Tag: Detroit Lions OTAs

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.

The Lions offseason workout and minicamp dates are revealed

The NFL released the dates for offseason workouts and minicamps for all 32 teams, including the Lions

The NFL calendar for the coming months is slowly coming into view. The league revealed the dates for when the offseason workouts, OTAs and mandatory minicamps for all 32 teams are scheduled.

The Lions kick off the offseason on April 17th, a little over a week before the 2023 NFL draft. Those are voluntary workouts.

OTAs come a few weeks later in three sets of three days apiece, beginning on May 23rd and ending on June 15th. Like the workouts, those are deemed voluntary for all players.

A mandatory minicamp will take place at the Lions training facility in Allen Park from June 6-8. That minicamp ha required attendance and is closed to the public.

The dates for all 32 teams are established by the league, not the individual teams.

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Watch: The Detroit Lions Podcast wraps minicamp and OTAs

The Detroit Lions Podcast wraps up and breaks down the Lions minicamp and OTAs

The Detroit Lions Podcast featuring Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon is back with the latest episode. This one sees Jeff and Chris wrap up the Lions’ minicamp and OTA sessions.

Special emphasis is placed on the coaching interviews and how Dan Campbell and his staff are handling their second offseason in charge in Detroit. The change from year-to-year and from prior regimes is stark and we break it down for you.

Who looked good in minicamp? Where are the roster battles brewing? Which players unexpectedly captured attention in practices? We cover all that and more in over 90 minutes of straight Lions talk.

You can stream the audio version of the show here, and it’s also available for download at all your favorite podcast providers.

Lions LB coach Kelvin Sheppard remains very excited about Derrick Barnes

Lions LB coach Kelvin Sheppard is very excited with the progress and midset of second-year LB Derrick Barnes

When the Detroit Lions traded up in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft to land Purdue LB Derrick Barnes, it was a well-received move. Barnes showed a lot of promise as a versatile backer for a team that had major issues at the position.

Barnes played extensively as a rookie, though he wasn’t nearly as effective as hoped. He struggled in coverage and missed too many tackle opportunities, something that Lions LB coach Kelvin Sheppard is working on cleaning up. Sheppard has not lost any confidence in Barnes. Far from it, in fact.

During Senior Bowl week, I asked Sheppard about Derrick Barnes and the up-and-down rookie season from the young LB. Monday’s OTA media session provided a nice follow-up.

“I’m even more excited about (Barnes) right now,” Sheppard said. “…He’s done everything and more that I have asked. He has completely bought in.”

Sheppard continued while noting the view on Barnes from others within the Lions organization.

“A lot of people around the building say they see a new guy. I see the guy I always thought was there,” Sheppard stated.

We then got a taste of Sheppard’s coaching philosophy.

“It starts with a coach believing in a player to be able to pull out the most in the player. If you go into that with high optimism and high thoughts and praise on a player, the player feels that. In turn, without knowing it, it’s kind of a mind game at the same time with the coach/player dynamic. And with that player, the sky is the limit.”

Barnes continues to work primarily as an off-ball linebacker. During last week’s minicamp, Barnes worked primarily with the second unit behind newcomer Chris Board and veteran Alex Anzalone. He did receive some first-team reps but also ceded a few second-team reps to rookie Malcolm Rodriguez. The Lions are working on finding combinations that work together well and that’s all part of the experimentation.

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Lions OTA notebook: Young players take the stage

Notes from Monday’s OTA session on RBs receiving skills, OL versatility, a big man INT and more

The Detroit Lions are wrapping up OTAs this week. As head coach Dan Campbell stated last week during the team’s mandatory minicamp, this week’s voluntary sessions are focused on the rookies and developmental players.

Very few established players were in attendance on a gorgeous, sunny afternoon in Allen Park. Nearly all projected starters were gone, again by design. Running back D’Andre Swift, right tackle Penei Sewell, linebacker Derrick Barnes and cornerback Jeff Okudah were the only starting-caliber non-rookies who participated.

One prominent rookie who definitely projects to start is Aidan Hutchinson, and the defensive lineman did not disappoint. He attacks every drill as if he’s playing for his livelihood and his competitive attitude rubs off on the others in the drills. It’s easy to see Hutchinson’s perfectionist nature on display; he jumped back into the front of the short (only four DL in attendance) queue to immediately redo a drill where Hutchinson and DL coach Todd Wash were unhappy with the rookie’s shoulder level on a pass-rush exercise.

RB footwork

One of the drills was a receiving exercise for the running backs, which had the entire depth chart other than Jamaal Williams and FB Jason Cabinda in attendance. It gave a good illustration of the different footwork of the participants.

Swift really stood out here. There is very strict attention to detail in his route-running. No wasted steps or false motions at all from Swift. It’s easy to hearken back to Theo Riddick and Reggie Bush, two former Lions RBs who were exceptional receiving weapons, in watching Swift working in the passing game.

Craig Reynolds showed he’s worked on his receiving skills in the offseason. Reynolds made a couple of very nice catches away from his body and demonstrated tight route-running. The fourth-year back is in line to play more in 2022 even if Swift and Williams are healthy. As I noted last week, Reynolds is a lot closer to pushing Williams for the No. 2 spot than he is to being caught by the No. 4 back, currently Godwin Igwebuike.

Quick hits

–RB coach Duce Staley led the practice session with Campbell watching closely. It was akin to the Senior Bowl practices, where Staley served as the head coach of the National team with Campbell in a more advisory capacity.

The coaching development pipeline is something that is critically important to both Campbell and the Lions. Expect to see Staley landing some head coaching interviews next offseason and this is Campbell’s way of helping prepare the energetic RB coach.

