Tag: Taylor Decker

Five things to watch as Lions host Falcons; plus prediction

ALLEN PARK —  No excuses for the Lions coming off a loss. They’ve watched the tape, learned their lessons, now it’s time to put them to work.

The Atlanta Falcons (2-0) visit Ford Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

“We know the opponent coming in, this is a physical, violent team coming off two wins, playing pretty good football right now,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “Certainly we’ve got our hands full, we have to be on top of our game to try to get a win here at home.’’

The loss to the Seahawks took a toll on the Lions physically. A handful of starters could be sidelined. Time for the next man up.

Five things to watch:

1. Stopping the Falcons’ dual-pronged run attack — Campbell expects them to run at least 30 times — will be key. In the first two games Detroit has allowed 85 rushing yards per game which ties them for eighth in the NFL. But they haven’t faced Falcons’ running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Robinson has 180 rushing yards and 75 receiving yards in the first two games. It’s not a one-man show.  “Now that guy (Allegeier), he’s about running through your face,’’ Campbell said. And so, it’s a one-two punch, totally two different styles and we’ve got to be ready to adapt quickly with the way they do it.’’

2. On the opposite end, the Lions offense must generate more of a rushing offense than in the first two weeks when they’ve averaged 110 rushing yards per game which is in the middle of the pack. Of the Lions five offensive touchdowns, two have come on the ground by back David Montgomery who is doubtful with a thigh bruise. Look for rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who has 14 carries in the first two games, to pick up many more reps. “He’s not a fragile back. … He’s a rookie, he’s learning, he’s gotten better every week, he’s gotten better every game and he’ll continue to get better the more reps he gets,’’ Campbell said. Look for more touches for running back Craig Reynolds and, perhaps, fullback Jason Cabinda.

3. Turnovers were the story in the overtime loss to Seattle. The Lions offense had two critical errors — an interception thrown by Jared Goff and a fumble by Montgomery. Another fumble as the clock ran out at the half made no difference. At the same time, the defense has just one takeaway — an interception by Brian Branch — in the first two games. It’s a situation that must change if the Lions want to give themselves a chance.

4. The pass rush has been an issue, While there was some pressure put on Seattle’s Geno Smith, he was sacked just once. In Week 1, Patrick Mahomes was not sacked.  “We’ve got to do a better job with our pass rush and that’s us as coaches trying to scheme guys into doing things,’’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “That’s players also, just executing their job, so that’s one thing that we have to get better at and also, when you look at the pass defense, man you’ve just got to win and we’ve got to make sure we put guys in positions to win.”

5. Take advantage of the home crowd. Ford Field was electric on Sunday and would expect the same this week. Players and coaches noticed, and they were appreciative. Cornerback Cam Sutton said they need that same noise factor in every game at Ford Field this season. Got that?

INJURIES

OUT: LT Taylor Decker (ankle), S Kerby Joseph (hip), CB Emmanuel Moseley (knee/hamstring), RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee).

DOUBTFUL: RB David Montgomery (thigh).

QUESTIONABLE: WR Josh Reynolds (groin) and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (toe).

PREDICTION: Lions 24, Falcons 21. Detroit plays well with its back against the wall. Even with injuries expect to see resilience and a home win.

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.

Lions right tackle Penei Sewell continues to impress Dan Campbell

Third-year starter says he wants it all

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell has left zero doubt about how he feels about right tackle Penei Sewell.

“Look, I can’t say enough great things about Sewell I mean he’s – there’s a reason why he was the first pick we had two years ago because we wanted to build around a guy like him. He’s our foundation,’’ Campbell said on Friday. 

OK, those are big words. But he wasn’t done.

“He’s one of those pillars that we talk about. But I mean he is something else. He’s a man on a mission. I feel like we’re a team on a mission, but he is a man on a mission and you talk about being wired right, a guy that comes in every day, puts in the work and he’s got so much ability, but he’s got the right attitude too and I think that’s what makes him dangerous if you’re the opponent, so he’s right where he needs to be,’’ Campbell said. 

 On the first day in pads Friday, Sewell continued his stellar play. 

When told about Campbell’s complimentary words, he said: “I set high goals for me, I have high expectations for myself. He knows that, the team knows that and I just try to work at that each and every day,’’ Sewell said. “Everyone knows the everyday battles of coming out here putting the pads on, putting the helmet on, but you’ve got to put that behind you because there’s a bigger purpose than myself which is the team.’’

It’s sometimes said in the NFL the biggest “ability” is availability. Sewell is good there too. He hasn’t missed a start in his first two seasons with the Lions playing 16 games in 2021 and 17 games in 2022. Last season he even caught a touchdown pass.

Sewell was one of four Lions on offense to be named to the Pro Bowl last season and is considered one of the top right tackles in the NFL.

He’s been on an upward trajectory since he was drafted in the first round (seventh overall) in 2021 out of Oregon.

“The moment I got that call to come into this building. I knew that I got to bring myself into this building knowing I’m something different. And believe that God blessed me with different gifts than anybody else,’’ Sewell said.

It wasn’t easy at first, like any rookie he had to make the adjustment to the NFL.

“There were definitely training wheels without a doubt. … For the most part when it comes to the team aspect I feel like I fit in with the group of guys here. There was some training wheels with techniquewise and everyday consistency,’’ Sewell said.

At training camp this year expectations are high for the Lions who finished last season 9-8 and out of the playoffs.

“I want it all man, nothing less. I don’t want to give you guys specifics, that’s between me and the man in the mirror,’’ Sewell said. “I want it all. Individual teamwise, familywise — I want it all.’’

And that’s just one more reason Campbell loves having Sewell on the roster.

“If he loses, it bothers him bad, and that’s what you want. You want a guy who believes that there’s no way he should lose any rep, no matter who he’s playing and – so he’s shown up, he’s in shape, he’s lean, he’s mean and I’m glad he’s ours,’’ Campbell said.