

Rookie WR Dylan Drummond, the undrafted free agent from Eastern Michigan, continued to make the case that he belongs on the roster. 

“It was good to see (everyone) and I think ultimately that’s what you want — you want to see growth,’’ coach Dan Campbell said prior to Wednesday’s practice. “There again you’re not looking for these massive jumps, you just want to know with a different level of competition and everything goes up and they continue to grow and take another step up. I felt that with some of our young guys which is encouraging.’’

He reeled off five rookies that made an impression on him Tuesday. The list started with LaPorta and included Gibbs, Drummond, defensive back Brian Branch and cornerback Starling Thomas. Of the five, Thomas is also an undrafted free agent.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys, I feel like are growing,’’ Campbell said.

The Lions face the Giants in the preseason opener at 7 p.m. on Friday at Ford Field. Next week the Jacksonville Jaguars will be at the LIons’ facility for joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday.

NOTES: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer attended Wednesday’s practice. She was wearing a Lions’ shirt. … The Lions signed RB Devine Ozigbo and waived WR Avery Davis. … WR Denzel Mims returned to practice.

Detroit Lions energized in first joint practice with N.Y. Giants

Jared Goff, Alex Anzalone appreciate the competition

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.

Teddy Bridgewater will compete for the Detroit Lions No. 2 QB spot

Veteran QB won’t participate in camp until next week

ALLEN PARK — Teddy Bridgewater has not arrived to Detroit yet, but coach Dan Campbell is fired up about adding him to the Detroit Lions roster.

Campbell and Bridgewater worked together for two years at the New Orleans Saints in 2018 and 2019. The coach has not hidden his appreciation for the veteran quarterback who is expected to compete with Nate Sudfeld for the No. 2 quarterback spot.

“When you’re with somebody for two years you get a really good feel of what they’re capable of and the way they’re wired, the way he thinks. I’ve seen him work, I’ve seen him run the offense, I’ve seen him in critical moments, I’ve seen him develop talent, the receivers,’’ Campbell said on Tuesday before the first joint practice with the Giants.

“We lost Brees, he goes 5-0. He went in there and kept the ship afloat and kept it heading right where we needed it. That means a lot to me,’’ Campbell added. “That’s all we need, to me that’s one of the reasons I wanted him here, but he’s not here yet.’’

Campbell said he didn’t see Bridgewater doing anything with the team until next week. The Lions have joint practices with the Giants today (Tuesday) and Wednesday, followed by a preseason game on Friday at Ford Field. Next week they have practices with the Jaguars on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 18, at Ford Field.

The coach specifically mentioned how Bridgewater excelled at working with the young receivers in New Orleans.

“He would come in the day before the game and he would take those young receivers, go through the whole game plan. Tell them what they’re looking for, here’s the coverage, here’s what I’m thinking, how are you running this, I don’t like that,’’ Campbell said. “He ran the scout team, he was competitive, running cards. It was awesome, man. He’s that type of guy, he’s an unbelievable teammate, he’s a pro, he’s a vet, he handles his business.’’

Bridgewater, 30, was with the Miami Dolphins last year where he played in five games with two starts, throwing four touchdown passes and four interceptions.

It will take him some time to catch up with the Lions.

“The bad news, it will be new terminology for him. So it’ll take a minute to get up to what we’re saying. The good news is that Teddy has been in every system you can imagine right now,’’ Campbell said. “He’s been through probably six different verbages, offenses, he’ll know the concepts — it’s just you call it this, I’m able to do this. That will take a little bit. But listen, Teddy’s a pro, he’s going to study the heck out of it, he’ll pick it up. He’s going to pick it up pretty fast. I’m not concerned. It will take a little bit.’’

Getting Bridgewater to work next week is key. Campbell said he needs to see if he’s still got it.