Category: OTAs

Watch: Breaking down the Lions draft class and early OTAs

Watch: Breaking down the Lions draft class and early OTAs with Prime Sports Network and Ourlads Scouting

As we’ve done for several years now, the Prime Sports Network invited me in for a fun post-draft breakdown of the Detroit Lions draft haul and early impressions on the rookie class.

Host Greg DePalma and I went over each of the Lions draft picks. We covered the rationale behind the picks and the early fits into the Detroit depth chart from the first few OTA sessions. There is a spotlight on a couple of undrafted rookies who have real chances to make an impact as well.

Jameson Williams and his progress, plus the impact of his suspension, is also covered. Check out the family-friendly show via YouTube:

Detroit Lions Podcast breaks down OTAs, DeAndre Hopkins and more

The Detroit Lions Podcast breaks down OTAs, DeAndre Hopkins and more

The Detroit Lions Podcast pulled out a rare midday Friday recording this week. Lions OTAs and a big-name receiver suddenly coming available forced a worthy schedule change.

Thursday’s OTA session in Allen Park is a big focal point. We discuss the press conferences from head coach Dan Campbell, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and special teams coach Dave Fipp and what they said.

The on-firld action is limited by CBA rules, but there were still some players to talk about. There’s a good discourse on Jameson Williams and his trouble catching the ball on Thursday, and why it’s not anything to be too concerned about.

The elephant in the podcast room is wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The Cardinals released the All-Pro, meaning the Lions could sign him. We break down the pros and cons, including the costs and roster impact.

 

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Halapoulivaati Vaitai is back and ready to roll

Lions right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai is back and ready to roll after missing 2022 with back surgery

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Flecks of grey lightly dot Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s hair these days. The Detroit Lions starting right guard has earned those signs of aging and wisdom, especially in the last few months.

Vaitai missed the 2022 season after undergoing back surgery. On Thursday during the Lions’ first open OTA session of the offseason, we got to see and talk to “Big V” for the first time since August. It was a moment that might not have come.

Vaitai told reporters he seriously thought about retiring after the back surgery. After a few successful seasons in the NFL and turning 30 in June, it was an option on the table. Thankfully, Vaitai quickly realized it wasn’t an option he was ready for just yet.

“I’m like, ‘What am I doing? I can’t decide what to do,'” Vaitai said. “The only thing I know is football, and so – but it was great. I got to reflect on my life and my career in the league, so it was really good and just sit down with my wife and just talk over a lot of things.”

Vaitai and his family have a ranch outside Houston, and he talked about the appeal of ranching and being with his family. But the pull of the other family–his Lions family–burned far too strong to walk away.

“I mean, I can’t leave Penei, I can’t leave my guys, I can’t leave them,” Vaitai said introspectively. “I love this team a lot. I want to help Dan (Campbell) win one.”

So Vaitai was back at OTAs, something veterans can avoid if they want. Not Vaitai. There he was taking first-team reps at right guard and moving like he’s never been spryer. Pads aren’t on yet so it’s impossible to gauge his efficacy, but his movement skills belie a man less than a year removed from back surgery.

Vaitai didn’t have fusion surgery, he informed us. It’s helped him come back quicker than teammate Levi Onwuzurike, who remains relegated to working with trainers to the side and still doesn’t look close to being ready for action. He acknowledged some pain, but it’s nothing like the agony of not being able to play with his mates.

The Lions need him. The man who admirably filled in for Vaitai last year, Evan Brown, is in Seattle. The team did bring back Graham Glasgow, but he’s struggled (badly if you ask Denver fans) with serious injuries of his own during his time with the Broncos. Rookie Colby Sorsdal has much to prove as a fifth-round pick from an FCS program.

Big V is ready to lead them all, and to do it by example on the field.

Watch: 1st Lions OTA practice recap and breakdown

Thoughts and observations on the press conferences, undrafted rookies, Jamo, Levi O and more

After the first Detroit Lions OTA session open to the media, I had a lot on my mind. In conjunction with the Detroit Lions Podcast, I shot a recap video summarizing what stood out in Allen Park on a brisk but sunny Thursday afternoon.

Among the topics covered in the summary video:

  • Aaron Glenn’s press conference thoughts
  • The ever-fluid kicker situation
  • Jameson Williams not having a great day
  • Some of the Lions UDFAs who stood out
  • Dan Campbell’s words and actions on team expectations, and also his awesome shirt
  • Levi Onwuzurike’s status
  • What’s important to watch in May and what can be put aside

The audio-only version of the show is available via your favorite podcast provider.

Aaron Glenn very confident in EDGE Josh Paschal entering his second season

Glenn is excited to see what Paschal can do in his 2nd season with a healthy offseason

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He’s a bit of a forgotten entity for a lot of Lions fans, and certainly for national media pundits. However, the Lions themselves know the name Josh Paschal very well.

The second-year EDGE had a rough start to his Lions career. Coming off an injury that ended his college career at Kentucky, Pashcal then suffered a different injury during training camp that cost him half his rookie season.

Paschal came in and played the final half of his rookie season, and he showed glimpses of why Detroit valued him as a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. In 10 games, starting four, Paschal registered 16 tackles, two sacks and two TFLs.

Throughout the offseason, the Lions have quietly set expectations pretty high for Paschal in his second season. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn made those aspirations for No. 93 public this week.

