Tag: Lions minicamp

NFL offseason workout, minicamp calendar dates to know for the Lions

The NFL schedule for OTAs and minicamp is now out

The NFL released the upcoming calendar for the offseason workouts for all 32 clubs. Believe it or not, the kickoff for the first dates is just 18 days away for the Detroit Lions.

The first day for the voluntary offseason program begins on April 19th. That’s when the Lions can begin Phase One of the workout program. This consists of meetings, athletic training and injury rehab.

OTAs begin on May 24th, with three separate three-day workouts. The team’s mandatory minicamp slots between the second and third block of OTAs, on June 7th through the 9th.

Like all teams, the Lions will also have a rookie minicamp. That exact date has not yet been released by the NFL, which establishes those schedules for all teams.

Top 4 takeaways from Lions minicamp

On Jared Goff’s arm, the RBs as receivers, the secondary and more

Dan Campbell’s first minicamp as the head coach of the Detroit Lions wrapped up this week. With a full roster of eager participants under the humid skies in Allen Park, Campbell led the Lions through the mandatory session with energy and purpose.

It was our first real look at several of the newcomers to the team in action, as well as the return to Detroit for Tyrell Crosby and Jamie Collins after they skipped out on the voluntary OTAs. No contact drills were permitted, and the offensive and defensive lines never squared off head-to-head.

There were a few points of interest throughout the week. Here are four takeaways I got from attending the Tuesday session and keeping up with observers the rest of the week.

Darren Fells offers to help T.J. Hockenson’s TD celebrations

Fells can help Hockenson score more TDs and upgrade the celebrations, too.

Darren Fells is easy to spot on the practice field. The veteran Lions tight end is 6-foot-7 and well-muscled, and almost always talking or smiling at someone. Back in Detroit for a second stint, Fells brings size, blocking prowess and a history of red zone productivity to the Lions.

He also brings some flair, something he hopes he can impart upon young star TE T.J. Hockenson. Fells loves what he sees in Hockenson’s receiving ability and attitude. The touchdown celebrations, however…

“I can help him with his celebrations, because those are pretty bad right now,” Fells laughed after Thursday’s practice.

Hockenson scored six touchdowns in 2020 but didn’t impress Fells, who played for Houston in 2019-2020, with his celebratory gestures.

“His whole big thing was he just catches it and falls down, pops up, and throws the arms up. So anything is better than that,” Fells said. “We talked about seeing what his dance moves are. I haven’t taken him out to a club or anything due to COVID, so we’ll see if he has those kinds of moves. Right now, we’re just trying to figure out what looks good to him.”

Fells can also help Hockenson get more chances to practice the celebrations in games. The big vet caught 11 TDs in his two years in Houston, and he has 21 career touchdown catches amongst his 123 receptions. That includes three TDs in 17 catches for Detroit in 2017.

The duo should blend together nicely. Fells can see how already after just three practice sessions in minicamp,

“He’s more of an F tight end–faster, moving around, receiving–and I’m more of a Y tight end, where I can go in there and do a little bit more of the dirty work. Had the conversation with him already, that if we’re both in there, I’ll be like an extra lineman for him to give him time to get open, so he can bump that touchdown total up to 12.”

That would mean a lot of dancing, or whatever they come up with as a celebration.

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Detroit Lions Podcast breaks down minicamp, OTA notes

Lions Wire and the Detroit Lions Podcast breaks down minicamp, OTA notes, Dan Campbell’s perception and more

The latest episode of the Detroit Lions Podcast featuring Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon as the co-host is now available.

This episode focuses on this week’s minicamp action and the coaching going on in Allen Park. The local perception of Dan Campbell isn’t the same as the national view of the new Lions head coach, and we discuss why that’s okay.

There are quick breakdowns on some of the undrafted rookies in camp, the brewing backup QB battle, the impressive performances by the running backs as rookies, and much more.

The show is available via your favorite podcast provider. It also streams live on YouTube.

https://www.detroitlionspodcast.com/?powerpress_pinw=582204-podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2h0GOqQv2A

Jack Fox working on being a better holder

Fox did awesome punting in 2020 but his holding was suspect

As a punter, Jack Fox was a pleasant revelation in Detroit in 2020. One of the few bright spots on the team, Fox was a second-team All-Pro for his glorious punting prowess in his first season as the Lions punter.

But punting isn’t the only part of Fox’s game, and the Pro Bowler is working hard to get his duties as the team’s holder up to snuff.

He wasn’t particularly good at it in 2020, and it led to issues for now-departed kicker Matt Prater. The veteran placekicker had his worst full season since 2008, and at least a couple of Prater’s missed kicks featured subpar holds from Fox.

Fox worked with long snapper Don Muhlbach earlier this offseason in Texas, and he’s getting plenty of work in OTAs and this week’s minicamp.

“I think I’ve gotten to be a better holder so far, especially being here the last couple weeks, getting a lot of snaps,” Fox said after Wednesday’s practice. “Having two kickers and two snappers, I’m getting a lot of work at holding.”