–Undrafted rookie nose tackle Demetrius Taylor once again commanded attention with his play. Taylor leapt up and picked off a low David Blough throw. The Appalachian State rookie had two deflections just like it during last week’s minicamp but couldn’t secure the catch. Taylor snagged this one and the entire defensive contingency went crazy in celebration.

–Offensive line coach Hank Fraley spoke to the media before practice and talked up the need for positional versatility for the younger players to crack the roster. Fraley certainly offered the six (plus Sewell) aspirants chances to show they can play multiple spots. UDFA Zein Obeid took reps at every position but right tackle in the drills I watched, with another UDFA, Kevin Jarvis, moving around at every position but center.

–UDFA tight end Derrick Deese Jr. was in attendance but only worked with trainers. He has yet to be cleared by the training staff to be a full participant.

Charles Harris eager to make more plays in 2022 after a strong 1st year in Detroit

Lions EDGE Charles Harris is eager to make more plays in 2022 after a strong 1st year in Detroit

Lions head coach Dan Campbell loves to talk about players’ success stories. He went into great detail about one of Detroit’s veteran acquisition wins from a year ago before Thursday’s OTA session.

That would be EDGE Charles Harris. A first-round bust of the Dolphins in 2017, Harris managed just 3.5 sacks in three years in Miami. He didn’t fare much better in one season in Atlanta, and when the Lions signed him a year ago it was more of an afterthought than the team landing the man who would lead them in sacks and generate pressure more consistently than anyone else.

Harris earned every opportunity by not taking his roster spot for granted and proving he could contribute.

“We were talking about Charles the other day in the team room. What a great story he was,” Campbell told reporters. “This time last year, he’s out there running with the three’s (third team) on the second field, he’s doing all the special teams reps, holding bags like he started all over again and didn’t bat an eye either. He just worked and he worked himself into making some money and coming back with the team that gave him a shot and in return, he gave us a shot to sign him back. That’s what you want in guys.”

After the ensuing practice, Harris himself offered up why it worked for him in Detroit last year.

“Coaching. Coach Shep (LB coach Kelvin Sheppard) is great,” Harris said. “Coach Wash (DL coach Todd Wash) is great, AG (coordinator Aaron Glenn) giving the scheme.”

Harris also gave some credit to his teammates last year.

“The guys around me are also great,” Harris said earnestly. “They did a great job of setting stuff up for not just myself but everybody can make their own plays. I hand it to my teammates and to the coaches themselves for putting us in the right position.”

He’s not resting on his career-best accomplishments, not after the underwhelming seasons he had with the Dolphins and Falcons. Harris knows he’s capable of doing a lot more for the Lions and is eager to prove it.

“I’ve been able to go back and watch a lot of film from last year and see the plays that could have gotten made but didn’t get made,” Harris stated. “I think that’s where I am this year. If I add in everything I could have gotten made my numbers would have been crazy, the statistics would be crazy. I really want to capitalize on that.”

Harris offered up that he needs to be better against run blocks and at not running too far up the field in his pass rush, too.

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Which Lions players missed voluntary OTAs?

The Detroit Lions had a nearly full participation in voluntary OTAs

The Lions wrapped another week of voluntary OTAs with a strong contingency of players at the team’s training facility. Nearly all the 90-man roster was participating or at least in the house and rehabbing injuries.

But it wasn’t a full attendance. That’s perfectly fine by the way; the NFLPA forcefully reminds the players that the OTAs are voluntary activities.

Culled from various reports in Allen Park on the week, the following players were not present for the OTA sessions during the week of June 1st:

TE T.J. Hockenson
TE Garrett Griffin
LT Taylor Decker
EDGE Romeo Okwara
EDGE Josh Paschal
NT John Penisini

All but Penisini are coming off injuries that would limit their participation. All are expected to be at the mandatory minicamp this coming week, Penisini included.

New Lions OC Ben Johnson focused on helping Jared Goff have ‘the best season of his career’

Lions OC Ben Johnson has been working closely with Jared Goff to play more to the QB’s strengths

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson oozes enthusiasm. Johnson has a very natural energy to him that radiates in interactions with the media. It showed in his side session at the scouting combine in Indianapolis this winter and it shone once again before Thursday’s OTA session in Allen Park.

All the energy and creativity won’t help Johnson in his new job if the man at the controls of his offense, QB Jared Goff, can’t perform well enough. Goff’s first season in Detroit was largely terrible until a midseason coaching change that saw Johnson get more involved and head coach Dan Campbell took over the offense for deposed OC Anthony Lynn. The final four games Goff played offered legitimate promise, and that’s what Johnson wants to build off into 2022.

“I’ve got a really strong relationship with Jared right now,” Johnson told reporters. “One of my top priorities, personally, is to help him have the best season of his career. One thing that we’ve done is included him a lot in what we’re trying to do schematically, and so we spent some time this offseason watching more of the stuff he did a few years ago in LA and how we can incorporate some of that, while also challenging him to take the next step in some areas of improvement for him as a player as well.”

Johnson likes what he sees from Goff so far.

“He’s having a good offseason, though. I’m really encouraged with where he is, too.”

So what did Goff do well in Los Angeles that can be recreated in Detroit? Johnson offered up some morsels that the duo has been working on to help Goff get back to his Pro Bowl form.

“I think when you look back at his time in LA, he was really successful with certain schemes, with certain concepts. We’re just going to look to incorporate some of those a little bit more,” Johnson explained. “I know play-action is something he’s really good at, and we’re going to look at doing that. It’s really a strength of our offense as well. We’re going to be a really good running team, so that’s going to show up on Sundays is the play-action and the movement game.”

The two have spent a lot of time together this spring, Johnson stated, and Goff’s input on the offense is something that can only help what was a moribund passing attack for far too long in 2021.