Here’s what Glenn said about Paschal prior to Thursday’s OTA session:

“I mean this is a guy, when you think about his path, like he really didn’t get a chance to have an OTA last year because he was injured. He really didn’t have much of a training camp because he was injured. I think he only played eight games, if I’m correct. So, we’re expecting that player to be the player that we drafted in the second round and actually end up improving because he’s had this time to be in the training room to work with our strength staff, to work with our coach and understand exactly what we need out of him, so absolutely I feel like this player is going to be a good player for us.”

Expect to see Paschal get every chance to keep the starting job he held down the stretch last season, a period which coincided with the team playing much better defense.

Dan Campbell hints at using David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs together in the backfield

Campbell talked about using a number of different offensive personnel packages, including the 2-RB offense

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One of the primary takeaways from Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s press conference on Thursday was his talk of 2-back sets on offense.

Campbell indicated that he envisions using both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs together in the backfield. It was one of several player packages Campbell mentioned, including a 3-TE set that strongly incorporates rookie Sam LaPorta.

The 2-back offensive set is not something the Lions have used with any sort of frequency over the years, not with two running backs. Detroit deployed fullback Jason Cabinda on 19 percent of offensive snaps in 2022, but Cabinda touched the ball just twice. He’s a blocker, not a threat with the ball in his hands.

Mixing in a set where both Montgomery and Gibbs are in the backfield fundamentally alters that dynamic. Both newcomers — Montgomery a veteran free agent from Chicago, Gibbs a first-round rookie from Alabama — are accomplished receivers as well as rushing threats. Using them together opens up all sorts of possibilities for both the run game and the passing offense.

For a creative coordinator like Ben Johnson and an aggressive head coach in Campbell, it’s an exciting proposition. Campbell’s openness to exploring those possibilities is something Lions fans should be very excited about, too.

Campbell did indicate that Gibbs will participate in Thursday’s practice as well. The rookie has been sidelined as a precautionary measure with what Campbell deemed a “low ankle sprain.”

Dan Campbell one-ups Brad Holmes’ shirt homage

Lions coach Dan Campbell rocked a shirt that paid homage to GM Brad Holmes’ shirt featuring Campbell

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At the NFL draft last month, Lions GM Brad Holmes inspired a lot of smiles by rocking a shirt with a picture of head coach Dan Campbell on it.

On Thursday, Campbell returned the favor.

Campbell strolled into the Lions media center for his pre-practice press conference wearing a shirt with the picture of Holmes wearing the shirt with Campbell on it.

(It took me a long time to make sure that was worded properly.)

Campbell’s shirt:

Lions list 3 players in the secondary as DB instead of CB or S

The Lions didn’t designate a position for C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Brian Branch or Saivion Smith

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One of the nice things about getting into OTAs and having practice sessions is that the Detroit Lions provide us with an official roster. It was at this point last year that the team made the position changes in the secondary official, with Will Harris transitioning to cornerback and Ifeatu Melifonwu moving to safety.

Those 2022 position changes remain into 2023. There was an interesting wrinkle with the defensive back listings, however. Three players are designated as “DB,” meaning they’re not considered a safety or a corner exclusively.

It’s a designation that makes perfect sense for prized free agent C.J. Garnder-Johnson, who has played all over the secondary in his prior NFL stops. Second-round rookie Brian Branch also earns the DB designation. Branch played outside CB and box safety at Alabama, and the expectation is No. 32 will align wherever the Lions need him in trying to find his best fit.

The third DB is Saivion Smith, who played outside cornerback for Detroit in 2022. Smith is aiming to return from a serious neck injury suffered early last season. At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, he will get looks at safety as well as outside CB.

Detroit Lions sign veteran OL Germain Ifedi

The Detroit Lions have signed veteran offensive lineman Germain Ifedi

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In the evening hours of the first day of voluntary OTA’s for the Detroit Lions, it was announced that they signed veteran offensive lineman Germain Ifedi. It’s unclear on the structure of his contract but I would assume it’s a veteran minimum deal for one-year.

Oddly enough, this signing comes from the Lions after their first few hours of potentially seeing veteran right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai. I’m unsure if Vaitai participated or showed up for the voluntary OTA’s in Detroit. However, we do know that he’s been dealing with a back injury for most of his tenure with the Lions. The signing of Ifedi could be insurance if Vaitai can’t play.

Throughout much of this off-season, the Lions have made it a point to upgrade their offensive line. This off-season the Lions re-signed Matt Nelson, signed Graham Glasgow and drafted Colby Sorsdal in the 5th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. They now add Ifedi, who could be just a camp body or like I said, he could be insurance to Vaitai and his injury woes.

For Ifedi, this is his 4th team in the NFL and he’ll certainly look to play more than the 8 total snaps he played for Atlanta last season. Prior to playing with the Falcons, Ifedi played over 1400 snaps with the Chicago Bears over his two seasons with the team. His second season with the Bears was partially spent on injured reserve due to a sprained knee.

All of this occurred after he spent four seasons as a starter with the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks selected him with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Over the course of his career, Ifedi has played over 3900 snaps (per PFF) at right tackle and over 1500 snaps at right guard. If healthy, he’ll provide Detroit with some guard and tackle flexibility.

What to watch for in the Lions OTAs this week

Here are a few things that Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon will be watching during the OTA sessions

The Detroit Lions are kicking off the official OTAs, or organized team activities, this week. The voluntary sessions are the first gathering of the full team including the rookie class, which finished the rookie minicamp recently.

These are not full-contact workouts or high-intensity practice sessions, so there won’t be full tackling or padded conflict between the lines. But there are still things to take note of during the OTAs.

Here are a few things I’ll be watching during the sessions open to the media.