Thus far, there is no camp competition for Fox as the holder. Backup QBs Tim Boyle and David Blough have not rotated in for reps at all, a clear sign Fox’s focus on his holding is a good idea.

Austin Bryant sidelined with ‘minor injury’, should be ready for training camp

Bryant has battled injuries throughout his 3-year career in Detroit

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Lions outside linebacker Austin Bryant is not participating in this week’s minicamp in Allen Park. New Detroit head coach Dan Campbell discussed the third-year EDGE’s absence in his pre-practice press conference on Wednesday.

Bryant is out with what Campbell termed a “minor injury” that also sidelined him from the prior OTA sessions. Coach Campbell declared that the team expects Bryant to be ready to participate and compete in training camp, which begins at the end of July.

Being injured remains an ongoing issue for Bryant. The 2019 fourth-round pick has been healthy for just 10 games in his two years in Detroit, playing a total of 345 snaps.

Campbell later indicated that LB Jaen Reeves-Maybin suffered a minor heel injury in Tuesday’s practice but that he will be “just fine, it’s nothing at all”.

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College athletics issues with COVID-19 are an issue for the Lions, NFL

Recent spikes of positive cases of COVID-19 among college athletes spells potential bad news for the NFL

The NFL announced this week that there will be no minicamps for any team. Based on what’s happening with college athletes returning to group workouts and activities, it’s probably a wise decision by the NFL.

The Universit of Houston and Iowa State University have both had resurgence of COVID-19 diagnoses since ramping up their athletic workouts. Houston quickly suspended all voluntary activities for all sports, which were the only current events going on.

It’s a warning against the desire to return to normalcy for the NFL and the other pro sports leagues. Despite the precautions being taken, athletes are still getting new positive diagnoses for COVID-19. It’s important to note there is no reporting on the severity of the cases, but the fact that new cases are directly tied to athletes grouping together and participating in workouts is a harbinger that the NFL is right to take seriously.

Michigan is gradually reopening to business as normal. Michiganders will be able to get haircuts again starting this week. Many high school football programs have kicked off conditioning, with a careful nod to social distancing and disinfection of equipment. But the Lions will not reconvene in Allen Park en masse anytime soon.

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There are still several weeks before training camp kicks off. If more coronavirus situations like what has happened with Houston and Iowa State crop up, it will be a tougher sell for more restrictive states like Michigan to allow a full training camp with actual physical contact. And based on the NFL’s edict that all teams must have the same local authorizations before all can advance to the next portion of the offseason, what’s happening with the colleges could be a real problem for the NFL.

What exactly are the Lions missing with minicamp canceled?

Minicamp is typically the first chance to see the new Lions players in uniform

There will be no minicamp for the Detroit Lions in 2020, nor will there be for any other NFL team. The league canceled the summer rite of football passage as part of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

What exactly are the Lions and the other teams missing out on by not having minicamp?

The primary difference between the typical OTA session, which the Lions are conducting virtually in this strange offseason, and minicamp is the volume of time allowed between players and coaches. In minicamp, coaches are allowed up to 10 hours a day of direct contact with players, versus just two per day in OTAs. That includes both on-field instruction and meeting room time.

There is still no live contact allowed during the minicamp practice sessions. One-on-one drills between offense and defense are still prohibited and the players are not in full pads, just like the regular OTAs. Shorts and shells are the norm.

It’s a more structured, standardized schedule that all teams follow:

  • Player physicals on Monday, but no on-field work
  • Practices Tuesday-Thursday, no practice allowed on Friday
  • Allowed two practices totaling 3.5 hours on the field each day
  • Wednesday practice is walk-through only

Minicamp is also the first time the media is required to be permitted by the team to have access to watching the sessions. The Lions typically permit some media coverage of OTAs but it’s very limited. Most of the time, minicamp is the first time anyone sees the team in Lions jerseys since the end of the last season.

All of that will have to wait for training camp this year, which remains tentatively on schedule for late July in Allen Park.

There will be no Lions minicamp in 2020

The NFL has canceled the mandatory minicamp for all 32 teams due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has claimed another yearly NFL rite of passage. There will be no mandatory team minicamps this summer. The league announced the move on Thursday in a letter to all teams.

Form the memo distributed to all 32 clubs by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell,

“Although under a traditional schedule, mandatory minicamps are scheduled to open next week, after discussion with the CEC, we have concluded that it would be prudent not to hold in-person minicamps under the current circumstances and have instead determined to extend the Virtual Period through and including June 26. We will continue working with the NFLPA to conclude the remaining protocols and finalize arrangements for the safe opening of training camps next month.”

The memo then laid out what alternate plans are in place for the elimination of the minicamps, which typically take place in the middle of June.

“Clubs have the option to continue their virtual offseason programs through June 26 or discontinue them after this week. All offseason workout programs must conclude by June 26.’’

The Lions have yet to indicate if they will extend their ongoing virtual offseason to the end of the permissible time. No word on training camp yet, either.